Delta has new priorities for clearing complimentary upgrade requests. (Image: delta)
Over the weekend, Delta implemented a new set of rules for the way it will clear requests for complimentary upgrades, with a priority downgrade for customers who buy full Y fares.
The airline outlined the changes on its website. “This new upgrade process better recognizes the loyalty of our Medallion members, SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express Card Members and Delta Corporate Travelers,” Delta said.
A customer’s SkyMiles elite status level is “the most important factor” in upgrade clearance priority, Delta said. The advance time for clearing Medallion-level members’ first class upgrade requests is five days before departure for Diamonds and Platinums, three for Golds and one for Silvers. Delta Comfort+ upgrades will go to Diamonds and Platinums right after booking; Golds will clear three days in advance and Silvers one day.
“Y class fares will no longer be upgraded at booking,” Delta noted.
The airline noted that members will still be able to get free upgrades to Delta Comfort+ in the U.S. and Canada for flights after May 16 – although there may well be fewer seats available for upgrades, because that’s the date when Delta will start selling Comfort+ seats as a new fare class in its inventory, instead of using that extra-legroom section as a dumping ground for automatic upgrades.
As we reported a few months back, Delta is also taking steps to make sure that a higher percentage of first class seats are occupied by paying customers in the months ahead, leaving fewer available for free upgrades.
How will Delta clear complimentary upgrade requests from passengers who are at the same Medallion level? As a general rule, the higher the customer’s fare class, the higher the clearance priority.
Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum Preferred members and elites from partner airlines will only be eligible for day-of-departure upgrades, Delta said.
Holders of Delta Reserve credit cards will continue to have higher priority within their Medallion level. Meanwhile, a higher priority will now go to Medallions who are Delta Corporate Travelers traveling on a ticket so designated.
“If all else is equal, Card Members who earned the Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) Waiver by spending at least $25,000 in the current calendar year on their Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express will enjoy higher priority,” Delta said.
Readers: How are you likely to be affected by these changes? Post comments below.
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I read also that Delta wants to see the end of complimentary upgrades soon. Upgraded seating is the #1 reason I maintain my Diamond status, so if this happens there will be no point in being “loyal” to Delta for me.
TRUMP! TRUMP! TRUMP!
If more people would complain and find other alternatives to not having to use these airlines maybe we could have more humane flights again. I remember a time 15 years ago when flying was fun and a big adventure, it’s not that way anymore.
Maybe we can start a new slogan “Let’s make flying fun again”
Regardless what the airlines do, I’m sure you’ll complain about it
In the old system, 1 elite flyer could take 9 non-status flyers into Comfort+ with him. It was a little silly and took those seats away from other elites. I think the new system is more fair
There is a special place in hell for parents who fly first class and leave their unattended kids in economy to annoy others.
The most miserable flight I ever had in coach was trans-Atlantic with two children next to me. Half way through the flight one of the parents came back from first class to see how they were doing. Real nice of them.
Two ways of looking at this, first the airlines have sent themselves up to “reward” the folks that pay the most and fly the most. It is fair but nothing more than a big competition. It’s like myself, I now pay for first class from Washington to California because I was finding myself 40th and 50th on the upgrade list. Remember this, no matter how much you fly someone else has flown and spent more than you.
That is the way of the world now, when you get something cheap like a $300 round trip coast to coast you have to be ready to pay for it my being totally uncomfortable.
Enjoy what we have now because it’s only going to get worst, the airlines will do anything to make more money even if it means serious discomfort for the “cheap” flyer.