Delta waffles on transcon upgrade policy

How did the process work since the ticket is not technically upgrade eligible? Was it at the gate? Did you have to ask?

I totally get your point and definitely think that hard-working airline employees should have an opportunity to sit in Business Elite, but based on a recent Atlanta-Munich experience (yes, I know this was a trans-con post, but the concept is the same), I have to question Delta’s employee eligibility policy. On this particular occasion, I was sitting in Bus. Elite (paid, not upgraded) and a young woman (~23 years old) was sitting in the seat next to me. During the course of the flight we started talking and she told me that she was a Delta employee. I thought that was great until she told me that she was: a) a part-time gate agent who only worked about 20 hours/week; and b) had been with Delta for less than 18 months. I didn’t say anything to her, but in my mind I was thinking, wow – that just doesn’t seem right. Business Elite for ATL-MUC-ATL goes for $5000 – $8500 unless you catch a sale, and here they are letting a part-time employee with no seniority fly business class for free? I’m sure that there were some Platinum/Diamond Medallions sitting back in coach whose system-wide upgrade certificate requests didn’t get approved by Delta’s revenue desk (I’ve been there), while this girl got to fly for free. In this case, I wouldn’t say that she qualifies as the “hard-working, deserving employee” you mention above. So at the risk of it sounding like it’s “all about me”, as a Diamond 2M Miler, I would hope that my loyalty to Delta over the past 20 years is worth more than that of a junior, part-time employee. So my question to the airline employees out there – is there any distinction made between employees, or are you all treated the same when it comes to free stand-by flights?

While this is a recent change to Delta policy, it was a long long long time coming – as in TEN years to the day. Meanwhile, this FORMER Hawaii-based DL PM/MM moved on to AA and have had EXP status for 8 years . . . while enjoying over the water upgrades all the while. Got the “we’ve been listening” email from DL a few months ago – what a total joke!

So do all those who feel they are entitled to sit in first class or Business Elite for free also expect free groceries at the store & free gas at the gas stations just because you’ve paid money for them over the years? It is a downright shame that some people feel that airline employees don’t deserve to sit in the premium cabin. Nothing is this world is ever free, so if you want to be in first class or Business Elite so bad & so much—PAY FOR THE TICKET. Employees are not second class citizens like some of the traveling public would like to treat them. They work long & hard have every right to enjoy the benefits their employer gives them. This is the society that we now live in—“It’s all about me, me, me & what I want or think I deserve”. Get over yourselves.

This is called “protecting the product.” Transatlantic premium class is a whole different ball game than domestic US premium class. Transatlantic premium class seats in general are far more expensive than economy seats. They are how the airlines make money. If they give those away to paying customers who buy economy tickets then no one will pay the transatlantic premium fare. It would be like if you went into Best Buy, bought the cheapest TV, and they gave you the most expensive TV. Then no one is going to pay for that expensive TV.

The non-revs who presumably were sitting in those seats were not paying customers so no harm no foul.
The number of customers who pay for an economy ticket and expect premium class for that price and so are disappointed when they don’t get it has to be tiny when compared with the revenue that would be lost by the airline if it gave those seats away at a loss.

A colleague and I are NY based platinums and have been for years. We both will make Diamond this year if we choose to remain Delta customers. We both have experienced the “joy” of sitting in coach on SFO-JFK nonstops while there are empty seats in BusinessElite. Delta’s policy makes absolutely no sense when there are empty seats on the flight. Honestly – the experience in BusinessElite isn’t that special compared to other carriers, but it beats the uncomfortable and old 757 seats in coach. We both applied for and received status match on UA from our employer with the intention of changing loyalty due to this no upgrade policy alone – which is the latest in Delta’s steady devaluation of benefits for high revenue frequent flyers. We work for a SF based company and fly the route monthly. I just returned from my latest trip and flew from LGA through Detroit. Connection was easy and I was upgraded on all 4 legs. And the weather was good, so no issues. But I would not continue that route when I could start to buy JetBlue’s Mint fares or switch to UA if this issue isn’t addressed.

It’s not a question of elitism, or expecting upgrades every flight. This change reflects Delta’s arrogance in cutting back too far on their highest revenue generating passengers, and they have a history of cutting back too far and then retreating from those policies. While UA has it’s flaws as well, MileagePlus is a far better program and they continue to improve and treat their best customers far better in exchange for tier loyalty. Delta better wise up fast.

Free ticket? You mean the employee benefit that is part of the pay package. It’s really simple if you want first class seat, either get a job with an airline or pay the first class fare.

As someone that’s both covered by interline travel benefits and ALSO a high-tier frequent flyer with club membership, I wholeheartedly disagree. I have no problem with non-revs up front after all of those who are eligible for an upgrade or offer to pay for it are accommodated. As a non-rev, its a challenge getting “up front” anyway, so the few times you get it – its like you won the lottery. And of course the employee will brag and talk about it for a VERY long time, including to potential customers.

As an Alaska MVP Gold (and 75K in another month), if I want First Class, I’ll BUY it. Just as I did 2 hours ago using an H fare on Alaska and instant UPGRADE based on my status and fare.

I think you might find that the upgrades (if they actually give them out) will be based on Medallion level and fare class. I agree that non-revs should be the last to be upgraded, even though as a lowly Platinum, I received 4 of 4 upgrades when I went home for Memorial day on an award ticket.

It may also be that at the time I had over $20K MQD for the year. I would hope that would be some sort of tiebreaker as a true reward for actually flying rather than CC churn.

I get the feeling that this was tongue-in-cheek! 🙂

While cabin crew from Delta (and all US-based carriers, actually) could learn
quite a lot about customer service from Asia-based carriers, it is commendable to know that a company values its employees.
If you have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars flying Delta, then fine. Airlines are still a form of public transport. If you want privacy, book a private jet.

Chris — “the horror and frustration of being seated in coach when there are empty seats up front”? I get the frustration part, but the “horror” part seems a little condescending. Chris, coach is what most people fly. Sorry to burst your bubble on that one. LOVE this blog and all the good info it provides and have been reading it for years, but a little fed up with the elitist vibe that sometimes (not all the time, but on occasion) comes through.

I flew back from HNL to SFO on a business trip and watched an entire first class cabin sit empty (other than flight attendants) because Delta doesn’t upgrade Medallion fliers into first on Hawaii flights. I never thought I’d see a day where United treated its fliers better than another airline, but I stood corrected that day

I have to ask…did you write to DL? I would have been so pissed. Not that you are entitled to it, but it seems like really poor form!

I recently flew from LAX-JFK and saw the above. This man sat next to me in seat 12G, then another passenger showed up, also w/ the same seat. Both showed their BP to the F/A. After a few minutes, the F/A plucked the man and moved him to 1A. The gate agent then entered and took another EC passenger and put him in row 5.

As a PM member, I’m crossing my fingers this will happen again come July when I fly JFK-LAX. But then, again, I’m not holding my breath…but there’s free Luvo fro-yo in EC!