DL Non - Existent Global Upgrade Availability
 

It used to be we had one year after we chose our choice benefits to use our “Globals” and we could use them on partner airlines like AirFrance and KLM. Several DL employees have informed me the partner airline Globals are non - existent. So why advertise the Globals as a benefit on partner airlines when there are zero available? Trying to find a global to use on DL flights is getting ridiculous too. I guess DL expects to be overly flexible with our international trips and revamp our vacations and still get most flights showing no availability. It doesn’t matter if it’s last minute or way in advance. There is always an excuse why they aren’t available. If you book in advance, they haven’t been released yet? If you book a month in advance the excuse is didn’t give enough notice. We also have to book premium select. Tour agencies are selling business class ( delta one) for the price we pay for premium select, make the most valuable incentive to keep DM worthless. With the travel agencies we can travel when we want to, instead of changing our dates to try to get the global to clear. DL only give us four upgrades each year which equals one round trip flight for a couple or two round trip tickets for one. It’s not like DL is giving us unlimited upgrades. If Globals are advertised as a benefit then we shouldn’t have so much difficulty trying to use them.

Set a seat alert on ExpertFlyer for Z class availability for your AF/KLM travel dates as this fare bucket is usually released less than a week before travel.

Your situation is why for CY 2025 will DM be worth 35,000 MQD’s, as DL will need buy-in from the JV partners if any meaningful changes will be made to GUCs on partner airlines such as clearing into any available C class seat. I do not see this happening as AF/KLM sell upgrades for business class upon check-in.

Don't worry there will be almost nobody with GUCs in 2025 since DL is making achieving DM unfeasible for most current DMs.

Better off going with the best combination of price and service on another airline.

Very good advice , I would like to use them this year. DL should have to honor their advertised benefits

The way they see it, if you get to sit up front on ATL-JAX, they have delivered on their promise.

If DL offers GUC as a benefit we should be given the opportunity to use them
 

one hour flight isn’t my definition of “ GLOBAL” travel
The point is it was DL who offered the choice of global upgrades for reaching diamond status. DL should uphold what they offered . DL should have availability and if they don’t they should extend GUC so they can be used. I upheld my part of the agreement by spending the MQDs that were required .It is only two round trip tickets . If DL doesn’t want us to have an upgrade then they shouldn’t of offered them in the first place.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...fe962b9f5.jpeg
Maybe I’m missing something ? How is select KLM and AirFrance flights the same definition as zero flights available to use GUC ? Every time I try to use one DL employees say they GUC s are impossible to use on partner airlines. Oh and trying to use one on a DL flight is getting to be challenge to with so many unavailable flights

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https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/35587405-post7.html

that's pretty sad, but there seems to be a bit of truth in that statement! I was looking at trips from Fort Lauderdale to Atlanta on October 9 and most of the trips that day would upgrade only by using GUC's although one or two were available with an RUC. not that I would burn a certificate for a short trip like that, but it just goes to show you!!! ...........

Lots of advertised benefits are often very (extremely) difficult to actually use....AMEX companion certificates for example. Why should GUCs be any different. Besides, somewhere in the T&C fine print is wording that these benefits are subject to capacity controls and may not be available on every flight.

More like impossible to use
 

I am being very flexible with my travel while DL isn’t opening up any seats with excuses like booking too close to departure to booking too far in advance . I fulfilled my end of the agreement by spending the required amount DL should honor their advertised choice benefits. It’s not like it’s unlimited upgrades, it’s 2 round trip ticket upgrades. If they don’t want us to use them then they shouldn’t lure us in with fake upgrades

Yes -- RUCs/GUCs are being made intentionally difficult to use by DL Revenue Management (E.g. see my earlier post: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/35537663-post1193.html)

Someone in FT commented earlier...consider yourself lucky if you get to use your 2023 GUCs for LGA-BOS or JAX-ATL before they expire in 1/31/24.

I sort of agree. They're much harder to use than they should be.

Redeeming something called a "global upgrade certificate" shouldn't be all that difficult. From what people say, they're easier now than they were before, but they're not quite like they should be. If you've been issued a certificate, and it's being applied for a flight for you, on your account, there should be no uncertainty about it. There shouldn't be a "Oh, they just forgot to re-ticket it" on the day of your flight that qualifies you for "extra security".

Also, you need to worry about losing your upgrade due to a schedule change.
Can't book too close in since there will be no inventory...so you need to book 90-120+ days out....where there is guaranteed to be a schedule change...and then you have to reclear the upgrade (they are not guaranteed to be honored...).