Originally Posted by HWGeeks (Post 33077435)

I am just curious if I am the only one who gambles this way on Delta.

You buy the Main cabin ticket, in hopes that the upgrade offer is cheaper than the booking price for 1st.

Example: JFK SDQ on March 28th - April 26th, 6:59 PM departure $699 Round trip in 1st.

I purchased a coach seat for $393. During booking it said for 316 dollars more I could be upgraded to 1st I ignored that offer. After booking when I went to "My Trips" I was offered an upgrade to first for 109 each leg 218 total. Total Paid for First $611.

A savings of 88 dollars.

I have saved a lot of money this way even pre-pandemic. Although sometimes the upgrade isn't offered the same day you purchase the ticket, and there have been times I have had to pay 20 to 100 dollars more but overall I'm ahead.

Originally Posted by Dawgfan6291 (Post 33082285)

Just did this for a trip to MCO in a few days.

Bought Y+ for $190. F at the time I got offered the upgrade was ~$800. I paid $74 each way so $338 for the trip in F, so I saved over $450 bucks.

Of course I had the exit rows on 757s so i had leg room for days if I wouldn't have been able to upgrade, but for 74 bucks a leg i figured what the hell.


I pretty much always go this route now.

Originally Posted by Dawgfan6291 (Post 33082285)

Just did this for a trip to MCO in a few days.

Bought Y+ for $190. F at the time I got offered the upgrade was ~$800. I paid $74 each way so $338 for the trip in F, so I saved over $450 bucks.

Of course I had the exit rows on 757s so i had leg room for days if I wouldn't have been able to upgrade, but for 74 bucks a leg i figured what the hell.


I pretty much always go this route now.

Originally Posted by bsagator (Post 33082800)

To MCO but what origin?

Originally Posted by HWGeeks (Post 33082819)

Yeah I always take the exit row, I don't even request the C+ upgrade. But for the extra miles sometimes it's worth the upgrade.

Originally Posted by HeadInTheClouds (Post 33087705)

I always try to avoid these because you lose the value of the upgrade fee if you subsequently have to change the ticket, something you don’t have to worry about if you book it into F properly. But sometimes the difference still makes it worth the risk for me.

Originally Posted by HeadInTheClouds (Post 33087705)

I always try to avoid these because you lose the value of the upgrade fee if you subsequently have to change the ticket, something you don’t have to worry about if you book it into F properly. But sometimes the difference still makes it worth the risk for me.

Originally Posted by rylan (Post 33088150)

I've never had an issue with losing the value when making a change. Only thing that happens sometimes is the system doesn't track and provide MQM and MQD for the buy-up segment.

Originally Posted by SDQBound (Post 33088002)

I have been successful in changing the ticket and getting rebooked on the same fare class as the upgraded ticket.

Originally Posted by sxpsxpsxp (Post 33088911)

The question I have is whether there's any way to be alerted when there's a good pay-to-upgrade deal. :D

I'm looking at a flight I have booked next month. I can upgrade to F for "only" $349 per passenger. But if I change my ticket, the fare difference is $194 per passenger. If I didn't have 5 passengers on my reservation I might actually consider it.... Where are they coming up with this stuff?

Originally Posted by rylan (Post 33088150)

I've never had an issue with losing the value when making a change. Only thing that happens sometimes is the system doesn't track and provide MQM and MQD for the buy-up segment.

Originally Posted by homegrowned (Post 33090477)

Quick question: if you have a multi leg journey, how might one see the offer for each leg? I’ve got a short hop on the first leg that I’m not a fan of upgrading but the second longer leg is where I may consider a cash or points upgrade.