That's not exactly how AA's program works.

You can have all the 500 mile "stickers" you want (as you stated: earned every 10K flown, bought, or 8 for 35K miles), and yes they work on any paid fare, but you have to request the upgrade which won't start clear until days before the flight, based on your status. When I was AA Plat it was usually gate lottery for LAX-JFK flights to clear, if they cleared.

I found that once I shifted most biz to NW, that uncertantly with AA's upgrades went away as NW regularly cleared me 5+ days out. (The trade-off was NW's UG's were free, and service was not up to AA's standards) DL has already watered down the NW FF program & lounges, but the real kicker that will send NW pax to other airlines is if there is a significant reduction in upgrade % under the DL regime. AA may look good again.

I'm not sure I get your point - no DL/NW golds would clear on a transcon route either. I didn't say silvers/golds would get to upgrade any flight they wanted; I just said they had the opportunity to upgrade 20% of their flights, which I'm pretty sure exceeds the upgrade percentage for the vast majority of 25k elites on DL/NW. So DL's "unlimited complimentary upgrades" isn't really better than "limited complimentary upgrades", if you're not getting more upgrades than the limit either way.

Or were you just saying you can't guarantee an upgrade with purchased eUpgrades?

Then you're lucky; or if you're in a AA hub city, you're just on less-elite-heavy routes, as I've been 50k elite on NW for years and I can assure you there is plenty of uncertainty as to whether I'll get upgraded or not!

Thanks...now I understand the strategy. However, I have to agree with DiverDave; I do not think the day-of-departure rule change for PMUs is intended to apply for domestic use. There is already a system in place to ensure every available seat is used for those wanting to upgrade domestically. The same is not true today on international flights; thus, the rule change. Certainly, d-o-d use of PMUs on domestic flights will still be allowed; but, under the same hierarchy currently in place.

I believe that the international day-of-departure rule will also apply to those wishing to upgrade with miles, as today that category is handled exactly the same as those upgrading with PMUs. If that is true and following your logic, then the day-of-departure rule change would make it possible for any Medallion to trump those in the upgrade queue.

I believe clarifications from Delta will emerge that bears out my opinions above re using SWUs on the day-of-departure to jump ahead of those on the upgrade list.

On which DL-NW routes to/from/via the US is there a direct flight number that involves a scheduled flight that takes off and lands in the US before or after an international long-haul flight? How do DL systemwide upgrades work for those flights given the day of departure adjustment?

You're exactly right. The only way a PMU would get you a seat up front is if you requested to use the PMU ahead of the 5 day window. But the OP is probably right about the last minute ticket purchasers whose names would show up on the upgrade list where the GA has control. I guess it's a good thing for the 80% group who don't travel internationally and who also might not have the luxury of advance travel planning.

NOT "Any Medallion". Only PM and DM will get PMU/SWU's. Silver and Gold will remain on the list, and not have the chance to "jump ahead" with a PMU.

..... except there is that situation where a companion with the systemwide upgrades is using the upgrade instrument to get an upgrade for that Silver, Gold or even General Member on a flight with them.

Using a PMU to upgrade ahead of the 5-day window requires G inventory today and I expect this to remain the case with SWUs.

This will apply to "any Medallion" if they also permit mileage upgraders at the gate. They have said that internationally, day of departure upgrades will be cleared as long as there are open seats and there are Medallions on the appropriate fares and willing to exchange PMUs or miles to upgrade. If they intend to allow SWU day of departure upgraders to jump the upgrade list, then conceivably this would apply to mileage upgraders, too; thereby opening the list jumping possiblities to any Medallion willing to part with miles or SWUs to do so.

The point is, Delta views mileage upgrades and PMU upgrades equally today and I expect that to remain so after the introduction of SWUs.

I hope you are right but that is not what the website (http://www.delta.com/help/faqs/skymi...hoice_benefits) indicates. DL's wording implies that the d-o-d PMU redemption will apply to both, domestic and international flights (see below). Hence, on the d-o-d there will be as many G inventory as F seats. I did not think about it but I think DLfan and GUWonder are probably correct in that it also opens the door to companion upgrades and mileage upgrades.

What's new about the Systemwide Upgrade Certificates? How many will be offered? Will the new Systemwide Upgrade Certificates be eligible for discounted fares?

In addition to the existing ability for customers to request an upgrade in advance, the new Systemwide Upgrade Certificates will be valid for use on the day of departure. This means if a First or Business Class seat is available on your Delta flight on the day of departure you will be able to request the upgrade.
Platinum Medallions will be able to select 4 Systemwide Upgrade Certificates as a Choice Benefit. Diamond Medallions will be able to select 6 Systemwide Upgrade Certificates as a Choice Benefit.

As with the existing Platinum Systemwide Upgrades, the new Systemwide Upgrade Certificates will be good for travel within or between the 50 United States, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico on any Delta published fare booked in Y, B, M, H, Q or K class or Northwest published fares booked in Y, B, M, H, Q or V class. For all other international travel, upgrades are valid on any published fare in Y, B or M class.

Yeah...I read that and I do think they need to explicitly address the situation we are discussing. If they do intend to allow this on domestic flights, then I agree with your earlier comments: it's a bad idea. There is a system in place now that is about as fair as any system can get and I just can't support the issuance of a trump card that would bump me out of first place on the upgrade list. ;)

Perhaps SkyMilesInsider will come back and provide some clarity on this issue.

You are right, PMUs will become trump cards! I agree with your other comments, very well said!

BTW, it will also cause a PM/DM rush to the airport of those considering using the PMUs on Elite heavy flights but not wanting to "waste" their trump card. The "I will use it at the last minute" mentality...

Maybe Jeff has finally found a way to make us use the 80% of PMUs that are not redeemed. We may not be able to call them Pretty Much Useless any more ;)

I can't support it either, I don't want to be bumped either. Maybe being higher on the list we'll get the option of first refusal to use miles since pax X upted the antey.

I can't imagine how they would implement such a system, e.g., if someone wants to use his PMU 3 hours before departure, would they:

• call/SMS you?
• create a separate waiting list for PM/DMs that want to use PMUs?
• first come first served at the gate? ...
• have the GA page you one by one before departure?

I just think, it is a bad idea for domestic flights!

What we really need is Jeff to get back on this board, and a "2010 Medallion version 2.0" posted on DL.com. I think that we have all done a great job of "debugging" version 1.0, and it is time for DL to get back to the drawing board and consider changes including:

• real SWUs (like AA's ExP or UA's 1k)
• 2PMUs="1 upgrade at any fare"
• only allow d-o-d PMU usage for TATL/TPAC flights
• DM at 100k MQM (like AA's ExP or UA's 1k)
• etc.

I agree, DoD PMUs for domestic flights are a bad idea. Use this concept for Int'l flights only.

After all the verbal abuse Jeff has gotten (and is still getting) from some members, I will be surprised if he ever posts on this board again. I wouldn't bother if I were him.:(