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 21, 22, 9:34 pm
#76
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 73
How do you know there is no availability on any D1 domestic flight? An agent on the phone is not about to check every flight. D1 upgrade space for RUC's has always been very limited. Keep in mind that a RUC will allow you to standby above all other complimentary upgrade passengers including Diamonds.
It took me all of 3 mins to find available seats. DL546 JFK-LAX on Feb 23 this week has OY space for RUC upgrade according to delta.com:
It took me all of 3 mins to find available seats. DL546 JFK-LAX on Feb 23 this week has OY space for RUC upgrade according to delta.com:
Feb 22, 22, 12:37 pm
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 26,874
Theyre only going to give the upgrade space when they have a good idea that they wont sell the seat. They have a good idea that they wont sell all the remaining seats for the flight on Wednesday. September is way too far away for them to know that. You can waitlist with the certificate and when Delta gets to the point where they dont think theyll sell the seat, theyll start to clear the waitlist. Using a certificate puts you pretty high in the priority.
Feb 22, 22, 9:01 pm
#79
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: AF/KL Gold, DL Diamond, Hertz PC, Bonvoy Gold Elite; Hilton Gold
Posts: 887
Feb 22, 22, 9:49 pm
#80
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
Feb 23, 22, 8:45 am
#81
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: CT
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion
Posts: 16
I'm flying a Friday night red-eye SFO-JFK and am waitlisted for D1 with RUC. 15 seats available and about 10 days to go. I have the chance to change to the Sat AM flight with no waitlist, but would prefer the red-eye. Thoughts on chances I get the Friday night upgrade? Sorry, new PM and haven't had the pleasure of doing this before.
Feb 23, 22, 8:50 am
#82
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,012
I'm flying a Friday night red-eye SFO-JFK and am waitlisted for D1 with RUC. 15 seats available and about 10 days to go. I have the chance to change to the Sat AM flight with no waitlist, but would prefer the red-eye. Thoughts on chances I get the Friday night upgrade? Sorry, new PM and haven't had the pleasure of doing this before.
Feb 23, 22, 2:44 pm
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 26,874
Hold on, I thought you can use RUCs on international flights, just not those with DeltaOne. But Canada/Caribbean/etc. should be okay, no?
Feb 23, 22, 3:39 pm
#84
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Programs: Delta DM, United Silver, Marriott LT Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 789
Canada, Mexico, Caribbean are acceptable. "Northern South America" routes are okay without D1. If you try and use them for XXX-ATL-SEA (example, where XXX is somewhere in Europe, South America), they won't let you use them for the ATL-SEA segment.
Last edited by matchbox20_is; Feb 23, 22 at 3:45 pm Reason: Unclear wording
Feb 25, 22, 3:00 pm
#86
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 704
I had an unusual experience today. I am traveling with Mrs. tardyturtle and my in-laws on three linked reservations. Mrs. tardyturtle and I are flying AAA-BBB-CCC and my in-laws are traveling BBB-CCC. I requested RUCs be applied for our return leg CCC-BBB for all of us.
I check in today for the outbound and see the following on the upgrade list:
AAA-BBB: Me (+companion) and Mrs. tardyturtle as 1, 2 and 3
BBB-CCC: Mrs. tardyturtle, and in-laws as 1, 2 and 3 (with me + companion nowhere on the list).
I call in, and it appears the agent applied too many certificates and only waitlisted me for the short AAA-BBB leg, and waitlisted the rest for BBB-CCC, when I didn’t want ANY certificates applied to that outbound. I thought that was strange everyone else could be added to the waitlist for BBB-CCC without me, since as I understood it, everyone has to travel together in the same cabin. The agent told me that she removed the certificates, but when I went back in to check we all still show up on the upgrade list. We even tried un-checking in and re-checking in, and we still were on the list.
I then call a new agent who seemed very unknowledgable (he initially tried to tell me that these were complimentary Medallion upgrades that processed even though I didn’t request them) even though Mrs. tardyturtle and the in-laws aren’t Medallion members. He was later able to get us removed from the upgrade list after calling another team (I had been worried that even though I was previously told the RUCs were pulled, that if the upgrade processed, the certificate would be burned).
I was curious, though, if the upgrades would have ended up processing without the RUC if I had just let them leave us on the upgrade list? Or would there have been another step to prevent that from happening at the gate?
Having this as my first time applying RUCs, this is a strange and wonky process indeed that leaves me feeling very uneasy…
Edit: I’m wondering if the reported bug is what is to blame. I previously had no indication of the certificates being applied on the outbound, but the returns correctly showed “Upgrade Waitlisted” and the “ghost seat map”
I check in today for the outbound and see the following on the upgrade list:
AAA-BBB: Me (+companion) and Mrs. tardyturtle as 1, 2 and 3
BBB-CCC: Mrs. tardyturtle, and in-laws as 1, 2 and 3 (with me + companion nowhere on the list).
I call in, and it appears the agent applied too many certificates and only waitlisted me for the short AAA-BBB leg, and waitlisted the rest for BBB-CCC, when I didn’t want ANY certificates applied to that outbound. I thought that was strange everyone else could be added to the waitlist for BBB-CCC without me, since as I understood it, everyone has to travel together in the same cabin. The agent told me that she removed the certificates, but when I went back in to check we all still show up on the upgrade list. We even tried un-checking in and re-checking in, and we still were on the list.
I then call a new agent who seemed very unknowledgable (he initially tried to tell me that these were complimentary Medallion upgrades that processed even though I didn’t request them) even though Mrs. tardyturtle and the in-laws aren’t Medallion members. He was later able to get us removed from the upgrade list after calling another team (I had been worried that even though I was previously told the RUCs were pulled, that if the upgrade processed, the certificate would be burned).
I was curious, though, if the upgrades would have ended up processing without the RUC if I had just let them leave us on the upgrade list? Or would there have been another step to prevent that from happening at the gate?
Having this as my first time applying RUCs, this is a strange and wonky process indeed that leaves me feeling very uneasy…
Edit: I’m wondering if the reported bug is what is to blame. I previously had no indication of the certificates being applied on the outbound, but the returns correctly showed “Upgrade Waitlisted” and the “ghost seat map”
Last edited by tardyturtle; Feb 25, 22 at 3:08 pm
Feb 26, 22, 11:22 pm
#87
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Virginia USA
Posts: 1,126
I have a 3/1 LAX to JFK flight. There are 3 seats left in D1. Can i wait until i see where the same day upgrade puts me before using a RUC, or does it not reshufflec the list once it is generated. I have a companion as well.
Feb 27, 22, 7:05 am
#88
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: NYC
Posts: 95
Ive used RUCs for BON and Ive seen them available on the website for MEX and CUN, but only GUCs for LIM.
Feb 27, 22, 8:03 am
#89
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 356
What to do?
Hi all
curious of everyone’s opinion.
I’m waitlisted for a RUC for SEA JFK a few days out with only 6 seats left (it’s a 752 with 16 lie flats). D1 keeps selling about 1 seat a day so a little worried this won’t clear.
I could cancel the ticket and buy this with miles for 41k miles. I almost feel it’s a better deal than wasting a RCU or risking it not clearing?
what would you do if you were me?
curious of everyone’s opinion.
I’m waitlisted for a RUC for SEA JFK a few days out with only 6 seats left (it’s a 752 with 16 lie flats). D1 keeps selling about 1 seat a day so a little worried this won’t clear.
I could cancel the ticket and buy this with miles for 41k miles. I almost feel it’s a better deal than wasting a RCU or risking it not clearing?
what would you do if you were me?
Last edited by GrizNation; Feb 27, 22 at 8:29 am
