Last edit by: Zorak
Index of DL forum threads on how to sit up front
Complimentary Upgrades
How do comp upgrades work?
This is the thread you are currently reading for questions including but not limited to
Use this thread for posting or researching data points pertaining to complimentary upgrades (how many were on the list, your position, whether you cleared, etc.)
Upgrades on AeroMexico flights (Consolidated Thread)
Certificate Upgrades
Global Upgrade Certificates (GUCs)
Regional Upgrade Certificates (RUCs)
Buying Up Using Cash
First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread
Using SkyMiles for Upgrades
Upgrading With Companions
Upgrading w/companions, eligibility, timing, Sep 2020 onward (consolidated)
Complimentary Upgrades
How do comp upgrades work?
This is the thread you are currently reading for questions including but not limited to
- I'm new to status and upgrades, how do I request a comp upgrade?
- when will my name appear on the list? when will I clear?
- do I need to do anything if my status went up since I booked?
- when will my name show up on the list?
- why is my position so low?
- oddities/anomalies involving the upgrade list
- and so on
Use this thread for posting or researching data points pertaining to complimentary upgrades (how many were on the list, your position, whether you cleared, etc.)
- 2023 Upgrade Success (Or Lack Thereof) Thread
- 2022 Upgrade Success (or lack thereof) Thread
- 2021 Upgrade Success (or lack thereof) thread
- ... and so on
Upgrades on AeroMexico flights (Consolidated Thread)
Certificate Upgrades
Global Upgrade Certificates (GUCs)
- Using Global Upgrades on Delta (GUCs) post 2/1/2022 Changes
- OLD 2014-2021 version of the thread (davetravels, RIP ): The Official - GLOBAL UPGRADE CERT success thread - Yay! I got it!
- Global upgrades on partners (see also the wiki at the top of the main GUC thread, which has good "executive summary" info for using GUCs on partners, including some that don't have their own dedicated threads):
- Air France (AF): Using GUC on AF - Consolidated Threads 2020 Onward
- KLM (KL): Using Delta Global Upgrade (GUC) with KLM Consolidated
- Korean Air (KE): Using GUC on KE bookings - Consolidated Thread
- Virgin Atlantic (VS): GUC now able to be used on Virgin Atlantic (VS)???
Regional Upgrade Certificates (RUCs)
- Using Regional Upgrades on Delta (RUC) post 2/1/2022
- OLD 2014-2021 version of the thread: Using Regional Upgrades
Buying Up Using Cash
First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread
Using SkyMiles for Upgrades
- Mileage Upgrade Awards (NOT the same as Upgrade With Miles, see thread wiki for explanation of the difference): Delta Mileage Upgrade Awards
- Air France (AF): Question re: upgrade with Miles on Air France
- Virgin Atlantic (VS): Definitive Thread: Use Sky Miles to upgrade on VS
Upgrading With Companions
Upgrading w/companions, eligibility, timing, Sep 2020 onward (consolidated)
Complimentary Upgrades on Delta, the Definitive Thread
#481
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,784
MSP-DTW-PVD on 2/15. PM/1MM
Upgraded to F on both flights on 2/10.
That is the earliest upgrade I’ve received in a few years. Alas, I had to reschedule to a different date, for reasons not relevant to this post.
Upgraded to F on both flights on 2/10.
That is the earliest upgrade I’ve received in a few years. Alas, I had to reschedule to a different date, for reasons not relevant to this post.
#482
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SAN
Programs: DL DM / 2MM - Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 1,524
Maybe this is a different thread but how do I AVOID an upgrade? Current trip is SAN - JFK and the A321N has a nice exit row seat in 20. I have unchecked the "request upgrade to Comfort Plus" box but yet every few days I get the email "congrats you have been upgraded to comfort plus" and sure enough they put me right up by the lav which is exactly what I am trying to avoid. Any ideas?
#483
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: USA - Seattle area
Programs: DL Platinum, "alum" of high status with UA but not any more
Posts: 532
Yesterday, when I checked in online about 12 hours before flight time, I was #3 on the upgrade list with 7 F seats remaining. I was watching this from time to time through the day, and it remained so. With this many seats available, it was kind of annoying that I was cleared at the gate 3 minutes prior to boarding time; a few days before I was upgraded to the last available F seat some 36 hours before flight time. So why such variance in how many upgrades they confirm prior to at the gate?
The annoying thing about being "in the running" is if there is a meal service in F, you have to make a decision about whether to eat before getting on the flight. Yesterday I did in fact eat at the airport, so I waived the in-flight meal and rather regretted it as my seat neighbor had what looked like a very nice dinner.
I suppose the savvy person might bring along nonperishable food; if there is an upgrade, then save it for some other time; if there is no upgrade, then it becomes your in-flight meal.
The annoying thing about being "in the running" is if there is a meal service in F, you have to make a decision about whether to eat before getting on the flight. Yesterday I did in fact eat at the airport, so I waived the in-flight meal and rather regretted it as my seat neighbor had what looked like a very nice dinner.
I suppose the savvy person might bring along nonperishable food; if there is an upgrade, then save it for some other time; if there is no upgrade, then it becomes your in-flight meal.
#484
Join Date: Aug 2022
Location: IND
Programs: Delta SkyMiles (DM), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium, LTP)
Posts: 535
Yesterday, when I checked in online about 12 hours before flight time, I was #3 on the upgrade list with 7 F seats remaining. I was watching this from time to time through the day, and it remained so. With this many seats available, it was kind of annoying that I was cleared at the gate 3 minutes prior to boarding time; a few days before I was upgraded to the last available F seat some 36 hours before flight time. So why such variance in how many upgrades they confirm prior to at the gate?
The annoying thing about being "in the running" is if there is a meal service in F, you have to make a decision about whether to eat before getting on the flight. Yesterday I did in fact eat at the airport, so I waived the in-flight meal and rather regretted it as my seat neighbor had what looked like a very nice dinner.
I suppose the savvy person might bring along nonperishable food; if there is an upgrade, then save it for some other time; if there is no upgrade, then it becomes your in-flight meal.
The annoying thing about being "in the running" is if there is a meal service in F, you have to make a decision about whether to eat before getting on the flight. Yesterday I did in fact eat at the airport, so I waived the in-flight meal and rather regretted it as my seat neighbor had what looked like a very nice dinner.
I suppose the savvy person might bring along nonperishable food; if there is an upgrade, then save it for some other time; if there is no upgrade, then it becomes your in-flight meal.
#486
Join Date: Aug 2022
Location: IND
Programs: Delta SkyMiles (DM), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium, LTP)
Posts: 535
I don't know about "fraudulent", but the current practices demonstrably dilute the stated benefits for DM/PM with respect to complimentary upgrades.
#487
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Virginia USA
Posts: 1,232
Sure, they footnoted it, but given that the chart where they say how many hours out upgrades clear at each level makes every single person the first time they have status say hey why didn't I upgrade, I don't think you could create so much confusion without knowing what you're doing. I'm going to finish out getting PM again this year since I had rollover for MQD, but after that I think I go free agent. My friend with United doesn't have to pay to get his travel companions on the same booking into the lounge, and if there is upgrades available when they are supposed to clear they actually clear, and for the last year or so my Delta experience is no longer any more reliable than his United experience.
#488
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,705
Of course, last trip that meant that FC had boarded and filled up the overheads by the time the GA came onboard to give me my upgrade, so I had to swim upstream to C+ to retrieve my bag when we landed.
eta: maybe I should have posted sooner. I just got a 48-hour upgrade from C+ to F. F cabin was half empty.
Last edited by chollie; Mar 12, 2024 at 9:23 am
#491
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: SW Florida
Programs: DL Gold, HHDiamond, IHG Plat Regular Joe Everywhere Else
Posts: 538
On both flights we were upgraded the day before to two C+ seats that were middle and separated me from my daughter. I put us back in our original seats and were upgraded at the gate 10 minutes before boarding.
***Edited to add we were at the top of the C+ upgrade for both of those flights so I fully expected to get the last 2 C+ seats together when they were released.
***Edited to add we were at the top of the C+ upgrade for both of those flights so I fully expected to get the last 2 C+ seats together when they were released.
Last edited by Dracarys; Mar 15, 2024 at 12:08 pm Reason: Additional info
#493
Join Date: Apr 2022
Programs: Delta SkyMiles
Posts: 109
Are paid seat upgrades still non-refundable/no ecredit?
I want to upgrade a seat to FC but this is for a consulting gig and while the dates are pretty solid, I suppose there is a small possibility of change and I'm not willing to risk the $.
It appears as though they aren't refundable but some people do get Ecredits sometime? but this isn't published policy right?
It appears as though they aren't refundable but some people do get Ecredits sometime? but this isn't published policy right?
#494
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SJU
Programs: Amex FHR elite travel agent, Ritz Stars, Hyatt Prive, Four Seasons Preferred Partner and others
Posts: 1,521
Just cleared SJU-JFK at the 5 day mark as a diamond + reserve card + corporate designator on a cheap U fare, was J5 and J3 after upgrades, so me and one other person cleared it. I haven't cleared anything at the 5 day mark since before covid. The new upgrade ordering has been a huge boon for me and makes DL status significantly more valuable.
#495
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 27
Husband (no medallion status this year but platinum delta Amex ) and I (platinum medallion with platinum delta Amex). He used Delta credits to buy ticket to SAT, and I used a companion pass that he had.
BUF/DTW/SAT
SAT/ATL/BUF
Bought tickets in main and received upgrades to C+ right away.
Upgraded 4 days out to FC BUF/DTW. Upgraded at the gate to FC DTW/SAT
Upgraded five days out to FC. ATL/BUF. Upgraded at the gate to FC SAT to ATL.
so basically except for taxes on the companion ticket we had first class for free round trip. Pretty happy. 🙂. Even had dinner on the DTW SAT leg which I didn’t know we’d get since it was a late flight so we had eaten already.
I like Delta.
BUF/DTW/SAT
SAT/ATL/BUF
Bought tickets in main and received upgrades to C+ right away.
Upgraded 4 days out to FC BUF/DTW. Upgraded at the gate to FC DTW/SAT
Upgraded five days out to FC. ATL/BUF. Upgraded at the gate to FC SAT to ATL.
so basically except for taxes on the companion ticket we had first class for free round trip. Pretty happy. 🙂. Even had dinner on the DTW SAT leg which I didn’t know we’d get since it was a late flight so we had eaten already.
I like Delta.