GUC's: The most bang for your buck
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Programs: Delta DM
Posts: 425
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
OPS
#2
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: California
Programs: DeltaSilver/MM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 494
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
OPS
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.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: DL DM PM
Posts: 2,030
A topic of intense interest here! You would probably find this thread useful:
The Official - GLOBAL UPGRADE CERT success thread - Yay! I got it!
The Official - GLOBAL UPGRADE CERT success thread - Yay! I got it!
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,247
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.
#6
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 76
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.
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.
#7
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: Fallen DL DM (PM) 2MM
Posts: 4,783
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
Update: 12 hours out now #2 of 6 for 1 seat
Last edited by TheMadBrewer; Dec 10, 2017 at 11:31 pm Reason: Update
#8
#9
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: MIA
Programs: Delta 1 Million Miler, Delta DM, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 241
Im about 50/50 at clearing in advance vs. clearing at the gate. And by in advance, I mean at booking. Ive 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. Ive never tried them on deep South America or Africa as my travels thus far havent taken me to those places since the introduction of GUCs.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Programs: Delta DM
Posts: 425
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
OPS
#11
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SE USA
Programs: DL DM/MM , IHG Plat, MR Titanium, HH Gold, EK Frequent Kettle, UA Silver, AA Hater
Posts: 2,018
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.
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.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Programs: Delta DM
Posts: 425
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.
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.
OPS
#14
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM/1MM, AS 100K
Posts: 20
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.