WannabePBA

Slightly incorrect:

- if it’s a domestic D1 flight, Z needs to be available for immediate GUC usage
- if it’s a domestic FC flight, a GUC can be used for any remaining FC seat regardless of fare. Upgrade inventory would be needed for RUC.

So the indicators above mean:
- First available with upgrade certificate: RUC space available
- First available with Global Upgrade Certificate: No RUC space available and if you want instant upgrade, you need a GUC


Global Upgrade Certificates will now have access to all Domestic First Class and Delta Premium Select seats upon request. This means any Domestic First Class and Delta Premium Select seats not yet sold will be available to be cleared immediately upon request.

DLmedalliongold

When did this change take place? Or has it always been this way and I just never knew it because DL only recently is showing upgrade space available on delta.com?

Robert Leach

It's almost like they set out to concoct the most complex scenario possible, making it very difficult to train agents effectively (particularly junior hires who are still trying to get their feet wet). I even had a "supervisor in Atlanta" misquote the rules to me a few weeks ago when the frontline agent wouldn't apply a GUC to a domestic F itinerary.

WannabePBA

Feb 1st 2022

The UC section of the website has all the information and there is a separate, longer thread on here entitled UC usage after 2/1/2022.

MSPJIN

I disagree on this. I spent some time doing call center customer service and when we made an exception (that actually was an exception) we made sure to say it and note that it was said in the call notes so that when people tried to pull the “well, they did it for me last time, why can’t you” we can clearly see and reference to them that they were told it was a one time exception.

MSPJIN

I disagree on this. I spent some time doing call center customer service and when we made an exception (that actually was an exception) we made sure to say it and note that it was said in the call notes so that when people tried to pull the “well, they did it for me last time, why can’t you” we can clearly see and reference to them that they were told it was a one time exception.

ATLawyer

This is also incorrect (or maybe just imprecise). For domestic FC, RUC uses Z inventory not upgrade inventory. So if Z is available, RUC can be used. GUC for domestic is similar to SDC—last seat availability.

refer to the new RUC/GUC thread for more detail.

WillBarrett_68

the fact that your company made actual execptions and documented it doesn't have anything to do with the well-known practice of delta agents of giving people changes etc that they are actually entitled to and yet telling them that they're only doing it as an exception.

WillBarrett_68

this is not correct, RUC upgrade inventory does not use Z.

turkeyRIOO

In this case, there is most likely Z availability but no published fare in Z at this time of day. If you post date it can be confirmed.

DLATL777

Yes Z inventory can be positive but not "active" for a given request. Whatever variables in a given search may not qualify the user to dip into the Z bucket of inventory, but its there.

MSPeconomist

Could it be that only one segment can be upgraded with a RUC?

dburns

I just had a situation today happen where the website said "First Available with Upgrade Certificate" (vs First Available with Global Upgrade Certificate), So, I purchased a domestic contiguous 48 state MC ticket, called in to apply a RUC, and was told no, a GUC is required. This also happened to be a flight with one segment using a widebody 767 but not on a D1 route (City A-B-C, with B-C being the 767). After finally getting in touch with a supervisor, I was told there is a website issue where if one segment has Z/OL availability, delta.com will show "First Available with Upgrade Certificate", but in reality these are not always bookable with a RUC because the other segment may have no Z/OL inventory. Sure enough, when I search delta.com for the same flights, A-B was available with Upgrade Certificate, but B-C was ONLY available with GLOBAL Upgrade Certificate, and yet A-B-C still showed "Fist Available with Upgrade Certificate" even though the B-C segment had no Z/OL space (according to the supervisor I was on the phone with while doing all this checking).... Looks like for now it is not enough to find a A-B-C routing that says "First Available with Upgrade Certificate", you ALSO need to check A-B and B-C separately and make sure they BOTH also have "First Available with Upgrade Certificate" and neither one can have First Available with GLOBAL Upgrade Certificate.

Armed with the above, I picked a new A-B-C routing where A-B, B-C both were First Available with Upgrade Certificate, and sure enough was able to immediately apply my RUCs for the A-B-C route. I am not sure how accurate this is, but it is at least one data point that might save someone the HOURS on hold time I spent today. Poor programming on delta.com (if this turns out to be accurate and confirmed by more people checking examples and posting results here).

mnredfox

Similar to postings in the RUC thread, many agents don’t know the right fare class to check for RUC usage. Obviously the new rules complicated things.

I had an agent put me on the WL when it showed RUC available. Another call to another agent fixed the issue…

WillBarrett_68

I think there's a very new bug right now with the website showing RUC available when it's not. I don't have enough data yet, but I'm suddenly seeing WAY more availability than I've ever seen before, and when I try it out, phone agents have said "oh I thought it was available but it's not."

My guess is that if any one segment has availability, it's now showing the magic "First Available with Upgrade Certificate" words. I've got a couple of tickets I'm working on, I'll report back if I figure anything out.