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Delta announced last week that upgrade certificate rules change in February 2022.
The major news was that certificates will only allow people to upgrade one cabin higher than the one they purchased. In other words, a Global Upgrade Certificate currently allows passengers to upgrade from Main Cabin to Delta One, bypassing Premium Select (if that’s even offered on the plane).
You know, the seats with lie-flat beds and better service than coach.
But next year, the best a Global Certificate can do is bump you up from Main Cabin to Premium Select. Or if you buy Premium Select, then you can upgrade to Delta One.
So what’s all the extra urgency?
Well, Delta announced all flights from the United States to Europe will feature Premium Select next year. Gone will be the days of upgrading from Main Cabin to Delta One. (At least to Europe.)
See, some widebody aircraft don’t yet have Premium Select. They feature just Delta One, Comfort+, and Main Cabin-Basic Economy. But Delta is refurbishing the A330 and 767-300 fleets to include Premium Select. (The new A330neos are, of course, already outfitted with Premium Select.)
Delta says that “by next summer” every flight to Europe will feature Premium Select.
So What Does This Mean?
If you want to use your Global Upgrade Certificates for Delta One experiences, burn them like a dumpster fire thirsty for gasoline. And do it now.
Search for a trip. Make sure there’s upgrade inventory.
Look for flights using aircraft not yet outfitted with Premium Select. These include:
Check the itinerary’s seat maps to make sure Premium Select isn’t installed on your aircraft(s). Book the trip and call Delta and get yourself into the good seats.
Final Approach
All Delta flights to Europe will operate on aircraft featuring Premium Select as soon as next summer. The glory days of Global Upgrade Certificates are rapidly coming to a close. Burn ’em if you got ’em. (And if you need help finding a good European trip with Global Upgrade inventory, holler at Juicy Miles.)
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I reached the $30,000 spend on my Amex Delta Reserve card. When should I expect the 18,750 MQM bunus to post? Thanks!
Hey, Tom. You should receive email from Delta. Or see if this link helps.
Thanks I will wait for email. So close to Platinum!
As I understand you can use them throughout next summer under current rules – even on “4” class aircraft.
So yes – burn them now if you can find inventory but shouldn’t need to restrict to the noted aircraft until the calendar day in which you are calling in reflects the new terms – at least that is how it has been presented as I understand.
Hi Chris, so I’m a new Diamond (yah) and want to select UC as my choice benefit. Under new rules, waiting until the end of your tier qual window won’t help as it falls into “hope and pray” for D1 lie flat. Usually I do my overseas travel via partners and not DL directly. Kinda wanted to do Barcelona in September 2022 but trying to figure it all out. Should I get my UC now and then book my Jan 31st. I may do the trip via Delta Vacations so just trying to use the benefit in the best way possible.
Congrats! I think you could book your trip and redeem your certs now. (Or see if, say, AeroMexico business class might be a decent deal, too. It’ll be more than Main Cabin, sure — but might be worth your while, who knows.)
Does the new rule apply to the Platnium Regional Upgrade Certificates?
Yes, though only the redemption dates are affected — unless Delta implements Premium Select on some domestic flights. (Let’s hope they don’t!)
Chris, I am TRYING to burn my GUC’s like dumpster fire…lol… but almost every trip I can think of ( that I can justify going on …ie to see family or for business) coming out of SMF or SFO in the next 3 months I see the “upgrade certificate not available for this flight “ or the “ availability unknown for partner-operated flights “ … the “ inventory “ is nonexistent. Heck for domestic flights it’s nearly the same story. With the exception you can use your RUC but it’s not for the whole trip…. Nor will it apply for the long leg of your trip. Just the short hopper to a bigger hub airport. Kind of a sad state of affairs for loyal medallions these days.
Thanks for all the updates about the change in GUC’s
To me all these changes make it clear that it is not worthwhile to pursue Diamond status anymore.
So, after being Diamond since its inception, I will stick with Platinum, which should be easy for several more years using accumulated miles, and $25,000 with Amex reserve card
Like others, I will be much more opportunistic with regard to airline selection for my upcoming trips.
I wonder if these changes will turn out to be a smart business move for Delta,
The rules change on Feb 1, 2022. If I book a flight on Jan 30, 2022 for this spring/summer will I be able to use my GUC for main cabin to Delta One?
As we understand it, yes.
You realize that even with the new roles, upgrades are possible to Delta One from a main cabin fare, right? You just get waitlisted and will only clear 24 hours or less. I know that is less than ideal but reading your post makes it sound like it is impossible to buy main cabin and get into Delta one. What is impossible is to do that and confirm ahead of 24 hours, but you are still on the upgrade list for international Delta One and will clear ahead of any non-revs.
If there’s no Premium Select on the plane, then yes, you can use your GUC to try to get an upgrade to Delta One.
But what this post deals with is the fact Delta is implementing Premium Select onto all of its European flights by next summer.
@Mike – Assuming no SHENA comes to visit that is 🙁
Don’t the certs expire sooner too? We used to get a full year to use???
Unofficially, yes. Check out this post.
In other words they’re pressuring people to buy into the much more expensive coach seats at the front of the cabin to have a “chance” at upgrade to Delta One. Hundreds of dollars more for 5 more inches of legroom and a better snack ? Of course there are always plenty of sheeple that go right along with this.
Chris,
It appears all flights from USA to Europe do not have a premium select cabin. I am looking at the ATL-ATH route that starts next month and is on a A350 with Delta One and Comfort+ arrangement (no premium select). I assume these are the old LATAM birds. I thought this could be a sweet spot for GUC use, but I can not find a single flight that allows a GUC to be used on this route despite several mostly empty cabins. Is this a rule on GUCs I am unaware of? Do you know if Delta is blocking GUC use on these birds?
Could very well be a LATAM A350. Log on to Delta.com and search for GUC availability.
Hello Chris, two of my Global Upgrades show cancelled. However I did not use these. I filed a complaint with Delta in February and they have yet to respond. What do you recommend as next step?
When were they originally issued?