Platinum Medallion upgrade from JFK to ATH
Apr 24, 2019, 9:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 1
Platinum Medallion upgrade from JFK to ATH
Two weeks ago I was on a Delta flight from JFK to ATH. Based on my current Platinum status, I was upgraded to Comfort Plus after booking the flight.
When I went to board my flight from JFL to ATH, my electronic pass on my phone was denied and the gate agent noticed I was issued another pass. Much to my surprise, my new boarding pass was for a Delta One seat. Based on what I read on Delta's Skymiles page for Platinum was that only Comfort Plus would be issued for upgrades on international flights.
Does any other Platinum members have experience on being upgraded to Delta One on international flights? If so, when and which routes.
Thanks,
When I went to board my flight from JFL to ATH, my electronic pass on my phone was denied and the gate agent noticed I was issued another pass. Much to my surprise, my new boarding pass was for a Delta One seat. Based on what I read on Delta's Skymiles page for Platinum was that only Comfort Plus would be issued for upgrades on international flights.
Does any other Platinum members have experience on being upgraded to Delta One on international flights? If so, when and which routes.
Thanks,
Apr 25, 2019, 6:20 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Delta PM/2MM, Marriott Ambassador Elite/Lifetime Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 142
Search the forum for "operational upgrade" or "OPUP" and you'll find other examples.
I WFBF mostly on INTL routes, but in ~1MM which included a lot of Y INTL miles, I never received an OPUP to D1. It's luck of the draw (status + route). Congrats!
I WFBF mostly on INTL routes, but in ~1MM which included a lot of Y INTL miles, I never received an OPUP to D1. It's luck of the draw (status + route). Congrats!
Apr 25, 2019, 7:27 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,630
Indeed lucky. I've received far more Opups on AF/KL than in DL (zero at the moment)
Apr 25, 2019, 7:45 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: LHR / BHX / MAN / ATL
Programs: DL DM 2MM - IHG Diamond
Posts: 4,053
Route plays a huge role. The OP was flying JFK-ATH, a leisure-heavy route. On leisure-heavy routes, the odds are greater that Y will be oversold. On routes that are business-heavy, DL can usually sell every D1 seat and OpUps are seldom. Using that knowledge (and my gut intuition about which of my route options were leisure-heavy and which were business-heavy) I had a pretty good run of OpUps during the years that I purchased economy tickets - I actually had a year where I got OpUp'd on 5 of my 10 TATL flights.
Apr 29, 2019, 5:52 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: KATL
Programs: DL, WN, AA, Marriott, Hertz, National, Chic-fil-A
Posts: 234
I *almost* got an OpUp on LAX-SYD recently after the route opened, about 8-9 years ago (sheesh, that long). SkyClub agent said there might be a chance upon being casually and jokingly asked if there was any space for me as a Gold up front. After giving me legitimate instruction to stay near the desk while in the club, unfortunately she did inform me that J had filled with other upgrades. It would have been a nice surprise but I was perfectly fine in the back. Service was good all around, from the SkyClub to in flight. I think the excitement of DL operating to SYD was still fresh at that point.
Apr 29, 2019, 7:12 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
This route is eligible for complimentary medallion upgrades (including one companion). Unless the policy was different when you flew, this was a regular elite upgrade, not a op-up. I've generally had very good luck with medallion upgrades on flights to Mexico, both the MEX and to beach markets.
Apr 29, 2019, 8:01 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Definitely an op-up.
I had the pleasure of receiving my first (and only) op-up as a then GM last year on CDG - RDU. Got the beep at the gate and a new print-out that said 1B (and then slightly awkward since I was traveling with a co-worker but they understood). Was even better because I was getting back to the US and flying and driving to a wedding later that same day so being able to sleep for 5 hours on the TATL was clutch
I've never wanted to boarding door to close more quickly before they had time to change their mind
I had the pleasure of receiving my first (and only) op-up as a then GM last year on CDG - RDU. Got the beep at the gate and a new print-out that said 1B (and then slightly awkward since I was traveling with a co-worker but they understood). Was even better because I was getting back to the US and flying and driving to a wedding later that same day so being able to sleep for 5 hours on the TATL was clutch
I've never wanted to boarding door to close more quickly before they had time to change their mind