Maximizing Upgrade and Baggage Benefits with Companions
Jul 27, 2019, 2:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Marriott LTT, DL FO
Posts: 185
Maximizing Upgrade and Baggage Benefits with Companions
I am planning a trip with a few friends, and I'm trying to get feedback on the best approach to maximize the upgrade and baggage benefits for everyone. I am DM, and two companions have no status. Here's the breakdown of how I'm thinking we should buy the tickets. I will be person A, and the two non-status companions will be B and C. No tickets have been purchased yet. Assume these will be revenue tickets, not booked in basic economy, and all on DL metal.
Ticket 1: One way CHS - JFK
A buys ticket with B, C buys ticket alone
A and B get Comfort+ at booking and maybe first on upgrade, C gets no seat benefit
A and B get free bags, C gets no free bags
Ticket 2: Round trip open jaw JFK - AMS / ATH - JFK
Option 1
A buys ticket with B, C buys ticket alone and links PNR to A
Everyone gets free bags since it is International
A and B get Comfort+ at booking, C gets no seat benefit
A applies and clears a GUC on JFK - AMS to D1, B retains Comfort+ seat, C gets no seat benefit
A applies and clears GUCs for A, B, and C on ATH - JFK to D1
---Not sure if I can clear 3 GUCs on one flight, or if I can only apply to one companion on a flight; DM line agent I spoke to seemed to indicate it would be possible, but website language seems less encouraging
Option 2
A buys ticket with B, C buys ticket alone and links PNR to A
Everyone gets free bags since it is International
A and B get Comfort+ at booking, C gets no seat benefit
A applies GUCs for A and B on JFK - AMS and clear into D1, C gets no seat benefit
A applies GUCs for A and C on ATH - JFK and clears into D1, B retains Comfort+ seat
---I think this should work for applying the GUCs as C would just need to be PNR linked to A's ticket to be eligible for a GUC upgrade
Ticket 3: One way JFK - CHS
A buys ticket with C, B buys ticket alone
A and C get Comfort+ at booking and maybe first on upgrade, B gets no seat benefit
A and C get free bags, B gets no free bags
Does that sound like the optimal way to get my friends some benefit from my status? I'm interested in hearing people's feedback on the GUC portion. Any experiences clearing three GUCs on one flight? Any issues clearing a GUC for a companion not on the same ticket? Is the PNR link even necessary for the GUC to be applied to a person not on the same ticket? Any other gotchas I might be missing?
Ticket 1: One way CHS - JFK
A buys ticket with B, C buys ticket alone
A and B get Comfort+ at booking and maybe first on upgrade, C gets no seat benefit
A and B get free bags, C gets no free bags
Ticket 2: Round trip open jaw JFK - AMS / ATH - JFK
Option 1
A buys ticket with B, C buys ticket alone and links PNR to A
Everyone gets free bags since it is International
A and B get Comfort+ at booking, C gets no seat benefit
A applies and clears a GUC on JFK - AMS to D1, B retains Comfort+ seat, C gets no seat benefit
A applies and clears GUCs for A, B, and C on ATH - JFK to D1
---Not sure if I can clear 3 GUCs on one flight, or if I can only apply to one companion on a flight; DM line agent I spoke to seemed to indicate it would be possible, but website language seems less encouraging
Option 2
A buys ticket with B, C buys ticket alone and links PNR to A
Everyone gets free bags since it is International
A and B get Comfort+ at booking, C gets no seat benefit
A applies GUCs for A and B on JFK - AMS and clear into D1, C gets no seat benefit
A applies GUCs for A and C on ATH - JFK and clears into D1, B retains Comfort+ seat
---I think this should work for applying the GUCs as C would just need to be PNR linked to A's ticket to be eligible for a GUC upgrade
Ticket 3: One way JFK - CHS
A buys ticket with C, B buys ticket alone
A and C get Comfort+ at booking and maybe first on upgrade, B gets no seat benefit
A and C get free bags, B gets no free bags
Does that sound like the optimal way to get my friends some benefit from my status? I'm interested in hearing people's feedback on the GUC portion. Any experiences clearing three GUCs on one flight? Any issues clearing a GUC for a companion not on the same ticket? Is the PNR link even necessary for the GUC to be applied to a person not on the same ticket? Any other gotchas I might be missing?
Jul 27, 2019, 4:24 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
*C will get a free bag if they check in with you and on same flights, even if separate PNR
*International only gets checked bags if main cabin, not if basic/light fare
*Departing AMS and CDG, a companion on the same PNR doesn't share your baggage allowance, so they don't get the extra per strict reading of rules
You seem to have everything else all set tho
*International only gets checked bags if main cabin, not if basic/light fare
*Departing AMS and CDG, a companion on the same PNR doesn't share your baggage allowance, so they don't get the extra per strict reading of rules
You seem to have everything else all set tho
Jul 27, 2019, 9:54 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,042
Jul 27, 2019, 10:03 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 277
The T&C at https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...-upgrades.html certainly says things like “a companion”, “one companion”, and “Each person (max 2) redeeming the upgrade”.
Jul 27, 2019, 11:03 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,042
Csn be done. Just like in past when technically wasnt allowed to upgrade on separate PNRs, but was done.
Jul 28, 2019, 8:09 am
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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There have been reports of companions being booted from C+ seats if/when the elite clears into FC or D1. I'm not sure how common this is if there isn't a schedule or aircraft change.
Jul 30, 2019, 9:46 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, AA, WP
Posts: 840