Who's right, Delta or KLM? (Day of Departure GUC Upgrade Issues)
Sep 25, 2018, 7:19 am
#91
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Sep 25, 2018, 7:21 am
#92
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That’s funny. The KLM reps I spoke to flatly REFUSED to speak with the DL rep I had on the phone while I was talking with them, and actually said they do NOT talk with DL reps on the phone. I even said the phone rep specifically requested me to hand them the phone, and they sternly said “NO!”
I wonder if we were in the lounge at the same time. I was there at ~0930 specifically so I would have ample time to get the UG sorted.
Sep 25, 2018, 8:27 am
#93
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DL has a major operation in AMS. Do they really save much money by contracting KL to work on DL flights vs hiring their own staff?
They must pay KL anyway and given all inconveniences / sync issues between DL and KL systems, is it really worth it?
They must pay KL anyway and given all inconveniences / sync issues between DL and KL systems, is it really worth it?
Sep 25, 2018, 12:01 pm
#94
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I don't think it's a financial thing but rather an operations and SkyTeam thing
Sep 25, 2018, 12:08 pm
#95
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But surely KLM operates their own flights at some USA airports like JFK and ORD and the JV probably means that the total number of TATL flights or TATL seats or TATL passengers (I don't know what metric is in the JV contract) would be equal.
Sep 25, 2018, 9:45 pm
#96
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Delta did all KLM ops at SFO for a while but it was similarly dreadful, so that experiment has now ended as well. It's not the best.
Sep 27, 2018, 11:50 pm
#97
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Watchers of this thread will be happy to hear I was firmly declined the opportunity to do a miles/money DOD upgrade today due to an active gate waitlist for GUC and mileage upgrade users.
I’m not thrilled about it of course facing the prospect of 11 hours in 22B, but at least the process seems to be working.
I’m not thrilled about it of course facing the prospect of 11 hours in 22B, but at least the process seems to be working.
Sep 28, 2018, 7:39 pm
#98
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Watchers of this thread will be happy to hear I was firmly declined the opportunity to do a miles/money DOD upgrade today due to an active gate waitlist for GUC and mileage upgrade users.
I’m not thrilled about it of course facing the prospect of 11 hours in 22B, but at least the process seems to be working.
I’m not thrilled about it of course facing the prospect of 11 hours in 22B, but at least the process seems to be working.
Is this a change to the upgrade rules exAMS? DL never officially allowed upgrades with miles at the airport, although some people have been successful when there are premium cabin seats, the GA knows how to pull miles, and the GA has time to bother with it.
Sep 29, 2018, 2:48 am
#99
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Watchers of this thread will be happy to hear I was firmly declined the opportunity to do a miles/money DOD upgrade today due to an active gate waitlist for GUC and mileage upgrade users.
I’m not thrilled about it of course facing the prospect of 11 hours in 22B, but at least the process seems to be working.
I’m not thrilled about it of course facing the prospect of 11 hours in 22B, but at least the process seems to be working.
Sep 29, 2018, 9:04 am
#100
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im just reporting what happened—I’m aware of the typical nuances of exAMS upgrade since I travel there frequently. This was the first time I was declined due to a waitlist versus D1 being sold out.
Sep 29, 2018, 4:51 pm
#101
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So on the side note, besides asking directly, is there any way to find out if they are selling upgrades to J out of AMS? I've never seen an offer....
The only time I was successful was when I was in KGL and there was a seat available for miles only, which I grabbed. Usually my fare class requires and cash copay which usually my cheapness sets in.
The only time I was successful was when I was in KGL and there was a seat available for miles only, which I grabbed. Usually my fare class requires and cash copay which usually my cheapness sets in.
Sep 30, 2018, 2:30 am
#102
Join Date: Sep 2012
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Since KLM will offer any open seat up for sale on the DOD you can check it on EF. They might contact the gate for the last open seat.
This is today 's 30-09-2018 AMS-BOS flight availability, thus 5 upgrades are currently available:
DL 259
AMS 09/30/18 11:15
BOS 09/30/18 13:16
333
J5 C5 D5 I5 Z0 W0 Y9 B9 M9 H9 Q9 K5 L0 U0 T0 X0 V0 E9
KL 6017
AMS 09/30/18 11:15
BOS 09/30/18 13:16 333
333
J5 C5 D5 I5 Z0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 K9 H9 L5 Q0 T0 E0 N0 R0 V0
This is today 's 30-09-2018 AMS-BOS flight availability, thus 5 upgrades are currently available:
DL 259
AMS 09/30/18 11:15
BOS 09/30/18 13:16
333
J5 C5 D5 I5 Z0 W0 Y9 B9 M9 H9 Q9 K5 L0 U0 T0 X0 V0 E9
KL 6017
AMS 09/30/18 11:15
BOS 09/30/18 13:16 333
333
J5 C5 D5 I5 Z0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 K9 H9 L5 Q0 T0 E0 N0 R0 V0
Sep 30, 2018, 9:45 am
#103
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Doesn't J5 just mean that DL would be willing to sell 5 D1 seats at a FULL J fare and not that there are 5 open D1 seats on the flight?I suspect that even exAMS, DL would be happy to take the money and pay a lot to rebook or downgrade someone.
In your example the I5 etc. is more informative IMO.
In your example the I5 etc. is more informative IMO.
Sep 30, 2018, 11:18 am
#104
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Of course they more then happily sell a full J fare. What i saw in the past is that if you have..say a M fare, KLM is happily taking your miles or GUC/SWU on the DOD, afer collecting those availability will be J4 C4 D4 I4 etcetera.
Sep 30, 2018, 11:37 am
#105
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In my experience, once the control of the flight has been turned over to KLM, DL does not see the correct seat availability. I believe that the reason for this is that DL and KL use different software for this (the GDS, or Global Distribution System). DL uses its inhouse system Deltamatic, while KLM uses Amadeus (I think). The hand over means that the status of the flight including the seat assignments gets loaded into Amadeus. All changes done after that are not mapped back into Deltamatic, which is why you cannot change your seats on delta.com after the 24h hour mark and why DL agents cannot see the current seat map.
GDS is for booking and inventory management. Day of departure flight activities (like boarding, upgrading, closing out a flight) are handled via ACI. These two systems are connected, but not the same thing. Por ejemplo: KL doesn't need DL's GDS access to sell or rebook their flight...they already have their own. However, they do need DL's flight access to ACI to work the DL flight. They use that in their own SW (and so do most other carriers), but only if DL provides the access for them to work the flight. Generally airlines share the minimum in ACI with partner carriers. Just enough info for them to work the flight. Could be a reason for the discrepancy.
I've had mixed luck using GUCs from AMS too. Once they begrudgingly upgraded me at the gate, and they forgot (?) to attack my GUC so I was able to use it again...other times they wouldn't even try to upgrade me and seats went out empty in D1.