Destinations with best odds that GUC's will clear?
Jun 28, 2019, 9:24 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 7
Destinations with best odds that GUC's will clear?
DW & I have $1050 Delta credit vouchers and 2 GUC,s each. We would love to go from Atlanta to Australia, SE Asia or JNB in the fall with very flexible dates.
Ideal trip would be (DL2143 ATL- LAX DL41 SYD, DL41 SYD - LAX DL1954 ATL) There are lots of dates where FC is wide open on all legs.
Do I have reason to be concerned that if booking to SYD our GUC's might not clear? If so are there destinations where we would have much better odds than others?
FYI: Wife is Delta MM and GM (was DM last year when the credit vouchers were issued)
Ideal trip would be (DL2143 ATL- LAX DL41 SYD, DL41 SYD - LAX DL1954 ATL) There are lots of dates where FC is wide open on all legs.
Do I have reason to be concerned that if booking to SYD our GUC's might not clear? If so are there destinations where we would have much better odds than others?
FYI: Wife is Delta MM and GM (was DM last year when the credit vouchers were issued)
Jun 28, 2019, 9:39 am
#2
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: 100,413
SYD and JNB are very difficult for upgrades into D1 in general.
Are you based in ATL or starting from elsewhere?
Are you based in ATL or starting from elsewhere?
Jun 28, 2019, 9:51 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 1,079
As others will likely point out, SYD and JNB are hard routes to upgrade. Having said that, why dont you call DL and ask whether they have any dates available to either of these two places where they can confirm 2 GUCs for you over the time period with your availability. Rather than debate whether you are flexible or not with others in this site, youll have factual information to such availability today. It would be fair to note that DL can and will change how many seats they release for GUCs over time but youll have a current view today. You can always plan on calling back multiple times.
My personal view is that youll have a hard time making it work for both of these destinations. We do have full solar eclipses that take place every once in a while so you may end up getting lucky.
My personal view is that youll have a hard time making it work for both of these destinations. We do have full solar eclipses that take place every once in a while so you may end up getting lucky.
Jun 28, 2019, 10:07 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
For the record, Ive never had a problem clearing immediately into D1 on GUCs to either SYD (from LAX) or JNB (from ATL).
I only needed a little date flexibility. Agents cleared me over the phone at time of booking, and I was able to select seats as well.
I could be an anomaly, of course.
I only needed a little date flexibility. Agents cleared me over the phone at time of booking, and I was able to select seats as well.
I could be an anomaly, of course.
Jun 28, 2019, 10:09 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 7
Thanks for your thoughts. We have called and there was nothing available for SYD that they would immediately clear on booking. However, that was over a month ago and we have not tried again. We will keep trying for SYD and JNB.
Are there any long haul alternative destinations that have high likelihood of success? My wife frequently (3 - 5 times a year) flew up front to Asia and Europe for work but I never have. It is the D1 experience that is the higher priority for us on this trip. We will make an adventure out of most destinations except China. She traveled there for work yearly and is not on her vacation list.
Are there any long haul alternative destinations that have high likelihood of success? My wife frequently (3 - 5 times a year) flew up front to Asia and Europe for work but I never have. It is the D1 experience that is the higher priority for us on this trip. We will make an adventure out of most destinations except China. She traveled there for work yearly and is not on her vacation list.
Jun 28, 2019, 10:14 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
LAX>HND on the new A359 is usually pretty successful. I just flew in March and was able to successfully apply GUCs at booking both ways even though I booked inside 7 days from departure.
ETA: My return was HND>MSP>LAX on a 77L, I believe.
ETA: My return was HND>MSP>LAX on a 77L, I believe.
Jun 28, 2019, 10:17 am
#9
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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: 100,413
If OP and spouse are traveling together, they might prefer seats where they can converse rather than the suites for D1. The A330 or even a 767 might work better for them.
Jun 28, 2019, 10:20 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
Jun 28, 2019, 10:23 am
#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: 100,413
Check the rules for your vouchers carefully. You might need to complete all travel before they expire, which might be a year after the original ticket was issued.
Jun 28, 2019, 10:31 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 7
LOL We would choose D1. We can talk about it when we get there. Moreover, two or three times a year we are 1 & 2 on the upgrade list with 1 seat left. The only thing she loves more than me is sitting up front.
Jun 28, 2019, 10:41 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
Jun 28, 2019, 2:43 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: OKC
Programs: DL DM/2.768MM, Global Entry, Titanium_Marriott, GHertz
Posts: 6,752
There are numerous threads about GUCs to JNB and SYD.
Here is one of my last ones where I looked at routing through PVG then using MU to reach SYD:
Buy 2 one-ways to SYD to capture OP early?
Here is one of my last ones where I looked at routing through PVG then using MU to reach SYD:
Buy 2 one-ways to SYD to capture OP early?