GUC's: The most bang for your buck
 

Newly minted DM here. I'm curious to hear everyone's thoughts when it comes to using their GUC's. I just recently, and successfully, used my 4 for my wife and I to fly KLM from LAX to CPT via AMS. But to get to my point/question, is that about as good as it gets when it comes to using them? I'm hoping I will continue to make DM status in the years to come and was wondering what other options I could use future GUC's on where I can get the most value out of them. I've heard horror stories about using them to SYD and even and other transpac itineraries. Europe even seems to be tough. I know I know it usually comes down to YMMV for each person. Anyway, just looking for some feedback and conversation.

OPS

In 2015, I made diamond on 12/23/2015, I was able to upgrade for my SYD-LAX flight on 12/27/2015. I don't know about the horror stories of others. Last year, I had two GUCs which expired on 12/20/206. They cleared for me on LAX-SYD on 12/17/2016. I admit I was a bit nervous.

On my LAX-MNL trips, i was able to get my upgrades. Though on one trip MNL-NRT-LAX, I was not able to get the upgrade on NRT-LAX until I got to NRT, which mean that I sat in steerage from MNL to NRT.

'GUC' is a productive Advanced Search term, even restricted to titles. Restrict dates, too, to keep things current.

A topic of intense interest here! You would probably find this thread useful:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delt...yay-i-got.html

The longer the distance, the better. LAX-AMS-CPT at 11,575 miles each way is about as good as it gets for a GUC.

To me, an upgrade that clears at booking, is as valuable as the difference in price between Premium and Economy.

An upgrade that clears at the gate, and might not clear, has minimal value. This is especially true for leisure trips when I'm traveling with the family, and sitting together trumps the premium cabin.

Like you, I've found AMS to be a sweet spot in distance, connections, and clearing in advance. Sure, I might only "save" $1000 per GUC, far less than say, JNB/TLV/SYD. But a uncertain JNB/TLV/SYD isn't worth much to me.

I think I've had 12 GUCs over the years and I've never had one go to the gate, let alone not clear -- all TATL. This is for the overwater leg though -- this past year I'm 1 for 3 on the domestic connection (and that 1 was LAX-SEA) with one to go tomorrow -- currently #2 for 2 (was #2 for 7 at OLCI) on LAX-JFK. I have no doubt there will be more SDCs and I will sit in the back.

Update: 12 hours out now #2 of 6 for 1 seat

That is pretty good! I have one lined up but it only just breaks 10k miles OW.

I’m about 50/50 at clearing in advance vs. clearing at the gate. And by in advance, I mean at booking. I’ve never had any movement on them between booking and the gate. Mine have all either cleared at booking or gone to the gate. This is true in a mix of both TATL and TPAC. I’ve never tried them on deep South America or Africa as my travels thus far haven’t taken me to those places since the introduction of GUCs.

So aside from CPT, SYD, JNB, or somewhere in SE Asia what other routes has anyone been successful with? I was actually looking up where KLM flies and was wondering if it's doable to route something like LAX-AMS-SE Asia? Also the more I think about it, being based on the west coast, anything to Europe would be fairly good too at 10ish hours each way (from say LAX).

OPS

Depends on your circumstances.

They are very valuable if they clear at booking as another poster said. But that is few and far between IME. Depends on your routes. DTW-AMS seems to be about the best.

If you allowed to buy J (lucky me) then they are worthless to you if it is not available at booking.

If you are not allowed to buy J then waitlisting and clearing later would be of great value. But one night in DXB there were 20 DM's trying to use GUC's and only 1 made it. I was very glad I was not in that group, I had 7A already!

IMO, one of the best uses is for mileage runs - I was saving 2 for a December run but then I ended up not needing the run.

Most of mine expire or get used on short domestic trips. Even then they are hard to use. Oh, and of course, the entire program is broken.

Yea I figured AMS is a good spot to use them on. I guess I'm just wondering if the GUC's are worth it (to go for DM status). Obviously that's something only I can decide. But that's why I started this thread; to get others' opinions. I do suppose west coast to Europe is pretty good. Has anyone ever done KLM or AF from the west coast to Asia? I know that's the long way around the world but it would definitely maximize the GUC's use!

OPS

Can't use them on AF beyond CDG.

I have been looking for flights that could be booked from West Coast to Asia on KLM under Delta codes for quite some time, and the best I could find were DEL (with really good availability), BOM and CMB (latter two super rarely). CPT is a really good use btw.