Using GUC via DM Line on Partner Airline Questions
 

Any specific strategies for doing this? Because of MQD being distance based I'd prefer to book on partner airlines and using GUC on them. Short backstory my wife and I are going to Europe for our 10yr anniversary. There are specific planes I would like to fly and can fly from literally anywhere in US to almost anywhere in Europe. Just want to fly specific planes. I also have a 3 week 'opening' of when I can come/go.

What I'd like to do is use the DM line to bounce ideas and see if instant GUC Clearance is available. If so could I think in theory book directly with Air France, KLM or whoever and then Delta DM line can apply the GUC Live?

Or... is this a huge waste of time and just call and fly Delta metal? Or book via Delta on partner airline?

The fare buckets required for partner marketed flights are probably going to make this a losing proposition.

Yep, KLM marketed flights must be Y/B/M and AF marketed must be Y/B/M/W (W is full fare Premium Economy on AF).

If you can specify routes and the date range to agents and ask them to look for availability to confirm GUC immediately, they will play, IME.

Don't ask them to find where 77Ls and A350s fly. Literally anywhere in the U.S. to almost anywhere in Europe is not an adequately bounded request.

Here's the following terms from Delta's website when it comes to fare classes...

1. Applicable Fare Classes: Certificate may be used to upgrade on Delta Air Lines or certain Delta Connection operated flights on published retail fares booked in P, A, G, W, Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V class and upgrade into RY/OY class. Certificate may not be used to upgrade other published fares including those booked in E class, or Award Tickets. For travel on KLM-operated, Delta-marketed flights this certificate may be used to upgrade on published fares booked in Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V class and all fare classes upgrade into Z class. For travel on KLM-operated, KLM-marketed flights this certificate may be used to upgrade on published fares booked in Y, B, or M class and all fare classes upgrade into Z class. For travel on AF flights this certificate may be used to upgrade only on published fares in Y, B, M or W class. Y, B, M fares upgrade into A class (Premium Voyageur class) and W fares upgrade to O class (Affaires or Business Class). For travel on Aeromexico operated, Delta marketed flights this certificate may be used to upgrade on Delta`s published fares booked in W, Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V class and all fare classes upgrade into Aeromexico`s O class. Valid on Delta-marketed, Virgin Atlantic-operated flights for use globally on published Economy Cabin fares booked in W, Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V class to Upper Class.

With that being said, it is easiest to book directly on DL metal and then the next easiest would probably be KLM. With a 3 week window you'll obviously be limited there however I think your approach is a good one; just give the DM line a call, tell them you're flexible with that 3 week window, and then see what cities work. Hope this helps!

OPS

If you book a DL-marketed (DL flight numbers), KL-operated flight, it will be eligible for global upgrades on all fare classes other than Basic Economy (E). KL flight numbers require expensive fare classes.

Air France is not worth looking at -- requires expensive fare classes and on most planes only upgrades from coach to premium economy anyway.

If you're interested in the KLM option, if you sign up for a paid ExpertFlyer account you can search for KLM availability on there. Useful since many agents aren't familiar with booking KLM upgrades, and they have no way to search "go anywhere in Europe" easily anyway.

To search Delta availability you have to talk to Delta. You can also ping them on Twitter.

Using Global Upgrades on Virgin Atlantic is also an option, though only really practical if going just to London.

Yes that is my plan. I have compiled possibilities for instance Orlando to London has a 747 Virgin. So I have a list of things that are known routes. I assumed at least doing that as no agent is going to help with "Fly me to Europe from anywhere in US on a 747, 787 or A380".


Thank you for the detailed info. KLM shows for sure open 'upgrades'?

My recommendation is:
1. Find an itinerary that shows KLM and Delta Z fares (lowest fare in Business), not I, D, C or J.
2. Call up Delta and hope for a knowledgeable agent. Tell the agent that you would like to upgrade with a GUC into Z class on a KLM flight.
3. After issue and re-issue of your ticket you will have a booking in Z class with KLM flight numbers, on 006 stock.
This has worked for me for several years, but some agents will tell you flat out that there is no availability and that it cannot be done. If so, then HUCA. No ExpertFlyer account needed,

Note that for Virgin Atlantic upgrades the required fare class is G, the same as they use for award bookings into Upper Class (business class). So if you don't see the option to use your miles on Delta.com for the flight you're targeting, most likely it's also not available for an upgrade.

And Virgin's remaining 744s are in a small-premium-cabin configuration because they only serve leisure markets, so Upper Class awards and upgrades are going to be on the rare side on those flights.

Plus, it's somewhat minor, but the Orlando flight (and all other remaining 744 flights) go into LGW, not LHR, which means you would miss out on the chance to try Virgin's highly regarded Heathrow Clubhouse lounge, considered one of the best lounges (and perhaps the very best business class lounge) in the world. If you're really keen to fly the 744 I guess you could look for a routing like MCO-LGW, LHR-ATL, but unlike with award tickets where that can be pieced together, you may have to pay a premium to book the underlying cash coach ticket to be upgraded for such a routing.

If 744 is a priority, KLM is probably your best choice, though if you're booking more than a couple of months in advance there's a risk that the aircraft would be swapped on you before you fly.

Thanks everyone. Months in advance booking because it's weeks in Europe. Need to lock in the the going/coming. Intra europe not too worried about.

Does this earn MQD as DL or KL flight? If KL this is an amazing plan and I might change a flight based on this.l

What about for KL flights that don't fly out or to the US? For example, I have been trying to find out if I can book a DL-marketed GRU-AMS (Sao Paulo to AMS) and use a GUC to upgrade, but found no luck in obtaining the answer to this.