Does it hurt your upgrade chances to use regional certificates?
Dec 9, 2019, 8:10 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, AA, WP
Posts: 840
It would be both "tragic" and "a huge waste" to use a RUC on C+. I have also had agents offer me the C+ upgrade because no first class seats were available when I booked, oy! In my experience, CSRs have told me to make sure the box is unchecked, so now I'm confused.
Dec 10, 2019, 8:54 am
#17
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Wouldn't a person using an RUC automatically get C+ at booking if available anyway? RUC's are only for PM and DM's and I've always been confirmed into C+ at time of booking if seats are available.
Dec 10, 2019, 8:57 am
#18
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Until the day of departure/gate, there are two types of upgrade inventory: one code for instrument supported upgrades (RUCs/GUCs and miles) and a different bucket for free elite upgrades, with separate waitlists. Then all available seats go into a single upgrade pool with a single priority list.
It's absurd that a person will get a complimentary upgrade over someone waitlisted on a RUC. I was on a DTW/LAS flight before I found out about that policy, and the RUC cleared with the gate upgrades and I was sitting beside a gold who told me his complimentary upgrade had cleared a couple days earlier. Wasn't happy when I found out about that.
Dec 10, 2019, 10:09 am
#19
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2. I've always gotten C+ at booking too, but there are lots of reports from people booking close in and/or full flights and not receiving it at booking.
Dec 10, 2019, 10:25 am
#20
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2019
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Gold, Hertz President's Club
Posts: 141
I've been told that you can't have simultaneous requests for both types of upgrades simultaneously. It shouldn't matter much how early you request a free elite upgrade provided that it's done before your window first opens, but of course switching requests around does reset the time stamp for the request, which is the final tiebreaker.
I just got back from a trip where I was waitlisted using a RUC. I left the complimentary upgrade to first box checked and had no problem clearing the waitlist a day or two before the DM window opened. In fact I've never unchecked that box when using a RUC and (knock on wood) I've never not had a RUC clear before the DM window.
Happy RUC'ing...it's rough out there
Dec 10, 2019, 11:04 am
#21
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: DL DM, National EE, Hertz PC, IHG PL, Bonvoy Amb
Posts: 1,342
As always YMMV, but....
I just got back from a trip where I was waitlisted using a RUC. I left the complimentary upgrade to first box checked and had no problem clearing the waitlist a day or two before the DM window opened. In fact I've never unchecked that box when using a RUC and (knock on wood) I've never not had a RUC clear before the DM window.
Happy RUC'ing...it's rough out there
I just got back from a trip where I was waitlisted using a RUC. I left the complimentary upgrade to first box checked and had no problem clearing the waitlist a day or two before the DM window opened. In fact I've never unchecked that box when using a RUC and (knock on wood) I've never not had a RUC clear before the DM window.
Happy RUC'ing...it's rough out there
Like you, my RUC's that have cleared were always before the window, but now I wonder if I may have missed some upgrades when they did not
Dec 10, 2019, 11:56 am
#22
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Till about a year ago, was told you couldn't be listed for both. However about a year ago I was told it is now possible. From personal experience, it does appear to now work.
Dec 10, 2019, 1:05 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: DL DM & 1MM
Posts: 618
I know that I've missed a complimentary upgrade in the last few months two different times because I was waitlisted for a RUC. It's crazy that complimentary upgrade inventory opens before RUC inventory (at least some times), and further crazy that if you have a RUC applied when the complimentary upgrade window opens you're actually penalized (worse off) than not having RUC waitlisted in this scenario.
I have also had a RUC waitlisted that cleared within 24 hours, even though complimentary space was not available. So it's pretty evident the buckets are not necessarily opened at the same time.
It's pretty sad that you have to apply RUC at >T-6 days, then if not cleared, remove RUC and wait until <T-24 hours, and re-apply if you haven't othewise been upgraded.
I have also had a RUC waitlisted that cleared within 24 hours, even though complimentary space was not available. So it's pretty evident the buckets are not necessarily opened at the same time.
It's pretty sad that you have to apply RUC at >T-6 days, then if not cleared, remove RUC and wait until <T-24 hours, and re-apply if you haven't othewise been upgraded.
Dec 10, 2019, 1:12 pm
#24
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I know that I've missed a complimentary upgrade in the last few months two different times because I was waitlisted for a RUC. It's crazy that complimentary upgrade inventory opens before RUC inventory (at least some times), and further crazy that if you have a RUC applied when the complimentary upgrade window opens you're actually penalized (worse off) than not having RUC waitlisted in this scenario.
I have also had a RUC waitlisted that cleared within 24 hours, even though complimentary space was not available. So it's pretty evident the buckets are not necessarily opened at the same time.
It's pretty sad that you have to apply RUC at >T-6 days, then if not cleared, remove RUC and wait until <T-24 hours, and re-apply if you haven't othewise been upgraded.
I have also had a RUC waitlisted that cleared within 24 hours, even though complimentary space was not available. So it's pretty evident the buckets are not necessarily opened at the same time.
It's pretty sad that you have to apply RUC at >T-6 days, then if not cleared, remove RUC and wait until <T-24 hours, and re-apply if you haven't othewise been upgraded.
Dec 10, 2019, 1:33 pm
#25
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,227
I've been burning RUCs recently on transcons. It's been an incredible PITA. When they don't clear, I can't check in, and when I call it takes about 20 minutes for them to sort it out (re-ticket, call another desk, whatever). On my most recent call (<24hr to departure), when they started doing stuff (the re-issue?) the upgrade cleared while I was on the phone... Which makes me wonder if I was ever in the upgrade queue to begin with...
For the life of me, I can't figure out why DL can't get these to work properly (programmatically) . 3+ years into this...and it's still like stapling jello to the wall.
For the life of me, I can't figure out why DL can't get these to work properly (programmatically) . 3+ years into this...and it's still like stapling jello to the wall.
Dec 10, 2019, 2:12 pm
#26
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I've been burning RUCs recently on transcons. It's been an incredible PITA. When they don't clear, I can't check in, and when I call it takes about 20 minutes for them to sort it out (re-ticket, call another desk, whatever). On my most recent call (<24hr to departure), when they started doing stuff (the re-issue?) the upgrade cleared while I was on the phone... Which makes me wonder if I was ever in the upgrade queue to begin with...
For the life of me, I can't figure out why DL can't get these to work properly (programmatically) . 3+ years into this...and it's still like stapling jello to the wall.
For the life of me, I can't figure out why DL can't get these to work properly (programmatically) . 3+ years into this...and it's still like stapling jello to the wall.
Dec 10, 2019, 2:15 pm
#27
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Dec 10, 2019, 2:22 pm
#28
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
Why is the RUC/GUC process so confusing and convoluted?
Is this the way Delta wants it to be?
Recently had a RUC clear about a week in advance for the longer portion of the flight (ATL-SLC). On DoD I noticed on the short TPA-ATL segment I was way down the upgrade list (9th or so). Sent twitter a note to ask if my RUC was coded properly and it was not. The person that fixed it did something that made me lose my C+ aisle seat. They said they had to undo my C+ upgrade to code the RUC correctly. Ended up sitting in 29E on the TPA-ATL segment. Glad the perk of that RUC worked so well for me.
Is this the way Delta wants it to be?
Recently had a RUC clear about a week in advance for the longer portion of the flight (ATL-SLC). On DoD I noticed on the short TPA-ATL segment I was way down the upgrade list (9th or so). Sent twitter a note to ask if my RUC was coded properly and it was not. The person that fixed it did something that made me lose my C+ aisle seat. They said they had to undo my C+ upgrade to code the RUC correctly. Ended up sitting in 29E on the TPA-ATL segment. Glad the perk of that RUC worked so well for me.