Have Diamonds Noticed they are lower on the upgrade list recently?
Nov 14, 2019, 2:54 am
#16
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
where this backfires is that I lose my T-5 upgrade, if cleared.
Nov 14, 2019, 3:54 am
#17
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: 100,369
Not a diamond but platinum here. We are typically around 6-10 on upgrade lists from MSP to various locations, recently though we have been around 30-40. Quite a dramatic downgrade that happened suddenly around October 1st. Our reasoning is though we canceled our Delta credit card. I didn’t realize how much of a difference that may have made.
Nov 14, 2019, 4:02 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: Delta Diamond, Delta 1MM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 166
Not a diamond but platinum here. We are typically around 6-10 on upgrade lists from MSP to various locations, recently though we have been around 30-40. Quite a dramatic downgrade that happened suddenly around October 1st. Our reasoning is though we canceled our Delta credit card. I didn’t realize how much of a difference that may have made.
Nov 14, 2019, 4:52 am
#19
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PIT, BWI, or IPT
Programs: Dividend Miles, WorldPerks
Posts: 1,302
i always book C+ on shorter flights (and sometimes on longer flights) so that I can same day change (incl. between co-terminals) to my hearts galore. Especially between LGA and BOS, PHL, DCA etc. Sometimes I even save money doing it because a flight to EWR is a lot cheaper than to LGA - or let’s say I want to take the 6:59 BOS flight which may be $280 when I book for main but the 2p.m BOS is $150 in C+, I’ll book the cheaper one (in C+) and do a SDC at t-24.
where this backfires is that I lose my T-5 upgrade, if cleared.
where this backfires is that I lose my T-5 upgrade, if cleared.
Nov 14, 2019, 4:56 am
#20
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: 100,369
The rules for PAID C+ seem to be like the rules for paid FC or a confirmed (with ticket reissued) instrument supported upgrade into FC in that if there's an open C+ (respectively FC) seat that DL is willing to sell, you can SDC to it. Alternatively you canvoluntarily downgrade and SDC into an open coach (or C+ from FC) seat that DL is selling.
Nov 14, 2019, 5:54 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
The rules for PAID C+ seem to be like the rules for paid FC or a confirmed (with ticket reissued) instrument supported upgrade into FC in that if there's an open C+ (respectively FC) seat that DL is willing to sell, you can SDC to it. Alternatively you canvoluntarily downgrade and SDC into an open coach (or C+ from FC) seat that DL is selling.
But anyway, if you book C+ I would say you can safely do same day change to any flight that has C+ available (or you can voluntarily downgrade) - regardless of the underlying fare bucket. I do this 50 times a year.
Nov 14, 2019, 6:04 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
The rules for PAID C+ seem to be like the rules for paid FC or a confirmed (with ticket reissued) instrument supported upgrade into FC in that if there's an open C+ (respectively FC) seat that DL is willing to sell, you can SDC to it. Alternatively you canvoluntarily downgrade and SDC into an open coach (or C+ from FC) seat that DL is selling.
- If you have a premium cabin fare like Delta One®, Delta Premium Select or First Class you may make a Same-Day Confirmed change as long as a seat is available in the cabin purchased or a lower cabin
- If you are traveling in Delta Comfort+, you may make a Same-Day Confirmed change as long as a seat is available in Delta Comfort+
- If there is not a seat available in Delta Comfort+, you may be eligible to make a Same-Day Confirmed change in a Main Cabin seat, if available
https://www.delta.com/us/en/change-c...-flight-change
Nov 14, 2019, 6:11 am
#23
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
I agree with the first part but are you sure it only has a marginal impact? I was about to sign up for one (I had one a couple years ago) based on the dude who said that his place on the upgrade list has dropped significantly since he cancelled.
Nov 14, 2019, 6:15 am
#24
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM, MR Gold, Hilton Gold, National Exec
Posts: 534
The gate agent refused to let me SDC (despite one C+ being available) and put me on the standby list, suddenly I'm #8 on the standby list for DL 999... I get that the standby list and the upgrade list are different, and also, I don't know my fare class but I paid about $100 for C+, so definitely a low fare class - thoughts?
Nov 14, 2019, 6:28 am
#25
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
I really want someone to chime in though on my being 1 out of 20 for an upgrade, yet #8 for a standby on the exact same flight (90 minutes apart).
Nov 14, 2019, 6:48 am
#26
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
This is the official rule:
https://www.delta.com/us/en/change-c...-flight-change
- If you have a premium cabin fare like Delta One®, Delta Premium Select or First Class you may make a Same-Day Confirmed change as long as a seat is available in the cabin purchased or a lower cabin
- If you are traveling in Delta Comfort+, you may make a Same-Day Confirmed change as long as a seat is available in Delta Comfort+
- If there is not a seat available in Delta Comfort+, you may be eligible to make a Same-Day Confirmed change in a Main Cabin seat, if available
https://www.delta.com/us/en/change-c...-flight-change
Most routes that a business traveler would frequent have C+ sold out 2-3 weeks before departure - I can't imagine many routes that would have it day of departure. Maybe mid-day short haul flights from non-hubs?
I fly weekly and - if my assumption is correct on what the rule is - I would have been able to use this "feature" a grand total of 0 times (plus the C+ premium I see - if for sale at all - is frequently $150-200+ over main cabin, not $15).
Nov 14, 2019, 6:54 am
#27
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
Most routes that a business traveler would frequent have C+ sold out 2-3 weeks before departure - I can't imagine many routes that would have it day of departure. Maybe mid-day short haul flights from non-hubs?
I fly weekly and - if my assumption is correct on what the rule is - I would have been able to use this "feature" a grand total of 0 times (plus the C+ premium I see - if for sale at all - is frequently $150-200+ over main cabin, not $15).
I fly weekly and - if my assumption is correct on what the rule is - I would have been able to use this "feature" a grand total of 0 times (plus the C+ premium I see - if for sale at all - is frequently $150-200+ over main cabin, not $15).
Also, with hang up and call again, you can easily find an agent that lets you go from C+ to main even without same fare bucket or class being available.
Re point 2: the price is based on distance - I have seldom seen the price difference for BOS to LGA, BUF, PHL, or other nearby cities be more than $20. I assume it is the same with SAN to LAX, or LAX-SFO, etc. Of course, JFK to LAX, or SEA to BOS could easily be $150 or $200+
Nov 14, 2019, 6:56 am
#28
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
Wait - I forgot to mention two important facts. Not disagreeing with you but these may be important facts. I initially had a confirmed seat in C+ on the first flight (LGA to Boston) - let's call it DL 999 (made up flight). I was #1 of maybe 20 on the upgrade list for DL 999. My inbound flight was delayed, and so I used Facebook to SDC to the later flight - mind you, this was only 90 minutes before DL 999 was scheduled to leave. By the time my inbound flight landed, I ran to the gate and saw that DL 999 had been delayed by about 30 minutes.
The gate agent refused to let me SDC (despite one C+ being available) and put me on the standby list, suddenly I'm #8 on the standby list for DL 999... I get that the standby list and the upgrade list are different, and also, I don't know my fare class but I paid about $100 for C+, so definitely a low fare class - thoughts?
The gate agent refused to let me SDC (despite one C+ being available) and put me on the standby list, suddenly I'm #8 on the standby list for DL 999... I get that the standby list and the upgrade list are different, and also, I don't know my fare class but I paid about $100 for C+, so definitely a low fare class - thoughts?
While the above is the most likely case, since your flight was delayed can guarantee you that this flight likely had a lot of SDS from people arriving early and seeing they had the opportunity to get on an earlier flight - some of which may have been Diamonds. You may have been #1 on the upgrade list, but not that high in the pecking order all things considered because 6-7 people cleared their F upgrade before it got to the gate (hypothetically).
Nov 14, 2019, 7:00 am
#29
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3,097
Wait - I forgot to mention two important facts. Not disagreeing with you but these may be important facts. I initially had a confirmed seat in C+ on the first flight (LGA to Boston) - let's call it DL 999 (made up flight). I was #1 of maybe 20 on the upgrade list for DL 999. My inbound flight was delayed, and so I used Facebook to SDC to the later flight - mind you, this was only 90 minutes before DL 999 was scheduled to leave. By the time my inbound flight landed, I ran to the gate and saw that DL 999 had been delayed by about 30 minutes.
The gate agent refused to let me SDC (despite one C+ being available) and put me on the standby list, suddenly I'm #8 on the standby list for DL 999... I get that the standby list and the upgrade list are different, and also, I don't know my fare class but I paid about $100 for C+, so definitely a low fare class - thoughts?
Also, as to your "everyone was a Diamond or Platinum" - which may very well be right - wouldn't most Diamonds and Plats pay the extra $14-$20 to book C+, and therefore, in theory at least should have been able to SDC rather than SDS?
Looking at 12/4 LGA to BOS for fun - the difference between Main and C+ ranges from $14 to $20.
The gate agent refused to let me SDC (despite one C+ being available) and put me on the standby list, suddenly I'm #8 on the standby list for DL 999... I get that the standby list and the upgrade list are different, and also, I don't know my fare class but I paid about $100 for C+, so definitely a low fare class - thoughts?
Also, as to your "everyone was a Diamond or Platinum" - which may very well be right - wouldn't most Diamonds and Plats pay the extra $14-$20 to book C+, and therefore, in theory at least should have been able to SDC rather than SDS?
Looking at 12/4 LGA to BOS for fun - the difference between Main and C+ ranges from $14 to $20.
Nov 14, 2019, 7:02 am
#30
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,221
Welcome to FCM folks. DL would rather make $5 selling an F seat than rewarding FFers. Judging by their record profits, I wouldn't expect things to change. With the inevitable influx of UA LVCs, it will get worse as more peeps battle for the same inventory. Am I bashing DL, no, from a business perspective it makes sense and all their competitors do the same thing.
This by far has been my worst year for upgrades. More concerning is that the drop off in upg% from last year to this year has accelerated massively. I'm at about 35% and I usually book about a week out. I was at about 60% last year. Heck, I can't even get C+ upgrades as a DM on many flights nowadays. Bout the best I can hope for is an exit row seat.
This by far has been my worst year for upgrades. More concerning is that the drop off in upg% from last year to this year has accelerated massively. I'm at about 35% and I usually book about a week out. I was at about 60% last year. Heck, I can't even get C+ upgrades as a DM on many flights nowadays. Bout the best I can hope for is an exit row seat.