Feb 2, 22, 11:25 pm
Last edit by: bgriff
For discussion of same-day change on an itinerary with an RUC applied, see: SDC while using Regional Upgrade Certificates (RUC) Definitive Thread
FEB 1, 2022 New GUC/RUC Inventory Rules
*****GUC*****
Flight has First Class
MC/C+ = Purchased
First = Last Seat J (Old Policy = OY)
Flight has DPS only
MC/C+ = Purchased
DPS = Last Seat (GUC=P / RUC=G) (Old Policy = RY)
Flight has D1 with no DPS
MC/C+ = Purchased
D1 = Z (Old Policy = OY)
Flight has D1 with DPS
MC/C+ = Purchased
DPS = Last Seat (GUC=P / RUC=G) (Old Policy = RY)
D1 = OY @ T-24h15m
Flight has D1 with DPS
DPS = Purchased
D1 = Z (Old Policy = OY)
Note: If GUC applied to domestic flight, it has better inventory than RUC (better chance for D1 transcon or to Hawaii)
*****RUC*****
Flight has First Class
MC/C+ = Purchased
First = Z (Old Policy = OY)
Flight has D1 with no DPS
MC/C+ = Purchased
D1 = OY (no change in old policy = OY)
Delta is using public inventory buckets J Z P G (and non-public bucket OY in some cases) to determine GUC/RUC availability. However once they have confirmed you the system converts the segment in your reservation to a different bucket. Here is the class mapping:
GUC Usage
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to DPS / P class needed / Books into RV (Clears at T-24.15 into D1 as OX if OY available)
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to D1 (no DPS) / Z class needed / Books into OK
DPS purchased / Upgrade to D1 / Z class needed / Books into OK
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to FC (no D1/DPS) / J class needed / Books into OV
RUC Usage
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to DPS / G class needed / Books into RX (Clears at T-24.15 into D1 as OX if OY available) ****THIS AIRCRAFT CONFIG MAKES NO SENSE DPS IS NOT SOLD ON RUC ROUTES, MAYBE THIS IS FOR FUTURE PLANS?****
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to D1 (no DPS) / OY class needed / Books into OX
DPS purchased / Upgrade to D1 / OY class needed / Books into OX ****THIS AIRCRAFT CONFIG MAKES NO SENSE DPS IS NOT SOLD ON RUC ROUTES, MAYBE THIS IS FOR FUTURE PLANS?****
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to FC (no D1/DPS) / Z class needed / Books into OL
New Delta.com Upgrade Availability Indicators that appeared 2/1/22 and what they mean
Dom D1 Tag meaning:
Global Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in Z (OY = 0 for RUC)
Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in Z /or/ RUC in OY both available
Dom F Tag meaning:
Global Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in Last Seat J (Z = 0 for RUC)
Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in last seat J /or/ RUC in Z both available
Example D1 Flights from JFK - LAX (flight numbers are fictitious)
DL 01
Dom D1 flight
Actual Availability: J5 C4 D4 Z3
Hidden Availability: OY2
Website indicator: Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (2 RUC (OY) open, 3 GUC (Z) open)
DL 02
Dom D1 flight
Actual Availability: J5 C4 D4 Z3
Hidden Availability: OY0
Website indicator: Global Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (0 RUC (OY) open, 3 GUC (Z) open)
DL 03
Dom D1 flight
Actual Availability: J3 C2 D2 Z0
Hidden Availability: OY0
Website indicator: No flag - neither is available GUC (Z0) and RUC (OY0)
DL 04
Dom First flight
Actual Availability: J3 C2 D2 Z1
Hidden Availability: n/a
Website indicator: Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (1 RUC (Z) open, 3 GUC (J) open)
DL 05
Dom First flight
Actual Availability: J3 C2 D2 Z0
Hidden Availability: n/a
Website indicator: Global Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (0 RUC (Z) open, 3 GUC (J) open)
DL 06
Dom First flight
Actual Availability: J0 C0 D0 Z0
Hidden Availability: n/a
Website indicator: No flag - neither is available
Actual decode: (0 RUC (Z) open, 0 GUC (J) open)
Im not able to check-in online for a flight where RUC/GUC was applied.
The problem is most likely that your upgrade cleared but your ticket has not been re-issued. Call to request a manual re-issue of your ticket.
__________________________________________________ __
PRE FEB 1, 2022 WIKI
More information and discussion about using same-day change after applying regional upgrades can be found in this thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delt...ve-thread.html
While the RUC process is almost entirely opaque, there are a couple of "hints" of a correctly applied waitlist.
1a) When viewing a waitlisted segment on the DL.com web site (not the app), there may be two seat maps for the same flight. The first seat map shows the coach seat you are currently in, and the second seat map for the same flight says "you may not select seats for this flight" or something like that. This second seat map corresponds to a part of the waitlist process, and indicates that at least one step of the multi-step process to add an RUC waitlist was actually done. Unfortunately, this does NOT indicate that the other manual steps of the RUC waitlist process were successfully completed by the agent (i.e. even if you see the second seat map, there still could be something wrong. There is simply no way for the customer to tell.)
1b) The status for a waitlisted segment should say something like "Upgrade Waitlisted"
2) Assuming the waitlist does not clear prior to check-in, the second hint is the upgrade waitlist. If the RUC waitlist request was coded correctly, you should show up at or very near the top of the upgrade waitlist that you can see on DL.com or the app. If you find yourself at your "usual" spot on the upgrade waitlist, this is a clue that the RUC waitlist request was not coded correctly.
3) The RUC is a form of "payment". Until the RUC clears, it remains "unused" so a waitlisted RUC will still show in your wallet as "open".
You may also wish to peruse the wiki for the GUC success thread as some of the considerations/logistics are similar between RUCs and GUCs.
FEB 1, 2022 New GUC/RUC Inventory Rules
*****GUC*****
Flight has First Class
MC/C+ = Purchased
First = Last Seat J (Old Policy = OY)
Flight has DPS only
MC/C+ = Purchased
DPS = Last Seat (GUC=P / RUC=G) (Old Policy = RY)
Flight has D1 with no DPS
MC/C+ = Purchased
D1 = Z (Old Policy = OY)
Flight has D1 with DPS
MC/C+ = Purchased
DPS = Last Seat (GUC=P / RUC=G) (Old Policy = RY)
D1 = OY @ T-24h15m
Flight has D1 with DPS
DPS = Purchased
D1 = Z (Old Policy = OY)
Note: If GUC applied to domestic flight, it has better inventory than RUC (better chance for D1 transcon or to Hawaii)
*****RUC*****
Flight has First Class
MC/C+ = Purchased
First = Z (Old Policy = OY)
Flight has D1 with no DPS
MC/C+ = Purchased
D1 = OY (no change in old policy = OY)
Delta is using public inventory buckets J Z P G (and non-public bucket OY in some cases) to determine GUC/RUC availability. However once they have confirmed you the system converts the segment in your reservation to a different bucket. Here is the class mapping:
GUC Usage
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to DPS / P class needed / Books into RV (Clears at T-24.15 into D1 as OX if OY available)
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to D1 (no DPS) / Z class needed / Books into OK
DPS purchased / Upgrade to D1 / Z class needed / Books into OK
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to FC (no D1/DPS) / J class needed / Books into OV
RUC Usage
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to DPS / G class needed / Books into RX (Clears at T-24.15 into D1 as OX if OY available) ****THIS AIRCRAFT CONFIG MAKES NO SENSE DPS IS NOT SOLD ON RUC ROUTES, MAYBE THIS IS FOR FUTURE PLANS?****
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to D1 (no DPS) / OY class needed / Books into OX
DPS purchased / Upgrade to D1 / OY class needed / Books into OX ****THIS AIRCRAFT CONFIG MAKES NO SENSE DPS IS NOT SOLD ON RUC ROUTES, MAYBE THIS IS FOR FUTURE PLANS?****
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to FC (no D1/DPS) / Z class needed / Books into OL
New Delta.com Upgrade Availability Indicators that appeared 2/1/22 and what they mean
Dom D1 Tag meaning:
Global Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in Z (OY = 0 for RUC)
Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in Z /or/ RUC in OY both available
Dom F Tag meaning:
Global Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in Last Seat J (Z = 0 for RUC)
Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in last seat J /or/ RUC in Z both available
Example D1 Flights from JFK - LAX (flight numbers are fictitious)
DL 01
Dom D1 flight
Actual Availability: J5 C4 D4 Z3
Hidden Availability: OY2
Website indicator: Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (2 RUC (OY) open, 3 GUC (Z) open)
DL 02
Dom D1 flight
Actual Availability: J5 C4 D4 Z3
Hidden Availability: OY0
Website indicator: Global Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (0 RUC (OY) open, 3 GUC (Z) open)
DL 03
Dom D1 flight
Actual Availability: J3 C2 D2 Z0
Hidden Availability: OY0
Website indicator: No flag - neither is available GUC (Z0) and RUC (OY0)
DL 04
Dom First flight
Actual Availability: J3 C2 D2 Z1
Hidden Availability: n/a
Website indicator: Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (1 RUC (Z) open, 3 GUC (J) open)
DL 05
Dom First flight
Actual Availability: J3 C2 D2 Z0
Hidden Availability: n/a
Website indicator: Global Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (0 RUC (Z) open, 3 GUC (J) open)
DL 06
Dom First flight
Actual Availability: J0 C0 D0 Z0
Hidden Availability: n/a
Website indicator: No flag - neither is available
Actual decode: (0 RUC (Z) open, 0 GUC (J) open)
Im not able to check-in online for a flight where RUC/GUC was applied.
The problem is most likely that your upgrade cleared but your ticket has not been re-issued. Call to request a manual re-issue of your ticket.
__________________________________________________ __
PRE FEB 1, 2022 WIKI
More information and discussion about using same-day change after applying regional upgrades can be found in this thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delt...ve-thread.html
The clock begins ticking on RUC expiration when you make your choice benefit selection, so it's possible to time your selection when there is a specific need to use them.You can select your 2017 choice benefit as soon as DL recognizes your Plat status. Certificates expire 12 months from date of issue. 2019 choice benefits (earned based on how much one flew in 2018) must be selected by Jan 31, 2020.- If you select certificates as your choice benefit late in your Medallion tenure, it will still be valid after your status expires -- so for example if you earn Platinum Medallion in 2018, which is valid through Jan 31, 2020, but then only earn Silver Medallion in 2019, which becomes effective Feb 1, 2020 when your Platinum Medallion status expires, RUCs selected in January 2020 would be valid through January 2021 and could be used once you were only a Silver Medallion member, giving you a much higher upgrade list position on those flights where you attempt to use them.
- If you request to use a RUC on a flight and do not receive the upgrade, it is returned to your account for future use, but check your account to make sure.
- RUC may be redeemed for the named Medallion member and up to one travel companion traveling on the same flight (the companion officially no longer needs to be in the same reservation, though that rule was not actually enforced even when it was the official rule). The named member and the companion will each require a separate certificate.
While the RUC process is almost entirely opaque, there are a couple of "hints" of a correctly applied waitlist.
1a) When viewing a waitlisted segment on the DL.com web site (not the app), there may be two seat maps for the same flight. The first seat map shows the coach seat you are currently in, and the second seat map for the same flight says "you may not select seats for this flight" or something like that. This second seat map corresponds to a part of the waitlist process, and indicates that at least one step of the multi-step process to add an RUC waitlist was actually done. Unfortunately, this does NOT indicate that the other manual steps of the RUC waitlist process were successfully completed by the agent (i.e. even if you see the second seat map, there still could be something wrong. There is simply no way for the customer to tell.)
1b) The status for a waitlisted segment should say something like "Upgrade Waitlisted"
2) Assuming the waitlist does not clear prior to check-in, the second hint is the upgrade waitlist. If the RUC waitlist request was coded correctly, you should show up at or very near the top of the upgrade waitlist that you can see on DL.com or the app. If you find yourself at your "usual" spot on the upgrade waitlist, this is a clue that the RUC waitlist request was not coded correctly.
3) The RUC is a form of "payment". Until the RUC clears, it remains "unused" so a waitlisted RUC will still show in your wallet as "open".
You may also wish to peruse the wiki for the GUC success thread as some of the considerations/logistics are similar between RUCs and GUCs.
Using Regional Upgrades on Delta (RUC) post 2/1/2022
Feb 9, 22, 10:20 pm
#46
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 704
I have an upcoming itinerary with one companion on same reservation and three companions on separate reservations. The flight currently shows 16 seats available in F, and 15 seats occupied in C+. I have RUCs applied to me and four companions on the waitlist but wondering if I should pull the RUCs, wait to see if my comp upgrade with same-reservation companion clears, then apply RUCs for my companions. The caveat here is wed like it to be an all or none upgrade, so maybe its worth using the RUCs, even if I would otherwise have a decent chance of getting two of the upgrades free.
Does clearance off the waitlist usually start at T-120?
Does clearance off the waitlist usually start at T-120?
Feb 10, 22, 3:53 pm
#48
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: NYC
Posts: 95
Is it possible to use Delta Amex Pay With Miles and apply a Upgrade Certificate?
Specifically, I'm looking at flights JFK to a couple Caribbean destinations for next fall that are about $1000 for two MC, and are listed as "First available with Upgrade Certificate" on delta's website. I'd love to use 100k of my miles to basically pay $0, but want to use my RUCs to upgrade to F. An old post from 2017 says no, a couple posts from 2019 say maybe, but often involves a few HUACAs:
RUC with Pay with Miles question
Has anyone tried this recently?
Thanks!
Specifically, I'm looking at flights JFK to a couple Caribbean destinations for next fall that are about $1000 for two MC, and are listed as "First available with Upgrade Certificate" on delta's website. I'd love to use 100k of my miles to basically pay $0, but want to use my RUCs to upgrade to F. An old post from 2017 says no, a couple posts from 2019 say maybe, but often involves a few HUACAs:
RUC with Pay with Miles question
Has anyone tried this recently?
Thanks!
Feb 11, 22, 11:04 pm
#49
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: DL, Hilton, National
Posts: 817
Has anyone seen a situation where there is RUC upgrade availability open on one leg but only GUC on the other? I'm assuming on the search results it would say both, or it would say GUC but once clicking for the details it might show the RUC availability on one of them?
Feb 11, 22, 11:07 pm
#50
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: DL, Hilton, National
Posts: 817
Data point to my own question: I did a search only for one leg on the flights I'm looking at, and on the short leg, they are all open just with an RUC. So it seems that it won't list that at all unless both (or more) legs are available with RUC. It will just default to only give it as a GUC availability.
Feb 12, 22, 11:09 am
#51
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, DL MM
Posts: 4,211
...
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!
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!
Feb 12, 22, 11:58 am
#52
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, DL MM
Posts: 4,211
Is it possible to use Delta Amex Pay With Miles and apply a Upgrade Certificate?
Specifically, I'm looking at flights JFK to a couple Caribbean destinations for next fall that are about $1000 for two MC, and are listed as "First available with Upgrade Certificate" on delta's website. I'd love to use 100k of my miles to basically pay $0, but want to use my RUCs to upgrade to F. An old post from 2017 says no, a couple posts from 2019 say maybe, but often involves a few HUACAs:
RUC with Pay with Miles question
Has anyone tried this recently?
Thanks!
Specifically, I'm looking at flights JFK to a couple Caribbean destinations for next fall that are about $1000 for two MC, and are listed as "First available with Upgrade Certificate" on delta's website. I'd love to use 100k of my miles to basically pay $0, but want to use my RUCs to upgrade to F. An old post from 2017 says no, a couple posts from 2019 say maybe, but often involves a few HUACAs:
RUC with Pay with Miles question
Has anyone tried this recently?
Thanks!
On Delta flights, you can use one-way Regional Upgrade Certificates on all paid published Main Cabin and Delta Comfort+ fares, Award Travel tickets and Miles + Cash tickets on Delta-operated flights, on Pay with Miles tickets, and on Companion Certificates.
Feb 12, 22, 1:05 pm
#53
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: NYC
Posts: 95
The terms clearly say you can if you use Miles & Cash....use your miles and then pay $5 in cash so that you satisfy the terms:
On Delta flights, you can use one-way Regional Upgrade Certificates on all paid published Main Cabin and Delta Comfort+ fares, Award Travel tickets and Miles + Cash tickets on Delta-operated flights, on Pay with Miles tickets, and on Companion Certificates.
On Delta flights, you can use one-way Regional Upgrade Certificates on all paid published Main Cabin and Delta Comfort+ fares, Award Travel tickets and Miles + Cash tickets on Delta-operated flights, on Pay with Miles tickets, and on Companion Certificates.
Feb 14, 22, 11:45 am
#55
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Plat, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,352
Should be possible: "There is no limit to the number of travel companions you can upgrade with an Upgrade Certificate even if you dont need to use one for yourself." Just has to be a linked reservation.
Feb 14, 22, 6:26 pm
#57
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, DL MM
Posts: 4,211
Look at it this way. An RUC is a confirmed upgrade on a route you were entitled to a complimentary upgrade anyway for!
Feb 15, 22, 1:04 pm
#58
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: GRR
Programs: Delta Plat & Million Miler
Posts: 1,352
Feb 16, 22, 9:13 am
#59
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 15
Has anyone ever had an RUC that was initially waitlisted and then cleared actually work correctly? It seems that every time this happens, my ticket is not re-issued, and I have to call in to have this fixed.
I had an RUC waitlisted for ATL-PHX last week and was not able to check in, so I knew what the issue was. When I called in, the rep said the RUC cleared and my ticket needed to be re-issued, but there was a 45-minute hold for the ticketing desk and instead of keeping me on hold, she would call me back once it was done. About 2.5 hours later, I got a call back from the same rep that I initially spoke with telling me that it was complete. I asked her, "Surely you have not been on hold internally waiting on the ticket desk just for me this entire time??" and she said that she was. And we wonder why there are long hold times? One agent was tied up for almost 3 hours just trying to deal with this one issue.
I had an RUC waitlisted for ATL-PHX last week and was not able to check in, so I knew what the issue was. When I called in, the rep said the RUC cleared and my ticket needed to be re-issued, but there was a 45-minute hold for the ticketing desk and instead of keeping me on hold, she would call me back once it was done. About 2.5 hours later, I got a call back from the same rep that I initially spoke with telling me that it was complete. I asked her, "Surely you have not been on hold internally waiting on the ticket desk just for me this entire time??" and she said that she was. And we wonder why there are long hold times? One agent was tied up for almost 3 hours just trying to deal with this one issue.
Feb 16, 22, 9:30 am
#60
Join Date: Jan 2022
Programs: DL, UA, AA
Posts: 1,901
