Lost status-Deupgraded overnight
Feb 1, 2019, 2:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Programs: Delta, American Airlines, Hilton, Marriott
Posts: 3
Lost status-Deupgraded overnight
I was notified last night of my upgrade status to comfort+ on both the flight from Dayton to Atlanta and Atlanta to JFK. Today upon check-in I was advised of the payment necessary for my checked bag upon my return flight home, and that I lost both upgrades due to losing my silver since last night. No email was sent to me notifying me of the change allowing me to have the opportunity to choose a new seat, or be prepared to pay for the checked luggage. I was very upset that Delta did not have the courtesy to advise of the change. It seems to me that Delta is happy to advise of something positive, however leaves the negative til the last minute. Over promising and under delivering is not a way to run a business.
Feb 1, 2019, 3:04 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: RDU
Posts: 679
IMO, seems relatively fair.
In your flight receipt, it tells you how much baggage is. Even as a FO, it states that the baggage fee is $30 for first bag, etc, with the additional terms: "The fees below are based on your original ticket purchase. If you qualify for free or discounted checked baggage, this will be taken into account when you check in."
You checked in and weren't FO anymore. I find the above is sufficient notice.
In your flight receipt, it tells you how much baggage is. Even as a FO, it states that the baggage fee is $30 for first bag, etc, with the additional terms: "The fees below are based on your original ticket purchase. If you qualify for free or discounted checked baggage, this will be taken into account when you check in."
You checked in and weren't FO anymore. I find the above is sufficient notice.
Feb 1, 2019, 3:13 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: The Sunshine State
Programs: Deltaworst Peon Level, TSA "Layer 21 Club", NW WP RIP
Posts: 11,370
Computers are fast. Welcome to 2019.
add Is "deupgrade" a real word?
add Is "deupgrade" a real word?
Last edited by Flaflyer; Feb 1, 2019 at 3:15 pm Reason: add
Feb 1, 2019, 3:13 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Programs: DL DM, Bonvoy LTT, HH Diam, UA Silver, USAF million miler ;)
Posts: 1,596
Yeah, sorry, I usually shy away from blaming the OP, but in this case I think you should have absolutely expected what happened and been grateful had it not. The auto seat change kind of sucks.
Feb 1, 2019, 3:14 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: PHX
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HHonrs Diamond
Posts: 1,336
The baggage fee makes sense since it is based on status when you present your bag.
I am not aware of DL rebooking and reassigning seats of every downgraded medallion member with existing reservations past February 1st in prior years. Typically expiring medallion C+ seats would stick for flights booked and upgraded before Jan 31, but flown after Feb. 1 as long as there was no re-booking or equipment changes done either by the pax or by DL. Perhaps there was a schedule or equipment change with both flights of the itinerary? Maybe DL ran a refresh of status on all booked seats with upgrade fare codes overnight. It would be perfectly in their rights to do so.
I am not aware of DL rebooking and reassigning seats of every downgraded medallion member with existing reservations past February 1st in prior years. Typically expiring medallion C+ seats would stick for flights booked and upgraded before Jan 31, but flown after Feb. 1 as long as there was no re-booking or equipment changes done either by the pax or by DL. Perhaps there was a schedule or equipment change with both flights of the itinerary? Maybe DL ran a refresh of status on all booked seats with upgrade fare codes overnight. It would be perfectly in their rights to do so.
Feb 1, 2019, 3:21 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: BNA
Programs: DL GM, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,027
Reminds me of all the poor saps I find myself in line behind at the grocery store trying to use expired coupons.
I mean I get it, that sucks, but at some point people have to accept responsibility. It isn't like you didn't know it (status/coupons) would stop working at some point.
We have one thread where the poster laments the exact time his current status expires, and another where poster seems oblivious to it. SMH
I mean I get it, that sucks, but at some point people have to accept responsibility. It isn't like you didn't know it (status/coupons) would stop working at some point.
We have one thread where the poster laments the exact time his current status expires, and another where poster seems oblivious to it. SMH
Feb 1, 2019, 3:23 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: PHX
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HHonrs Diamond
Posts: 1,336
I bet this is a very busy couple of weeks for new DL AMEX applications from folks who dropped a notch or two in status.
Just the way DL wants it. Nice, high-margin, passive income.
Just the way DL wants it. Nice, high-margin, passive income.
Feb 1, 2019, 4:12 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,277
for {PNRs traveling > 1/31/19){
for (Fare Class in (RU, OU)) { If (Status != ELITE) { Fare Class = Original Booking class; Seat = Available seat in correct cabin; }}
}
or instead of running on all their flights at once; could revalidate at check in.
If (CheckIn) {
if (FareClass in (RU, OU) && Status != elite) {
downgrade;
}
}
Feb 1, 2019, 4:21 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
Not very hard.
for {PNRs traveling > 1/31/19){
for (Fare Class in (RU, OU)) { If (Status != ELITE) { Fare Class = Original Booking class; Seat = Available seat in correct cabin; }}
}
or instead of running on all their flights at once; could revalidate at check in.
If (CheckIn) {
if (FareClass in (RU, OU) && Status != elite) {
downgrade;
}
}
for {PNRs traveling > 1/31/19){
for (Fare Class in (RU, OU)) { If (Status != ELITE) { Fare Class = Original Booking class; Seat = Available seat in correct cabin; }}
}
or instead of running on all their flights at once; could revalidate at check in.
If (CheckIn) {
if (FareClass in (RU, OU) && Status != elite) {
downgrade;
}
}
Feb 1, 2019, 4:27 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: BNA
Programs: DL GM, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,027
If they're going to do this, shouldn't they first downgrade everyone, reorder the upgrade list according to priority based on new (current) status, and then re-run the upgrades based on the re-ordered list? If you just downgrade nonelites, you could have some former DM who got upgraded at the window and then fell to GM/FO while in the meantime there's been a PM on the upgrade list sitting in coach because there wasn't enough upgrade inventory. Also, I suspect that there aren't many people who already have (free elite) upgrades but now have no status whatsoever.
Nothing is easy....
Feb 1, 2019, 5:45 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: PHX
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HHonrs Diamond
Posts: 1,336
I would think if DL is going to do this, they are not going to do it at check-in. Someone who has already booked for a vacation in June would see their C+ seat remain the same for 4 months in the app, and then get downgraded at check-in when all that remains are middle seats? Maybe a GM and child book complementary main -> C+ and wife books own paid C+ seat in same row and they get split at check-in since they are on different PNR's? Sounds like a rolling customer service nightmare.
More likely they just ran a sweep of downgrades out of C+ last night and then let their own existing algorithm elevate the eligible remaining medallions on board into those vacated C+ seats.
More likely they just ran a sweep of downgrades out of C+ last night and then let their own existing algorithm elevate the eligible remaining medallions on board into those vacated C+ seats.