ryandc99

That challenge is real esp if the ticket is not reissued, and they can get hung up quite a bit without reissue that far out.

tanglin

Yes, it probably did warn me. Although if it had been highlighted like yours I would have paid more attention!

JBJ2435

Well, I pulled the trigger (thanks to OP for bringing up this thread) and booked for LAX-SYD-LAX for November. Hoping that they will be open by then, but I easily found GUC availability and called in to apply it in less than 10 mins! I know that there's a risk in things changing, but I did this several times last year as well and it worked out, if not, I'm flexible.

RhinoDL

I would also love to know this, I have a TALT flight booked with a GUC for end of February that seems stable (at this point) but I'm thinking of booking something TPAC using a GUC for October that I'm sure will change a few times between now and them.

JBJ2435

There's a discussion on this now on the other thread re devaluation of the GUC....

EditingFX

My plan for years has been to GUC a trip to New Zealand for a month long motorhome tour. Real bucket list stuff. But looks like I'm having to come to terms that it's not going to happen due to the factors; DL losing partner access to NZ, the GUC rule change and of course continuing Covid uncertainty. My business slows to zero before Christmas week through the 2nd/3rd week of January, so that's when I can afford to take a long trip. With 331 day scheduling, I've got to wait until end of February to book, so I'm forced into the new GUC rules, which, on an ATL-SYD route, means if I want D1, I've got to buy PE, adding at least $1000/seat. Also add about $500-600/seat for SYD-CHC flights. As much as I want to see NZ, and get there in D1, that's roughly $8400 for two, just for air. Ouch.

This of course is just me whining to the crowd, but if anyone has any suggestions, brother, I'm all ears.

flyerCO

Pay attention to DL partner LATAM. They fly SCL-SYD/AKL. Their discount Z fare to SYD or AKL can sometimes be cheaper than Y on other carriers. Most frequently JFK-SYD/AKL via SCL for $1600-$2500 per person. Before CV19, I did multiple trips a year to NZ (motorhomed both AKL-CHC and CHC-AKL multiple times, strongly recommend Apollo RV)

Current OZ/NZ fares are out of whack due to caps on maximum daily numbers of passengers.

findark

Did I miss a world where LAX-SYD in January had OY space?

Xeno

Where do I find a list of DL international flights with 2 'cabins' versus 3 'cabins' that will limit going from economy to D1 with GUCs as of 2/1/22?
I have 2 ticketed flights with GUCs (cleared to D1) that have been lost to COVID and I must rebook the tickets prior to this catastrophic change by DL.

ryandc99

I would love to know more about the dates the OP found availability... unheard of !

audidudi

Well first of all you will either have 3 cabins (without PS), or 4 cabins (with PS). And you can be sure that by this summer, the majority of A330s will have the PS cabin, and so will several B763ERs. So if your flight is on an A330, remember that DL will be swapping aircraft nearer the date to make sure that there will more likely be a 4 cabin aircraft on these flights. The routes that will have B763ERs on them will be fewer, and therefore it may end up being a similar situation, with DL swapping aircraft in at the last minute with a 4 cabin. After January 31, I wouldn't expect many upgrades from PS to D1 happening until T-24 at the earliest. If you book by January 31, then it's all different as you can be confirmed in D1 immediately at booking!

SkyTeam777

Which routes do we know will still be under the old upgrade rules due to no PS yet? Any that we should be targeting for sure if we don't want to redeem global upgrades by 1/31?

xliioper

Not really unless you are talking about booking flights that are fairly close in where equipment changes are unlikely. All international D1 routes have PS fare filings on them. Just because a route doesn't have PS equipment scheduled on it right now, doesn't mean they won't eventually sub PS equipment on it and the PS fares are already there should they make the substitution. The only D1 routes that don't have PS fares are the domestic ones where the PS cabin is marketed as C+ when flown with PS equipment.