Feb 2, 22, 11:25 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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)

I’m 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

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Oct 2, 23, 1:52 pm

#1276

kxc262

Join Date: Sep 2013

Location: SFO/DTW

Programs: DL PM 0.5MM, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold, Avis PC, National EE, Hertz PC

Posts: 1,984

Quote:

Originally Posted by tardyturtle

Did you call to have the ticket re-issued?

They couldn't reissue the ticket.

Oct 2, 23, 9:18 pm

#1277

ND76

Join Date: Mar 2005

Location: West of CLE

Programs: Delta PM/3 MM; Hertz PC; National Executive Elite; Amtrak Guest Rewards; Marriott Bonvoy Gold

Posts: 5,185

I had to go to California on short notice on Saturday 9/24 CLE-MSP-SFO. I bought my ticket 36 hours in advance. There were only three F seats left on the MSP-SFO (1145 departure), and delta.com let me use an RUC to get one of them at ticketing, as well as on the CRJ-900 flight from CLE to MSP. Turned out to be the best air trip of 2023 for me. Everything ran on time, I got to use the new G18 club in MSP, and the lunch on the long flight was tasty and the FA service was frequent and gracious.

GagaPilot, DCAhome and LowValueCustomer like this.

Oct 3, 23, 8:00 pm

#1278

FlyAO2

Join Date: Jul 2004

Location: NYC

Programs: DL PM, DL MM

Posts: 4,213

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND76

Since you have a recent data point, I assume by your story you did NOT need someone to re-issue your ticket?

Oct 3, 23, 8:23 pm

#1279

tardyturtle

Join Date: Sep 2012

Programs: DL PM

Posts: 704

Wanted to post my success getting RUC space opened after a schedule change:

Countless frontline agents told me they could not move me to the desired flights due to no space in the same “class of service” (ie fare class [OL]). I must have HUCA a half dozen times over the course of a couple of weeks.
The main key was getting past frontline agents to Global Ticketing Support. I specifically requested to be transferred to GTS/IMR (not sure if they are different departments or what the difference is). Frontline agents can’t do anything if OY space is not available.
I referred to policy that in the event of schedule change “The new flight may be rebooked in the same Class of Service if available, or the next available class of service, same cabin”. That is to say fare class availability doesn’t matter.
Helpful GTS agent got me re-booked in OL.

Best of luck everyone…

Spiff, AKC6, NotHamSarnie and 3 others like this.

Oct 3, 23, 10:29 pm

#1280

jhole

Join Date: Sep 2022

Programs: delta, bonvoy, hertz

Posts: 7

Help wrong cert redeemed for RUC

I booked online for travel on 10/2/23. I am PM and have 6 RUC's: 4 expiring in 2025 and 2 in 2024. I chose an itinerary so that I could upgrade with the RUC, and selected that option at checkout. My ticket allowed me to select seats in FC, but my certs did not show redeemed/closed in my profile. The day prior to travel I received an email stating my status was waitlisted. i checked in and the boarding pass showed seat assignments in first. Today, my account shows two certs closed, but they are the ones expiring in 2025 not the ones that will expire in 3 months. Delta selected these certs, not me, after messaging an agent I'm told they can't do anything about this, the cert is burned and gone. The agent says I should have corrected this prior to travel, but no certs were closed prior to travel. He also suggested I contact AMEX and they might extend the expiration date of the old cert. Thoughts?

Oct 3, 23, 10:33 pm

#1281

ND76

Join Date: Mar 2005

Location: West of CLE

Programs: Delta PM/3 MM; Hertz PC; National Executive Elite; Amtrak Guest Rewards; Marriott Bonvoy Gold

Posts: 5,185

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyAO2

Since you have a recent data point, I assume by your story you did NOT need someone to re-issue your ticket?

I clicked on the box for using an RUC, then clicked on the purchase ticket button on delta.com. Miracle of miracles, I got the ticket I wanted and didn't have to get a Delta reservationist involved.

Spiff likes this.

Oct 4, 23, 12:48 am

#1282

sekiya

Join Date: May 2019

Location: BOS YYZ

Programs: DL PM

Posts: 50

Finally used up all my 4 RUCs on XXX-SLC-HNL (on 76L) and HNL-LAX-ATL (76L and 359!) to avoid the class of PS so that we can be cleared from MC to D1 or F with D1 seats after booking. Nearly impossible to find the availability, although some more with PS to D1. Farewell RUC and Delta Air Lines.

Spiff, DCAhome, MojoGuru and 1 others like this.

Oct 4, 23, 6:31 pm

#1283

Utskicat

Join Date: Jan 2018

Programs: AF/KL Gold, DL Diamond, Hertz PC, Bonvoy Gold Elite; Hilton Gold

Posts: 887

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhole

AMEX has nothing to do with this. The agent you were speaking to had no idea what they were talking about and was confusing American Express companion certificates with regional upgrade certificates issued by Delta. They can absolutely fix this. Just call in (don’t chat) and request to be transferred to a customer service department agent.

Oct 4, 23, 7:09 pm

#1284

RealHJ

Join Date: Sep 2009

Location: HNL

Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive

Posts: 7,129

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhole

That is sadly common, for redemptions done via phone by agents also, where even as you specify a specific cert by the number, they will use the later expiring one(s) vs. the sooner expiring one(s) anyway. If one was a conspiracy theorist, one would say that Delta is purposefully using up the later expiring upgrade certs, helping that sooner expiring ones expire unused.

It is a royal pain to try to get the correct (sooner expiring) cert closed and later expiring one reopen in such a case, even where you clearly specified the cert by the number yet the phone agent used a year later expiring one anyway (and there is likely a phone call recording to prove it). It can be done, but you have to write in to CS. May be a few times. And/or call the CS Atlanta number. After a few months of trying and being persistent about it (may take you hours, if not 10s of hours, of your time collectively) they may finally do it for you. It can be done. But it will take you a lot of time and effort pushing Delta to do the right thing (remember, as frequent flyer customers we are Delta's perceived enemy #1).

Oct 4, 23, 10:13 pm

#1285

tardyturtle

Join Date: Sep 2012

Programs: DL PM

Posts: 704

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhole

I've sadly had this happen before. There is a special department at DELTA reservations that is able to fix issues like this, though my experience with them was pre-travel--I'm not sure if it makes a difference if travel has been completed. I believe I had to get escalated to Ticketing Support, and then they submitted a request to this department, and the certificate was re-opened several days later.

Again, this sadly occurs too often--in my case, I had even specifically requested that they use the soonest expiring ones. My belief is that the expiry date isn't prominent on the screen they use to identify the certificates, leading to the mix-up. Lesson learned is to always supply the specific certificate number(s) you want to use.

Oct 5, 23, 5:06 am

#1286

RealHJ

Join Date: Sep 2009

Location: HNL

Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive

Posts: 7,129

Quote:

Originally Posted by tardyturtle

That doesn’t work. I specifically give the exact cert number to use (also so I can track which ones are committed and not). DL will still NOT use the one the record is notated with when reticketing but a later expiring one. Seems to be happening too much to be just a coincidence.

Oct 5, 23, 5:39 am

#1287

matchbox20_is

Join Date: Apr 2005

Location: Fort Worth, TX

Programs: Delta DM, United Silver, Marriott LT Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist

Posts: 791

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhole

This is exactly why I don't select choice benefits until the old ones are used.

tardyturtle and DCAhome like this.

Oct 5, 23, 10:08 am

#1288

AKC6

Join Date: Aug 2011

Location: missing YX more every day

Programs: Delta KM/PM/MM, Nexus, CLEAR, Sharriott Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC

Posts: 1,101

FIFO: First In, First Out

Quote:

Originally Posted by tardyturtle

. . . Again, this sadly occurs too often--in my case, I had even specifically requested that they use the soonest expiring ones. My belief is that the expiry date isn't prominent on the screen they use to identify the certificates, leading to the mix-up. Lesson learned is to always supply the specific certificate number(s) you want to use.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealHJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by matchbox20_is

This is exactly why I don't select choice benefits until the old ones are used.

+ Prevents accidental or on-purpose takings.

Oct 5, 23, 2:44 pm

#1289

RealHJ

Join Date: Sep 2009

Location: HNL

Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive

Posts: 7,129

Quote:

Originally Posted by matchbox20_is

This is exactly why I don't select choice benefits until the old ones are used.

That, and you just don't know what the latest round of "enhancements" will bring. Really best not to select until the very last moment and when you are sure you can still get some value out of it and can use it up right away.

Oct 5, 23, 5:28 pm

#1290

GagaPilot

Join Date: Feb 2015

Location: ANC

Programs: DL DM

Posts: 1,688

Another frustrating use of RUCs:

Went to burn my final 2 last night on:
ANC-SEA-ORD outbound
ORD-SEA-ANC return
Really good main cabin award fare.

All segments had Z inventory. Booked online and selected to apply RUCs. Completed the purchase and only 3/4 segments cleared. The first ANC-SEA got waitlisted. Super irritating. I waited a while and both the website and app kept quoting me prices in miles or cash to upgrade that one segment. I considered calling in and seeing if there was a glitch or if it was just that there was truly no OL inventory despite having Z inventory. But honestly didn’t want the hassle. The upgrade offer in skypesos was reasonable so I took it (more MQDs inching closer to DM). It was a redeye segment so definitely wanted the better sleep possibility in F. The mileage upgraded segment is now OY, while the RUC upgraded segments are OL. Ticket never reissued, but RUCs closed. I’m sure it will be super fun come checkin time.

So glad I’ve used all my RUCs this year. Time and time again I’m reminded why I hate these things.

Spiff, JW6130 and PanAmSam like this.

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