GUC - seat taken back after boarding, what to do about next segment
 

On SEA-NRT-SIN I was upgraded with a GUC. After everyone finished boarding a red coat informed me that the seat wasn't able to be used and I'd have to move back to my original seat.

Now I have my second leg still upgraded, but I wouldn't choose to use a GUC for only the NRT-SIN leg.

My assumption is that they did not credit the GUC back to my account. Should I attempt to get a gate agent in NRT to un-upgrade my second leg so I can get the cert back? Or call the Diamond line? Haven't had this situation come up before.

Unfortunately, if you were actually upgraded with the GUC, the cert was almost certainly used as payment.

Check DL.com and see the state of the cert - it may now show as "closed", and you'll have a battle to get it back no matter what you do on the NRT-SIN segment.

If you are flying, try Delta on Twitter.

Were you confirmed in advance on the SEA-NRT segment or did you get the upgrade at the gate? Why did the Red Coat say you were the one being downgraded? I agree about trying DL via Twitter in-flight if you can; if not, you'll probably have to call customer care in Atlanta to see what they can do when your trip is over.

Was the seat broken or did they give it to someone else?

One of the crew came by later and apologized and let me know that it was because the crew rest area was broken/unusable and they needed the seats for that.

At the moment the cert is still showing "open" so I'm hoping that the red coat took care of it for me already.

I always only submit my UC for the long leg that I want to be upgraded on. My first leg (outbound) I usually get a CMU. This way if the GUC does not clear on the TATL I won't be burning an UC for a short leg like SDF - ATL.

Personally, I would let it go. NRT-SIN is 3,324 miles. I wouldn't mind using GUC for that although it is obviously better if can be upgraded for SEA-NRT as well. If GUC stays "open" then so much the better.;)

Sure, but this is not really relevant here as the OP requires GUCs to upgrade both international segments. DL should absolutely refund the GUC in this instance, although I am also curious when the SEA-NRT GUC cleared (at the gate or beforehand?).

-FlyerBeek

While not 100% similar, I recently flew SIN>NRT in D1 on a cleared GUC, then attempted to fly NRT>DTW (also on a cleared GUC), but, without getting into the nitty gritty of the issues on the ground, ended up missing the flight (along with everyone else on the SIN>NRT flight) through no fault of our own, and ended up spending the night in NRT (terrible). Anyhow, the point is, I wrote to DL about our experience and they ended up re-instating the entire GUC for my wife and I for the trouble, even though SIN>NRT cleared (and we flew it). As with most things, it doesn't hurt to ask, they have the power to give you the GUC back, and given this was a crew/seat issue on your part, they may take pity on you. I think you have a relatively good case, given you stated you might not have used it just for NRT>SIN

I am flying DTW-NRT-SIN in January and need only 1 GUC for both flights. I agree that if one segment clears the GUC is gone, so I always attach the GUC to the DTW-NRT segment and when (if) it clears the same GUC can attach to the remaining NRT-SIN segment. Even though the NRT-SIN segment is a long flight, I don't waste a GUC on a 767.

It shows open for a while, so I wouldn't bet on that. I think you have a case to call Customer Care and maybe you will get to keep it.

David

Don't call unless it goes to closed.

It may be a lot of miles and time, but it's not true D1 service on the intraAsia NRT-SIN route. You get a flat bed, probably on a 767 these days, and IME/IMO worse F&B than on domestic FC flights that serve a genuine dinner (versus snack or lunch).

^ ^ Absolutely.

David