Using Global Upgrades on Delta (GUCs) post 2/1/2022 Changes
|
|||
#16
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 11
I am looking at GUC/RUC availability from LAN and have tried a bunch of random dates/places and have noticed no GUC/RUC availability.
For example Mar 28, LAN>DTW>LAX>KOA DL5439,DL2528, DL1077 has no availability, but then Mar 28 DTW>LAX>KOA Same flights has first available with a GUC.
Same thing with June 7th, LAN>DTW>ATL>JNB DL5071,DL520,DL200- but DTW>ATL>JNB on the same flights show First available DTW>ATL and PS and Delta One available for ATL>JNB
This holds true for about the last 20 searches I have made. I don't remember this being an issue before but I have only used RUCs twice in the past. Only thing I can think of is because the LAN>DTW has no first class so it doesn't show the RUC or GUC to be available
Any ideas on this? Would a phone agent be shown different availability?
Hoping it is just a bug with the implementation of the new rules... any thoughts would be appreciated...
2nd Question- Previously always held on to selecting the RUC till I had a trip in mind, now I would prefer to have them in my account (So I don't have to wait a day for the certificate to populate), does any one see a downside to selecting the RUC/GUC now? All '22 RUC/GUC will be valid until Jan 31 2023. Only downside I could see is if Jan 31st rolls around and I didn't use it, I could of selected something that would have some last minute value (20k miles etc)
Cheers!
For example Mar 28, LAN>DTW>LAX>KOA DL5439,DL2528, DL1077 has no availability, but then Mar 28 DTW>LAX>KOA Same flights has first available with a GUC.
Same thing with June 7th, LAN>DTW>ATL>JNB DL5071,DL520,DL200- but DTW>ATL>JNB on the same flights show First available DTW>ATL and PS and Delta One available for ATL>JNB
This holds true for about the last 20 searches I have made. I don't remember this being an issue before but I have only used RUCs twice in the past. Only thing I can think of is because the LAN>DTW has no first class so it doesn't show the RUC or GUC to be available
Any ideas on this? Would a phone agent be shown different availability?
Hoping it is just a bug with the implementation of the new rules... any thoughts would be appreciated...
2nd Question- Previously always held on to selecting the RUC till I had a trip in mind, now I would prefer to have them in my account (So I don't have to wait a day for the certificate to populate), does any one see a downside to selecting the RUC/GUC now? All '22 RUC/GUC will be valid until Jan 31 2023. Only downside I could see is if Jan 31st rolls around and I didn't use it, I could of selected something that would have some last minute value (20k miles etc)
Cheers!
#17
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: DL DM 1MM; IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 90
Had a fairly easy experience with the new rules this evening. 41 minute call-back quote; called back in 20 minutes (side-bar, all of my recent call backs have been in about half the quoted time...a good trend).
"Last minute" business trip to CDG next week. I am an extreme planner, so 6-7 days notice of booking an international trip is last minute for me. Found an outbound without PS that had D1 space available and a return that I paid the PS penalty on to access D1 suites ($900 upgrade to PS on return). I only had to do minimal explanation of the new rules; she said "you can upgrade to PS" and I mentioned that I booked it in such a way that both directions should be available for all the way up front in all 4 legs...she then agreed. All-in-all, was on the phone for only 15 minutes, and had all 4 legs cleared. 3 out of 4 were D1 and one was a regional jet with FC.
SFO-SEA-CDG: FC and D1
CDG-JFK-SFO: D1 and D1
All cleared on booking after paying $900 over the MC fare for PS on return to get immediate clearance in D1 suites.
I've always been negative about my expectations about upgrade availability, but there seemed to be plenty of flights that said GUC space available to CDG over the next couple of weeks. This experience was a good start for me with the new rules. I'm looking at it as I only paid $900 out of pocket for a RT D1 experience since work is picking up the rest of the ticket...I'm fine with that. Its not summer obviously, but hopefully future experiences will have fair availability and easy bookings like this one.
"Last minute" business trip to CDG next week. I am an extreme planner, so 6-7 days notice of booking an international trip is last minute for me. Found an outbound without PS that had D1 space available and a return that I paid the PS penalty on to access D1 suites ($900 upgrade to PS on return). I only had to do minimal explanation of the new rules; she said "you can upgrade to PS" and I mentioned that I booked it in such a way that both directions should be available for all the way up front in all 4 legs...she then agreed. All-in-all, was on the phone for only 15 minutes, and had all 4 legs cleared. 3 out of 4 were D1 and one was a regional jet with FC.
SFO-SEA-CDG: FC and D1
CDG-JFK-SFO: D1 and D1
All cleared on booking after paying $900 over the MC fare for PS on return to get immediate clearance in D1 suites.
I've always been negative about my expectations about upgrade availability, but there seemed to be plenty of flights that said GUC space available to CDG over the next couple of weeks. This experience was a good start for me with the new rules. I'm looking at it as I only paid $900 out of pocket for a RT D1 experience since work is picking up the rest of the ticket...I'm fine with that. Its not summer obviously, but hopefully future experiences will have fair availability and easy bookings like this one.
#18
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: los angeles
Programs: Hyatt Courtesy card. Delta 2MM Diamond. AA platinum pro
Posts: 1,845
A confusing data point. On a transcon flight I had set up a waitlisted RUC for D1. Two other flights showed GUC availability online.I called to switch to one of those flights. I'm guessing that because of the waitlisted RUC I had to be transferred to a desk for a manual reissue. After a 90 minute hold I was by the manual desk that GUC was available on all flights- not just those with Z availability. So I was able to use the GUC on my original flight. The original representative had assured me a GUC was not available on my original flight.
#19
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: DL Diamond, Hertz PC, Bonvoy Gold Elite
Posts: 430
A confusing data point. On a transcon flight I had set up a waitlisted RUC for D1. Two other flights showed GUC availability online.I called to switch to one of those flights. I'm guessing that because of the waitlisted RUC I had to be transferred to a desk for a manual reissue. After a 90 minute hold I was by the manual desk that GUC was available on all flights- not just those with Z availability. So I was able to use the GUC on my original flight. The original representative had assured me a GUC was not available on my original flight.
On the reissued ticket, does it show your upgraded flight as class OV or OK?
#20

Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 4,517
Based on the charts from DL internal process, the agent you got was definitely confusing domestic configs: GUC to FC = J, GUC to D1 = Z. I commented on this yesterday. It seems DL's complex reissue process for GUC/RUC relies mostly on agent following the rules/instructions. Automation does not seem to stop them. So if they wrongly think you can use J space (because they don't realize its a D1 flight) then when they force the manual reissue, you won. In this case, the website was correct, your flight didn't have Z so it wasn't available, the other flights were, and the agent was wrong. But you won, so yay!!!
On the reissued ticket, does it show your upgraded flight as class OV or OK?
On the reissued ticket, does it show your upgraded flight as class OV or OK?
#21
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: DL Diamond, Hertz PC, Bonvoy Gold Elite
Posts: 430
I am looking at GUC/RUC availability from LAN and have tried a bunch of random dates/places and have noticed no GUC/RUC availability.
For example Mar 28, LAN>DTW>LAX>KOA DL5439,DL2528, DL1077 has no availability, but then Mar 28 DTW>LAX>KOA Same flights has first available with a GUC.
Same thing with June 7th, LAN>DTW>ATL>JNB DL5071,DL520,DL200- but DTW>ATL>JNB on the same flights show First available DTW>ATL and PS and Delta One available for ATL>JNB
This holds true for about the last 20 searches I have made. I don't remember this being an issue before but I have only used RUCs twice in the past. Only thing I can think of is because the LAN>DTW has no first class so it doesn't show the RUC or GUC to be available
Any ideas on this? Would a phone agent be shown different availability?
Hoping it is just a bug with the implementation of the new rules... any thoughts would be appreciated...
2nd Question- Previously always held on to selecting the RUC till I had a trip in mind, now I would prefer to have them in my account (So I don't have to wait a day for the certificate to populate), does any one see a downside to selecting the RUC/GUC now? All '22 RUC/GUC will be valid until Jan 31 2023. Only downside I could see is if Jan 31st rolls around and I didn't use it, I could of selected something that would have some last minute value (20k miles etc)
Cheers!
For example Mar 28, LAN>DTW>LAX>KOA DL5439,DL2528, DL1077 has no availability, but then Mar 28 DTW>LAX>KOA Same flights has first available with a GUC.
Same thing with June 7th, LAN>DTW>ATL>JNB DL5071,DL520,DL200- but DTW>ATL>JNB on the same flights show First available DTW>ATL and PS and Delta One available for ATL>JNB
This holds true for about the last 20 searches I have made. I don't remember this being an issue before but I have only used RUCs twice in the past. Only thing I can think of is because the LAN>DTW has no first class so it doesn't show the RUC or GUC to be available
Any ideas on this? Would a phone agent be shown different availability?
Hoping it is just a bug with the implementation of the new rules... any thoughts would be appreciated...
2nd Question- Previously always held on to selecting the RUC till I had a trip in mind, now I would prefer to have them in my account (So I don't have to wait a day for the certificate to populate), does any one see a downside to selecting the RUC/GUC now? All '22 RUC/GUC will be valid until Jan 31 2023. Only downside I could see is if Jan 31st rolls around and I didn't use it, I could of selected something that would have some last minute value (20k miles etc)
Cheers!
The new upgrade availability rules are based off of revenue fare buckets mostly (with the exception of RUC on D1 which is still hidden inventory OY). Revenue fare buckets use something called married segment logic. You can google it for more info, but basically, a fare bucket seat may be available point to point LAN-DTW and DTW-LAX but not all the way through when sold together LAN-DTW-LAX. DL agents and travel agents are forbidden from setting tickets point to point, they have to sell the segments based on connection. If a travel agent were to see a new ticket by inserting point to point segments they will get penalized $$$ by the airline. DL.com is showing you married segments when you look up the flights. However, in the case of upgrades (as least for now) you don't have to have married segments, you can apply upgrades point to point. So if LAN-DTW-LAX has no Z but each individual flight does, you are fine. The problem is that DL.com is not programed to look at segment by segment availability for the new upgrade indicators. I am assuming they will fix this shortly. However, I actually quite like it. In most cases the scenario is going to be exact opposite that you find yours in. There is going to be space LAN-DTW but not the longer flights. In the system prior to 2/1 you would get the indicator "some seats" on almost every flight but when you clicked on it, it was just the feeder flight that was available. In the interim, its safest to look up each individual flight. Or just get expert flyer, its a bit faster to go through all the flights.
#22
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: DL Diamond, Hertz PC, Bonvoy Gold Elite
Posts: 430
I believe the one check and balance in this is the ticket reissue process, so it's possible this could get caught during that process if it hasn't already been reticketed. Though I don't know if the reticketing agent would be able to see all of the necessary details to know there was an issue, and hopefully even if they could there's a chance they'd go ahead and clear it anyway since the traveler was not at fault.
#23
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: los angeles
Programs: Hyatt Courtesy card. Delta 2MM Diamond. AA platinum pro
Posts: 1,845
Based on the charts from DL internal process, the agent you got was definitely confusing domestic configs: GUC to FC = J, GUC to D1 = Z. I commented on this yesterday. It seems DL's complex reissue process for GUC/RUC relies mostly on agent following the rules/instructions. Automation does not seem to stop them. So if they wrongly think you can use J space (because they don't realize its a D1 flight) then when they force the manual reissue, you won. In this case, the website was correct, your flight didn't have Z so it wasn't available, the other flights were, and the agent was wrong. But you won, so yay!!!
On the reissued ticket, does it show your upgraded flight as class OV or OK?
On the reissued ticket, does it show your upgraded flight as class OV or OK?
#24
Moderator, Delta Skymiles and Mileage Run
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: DL Diamond/MM, Hyatt Diamond, former AS MVPG 75K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,717
Is there a reason why some routing options on the DL website don't show availability? In the area where it would normally show, nothing shows. Is this a known issue?
#25
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 83
Looking to book CDG-MSP on AF using a GUC, (I found Z space on EF) on 9/20/22. My question is how can I use a GUC if the Delta website doesn't even show the flight for sale? The website shows the nonstop Delta flight but not the AF flight. Also, is it possible to use delta miles to book this? Thanks
#26
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Salt Lake City
Programs: Delta DM and 1 MM, HHonors Diamond (thru AMEX), Marriott Gold
Posts: 554
Have a SLC-JFK-PRG-AMS-DTW-SLC routing where the international Delta segments cleared OY in January. I now have the two domestic Delta segments showing up as being in OV class, which seems to indicate that they cleared after the 2/1 change, correct? But I cannot choose seats on these nor even move the seats on the international segments right now. The Delta agents I have been texting are busy and rather clueless about this, have tried three times so far and gotten helpful comments like "since this is a complimentary upgrade, the gate agents are the ones who will be assigning your seats during the flight". I am so tired of the time spent on crap like this during this employment meltdown. Any chance this flight coding stuff will resolve by itself?
#27
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.5MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC, Moderna 3x
Posts: 3,852
Looking to book CDG-MSP on AF using a GUC, (I found Z space on EF) on 9/20/22. My question is how can I use a GUC if the Delta website doesn't even show the flight for sale? The website shows the nonstop Delta flight but not the AF flight. Also, is it possible to use delta miles to book this? Thanks
I can't comment as to whether partner mileage award flights are eligible for certificate upgrades, but perhaps someone else has experience with that element of your question.
#28
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: DL Diamond, Hertz PC, Bonvoy Gold Elite
Posts: 430
Looking to book CDG-MSP on AF using a GUC, (I found Z space on EF) on 9/20/22. My question is how can I use a GUC if the Delta website doesn't even show the flight for sale? The website shows the nonstop Delta flight but not the AF flight. Also, is it possible to use delta miles to book this? Thanks
If flight is same or cheaper on DL.com book there and then the agent wont have to take the record/ticket over from AF.

#29
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: DL Diamond, Hertz PC, Bonvoy Gold Elite
Posts: 430
Have a SLC-JFK-PRG-AMS-DTW-SLC routing where the international Delta segments cleared OY in January. I now have the two domestic Delta segments showing up as being in OV class, which seems to indicate that they cleared after the 2/1 change, correct? But I cannot choose seats on these nor even move the seats on the international segments right now. The Delta agents I have been texting are busy and rather clueless about this, have tried three times so far and gotten helpful comments like "since this is a complimentary upgrade, the gate agents are the ones who will be assigning your seats during the flight". I am so tired of the time spent on crap like this during this employment meltdown. Any chance this flight coding stuff will resolve by itself?