Upgraded cabins on Delta

[wilderness gal]

Hi ya'll

Question..........if you are booked on Coach w/Delta, has anyone ever after getting to the airport & checking in asked if they can have their ticket changed to First Class or Business? My AAA agent said sometimes they do that maybe with a $50 charge per ticket?

Any suggestions.

 

[gallaj0]

I think almost every airline offers that, usually because they oversell the economy section, and have to offer a free upgrade, since you have tickets for that flight. If they haven't oversold the flight, but have vacant seats in first class, they will try to sell the upgrade, but don't have to.

Delta is also changing their Song planes, which are all one class, into first class and coach class planes, with a loss of some seats. If you book a Song plane, and it gets converted into the delta configuration, I assume some people will have to be moved up to first class.

 

[wilderness gal]

No, no we aren't flying Song, we're flying Delta on Nov. 25th to Orlando.
It's our 20th Wedding Anniversary & the AAA suggested that when we check in to ask if perhaps we could be upgraded, and she said they usually just charge you $50.00 a seat or ticket, that is if they are available.

I had never heard of it, that's why I was asking.

Thanks for the input ! Here's hoping for a 1st Class paid upgrade ($50.00) would be nice for a $230 (that's w/tax & fees) ticket huh?

jean

 

[pamjb]

I do know that they do it on Delta. It was offered when I flew from Philadelphia to Seattle last year.

 

[safetymom]

If they haven't filled the First class cabin by the time you check in you might be able to buy an upgrade. It depends on the length of your flight the price they charge. This will usually be announced at the gate.

 

[Lewisc]

Don't most airlines offer complimentary and/or discounted first class upgrades to their "elite" passengers before offering it to "regular" customers?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Don't most airlines offer complimentary and/or discounted first class upgrades to their "elite" passengers before offering it to "regular" customers?

Yes. For example, American gives unlimited complimentary upgrades on a space-available basis to Executive Platinum members, while Gold and Platinum members earn four 500-mile upgrades per 10,000 miles flown, and they can buy more upgrades for a modest price. On routes that primarily serve business travelers, a non-elite member has almost no chance of getting an upgrade because there are many elite frequent flyers on each flight.

However, on routes that serve primarily leisure travelers, the percentage of elite frequent flyers is much lower. Also, when an elite member is flying with more than one companion, the elite member can't upgrade. So the airlines have an opportunity to sell upgrades at the airport to anyone who will pay a fee. When an economy passenger uses an American Airlines kiosk for check-in, the kiosk might offer an upgrade for a modest fee (often less than $100 per seat). The price is based on the distance. On American, this is a recent change.

Delta offers same-day standby upgrades. See http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/ticket_changes_refunds/sameday_travel_changes/index.jsp — here's what it says:

The same-day standby upgrade option allows you to upgrade your flight for a small fee provided space is available and your ticket is eligible. The following upgrade fees apply:

0 to 500 miles — $50
501 to 1,000 miles — $75
1,001 to 1,500 miles — $100
1,501 miles and up — $150​

Delta's upgrade policy for Medallion (elite frequent flyer) members is at http://www.delta.com/skymiles/about_skymiles/benefits_at_glance/upgrades/index.jsp — so, given this generous upgrade policy, it's unlikely that upgrades will be available on flights with many elite members onboard. However, on flights to Orlando, especially on weekends or when there isn't a big convention in Orlando, an upgrade (for a fee) is a real possibility.

In any case, it doesn't hurt to ask at check-in.

 

[OKW Lover]

Although there is a possibility of purchasing an upgrade at the gate, the chances are pretty slim on Delta.

Delta gives complimentary first class upgrades to its elite level travelers. If there are any seats left in first class after that, Delta offers them for purchase to those that hold tickets booked in the upper fare ranges (ie, if your ticket is in L, U or T class you won't be eligible). The price for an upgrade is tied to the distance, but unfortunately I don't recall what it is.

 

[RachelEllen]

These upgrades are also restricted by fare class. I've never been able to buy one, as I've always had the wrong class of ticket.

 

[safetymom]

If they have upgraded their preferred frequent flyers and there are still seats available the airlines will sell the seat. US Airways calls it the First Up program.

 

[ducklite]

Don't most airlines offer complimentary and/or discounted first class upgrades to their "elite" passengers before offering it to "regular" customers?

Yes.

Anne

 

[rparmfamily]

Delta's upgrade policy for Medallion (elite frequent flyer) members is at http://www.delta.com/skymiles/about_skymiles/benefits_at_glance/upgrades/index.jsp — so, given this generous upgrade policy, it's unlikely that upgrades will be available on flights with many elite members onboard. However, on flights to Orlando, especially on weekends or when there isn't a big convention in Orlando, an upgrade (for a fee) is a real possibility.

In any case, it doesn't hurt to ask at check-in.

That's why I fly Delta is because of the upgrade policy besides many other things. I have a 99.4 percent upgrade rate on Delta. In regards to paying for an upgrade it's for all fares except those booked in the LUT basis.

Rex

 

[wilderness gal]

When I bought my tickets back in jan. it was "T" class, now if you try to book or purchase the tickets, the first leg isn't either one of these
" L, U or T class" it's "K", I think, that is (from shv to MCO) ; but the flight back home is "T" (MCO to Shv). So would we have a chance to upgrade?

 

[justplaingoofy]

I know with American your tickets has to be a certain "class"....

Tried it on a couple of flights to the caribbean and we didn't have the correct "class" ticket.

 

[audipolo]

I know with American your tickets has to be a certain "class"....

Tried it on a couple of flights to the caribbean and we didn't have the correct "class" ticket.

This is true.

On American, the class that can be upgraded also depends on your elite status level. If you are non-elite, you can only upgrade full fare (Y) class. However, if you are any elite status with American (Gold, PLT, EXP), you can upgrade any published fare. The only exception is award travel (when you use miles for a ticket).

Of course, the greater of an elite you are, the better chance you have of being upgraded. I am mid-tier (PLT) with American and have never had any issue with upgrade requests to First. The EXP's do enjoy free upgrades however on any purchased/published fare.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

On American, the class that can be upgraded also depends on your elite status level. If you are non-elite, you can only upgrade full fare (Y) class. However, if you are any elite status with American (Gold, PLT, EXP), you can upgrade any published fare. The only exception is award travel (when you use miles for a ticket).

The part about the "only exception" was true prior to December 8, 2005. However, since December 8, there's been another exception.

As I wrote earlier in this thread, American now gives non-elite passengers traveling on discounted fares (not just full "Y") the opportunity to upgrade at a check-in kiosk if there are surplus seats in first class.

Previously, American would simply fly with a few empty seats in first class, or, if the economy cabin was full, a few lucky economy passengers (especially ones who did not have seat assignments) would find themselves assigned to a first class seat at check-in. Now, borrowing an idea from Delta, American has figured out how to turn those first class seats into extra revenue.

For more information, see this thread on FlyerTalk.

 

[safetymom]

I think quite a few airlines are getting good with the extra revenue idea. The agent that sells one of these at the gate with US Airways gets something also so they are trying real hard to sell those remaining seats.

 

[justplaingoofy]

I was told that Delta going to be removing some of the coach class seats in some of the Song planes and putting in 1st class to be used on some transatlantic flights.