Delta Downgrading a Medallion Upgrade?
Mar 19, 2019, 6:25 pm
#16
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I'm pretty sure the only way they are bumping an upgraded pax is an IT error, plane change, or some other automated process gone wrong.
I've never heard of it being done intentionally. And I've tried... last month had ATL-SAN rt in paid F. I SDC'd the first leg to an earlier flight, and the agent who did it messed up and reissued my ticket as a one way. I didn't realize until I went to check in for my return and had no flight. Called up and my original flight was "fully booked" in F. I asked them to downgrade someone back to Y, since I was in paid F and it was 100% their error. Was steadfastly refused by agent, supervisor, reissue desk, and redcoat at airport. (I ended up with a connection getting in 5 hours later and $1200 in vouchers for the trouble).
I've never heard of it being done intentionally. And I've tried... last month had ATL-SAN rt in paid F. I SDC'd the first leg to an earlier flight, and the agent who did it messed up and reissued my ticket as a one way. I didn't realize until I went to check in for my return and had no flight. Called up and my original flight was "fully booked" in F. I asked them to downgrade someone back to Y, since I was in paid F and it was 100% their error. Was steadfastly refused by agent, supervisor, reissue desk, and redcoat at airport. (I ended up with a connection getting in 5 hours later and $1200 in vouchers for the trouble).
Mar 19, 2019, 6:27 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2010
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I could also imagine DL overbooking F for a VIP of some kind, like a 360 or the CEO of a company with which they have a big corporate contract. Someone at DL has the power to put a GM/PM back in Y so that someone that is a VIP for DL can sit in F on a flight they "must" be on.
Mar 19, 2019, 7:28 pm
#18
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This is a problem I've had a couple times. In many cases, the GA is running upgrade process in the wrong order between GUC/RUC and complimentary upgrades. I have had on 3 occasions (all out of SLC ironically enough) put in a RUC after check in. At some point, the RUC gets pulled, I get upgraded, get a seat, but then the ticket doesn't reissue. Then the complimentary process runs and somehow trumps the RUCs.
So in 2 of these cases I have been very firm that I was upgraded and had some sort of F seat assignment and I paid in instruments (RUC). Net, a redcoat shows up and removes someone from F and sends them to the back of the plane.
Combination of overly complex business rules and technology, and poor training practices.
So in 2 of these cases I have been very firm that I was upgraded and had some sort of F seat assignment and I paid in instruments (RUC). Net, a redcoat shows up and removes someone from F and sends them to the back of the plane.
Combination of overly complex business rules and technology, and poor training practices.
Mar 19, 2019, 8:02 pm
#19
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I highly doubt DL (or any other US airline for that matter) gives out confirmed upgrades and then re-sells the seat in F. It's simply not worth the negative publicity. Most likely either the OP misheard or the hearsay from the other pax was wrong. Downgrades happen, but they're almost always a result of an equipment swap. The agent might not even know about it if the eq swap is done hours before the flight.
From a former agent, I can tell you they book in advance. They have their own peeps for that, and those peeps have a direct line into airline system ops centers to handle this stuff outside of the purview of the gate. How far in advance I don't know, but I had numerous on flights I worked post-9/11 and all of them already had a confirmed booking. I don't know that they're even required to ID themselves to anyone (gate, crew, etc.) anymore. I hate to be all captain obvious, but it wouldn't make much sense for an undercover Air Marshall to go up to the agent, identify themselves *in public* and say you have to book/upgrade me. And if they did, odds are the agent wouldn't know how to book them anyway.
From a former agent, I can tell you they book in advance. They have their own peeps for that, and those peeps have a direct line into airline system ops centers to handle this stuff outside of the purview of the gate. How far in advance I don't know, but I had numerous on flights I worked post-9/11 and all of them already had a confirmed booking. I don't know that they're even required to ID themselves to anyone (gate, crew, etc.) anymore. I hate to be all captain obvious, but it wouldn't make much sense for an undercover Air Marshall to go up to the agent, identify themselves *in public* and say you have to book/upgrade me. And if they did, odds are the agent wouldn't know how to book them anyway.
Mar 20, 2019, 1:10 am
#20
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I've posted about this before but I had this happen to me once -- they paged me to the podium to give me my upgraded BP, then a few minutes later paged me to apologize and rescind the upgrade because they needed the seat to accommodate a displaced F pax due to IRROPs handling. Which was fine with me, I would hope for the same accommodation if the situation were reversed.
Mar 20, 2019, 3:15 am
#21
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This has happened to me three times over the years. Looking at it from the other side, I have been upgraded twice after taking my seat in either Y or C+.
Mar 20, 2019, 7:11 am
#22
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
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They certainly do goto gate and get placed on a flight by GA. I've seen it happen, and know of gate agents that have had to handle it. Yes majority of flights it's handled before hand. However not all flights are. I believe they're supposed to I'D to crew. Otherwise what stops a pilot who's been deputizied and is carrying a gun from shooting the FAM? How would crew know that its ok for them to have a gun if it becomes visible? (Shouldn't happen, but it does happen)
Mar 20, 2019, 8:01 am
#23
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I could also imagine DL overbooking F for a VIP of some kind, like a 360 or the CEO of a company with which they have a big corporate contract. Someone at DL has the power to put a GM/PM back in Y so that someone that is a VIP for DL can sit in F on a flight they "must" be on.
Mar 20, 2019, 11:33 am
#24
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I could also imagine DL overbooking F for a VIP of some kind, like a 360 or the CEO of a company with which they have a big corporate contract. Someone at DL has the power to put a GM/PM back in Y so that someone that is a VIP for DL can sit in F on a flight they "must" be on.
Mar 20, 2019, 12:30 pm
#26
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Mar 20, 2019, 12:33 pm
#27
Join Date: Aug 2018
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Granted you have a point because the upgrade happened a few minutes apart from when you were un-upgraded. I was referring to getting an upgrade during the upgrade window of 5 days and then at the airport un upgrading you.
Mar 20, 2019, 12:37 pm
#28
Join Date: Feb 2013
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I could also imagine DL overbooking F for a VIP of some kind, like a 360 or the CEO of a company with which they have a big corporate contract. Someone at DL has the power to put a GM/PM back in Y so that someone that is a VIP for DL can sit in F on a flight they "must" be on.
Slightly different than this scenario, but it is a published benefit. Presumably the Full Y fare offsets the bump cost of another Y pax.
Mar 20, 2019, 12:42 pm
#29
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American Airlines has "guaranteed availability" for Exec Platinum customers, but for Y cabin. If purchased more than 24h out, Exec Plats can get on to sold-out flights in Y by paying full-Y.
Slightly different than this scenario, but it is a published benefit. Presumably the Full Y fare offsets the bump cost of another Y pax.
Slightly different than this scenario, but it is a published benefit. Presumably the Full Y fare offsets the bump cost of another Y pax.
PMNW and then DL used to have a similar benefit, but IIRC it's 48 hours (and perhaps was seven days for WBC much earlier???). I once asked how this would work if the flight were indeed oversold and was told that the airline would pay someone to get off.
Once I witnessed two people being downgraded from WBC to coach TATL after I (and my seatmate) was rebooked during IROPs. They commented about us occupying their seats when boarding and we just smiled at each other. At boarding, the GA explicitly gave me the aisle seat as a Plat while my Gold seatmate was given the window.
Once I witnessed two people being downgraded from WBC to coach TATL after I (and my seatmate) was rebooked during IROPs. They commented about us occupying their seats when boarding and we just smiled at each other. At boarding, the GA explicitly gave me the aisle seat as a Plat while my Gold seatmate was given the window.
Mar 20, 2019, 12:51 pm
#30
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I agree that seems much much less likely, and I believe others have said you'd be entitled to downgrade compensation in such a circumstance (I forget whether that's actually been tested)