How to analyze whether to buy an upgrade to F with money or miles
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Astoria, NY: LGA, JFK
Programs: Delta PM; Sheraton's Vistana BOD; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,035
Thank you all for the help. One additional question... does the cost of the upgrade vary by elite level or is it the same for everyone? Can someone with no status upgrade for the same price as a PM?
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,161
The cost typically depends on the price of your underlying coach ticket. Usually, they're just quoting you the fare difference between what you paid and the first class fare. And then they convert that into miles at just under $0.011/mile. It's not always exact though.
And just to add/clarify what was posted above, this redemption value is about -15% lower than the $0.013 average you get for full-on award tickets. But you do get the extra MQMs/RDMs as a partial offset.
And just to add/clarify what was posted above, this redemption value is about -15% lower than the $0.013 average you get for full-on award tickets. But you do get the extra MQMs/RDMs as a partial offset.
#18
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: DL Silver, Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle, Global Entry (Former AA Plt/Gold)
Posts: 4,416
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,161
The old style mileage upgrade awards, which they now no longer offer in the Americas, did NOT get you bonus miles or any other consideration, those would book into like OU or something that was an award class.
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 22,885
The cost typically depends on the price of your underlying coach ticket. Usually, they're just quoting you the fare difference between what you paid and the first class fare. And then they convert that into miles at just under $0.011/mile. It's not always exact though.
And just to add/clarify what was posted above, this redemption value is about -15% lower than the $0.013 average you get for full-on award tickets. But you do get the extra MQMs/RDMs as a partial offset.
And just to add/clarify what was posted above, this redemption value is about -15% lower than the $0.013 average you get for full-on award tickets. But you do get the extra MQMs/RDMs as a partial offset.
Last edited by xliioper; May 17, 2019 at 2:25 pm
#21
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: PIT/WAS
Programs: Delta GM
Posts: 256
I'm pretty certain these "pay with miles" type upgrades are actually changing the underlying booking class (e.g., to Z), so you end up with a regular first class ticket, and thus in addition to the MQMs, you also then get SDC with no inventory restrictions.
The old style mileage upgrade awards, which they now no longer offer in the Americas, did NOT get you bonus miles or any other consideration, those would book into like OU or something that was an award class.
The old style mileage upgrade awards, which they now no longer offer in the Americas, did NOT get you bonus miles or any other consideration, those would book into like OU or something that was an award class.
#22
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM. 1MM
Posts: 2,039
I think the answer depends on the situation. I have more miles than I will ever use so I would tend to use miles. I tenD to upgrade with miles or money towards the end of the year in order to push up my mqms. I would upgrade rather than hoping for a free upgrade because that route can be and often is full in first. Older people willing to pay because they dont fly often and need the comfort a family or two off to dis. So if you have the miles or money I wouldnt wait unless you really dont much care.
Also, I'll take some of these miles. transfer fee is on me. haha. I'm serious. PM me if interested.
M
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,161
Don't believe original cost/fare or fare diff has anything to do with it. Bought two tix for DTW-BWI a couple weeks ago and price has remained a consistent $74/6900 miles each way despite the fact that there is no longer Z inventory on outbound flight (raising FC fare for that flight by $70).
Also, the purchased outbound and return fares are different. Outbound is a T fare and return is a V. If it is based on original price/fare, why is the upgrade price the same in both directions?
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Astoria, NY: LGA, JFK
Programs: Delta PM; Sheraton's Vistana BOD; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,035
Don't believe anyone has answered this question. If it's the same for everyone, it seems like a real diminishing of benefits for GM, PM and DM as their chances for complimentary upgrades are greatly diminished by those with no status.
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 22,885
I have yet to see anything that it indicates that it varies by status. I've flown with wife and son at different times (both together and on separate fares) and they've never had an offer that was different than mine. Neither has status (I'm a DM). This includes times when they've been on FF tickets and I've been on revenue ones.
#26
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: DL DM, National EE, Hertz PC, IHG PL, Bonvoy Amb
Posts: 1,332
I have yet to see anything that it indicates that it varies by status. I've flown with wife and son at different times (both together and on separate fares) and they've never had an offer that was different than mine. Neither has status (I'm a DM). This includes times when they've been on FF tickets and I've been on revenue ones.
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 22,885
Here's a link from when the new system was first noted --
Strange FCM Offers and Seat Map Issues
Just purchased a ticket for my wife on exact same flights I'm on for DTW-BWI in June as a test . My fares were T and V ($253.60 total). No more T on outbound, so she got a K and V for $288.60 total. The FC fares are I and Z with $462.60 total ($174 fare difference). And, yet, DL is showing the exact same $74 upgrade price in each direction for her flights that I'm getting for mine. Note that her upgrade price ($148 roundtrip), is not the same difference ($174 roundtrip) as buying FC at time of purchase.
Last edited by xliioper; May 18, 2019 at 4:26 pm
#30
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: 100,298
Route and aircraft type (number of seats in FC cabin)?
My impression is that when doing free elite upgrades before the gate, DL tries to save four FC seats on many business oriented flights on aircraft with 16 FC seats, but fewer (two I suspect) on less business oriented routes on aircraft with 12 FC seats such as the 717.
My impression is that when doing free elite upgrades before the gate, DL tries to save four FC seats on many business oriented flights on aircraft with 16 FC seats, but fewer (two I suspect) on less business oriented routes on aircraft with 12 FC seats such as the 717.