Choice Benefits - All GCUs?
Aug 24, 2019, 2:50 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AS, DL
Posts: 278
Choice Benefits - All GCUs?
Hello,
If I make Diamond this year towards 2020 status, can I select Global Certificate Upgrades for all 3 choice benefits, netting me 12 one-way certs? Or is 4 the maximum per medallion year?
Thanks
If I make Diamond this year towards 2020 status, can I select Global Certificate Upgrades for all 3 choice benefits, netting me 12 one-way certs? Or is 4 the maximum per medallion year?
Thanks
Aug 24, 2019, 5:27 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: CHA
Programs: DL-DM (1.75MM), Bonvoy LifeTi, Hertz-PC
Posts: 618
Agreed!
What you get to pick:
- Platinum Choice Benefits when you hit PM (one selection)
- Diamond CBs when you hit DM (3 selections)
-- The Certs are available as:
--- 4 Global OR
--- 8 Regional OR
--- 2 Global AND 4 Regional
What you get to pick:
- Platinum Choice Benefits when you hit PM (one selection)
- Diamond CBs when you hit DM (3 selections)
-- The Certs are available as:
--- 4 Global OR
--- 8 Regional OR
--- 2 Global AND 4 Regional
Aug 24, 2019, 7:09 pm
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,407
These are the DM choice benefit. The PM choice benefit is four RUCs. So in total a DM could every year choose the following if they pick upgrade certs for both the PM and DM choices:
12 RUCs
4 GUCs and 4 RUCs
2 GUCs and 8 RUCs.
The last combination is possible only because DL changed the DM rules to allow one to pick fewer GUCs and get some RUCs as a DM choice.
12 RUCs
4 GUCs and 4 RUCs
2 GUCs and 8 RUCs.
The last combination is possible only because DL changed the DM rules to allow one to pick fewer GUCs and get some RUCs as a DM choice.
Aug 25, 2019, 11:25 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: CHA
Programs: DL-DM (1.75MM), Bonvoy LifeTi, Hertz-PC
Posts: 618
These are the DM choice benefit. The PM choice benefit is four RUCs. So in total a DM could every year choose the following if they pick upgrade certs for both the PM and DM choices:
12 RUCs
4 GUCs and 4 RUCs
2 GUCs and 8 RUCs.
The last combination is possible only because DL changed the DM rules to allow one to pick fewer GUCs and get some RUCs as a DM choice.
12 RUCs
4 GUCs and 4 RUCs
2 GUCs and 8 RUCs.
The last combination is possible only because DL changed the DM rules to allow one to pick fewer GUCs and get some RUCs as a DM choice.
Correct - that's why I listed them under the DM selection list (I didn't put down that OP had to select 4x RUCs as PM selection - as there are other options, I only highlighted the GUC options that only are available as DM)
Aug 26, 2019, 2:56 am
#8
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Aug 26, 2019, 8:42 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: MSP
Programs: DL DM, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 610
Unless you're super flexible with your international travel, GUC's can be a waste. In the last 3 years I've had a few expire worthless because they waitlisted on flights and it was full. Of course, all depends on the route/day. Maybe I'm just unlucky
Aug 26, 2019, 12:49 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Since making DM, I've been pleasantly surprised at the usability of GUCs. All of mine have cleared at booking for TATL trips on the exact dates I wanted. Granted, I do have some minor flexibility for my int'l travel in terms of what time/route I want to fly, but I have never had to change the day of departure/arrival or take some crazy ridiculous routing to use a GUC. Usually if there's no space on any of the nonstop flights, I can find something at comparable times by adding JFK, CDG, or AMS as a quick connection point.
Here's the master thread if OP wants to reference success/failure reports: The Official - GLOBAL UPGRADE CERT success thread - Yay! I got it!
Aug 26, 2019, 1:47 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
This is another one of those route/timing things. After several years at PM I was quite disillusioned with RUCs - having many expire or just tossing them right before expiration at sub-2 hour flights because they hadn't cleared before.
Since making DM, I've been pleasantly surprised at the usability of GUCs. All of mine have cleared at booking for TATL trips on the exact dates I wanted. Granted, I do have some minor flexibility for my int'l travel in terms of what time/route I want to fly, but I have never had to change the day of departure/arrival or take some crazy ridiculous routing to use a GUC. Usually if there's no space on any of the nonstop flights, I can find something at comparable times by adding JFK, CDG, or AMS as a quick connection point.
Here's the master thread if OP wants to reference success/failure reports: The Official - GLOBAL UPGRADE CERT success thread - Yay! I got it!
Since making DM, I've been pleasantly surprised at the usability of GUCs. All of mine have cleared at booking for TATL trips on the exact dates I wanted. Granted, I do have some minor flexibility for my int'l travel in terms of what time/route I want to fly, but I have never had to change the day of departure/arrival or take some crazy ridiculous routing to use a GUC. Usually if there's no space on any of the nonstop flights, I can find something at comparable times by adding JFK, CDG, or AMS as a quick connection point.
Here's the master thread if OP wants to reference success/failure reports: The Official - GLOBAL UPGRADE CERT success thread - Yay! I got it!
Aug 26, 2019, 1:53 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Point is - *some* flexibility is needed but IME GUCs have been far more usable than RUCs.
Aug 26, 2019, 2:03 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Atlanta
Programs: Delta Diamond; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 655
Is there a way to check GUC availability before you select your Diamond benefits? I won't want to select GUCs unless I know there are dates when I can make them work for a specific trip I have in mind.