Viking Air and Delta Global Upgrades
Nov 16, 2017, 3:55 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Posts: 762
Viking Air and Delta Global Upgrades
Dear Delta and Viking Cruise Experts,
I can save $300 a ticket by booking via Viking Air for our International Tickets (exact same flights) for our Viking Cruise. There is confirmed space to Delta One on both outbound and return using Global upgrade certificates. Do you know if the Global certificates will work on the ticket booked via Viking? They wouldn't tell me the fair class over the phone. But even if it is an upgradable class (like U), I'm wondering if there is some coding in these consolidator fares that make it not upgradable.
Saving $300 just to find out my flights (that have space) are not upgradable wouldn't be worth it. Thank you in advance for your continued help. Sincerely, Richard O
I can save $300 a ticket by booking via Viking Air for our International Tickets (exact same flights) for our Viking Cruise. There is confirmed space to Delta One on both outbound and return using Global upgrade certificates. Do you know if the Global certificates will work on the ticket booked via Viking? They wouldn't tell me the fair class over the phone. But even if it is an upgradable class (like U), I'm wondering if there is some coding in these consolidator fares that make it not upgradable.
Saving $300 just to find out my flights (that have space) are not upgradable wouldn't be worth it. Thank you in advance for your continued help. Sincerely, Richard O
Nov 16, 2017, 4:41 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2005
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You should have 24 hours to cancel after you book the ticket through Viking Air. So I'd book through them, call DL to apply the GUCs, and if they say they can't, cancel the ticket.
Nov 16, 2017, 6:25 pm
#3
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Never tried, but the GUC terms do say this (emphasis mine):
and
Data points are scant, but this old thread does not look promising either: Using Global Certs on consolidator fare
So if you do decide to try it, make sure to understand the cancellation policies if Delta denies your request.
Valid only with a published qualifying fare.
Certificate may be used to upgrade on Delta Air Lines or certain Delta Connection operated flights on published fares booked in P, A, G, W, Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V class and upgrade into RP/OP class.
So if you do decide to try it, make sure to understand the cancellation policies if Delta denies your request.
Nov 17, 2017, 9:25 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,234
Viking books in at least two different fare classes on Delta International itineraries. V & T. However, they are NOT published fares, so I think you will find that GUC's are
not accepted for upgrades on these unpublished fares.
not accepted for upgrades on these unpublished fares.
Nov 17, 2017, 2:13 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2013
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So I buy tickets sometimes from consolidators. If the ticket has a normal fare class like V, X etc there is a 50% chance you can upgrade. I usually have to Hang up and call again. But an agent will usually do it when I press saying the fare class is a V and your list says V - I don't know what unpublished even means (blah blah). Good luck.
Nov 17, 2017, 2:35 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,234
Class of service does not necessarily mean you will receive full credit or be able to upgrade. A published fare means that it is available for purchase by anyone. Cruise lines, tour companies and consolidators "generally" obtain unpublished air fares. Viking Lines uses mostly unpublished fares that are greatly discounted.
Nov 17, 2017, 7:19 pm
#8
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A GUC/mileage award actually causes a ticket to be reissued.
Jul 5, 2021, 1:07 pm
#9
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Dear Delta and Viking Cruise Experts,
I can save $300 a ticket by booking via Viking Air for our International Tickets (exact same flights) for our Viking Cruise. There is confirmed space to Delta One on both outbound and return using Global upgrade certificates. Do you know if the Global certificates will work on the ticket booked via Viking? They wouldn't tell me the fair class over the phone. But even if it is an upgradable class (like U), I'm wondering if there is some coding in these consolidator fares that make it not upgradable.
Saving $300 just to find out my flights (that have space) are not upgradable wouldn't be worth it. Thank you in advance for your continued help. Sincerely, Richard O
I can save $300 a ticket by booking via Viking Air for our International Tickets (exact same flights) for our Viking Cruise. There is confirmed space to Delta One on both outbound and return using Global upgrade certificates. Do you know if the Global certificates will work on the ticket booked via Viking? They wouldn't tell me the fair class over the phone. But even if it is an upgradable class (like U), I'm wondering if there is some coding in these consolidator fares that make it not upgradable.
Saving $300 just to find out my flights (that have space) are not upgradable wouldn't be worth it. Thank you in advance for your continued help. Sincerely, Richard O
Jul 5, 2021, 2:40 pm
#10
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Would love to know what happened here. I have booked a Viking cruise fare and was able to apply a GUC in one instance; but in another, I was not. I would be inclined to see if Viking could hold the reservation so that I could call in and ask DL if it were eligible for upgraded first. But, trying to get DL to answer within 24 hours and Viking to handle the request within a short window could be tough! anyone else try using a GUC in recent years on cruise air tickets?
Jul 5, 2021, 3:17 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,234
If the fare through Viking is less than buying from Delta directly it is likely a bulk ticket and not upgradeable with GUC. Delta will not be able to give you any information, until Viking issues their ticket, as they won’t be able to see the fare basis code until ticketed. Generally, Viking does not issue tickets until about 60 days prior to departure. To get them to issue earlier, the booking must be paid in full, which may be much earlier than the normal final payment time limit. Even then, Viking may delay ticketing up to a week after final payment in made.
Jul 6, 2021, 3:53 pm
#12
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It's on hold in W and G classes (Premium Select) booked through Viking. I have to approve it, but wouldn't those be eligible for an upgrade since it's a published fare class? or are there non-published fares that still show up in the familiar fare classes we traditionally use? I guess I am asking is if bulk fares or cruise fares have their own fare bucket that we don't usually see? or could a normal Y,B,M,H,J,K etc fare still be unpublished/bulk?
Jul 6, 2021, 4:33 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,234
It's on hold in W and G classes (Premium Select) booked through Viking. I have to approve it, but wouldn't those be eligible for an upgrade since it's a published fare class? or are there non-published fares that still show up in the familiar fare classes we traditionally use? I guess I am asking is if bulk fares or cruise fares have their own fare bucket that we don't usually see? or could a normal Y,B,M,H,J,K etc fare still be unpublished/bulk?
Last edited by Mr. Tickets; Jul 7, 2021 at 6:39 am
Jul 6, 2021, 11:47 pm
#14
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It's on hold in W and G classes (Premium Select) booked through Viking. I have to approve it, but wouldn't those be eligible for an upgrade since it's a published fare class? or are there non-published fares that still show up in the familiar fare classes we traditionally use? I guess I am asking is if bulk fares or cruise fares have their own fare bucket that we don't usually see? or could a normal Y,B,M,H,J,K etc fare still be unpublished/bulk?
For your proposed booking, note that W is C+ while G is deep discount PS.
Jul 7, 2021, 2:37 am
#15
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It's on hold in W and G classes (Premium Select) booked through Viking. I have to approve it, but wouldn't those be eligible for an upgrade since it's a published fare class? or are there non-published fares that still show up in the familiar fare classes we traditionally use? I guess I am asking is if bulk fares or cruise fares have their own fare bucket that we don't usually see? or could a normal Y,B,M,H,J,K etc fare still be unpublished/bulk?