Reader “Bob” sent me an email a few days ago. He and his girlfriend recently returned from a trip to Lima, Peru, and noticed something interesting about their flights to/from Atlanta. (With his permission, I’ve edited and revised the email for context.)
“My girlfriend and I both are Platinum Medallions. We used Regional Upgrade Certificates (RUCs) to upgrade to Premium Select and, ultimately, into Delta One.
“Both the ATL–>LIM and LIM–>ATL flights had Delta One approximately half-filled at the time of boarding. But, during boarding, standby (for Main Cabin) flyers got upgraded into Delta One. This happened on both flights. We began discussing it and noted that, had we not used upgrade certs and used our standard Comfort+ upgrade, there’s no chance we would’ve gotten a complimentary upgrade to Delta One. It seems odd that they’re putting through upgrades to main cabin customers with no status or seat assignments over their medallion flyers.
“Is it possible we misperceived what was happening there or is this a flaw in Delta’s upgrade process?”
So, there are a few interesting points to tackle here.
Using a Regional Upgrade Certificate (RUC) to South America
The first is using a Regional Upgrade Certificate to go from Main Cabin to Premium Select to Delta One.
Delta notes that Medallion complimentary upgrades are available (inventory permitting, of course) on flights to northern South America. (I guess Lima is considered northern South America.)
Plus, Regional Upgrade Certificates can be applied to those flights as well — but Delta One seats outside the U.S. 50 and Premium Select are not eligible options.
Here’s a screenshot from Delta.com:
But Bob called the Platinum Medallion line to ask about the RUC policy to/from South America.
“We cleared into Premium Select,” he wrote, “but weren’t sure if we’d be waitlisted for Delta One. The rep said we would not be waitlisted for Delta One on a trip to South America.
“I then asked if there was a way for us to pay for or use miles to clear into Delta One. She put me on hold and, when she returned, said she was able to confirm complimentary upgrades for us on both international legs.”
It seems like Bob and his girlfriend were the recipients of a policy exception. To be clear: I asked him if these were Global Upgrade Certificates he might’ve earned while being a Diamond Medallion and used now. Bob confirmed he and his girlfriend are longtime Platinum Medallions and they used RUC.
Who Were the Standby Passengers Upgraded to Delta One?
Using a Global Upgrade Certificate is the only official way to receive a complimentary Medallion upgrade to Delta One on international flights. It’s not North America (and northern South America) region flights where Medallions can request upgrades on flights and hope it pans out.
So, who were the people on the standby list (accessible on the Fly Delta app) and Main Cabin getting the Delta One call-up?
My best guess is they were non-revenue passengers. (Think airline employees, buddy pass travelers, deadheading pilots and flight attendants, etc., though I doubt there were any deadheads or people commuting between ATL and LIM.)
We’ve long heard that unsold Delta One seats on International routes either fly empty or are filled by non-revs.
For example, a friend and I once flew from London Heathrow to Portland (PDX). The Fly Delta app showed, like, 15 open Delta One seats.
Once we boarded, I asked the flight lead if she needed a Diamond Medallion and his friend to occupy a couple of the Delta One spots. We’d be happy to volunteer our services: eating, drinking, and sleeping in lie-flats. I pretty much knew the answer to her question before I even asked — but still gave it a shot.
She smiled and said she’d love to accept our generous ( 😉 ) offer — but non-revs would occupy all the unsold Delta One seats.
Who’s more deserving of Delta One upgrades: paying passengers or non-revs? That’s certainly an interesting conversation to have another time.
But if you’re on an international Delta flight and see standbys or other people receiving Delta One upgrades during the boarding process, that’s probably what’s happening.
All flights are different and Delta is known for “shena.” So, these aren’t exactly a one-size-fits-all answer. But I think they fit most.
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I’ve had tons of issues with upgrades lately. There will be seats in first and comfort 24 hours prior that I have not been upgraded into until I call the gold member line.
They never have an answer as to why it wasn’t auto upgraded. This happens 50% of the time.
On some flights the upgrades don’t activate as an auto-upgrade, but the seating becomes complimentary and if you click the seat in the seat map it should allow to assign it for a $0.00 fee. You do have to be within your medallion clearance time slot for it to activate.
My husband and I are often non-rev passengers as our daughter is an attendant for Delta. I haven’t had the pleasure of being upgraded but I have had to eat the skin off my nail bed several times praying for a seat.
Employees get empty seats
And the mailman delivers mail.
Oh, sorry. I thought we were stating the obvious.
Its cut you would think anyone would that job and serve people at gat pay without that Bennifit.
Airlines including Delta don’t issue complimentary upgrades into Delta One because they want to sell the 3-9k seat. If people were upgraded for free into those they’d never be able to sell them. As a Platinum how would you feel if you paid 8k for a seat and another Platinum purchased a $500 main cabin seat and got a free upgrade into Delta One? ..you’d want your money back. Most people flying around domestic first class are doing so for free…Delta One is a big money maker. And when an airline employee is lucky enough to get those seats for them or their family think of it as one of the shrinking benefits they receive as employees.
Sometimes employees will put Delta one seats on a 24 hour courtesy hold the day before the flight using a fictitious name so there’s a better chance of them getting Delta One while flying nonrev. Totally unethical for them to do this, but I know for a fact that it does happen.
Nobody does that if they do they loose flight benefits and possibly their jobs. Some seats are held for weight planning but they don’t care about non revenue standby. And many businesses will purchase refundable tickets on the possibility of business then cancel.
No they don’t.
That is not how reservations, standby, or nonreving works.
No, we cannot even do that, non revs are listed for main cabin until the boarding process begins and then are cleared for any unsold empty seats.
No one is going to risk their job to make fictions reservations hoping to gain an upgrade, that way old news and employees are smarter than that, unless they’re totally stupid! People are so quick to make assertions when they don’t have a clue. And to answer the other persons question – who should get the upgrade, the paying passenger or an employee who contributes to the management of the airlines to keep things afloat – ummm, surely you don’t think one is above the other – they are both worthy and just like it’s a perk for the paying passenger, it’s a perk for the employee!
Right … unless you purchase a Delta One seat then a paying passenger in economy, is not any better then a nonrev. And in my opinion the nonrev is more deserving lol. Anyone can buy a cheaper ticket and hope to get upgraded… even if the nonrev did not get on you still would not have been upgraded into Delta One so the point of who is more deserving is quite honestly stupid. Entitlement is a hellvea drug.
As an employee I can say with 100% certainty that is Bull. We would loose or jobs over something like that.
It’s amazing how ppl outside the airline industry always think they know so much…
Whom ever told you that really took you to the bank.
This is by far the weirdest lie I’ve ever heard lol
The only way to “hold a seat” is to pay for it…
So, no non-rev would ever do this?
Sometimes it pays to keep your mouth shut.
Your guess is a good one. It’s about the only last decent perk working for Delta. Non-Revs will get the seat before they do anything for a passenger with status. I, too, have been on the end of hoping and praying that someone doesn’t show up so I just get a seat back to the USA and not stuck overseas.
Just a quick clarification here… Passengers with status entitles to an auto upgrade (i.e. domestic and Northern SA) will get upgraded before they put non-revs in D1. But outside those markets, they won’t put customers with status in D1 without them using a certificate/miles/whatever.
eye roll 1-YOU STEPPED ONBOARD AND IMMEDIATELY ANNOUNCED YOUR STATUS. YOU’RE CLEARLY UNAWARE HOW POMPOUS THAT IS.
2 -MAKING FAKE RESERVATIONS IS FRAUD.
3 -IF YOU WANT NON-REV PERKS… DELTA WILL BE HIRING SOON. prepare to face entitled whiny negative hungry, tired, rude travelers while not being paid to welcome them and smile while doing so…later clean the toilets after them.
then, on your way home pray you get a seat somewhere inside the plane.
UNTIL THEN, PUBLISH SOMETHING HELPFUL .
Though Delta is extremely concerned about a passengers safety and happiness due to certain flights purchased and upgrades used it is not always enough to place a silver or Golden Medallion in Delta 1. Your comment about non revenues was totally unacceptable. flying, Without those employees there would be no Delta Airlines. This is part of their benefit package and they all earn this benefit. I’m sorry you didn’t get what you thought you deserved but May I suggest you always check with your Ticket Agent to make sure your not disappointed like this again. Delta is the Very Best in Service and in Safety,
**Delta Air Lines
Oh are you a paying customer? Paying for Delta One? Then by all means come on up and enjoy!
Likewise, without revenue passengers, there would be no Delta airlines.
And if they always filled those with complimentary upgrades there’d be even less of a reason to buy them. It’s a benefit for hard working employees (and a well deserved one considering the salary most of them make. Many only work for these benefits) AND a strategic business decision to encourage people to purchase them when they’re available. Delta IS in the business of making money, at the end of the day. I get everyone thinks their loyalty should get them EVERYTHING for free, but some decisions they have to make are to make a dollar and appease shareholders.
Ehhh not so fast, there’s also freight involved here. The entitlement is nuts to me, the plane will literally not fly any passengers with no employees whether passengers are on the ship or not Delta still could not even put the plane in the sky without an employee doing their job. We lost our prices for each class of service, if you want to seat in Delta One buy the Delta One seat, sounds like you want a hand out because you think you’ve paid a few bucks more then someone who’s paid in time, usually years of service, including missed birthdays, holidays, sometimes working 15 hours a day back to back, being worked into off days and vacation with minimal sleep.
I love your answer. When passengers travel for their business, their mileage accrued is for their personal use. That is a benefit from their job. Just like an employee discount when working at Neiman’s or Lowes. Your answer was right on. With our any business employees their would be no business without the person paying full price ( for lack of a better word ). That goes without saying.
Oh are you a paying customer? Paying for Delta One? Then by all means come on up and enjoy!
For our $15 an hour job working for an airline, a perk for us. Like free meals if you work at a restaurant – Well deserved PERK. ( when we can save up enough money TO travel !)
So are you simply saying that employees don’t deserve those seats? Grocery workers receive perks, hotel employees receive great perks. It’s part of the job. At this time where employees are few and far between, they have to have something to entice them. You’ll be ok.
That’s not what I said. Note the “Who’s more deserving of Delta One upgrades: paying passengers or non-revs? That’s certainly an interesting conversation to have another time.”
Flying standby you are given the seat you are given . If I was offered a delta one seat what am I suppose to do refuse it and ask all the “revenue” passengers if they want it instead? Umm no!! Sounds like this gate agent shouldn’t have told you who were in these seats in the first place.
It was a flight attendant who told me 🙂 . And as someone who’s interested in aviation and airlines, I appreciated learning something new.
Literally you’re complaining… buy the seat if you want to sit there… there are many passengers with higher priority then you on every single flight.. even the simplest of flights is flooded with 360, Million Millers x2 times over, diamonds etc there would never be any upgrades had for you if it wasn’t this way let alone employees. The topic of who’s more deserving you know what you’re doing and you’re eluding too the fact you think employees are less deserving.. it’s not an interesting topic it’s an entitled one and you lost this battle. Good day.
I’m disappointed, Chris, with your knowledge of the industry you would broach the subject, and see plenty of others cover the industry-wide perks of employees, and one that is hit or miss – mostly the latter.
As a former airline sales manager, I’ll remind you that front cabin is an item of value. And yes, it may go empty, or may be filled with non-revs if a revenue passenger doesn’t possess the correct status or voucher or certificate for the route in question. And at grocery stores tomatoes may get tossed or given to employees or perhaps a food shelf, but never given to paying customers simply because they not not be sold before expiration.
In this case, Lima is a bonafide Delta One destination, not covered by the RUCs; kudos to you to acknowledge that. But please don’t introduce a philosophical question about employee benefits (a rabbit hole) or use positive exceptions to policy as the new norm or guideline.
Of course it was non rev upgrades. I almost always get upgraded to first class when flying internationally if I am cautious about which days I fly. That is the perk of being an employee or a family member of an employee. Buddy pass flyers rarely get upgraded to first class but can usually make comfort plus (domestic flights it is very rare for a non rev to get first class but usually can get comfort plus)
Thanks for the data point!
I’m a flight attendant for Daddy D (Delta) and that’s the least we can get. We work very hard! May not seem like it to y’all prissy “medallions” but we do. We don’t even get paid for boarding and giving ya service during pre departure ( which we are working) and deplaning. So please save that bullsh*t for somewhere else. You want to be upgraded to delta one THEN PAY FOR IT. Let us enjoy our hard work and get the seats we deserve.
I think Medallions recognize more than many other passengers how hard employees work. (I’ve written that we wish Delta would give Medallions more Job Well Done certificates.) And it’s 100% lame you’re not paid during boarding and deplaning.
I too frequently fly non-revenue. There seems to be some confusion about revenue upgrades and standby travel. As a revenue customer, you may be, under certain circumstances, eligible for upgrades. As a non-revenue passenger we are NOT eligible; therefore we are only able to occupy an empty seat- provided there is one. Most of the time, especially during international flights, Delta One seats remain unsold. Note we are talking about seats that can cost upwards of 5k/round trip. Many of our customers are willing to sacrifice the luxuries found in Delta One for Premium Select, Comfort+ or Main Cabin. Non-revenue would then occupy whatever is left. It’s not about entitlement or perks. The perk itself is being able to list for the flight itself. There are times when Delta One is completely sold out but one Comfort+ seat remains. Time willing, the process would then be to check for passengers who may be eligible for that upgraded seat and the have the non-revenue passenger occupy the previous seat of the upgraded passenger. I hope this helps ☺️.
Thanks for the insight, Just Flying Away!
It’s great and all you are proud of your Medallion but sounds like you are a bit too quick to tell anyone and everyone you have it. At the end of the day it’s given to you to make you feel better about the money you spent on travel but in no way makes you better. I would consider if I were you not letting everyone on a flight know you are a medallion member because at the end of the day nobody really cares…
Thanks for the comment, John. I never said anything makes me better than anyone else. I generally don’t broadcast my Delta status (or anything) when I’m on a flight.
But if you want to take out your Medallion hatred on me, that’s fine. Fire away.
You not getting paid before and after departure is on your [redacted] union. Don’t like the way your paid you have two options, quit or negotiate a better contract.
At last check, Delta flight attendants aren’t unionized. And not being paid during boarding isn’t limited to Delta.
Go fly American. I’m certain if you tell a flight attendant or any employee you feel you are more deserving of an upgrade, our CEO has a special policy in place to remove your status for these types of interactions right here.
I’m a flight attendant at Delta also and YOU, my dear winged sister or brother need to stay classy. While I agree with your sentiment, your trashy vocabulary makes us sound b****y and entitled.
It’s literally a perk of the job. And I swear it’s consistently the medallions that complain about everything employees get because they “deserve it” more. Employees can literally enjoy nothing because someone is always out there ready to complain about it.
Not all tickets are upgradable. Flight attendants don’t upgrade, it is done at the gate from what I understand. What is the difference between deadheading and commuting? Thanks for explaining! Great article.
Deadheading is when the company is sending a crewmember from one location to another (for example, they work a flight into Atlanta and then need to go to Minneapolis to work their next flight). Commuting is when an employee lives outside of their “domicile” and goes to work (for example, a pilot who lives in Michigan but “works” in NYC).
Thanks !
I edited that sentence to make things clearer — thank you both for pointing that out.
Airlines want customers to buy international First Class seats at full price. They are extremely clear about this.
I was a flight attendant at a regional airline for 10+ years; I had flight benefits with American, Delta, and United at various points in my career. All US-based airlines fill vacant seats with airline employees and their pass riders. Most international carriers have employee travel benefits as well.
Non-revenue travelers are assigned seats after (1) the purchase window has closed, (2) there are no eligible revenue upgrades, and (3) it is clear there will be vacancies. Gate agents have detailed lists of passenger priority and status. Clearing a non-rev over an ELIGIBLE revenue in ANY cabin passenger is a terminable offense.
For the record, I made less than $30000/year at my regional, and the ability to fly in a vacant seat was a perk of my employment.
Occasionally, I would get an UNSOLD international First Class seat. I’m sorry if it angered you to see me — an undeserving peasant — sitting a seat that otherwise would have been empty.
Thanks, Virginia!
Seems as though, if Medallions are given “Free Upgrades” to D1, then where is any incentive for anyone to actually purchase a D1seat? Delta Air Lines and other airlines cannot afford to have a cabin like D1 for simply free upgrades. (or Non-Revs)
Airline personnel have the benefit to receive a D1 seat if available. Medallion flyers are given many upgrade options on most routes and it’s a perk of being a Medallion flyer, just as upgrades are a perk for Delta employees and their families.
Also note, most Medallions don’t actually pay for the tickets that bring them medallions status: Their companies do. The status is a Perk of their jobs.
I say the Delta employees are more Deserving of it.. They catch more Hell from Medallion Members trying to get over them then anyone else. I believe they definitely earn that privilege to be upgraded to Delta one.
Why is it anylyone’s business how and why another person got the seat they’re in? Who cares? If you think it’s not fair then take your business elsewhere or pay for Delta One.
Exactly!! I’m really surprised the gate agent told the customer who gets these seats!! Like I said it’s never a guarantee that we will even get on the flight!
If you purchase a Cheese burger you Get A cheese burger not the deluxe cheeseburger just because it’s made.
If a passenger is flying with a Global Upgrade Certificate those trump Regional Upgrade Certificates. Non revs do not get upgraded as often as you think. Also in ATL there are a TON of Medallions flying, it’s an international hub for Delta. Just because you are a Platinum, you are still going to against single/duo party Diamonds and 360s. If upgraded seats are that important to you – purchase them instead of getting upset of a benefit (based off of availability) you didn’t receive.
Wow that topic was a biggy!! Last trip Atl to SFO . There were at least 13 C- seats open and 2 FC. None of us on the upgrade list were moved. The guy across from me showed the list and asked why empty seats after door closed? I also asked and FA’s told us to stop talking about it! Aka shut up. I took pix of empty seats n made a list along with upgrade list via email to D. Response was “you always get wants you want” ask the Red it’s next time !!!! Not a good response sending the printout to Ed
That’s literally the protocol. Flight attendants don’t handle seat upgrades. Just because you don’t like the response doesn’t make it an incorrect response.
I work for Delta and if it were not for the flight benefits, I would never in a million years be a flight attendant. If they took our flight benefits, I would quit the next day. Most average airline employees are not going to get rich off our jobs, but we will get to see the world. I have a Masters degree and previously had a higher paying job, but I do this for the travel benefits. Believe it or not, I don’t do it because I enjoy hearing Mr. Platinum Medallion get angry because we don’t have limes for his gin and tonic.
Thanks for the comment, Flygirl. I’m sorry to hear that anyone would get angry about something like no limes for a drink while on a plane. In a bar, sure. But flight attendants aren’t bartenders — even though I hear from some that it sometimes feels like they are.
@Chris (and @Bob) –
I’ve been on the ATL-LIM and LIM-ATL flights many times and have been burned every time trying to get an upgrade. Most recently, there was a storm approaching the East Coast and flight operations along the eastern seaboard looked to be closed for two to three days.
Sure enough, I was about to board an evening Delta flight bound for Lima and overheard the gate agent call someone. Now I believe it was another Delta employee. He related that the flight had more than 20 empty DeltaONE seats. Moments later, a swarm of Delta employees most still in uniform rushed to the gate where I was waiting.
You guessed it: every single one took up all the empty DeltaONE seats. I was flabbergasted.
On my return, again the plane was nearly empty in the forward cabin. I waited at the gate in Lima and noticed a separate area where people (dressed in street clothes) were assembled; just off from the queue to board the aircraft. As a Diamond Medallion, I was first in the queue to board the plane. Then a rep told me to wait a moment as I watched everyone in that ‘other’ group march towards the plane. They skipped the required security check at the gate and headed down the jetway.
A new flight attendant actually apologized for how I was treated, told me they were going to upgrade me until this happened. She even snuck me a free bottle of wine from the DeltaONE cabin. Meanwhile, as luck would have it, I was seated next to Alex. Alex was an eight-year-old who told me he was on his second passport. His parents worked for Delta and because of the weather back in the United States they all jumped on board for a Lima three-night vacation; same length as mine. Alex introduced me to his grandmother and two sisters also flying in Comfort+. He said my mom and dad are in First Class ‘they do this a lot.’
Good for Alex and his family! Bad timing for me.
So, yeah, Atlanta to Lima is filled with non-revs Chris & ‘Bob.’
Um… this is a lie. Lol no one can skip any security screening, nonrev, employee or not. Additionally the new flight attendant would most definitely lose their job if they upgraded you… so if that’s the case maybe don’t say that and just purchase the seat. The entitlement is weird to me.. the seats will be empty if employees aren’t on the flight and you didn’t purchase it… so someone sitting there should have no concern to you.
Well, that explained to me what is happening at BOG. They did board a group of people before pre-boarding. Also, too many D1’s were assigned last minute.
There is another point to add here: I paid with points, those points were very hard worked (missed BD, holidays, worked 15+hours) and those tickets doesn’t allow you to get you even into Comfort +?????
I don’t at all begrudge Delta employees their flight benefit. I think what’s frustrating to me as someone who is a very loyal Delta customer is that I have no avenue to use miles or pay a little extra to buy one of those empty D1 seats. There used to be a way to do that but it got eliminated several years ago. And, if I do upgrade into that empty D1 seat, there’s still an empty seat on the plane for a “non-rev”.
I do fly some for business, but at least half of the travel that gets me to Platinum every year is personal travel that I pay for out of pocket. Additionally, I’m willing to inconvenience myself and fly a connection vs, direct on another airline and sometimes pay a higher fare to fly Delta. I do this for two reasons:
1. I believe Delta has the best commercial air service of any US based airline.
2. For the benefits I get from medallion status.
I appreciate the hard working employees of Delta and certainly wouldn’t want them to be denied a very nice benefit. But perhaps there’s a happy medium where loyal hard-working employees and loyal customers can both get opportunities to take advantage of empty D1 seats?
Very well put
Wow I’ve never felt so belittled as a ramp agent. Now it’s an issue if I get D1 (only enjoyable thing about my job).
I’m sorry you feel that way, Manuel. If your comment is directed at me, I don’t see where I said it’s an issue about employees getting Delta One seats. It certainly wasn’t my intention to make anyone feel bad. A reader asked me something that I thought other travelers would be interesting in learning. That’s all.
Who cares you a holes you know they do that I am disabled and if there is a seat open they will assign it to me. I’ve been flying since the 70s when it was Northwest airlines, I also flew PanAm. Airlines do what they do. Sorry you had to pay full price ( well not really you think your $$$ gets you somewhere think again on an airplane unless you have your own)
Who is more deserving of D1 seats? Delta has already answered that for you. 1st paying customers, and 2nd non-rev passengers. Bob was neither, but he fell into the hidden 1.5 group, the “I’m gonna call corporate” group aka complaining medallions who bought cheaper seats that get a pacifier, I mean, a D1 seat without paying the difference in fare from Delta customer service reps.
It’s ultimately something you get by either paying or working at Delta. Or in my case, know someone who does. My dad has worked at Delta for years, actually starting back with Northwest before the merger. I just be happy to make the flight. I fly standby 50% of the time, my work covers the business trips.
If was a flight attendant & had to work D1 with all medallions, no non-revs? I might quit. Most medallion flyers are so insufferable.
Kudos to Delta for giving their employees a benefit that’s sometimes worth more than a month salary.
Wow. I’m shocked at the way this article was received and how nasty people have gotten in the comments. Calling medallion members entitled and whiny because someone asked a question and Chris answered it. Life is too short to be bitter and upset about someone else’s airline status. As a flyer I like to learn about how the system works and I appreciate Chris giving us his insights.
Tbh when I saw the headline, I knew how this was going to go. Medallion flyers have given themselves the bad reputation. I’m not saying all of them, but they sure like to make it known to others about their status.
The question was asked to Chris because they felt they were being denied something they are entitled to that is being given to a group they deemed as undeserving or lesser than. That’s the quiet part the question didn’t say out loud.
The reader didn’t seem at all like he thinks anyone is beneath him.
Hey TJ, I’d have to back up Chris’s sentiment here as the girlfriend in the story 😉 we were genuinely curious about the process. When Chris mentioned non-revs we were like “ah. Duh!” We were in delta one and were very grateful to be. If you read what happened, we tried to pay for the upgrade and they gave it to us since there wasn’t a way with the RUCs in place.
But anyway, larger conversation is that labeling a large group of people because of interaction with a few select people creates animosity and we need less of that these days! I hope you have a great rest of your week and you get to take a vacation to somewhere awesome soon! If you haven’t been, check out Peru, it was fantastic. And thank your dad for all his hard work over the years. He’d be an interesting person to grab a cup of coffee with 🙂
He never said anything about calling corporate. He simply asked a question.
Interesting how you end with your snarky comment questioning whether or not employees of their own company deserve a perk of working for said company. I’d ask how many of your diamond and platinums have your status thanks to your company paying for your ticket (or reimbursing you) and allowing you to keep your miles. That’s the perk of your job, like getting a D1 seat that hasn’t been paid for is a perk of their job. You want that perk, go work for an airline and stop looking down on people who think are “less than” you. you guys are such entitled jags.
So is that why they are rushing you on while telling you there is no carryon space when in fact half main cabin carryon space is empty?
I resent being lied to by gate agents. I have had bad experiences with gate checked carryons ending up in the wrong city or even county.
Mind your business sir….it’s the perks of working for the airline ♀️
How about worry about your own seat, mind your business, and enjoy your flight! Platinum Stallion Medallion Scallion status means nothing in real life! Get over yourself.
STOP ASKING THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS!!!!
Flight attendants don’t handle seat upgrades! If you are THAT concerned ask the person who’s job it is as in the Gate Agents or Customer Service BEFORE you board said flight. Y’all really think that employees of the company aren’t going to have benefits to working for the company, such as free/discounted flights and upgrades? 9 times out of 10 no employee is getting upgraded before a paying passenger that meets the criteria to get said upgrade. International flights cost much more in miles and money for upgrades, so often employees get them because the paying pax don’t meet the requirements or want to forfeit the miles/money. Y’all whine about anything! Let the paying public tell it, airline employees should work for free 24/7 and do so graciously.
None of you know anything. So much false information being spread.
God forbid airline workers get a good seat after getting cussed out constantly by rude passengers all day at work. If you want a nicer seat, buy one.
I don’t see where anyone said airline workers shouldn’t get a good seat.
I’m not sure how this turned into medallion flyers vs. Delta employees. My experience with 98% of Delta employees has been nothing but positive. I suspect that the reverse is also true with employees’ experiences with medallion flyers. We depend on each other… medallion flyers account for a huge chunk of the revenue that an airline takes in, which creates jobs for the employees of the airline. The employees make the airline operate and their work and service is the difference between the flyers having a smooth, enjoyable experience vs. a rough & painful experience.
This article was really about something I observed on a recent flight and was curious about. Chris was nice enough to explain the situation for me and for other flyers out there who, like me, who didn’t understand what was happening with those seats.
I hate that the conversation has devolved into an “us vs. them” spew-fest instead of a rational discussion about a topic that affects both loyal Delta customers and loyal Delta employees. There are a lot of negative generalizations being thrown around that I’m guessing apply only to a small minority of people.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion and a perspective. By communicating those opinions and perspectives, we invite others who may have a different perspective to add to our understanding of a topic. I’m not sure why this can’t be done in a more constructive way…
As an employee I am very grateful to my airline for my travel benefits. Sometimes my family and I are very lucky to sit in the front using my vacation passes when the flight is wide open. I have a big family from across the pacific. I’ve been able to see them through good and bad times (i.e. weddings and funerals). A couple of times I’ve gotten condescending remarks and stares from paying passengers when they know we are nonrevs as much as I always tell my family to dress the part, be polite, don’t ask too much, and be ready to eat what paying passengers don’t want to eat because they’re still first class meals. I don’t feel being entitled to this experience but I always feel I’m being rewarded for my hard work and loyalty at my airline for the last 20 years even if I just get a middle seat in the back. I’m happy to have been able to extend this privilege to my family which I wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise if I didn’t have my airline job. This is one of the top reasons people want to work in the industry.
Thank you, Wolken, for this perspective!
Yes, it happens. I have been a diamond for many years. It is possible to get upgraded if you arrive on the front end of the boarding process. Upgrades depond on your ff status, how much money you have spent on tickets, etc. Even having a reserve card can make a difference. Also, the fare category of your ticket. Once the boarding process has cleared, you are on your own, probably sitting the back of the bus, diamond or not.
So it goes.
I second Bill’s experience…I’m a Diamond/MM/Reserve card holder, but I’ve never believed that I’m “entitled” to a seat in a higher class than I booked and paid for, even if all those seats fly empty. I take ~20 international flights a year, usually buying D1 for the night flights and premium economy for the day flights. On ONE occasion, I was given an unexpected, last-minute upgrade to D1 for a daytime flight (when we took off, well over half of the D1 cabin was still empty, so perhaps this was related to load-balancing and an insufficient number of non-revs wanting the seat?) I absolutely agree that employees should have first dibs on those seats!
Non revs deserved you cry baby medallion holder. Next time I’ll make sure to send you drink from delta one
No one skips security. I’m in the “business” so take my word for it. Second, Delta is a horrible airline so who cares. Stop being so damn entitled. Pay for your seats clowns. If you can’t afford it, back to coach with you !
I believe it’s about 90% of our Platinum/Diamond medallion members are traveling for work. In other words, they didn’t earn these perks from their own money, it’s a benefit of the job. So every time you get a complimentary upgrade, you have your job to thank. Same for being an airline employee. There are plenty of times we’re stuck in a middle seat in the row by the lav after waiting all day in the airport to get on a flight. Sometimes we have to go to 2 different cities just to get to our final destination. Sometimes we sleep in airports. It’s not glamorous all the time, so on the rare occasion we are able to take off and spend the little money we’re paid to go international, it’s a job perk to get Delta One. I worked at Disney once upon a time and my perk was getting into the parks for free, discounts on food and merch, and often skipped in line if a friend was working there. Every job has its perks, and expecting those perks to be offered to every single person would 1) lessen the desire to work there, and 2) decrease profits. If you want to discuss who deserves those seats more, then let’s also discuss if medallion members who only earned it because of work trips deserve that status too.
@Desiree – Please keep in mind that there are massive amounts of small business owners, like myself, who are Diamonds. Yes our “jobs” earn us status but we are the ones paying to earn that status with Delta. Every time I ever interreact with anyone at Delta Air Lines they thank me for being a Diamond and a million miler.
Hi Chris,
First, as an employee, I wish to apologize for all of my colleagues negative comments. I’m sure you know the stresses in the industry are very much impacting many employees emotional and mental health these days. Sadly there is much animosity between many employees and customers as I do believe Delta has caused problems for both. The Medallion status and upgrades need a new revamped system, for sure. But there are many factors that also come into play for each flight. Agents usually have only an hour prior to departure to work on upgrades and non-revs. That is not a lot of time on top of fixing seating issues with families and checking bags. They have so many time constraints that a lot of people forget or don’t understand. So sadly, sometimes upgrades may not happen correctly, if at all.
Delta does appreciate its loyalty members, as there are just so many of you . And non revs usually get those seats at the last minute, because they are dealt with last.
For everyone, it just feels like who is the luckiest that day. Let’s hope that the company will soon come up with a happy medium.
Until then, best of luck to you next time.
(Please don’t take my words as exactly what happens, but this is just my understanding of observations over 4 years with the company)
And thank you to all our medallion members, again.
We thank you every time
Thanks for the insight, Ymat!
I have worked for some of the top companies in the world and they never gave away their own products that were as valuable as a first class seat. I am glad that airlines do that for their employees but don’t think it should be done before paying customers get their benefits.
During a recent trip back here from Israel, where I was upgraded at the last minute with a global upgrade, I noticed that someone on standby had been upgraded to Delta One ahead of me. I assumed this person had paid for a first class seat on another flight and had to be accommodated at the last minute. I know there was a United flight that was canceled that evening. I should have started a conversation with him (you can do that on flights to and from Israel without appearing strange – on one occasion I did that with someone who turned out to be a famous American former Presidential candidate). I did notice that the other person who scored an upgrade at the last minute was BAR/M which is the same as the first three letters of my first name, and my second initial!
I literally just sat here and read every comment – I have been with Delta for 12 years, as a flight attendant and spent 5 of those years in leadership which includes operations and leading over 100 flight attendants at any given time. Let me clear all this up.
Here is the process and rationale surrounding Delta One International upgrades:
1) if you buy Delta One, you have your seat
2) if you bought a different class and have a global upgrade certificate, you can apply it to your ticket, and you will get the upgrade based on how many seats are available/your place in line on the upgrade list. This process takes place once the gate agent takes control of the flight, but can also happen a few days prior to the flight
3) after upgrades are processed, the remaining seats go to non-revs (employees), in seniority order, at the gate.
Now – keep in mind, on flights that are VERY empty, the airline has to deal with weight and balance concerns – so despite Delta One seats being available, NO ONE will be upgraded.
So many employees feel very lucky and blessed to even get a Delta One seat. It’s not easy to get them – If Delta isn’t giving them away to medallions, it’s weight and balance, lol.
Delta employees almost never get seats up front Domestically because they are always given to medallions and in theory, it makes Domestic first class not even worth purchasing because medallions know they will just get the free upgrade. Most of the time medallions are flying domestically for work, so it’s very generous of Delta to upgrade medallions to unsold seats without fail on every Domestic flight. We as employees are very happy to take care of anyone in First Class/Delta One regardless of it’s an upgrade or not.
When it comes to international, upgrades should not just be free for medallions. If you want it, you gotta buy it.
Our last CEO said specifically – “If I purchase a Mercedes’ every year, should I be rewarded with a free Mercedes’ every two years just because I am loyal to Mercedes’ and buy one every year? The answer is No.
I’m sure this sentiment Carrie’s through with our current CEO. I support that sentiment especially knowing what goes into providing that elevated level of service/experience.
So I hope this helps provide more perspective on both the process and rationale behind international Delta One upgrades. Delta One is considered a premium product and we want our passengers to actually pay for that product, or use their global upgrade certificates that are given as a perk of your status.
Much love to all and thank you all for being loyal customers.
PS. I don’t mind you asking/answering the question. It just appears that the answers to your questions werent very clear. I don’t want a battle between medallions or employees, as it will only end up one way – NO ONE WILL EVER GET AN UPGRADE… Bottom Line – We need our medallions and our medallions need us. We are all road/air warriors and we need to support each other. Ask all the questions you want, and to my fellow employees – let’s take the time to actually explain the process as 99.9% of our medallions certainly understand once we explain and will have our backs as we have theirs. They don’t want to take our benefits from us just as we don’t want to take their benefits from them.
Xoxoxo to all.
Thanks so much, FlyBoi!