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My family and I just wrapped up a wonderful trip to west-central Minnesota. I ran into a number of old and new friends; we swapped tips about travel, points, miles, money-saving techniques, and credit cards.
A Delta Air Lines Platinum Medallion member remarked to me that he planned to buy Comfort+ seats for an upcoming Delta trip.
“Why’s that?” I said, After all, Diamond and Platinum members can usually get upgraded into Comfort+ shortly after completing the reservation (if there are any seats available).
“Because I want to sit in Comfort Plus,” he said, giving me a look that said, Wow, is this Carley guy stupid or what?
I explained the whole free-upgrade-immediately-after-booking thing.
“So, I just need to book Main Cabin, request the Comfort Plus and First Class upgrades, and then check back a minute or two later to see if I got upgraded to Comfort?” he said.
“Yup.”
“Oh,” he said, his eyes glazing over. I assumed he was mentally tallying how much he overpaid for Comfort+ in the five-ish years he’s been a Platinum.
Is it Ever Worth Diamonds and Platinums Buying Comfort+?
Look, your money is your money. Knock yourself out if you’re a Diamond or Platinum member and want to pay for Comfort+. Delta sure as heck won’t care.
But if you really want to jump a spot (or maybe more) on the First Class upgrade list, consider that Comfort+ fares (W and S) are higher than most Main Cabin fares (exceptions being Y and B). As fare class is a First Class/domestic Delta One tie-breaker, that might help your cause.
Other than that, you can usually sit in Comfort+ and enjoy whatever benefits are available (depending on flight length, of course) for no additional cost.
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Same day confirm change is also a reason to buy C+
Waived same day change fees is a platinum benefit.
@Bob, is the reason to do this to make sure fare class is available for the SDC?
Actually you can book in Main make sure to select the upgrade option. Once the ticket is issued (almost instantly) go back into the reservation and select seats in C+ yourself. I do this all the time.
If it doesn’t automatically upgrade you within minutes of booking coach, go to the select seat page and choose your C+ seat. It “rings” up as free.
You do want to wait until the official ‘you’re been upgraded e-mail’ shows up. If you pick a C+ seat before you get that, there’s something in Delta’s IT system that makes it hard to make changes to the ticket online and you’ll have to call into customer service instead, which is still best avoided. But if you don’t pick your C+ seats until after the e-mail, it seems to preserve the ability to easily make changes online when you get the inevitable schedule change that messes up your plans.
They seem to have fixed this issue
Nope the way travel is right now, you are going to be rejected on your upgrade list for at least another year. If you want comfort plus you best pay for it
How do you determine fare class at time of booking? I usually only see it afterward.
@Kay – Delta dumbs it down to basic, main, C+ etc. If you ITA Matrix you can use switches to search for a specific fare class and then call to request.
I have always been able to right after booking the ticket go and select comfort + seats and it moves me and my wife. I always get the you have been upgraded emails a couple of hours later.
Either way, NEVER choose Row 10, the first row of Comfort+ on an Airbus, unless you want an aisle seat.
This is like an exit row with partitions between the seats.
If you are one to switch flights, just remember that the upgrade does not mean you have a comfort + ticket. So, if you do a same day change, you will start back in the main cabin and all comfort seats could be gone.
This is only on domestic flights-correct?
Nope. Also on international flights.
You’re sure? Upgrade to C+ for free internationally? That’s a HUGE benefit!
@Jeremy – Yep he is sure. I would not call it a HUGE benefit but a small one depending on the jet and seat configuration.
Yes. All Medallions are eligible for C+ upgrades globally at their respective windows
I use this for most trips but a lot of times, I’ll take an exit row seat over C+
The one issue I had with this approach is on a direct flight to Hawaii when they had an equipment change. A week before the flight we got downgraded for to equipment change and there were less C+ seats on the new plane. That’s the one risk.
I always upgrade myself from main to C+ shortly after booking. The first class upgrade up to 5 days before the trip has never worked for me. I’m only Platinum Medallion, so maybe that’s why. Has anyone here been successful at earlier upgrades to first, as Platinum? Any tips? I usually clear on the day or sooner if I have certificates. And a fact checker for you experts, is it true that upgrade certificates will now only bump you to the next class? So we would have to book C+ to be able to upgrade to first? Fyi: I hope you guys caught the 148000 miles special offer RT from US to Munich or Frankfurt, all domestic first, and Delta One. I have never seen a promo like this directly from Delta, and I thought it was pretty descent, but I’m a newbie. Cheers!!
I’m a Gold Medallion and was upgraded a couple days in advance on a flight from Detroit to Las Vegas that I took last month. First was mostly empty when I booked and there probably weren’t many frequent travelers on the red eye flight. On the way back, I didn’t get upgraded until boarding had started.
Thanks for letting me know. The only early upgrades I received was the ones I did myself. Lol. Happy to hear you got early upgrade as Gold. That’s awesome.
How could a delta platinum not know this. It’s been policy for years and is part of your profile.
With platinum or higher, delta is hands down best airline. Their special support line is priceless and they’ve gotten me home on same day confirmed or even standby so many times.
It doesn’t matter whether you get upgraded or not there are other means as to how to go through the issue of being on Delta or not.
I’m finding Delta is slowing up on the pre-flight upgrades as they’ve had to reschedule so many PAX this summer. I was flying JFK:ATL this weekend on a 767-300ER. 24 hours out there were 9 open DeltaOne (the worst Delta One seats in the system) at the 5-day mark over half the cabin was empty. Both Mrs. DLPTATL and I Diamonds (actually qualified in ’21 not carry over status) and they didn’t clear us until boarding when one of us cleared. Sometime in the night 7 of those seats all disappeared at once. I can only assume it was because of all the weather related rebooking that was taking place late Saturday.
I’ve seen more empty International First/Business Seat than filled. I really don’t care who gets them as long as I get the chance/status I’ve earned. Delta started Diamond back in 2010, and I’ve been Diamond each and every year since. Flying To/From Madrid, I counted over 15 empty seats in Business and Delta wouldn’t budge on upgrades. I wrote a letter about it, and was told that They won’t upgrade to those seats, because then NO ONE would ever buy them. So, they would rather fly with Diamonds in Coach, maybe even a Middle Seat, then upgrade them for Free. I think it’s a CROCK!!!
Yep. Those DeltaOne seats internationally are for employees.
Thanks for the information
My pleasure. Thanks for your comment!
The authors comments are not accurate, in any way, shape or form. As a 25 year Diamond member, it is true that you (flying alone) most likely be upgraded. However, you cannot expect that to occur, especially if you change your itinerary (as most frequent flyers often do).
If you fly with family members, you must purchase the seats that you wish your lived ones to travel, regardless of your status.
Do not follow ill advice like this and end up in a flight situation that is not desirable.
@Todd Caven – How have you been a Diamond for 25 years when the Diamond status was first created 12 years ago?
Next, I who have been a Diamond for over 10 years (and Platinum before that), never pay for C+ and always pick it free after purchase both domestic and international. That is when I want it. For me, many times, I would much rather be in an EXIT row than C+ that is the exact same seat as the rest of coach.
As to schedule changes etc. as a Diamond I have always found Delta to be VERY helpful in fixing things for me and my family when schedule changes hit.
Are you sure you’re commenting on the correct blog and blog post? Were your remarks meant for someone else? Because they make no sense in this context. Perhaps you’re a Delta stockholder and encouraging people to spend more money with the airline? (I don’t hold or trade Delta or any airline stock.)
As René pointed out, Diamond is relatively new. Perhaps you’re thinking of a different loyalty program?
My wife, daughter, and I (my “lived ones”) almost always get our complimentary upgrades to Comfort+. We even get upgraded to First Class sometimes!
I’ve changed itineraries countless times —- sometimes even on the same day and still received my upgrades. Even to First Class. Many frequent flyers know this.
This person who commented on the upgrades doesn’t know what he/she’s talking about. I’m a new Platinum member, and as such, purchased a MAIN CABIN ticket to LAX with a free companion ticket, and upgraded myself and my husband immediately to C+. Then I changed my tickets to Portland, OR and once again, upgraded immediately, then I changed them to Boise, ID, and of course, upgraded myself to comfort+. Of the 4 segments (total) traveled, I was upgraded to first class 3 times. I had certificates, but didn’t have to use them. I’m a newbie and even I know this.
This is a great conversation. Thank you!! To get the upgrade to C+ do you have to book Main or can you book Basic +?
@Colleen – Officially Basic blocks you from any upgrades (there are hit and miss reports of getting upgrades anyway but I would AVOID Basic fares).
Chris,
Thanks for the info on upgrades on Platinum. I wasn’t aware of it. And I also found out that I can automatically go to the Amer Express Lounge. Since I use American at times this saves me the cost of an American Card for lounge access on their system. There is too little information available – especially for the less than frequent traveler.
I sometimes have to call in for C+ upgrade and also don’t get put on waiting list when it is full
Also, this happens less since they fixed the glitch a year ago (longer?) where seat preference could prevent auto upgrade to C+
Case in point, cannot put my wife and me (obj case) in C+ on flight to Boston next week
(Diamond for past six years)
Does this also work when flying with a companion? Do you both get the option to choose comfort or only the medallion member?
@Ricky – Both. You also both upgrade at the highest Medallion level (if 2 seats open up that is).