Roberta Aguirre
Upgrading your Delta flight at the airport is possible, but it depends on several factors, including your Medallion status, fare type, availability, and more. Delta Air Lines offers Medallion Upgrades, which provide various benefits, such as the ability to request a Delta Comfort upgrade when checking in for a flight. Medallion Members can also opt for Complimentary Upgrades, which may be available at the departure gate if they are added to the airport standby list. Additionally, Delta allows customers to purchase post-booking upgrades or use their miles to upgrade their reservation. These options are available online or through the Fly Delta app, as well as by contacting a SkyMiles representative.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Upgrade methods | Medallion upgrade, mileage upgrade, purchased upgrade, upgrade with companion |
| Upgrade types | Delta Comfort upgrade, Delta One upgrade, Delta Premium Select upgrade, Delta First upgrade, Delta Comfort+ upgrade, First Class upgrade, Delta Sky Club upgrade |
| Upgrade eligibility | Medallion members, Medallion elite members, Diamond Medallion members, Platinum Medallion members, Gold Medallion members, Silver Medallion members, SkyMiles members |
| Upgrade timing | At check-in, 72 hours before departure, 24 hours before departure, 5 days before departure, 3 days before departure, 1 day before departure, day of departure, 90 minutes before departure |
| Upgrade conditions | Availability, clearance priority, enough miles, Delta-operated and Delta-marketed flights, Virgin Atlantic-operated flights, Air France-operated flights, Aeromexico-operated flights, Delta SkyMiles card |
| Upgrade limitations | No complimentary upgrades on Delta One seats for international flights, no complimentary upgrades on basic economy fares, no complimentary upgrades on board |
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What You'll Learn
Medallion status and complimentary upgrades
Medallion Status is a tier-based rewards program offered by Delta Air Lines. There are four Medallion tiers: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. Each tier offers an added level of service, exclusivity, and rewards. Medallion Members can earn benefits such as complimentary upgrades, priority boarding, waived baggage fees, and access to Delta Sky Clubs.
Complimentary upgrades are available for Medallion Members, subject to availability and certain conditions. These upgrades allow Medallion Members to move from the Main Cabin to Delta Comfort or Delta One, or from Economy to Premium Economy or Upper Class. Complimentary upgrades are not available on basic economy fares or Delta Main Basic fares, and members must have earned enough miles to be eligible for an upgrade.
To increase their chances of receiving a complimentary upgrade, Medallion Members can open a Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card or a Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card, which also grants access to Delta Sky Club airport lounges. Additionally, Medallion Members can set their SkyMiles account preferences to automatically request upgrades whenever they make a reservation connected to their SkyMiles number.
The order and prioritization of upgrades are determined by factors such as Million Miler Status, MQD balance, and fare type. Diamond and Platinum Medallion Members have the highest priority for complimentary upgrades, followed by Gold and Silver Medallion Members. Upgrade certificates are also available exclusively for Diamond and Platinum Medallion Members and can be applied when booking through the Fly Delta app or delta.com. These certificates expire at the end of the Medallion year and are valid for one-way travel.
Overall, the Medallion Status program offers Delta Air Lines customers a range of benefits and perks, including the opportunity to receive complimentary upgrades to their flights, subject to availability and eligibility.
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Using miles to upgrade
Upgrading your Delta flight at the airport is possible, and there are several ways to do so using miles. Firstly, Delta SkyMiles members can earn miles to redeem for flight upgrades. These miles can be used to upgrade your seat, providing a more premium travel experience. You can also use your miles to upgrade other passengers, even if you are not travelling with them. However, to do so, you must be logged in to your Delta account, either online or via the Fly Delta app, or be an authorised user of the account when upgrading with the assistance of a reservations specialist.
To upgrade with miles, you must have enough miles in your account to upgrade at least one eligible segment in the reservation. If you are upgrading multiple passengers, you must have enough miles to upgrade all passengers for all flights in the reservation. Additionally, your entire reservation must be operated and marketed by Delta. Delta-ticketed flights have ticket numbers that begin with "006", while other airlines have different ticket numbers, such as Virgin Atlantic-ticketed flights, which start with "932".
For Delta-marketed flights operated by Virgin Atlantic, Mileage Upgrade Awards are available for upgrades from Economy to Premium Economy or Upper Class, and from Premium Economy to Upper Class. Similarly, for Delta-marketed flights operated by Aeromexico, Mileage Upgrade Awards are available on specific fare classes for travel between the United States and Mexico. These Mileage Upgrade Awards are also applicable to Delta-marketed and operated flights departing from select countries, such as France, Ghana, and the United Kingdom, starting on August 22, 2023.
It is important to note that Medallion Members of the Delta Air Lines Medallion program can set their SkyMiles account preferences to automatically request upgrades whenever they make a reservation connected to their SkyMiles number. Medallion Members can also opt for Complimentary Upgrades prior to check-in, which gives them top priority within their eligibility window. If no upgrades are available at that time, they may still clear at the gate, and their names will be added to the airport standby list for potential last-minute upgrades.
Delta also offers Upgrade Certificates exclusively for Diamond and Platinum Medallion Members, which have a higher priority than Medallion Complimentary Upgrades. These certificates are valid for one-way travel and can be used for companions on the same flight. Additionally, Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Cardholders can increase their chances of receiving a complimentary upgrade and gain access to Delta's global network of Sky Club airport lounges.
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Upgrade certificates
Medallion Members can use Upgrade Certificates to upgrade their seats on Delta flights. These certificates are available exclusively for Diamond and Platinum Medallion Members as a part of their Choice Benefits. Upgrade Certificates have a higher priority than Medallion Complimentary Upgrades and can be applied when booking a ticket in the Fly Delta app, on the Delta website, or by contacting a Delta Reservation specialist.
There are two types of Upgrade Certificates: Regional Upgrade Certificates (RUCs) and Global Upgrade Certificates (GUCs). RUCs can be applied to Delta flights within the 50 U.S. states and select international routes to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central America, and "Northern South America." GUCs can be used on all international flights operated by Delta and select SkyTeam partner airlines, including Aeromexico, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, and Virgin Atlantic. However, only Delta Diamond Medallion elite members can access GUCs.
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Delta Comfort upgrades
Upgrading to Delta Comfort on a Delta flight can be done in several ways. Delta Comfort is offered on all domestic and international Delta flights.
One way to upgrade is by using the Medallion program. Medallion Members can set their SkyMiles account preferences to have their upgrades requested automatically, or they can manually request them for each flight. Medallion Members can also request a Delta Comfort Upgrade by checking the "Upgrade Preferences" box and selecting their seat preference (aisle, middle, or window). If you have multiple segments in your trip, you can apply these preferences to all segments. Medallion Members who opt in for Complimentary Upgrades before check-in will receive top priority within their eligibility window. If no upgrades are available, you will be placed on standby for an upgrade.
Another way to upgrade is by using miles. If your reservation is eligible, you will see the option to "Upgrade with Miles" in your Trip Summary before you complete your purchase. You can use your miles to upgrade all passengers in your reservation. You can also use your miles to upgrade your trip after purchasing your flight on the Fly Delta app or on delta.com. You can upgrade other passengers with your miles, even if you are not travelling, but you must be logged in to a Delta account or be an authorized user of the account.
Additionally, Delta Comfort upgrades can be requested at the airport. Medallion Members travelling alone who are not opted in to receive automatic Delta Comfort upgrades can request an upgrade to any available seat or only a window/aisle seat when checking in for a flight. If an upgrade is not confirmed at your upgrade window or when you check in, your upgrade request will be automatically added to the airport standby list for a potential upgrade at the gate before you board. You can view your spot on the standby list in My Trips on the Fly Delta App, upon check-in, and on the Gate Information Display screens at the airport.
It is important to note that Delta Comfort upgrades may not always be available, and there is a priority hierarchy for upgrades. Additionally, Delta Comfort upgrades may be subject to fees if the ticket is purchased at an airport in select European countries.
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Upgrade availability
Medallion Members can enjoy unlimited complimentary upgrades to Delta First and Delta Comfort on select domestic routes. They can also enjoy complimentary upgrades to the domestic Delta Premium Select experience and the domestic Delta One experience on flights within the US, including flights to Hawaii. Delta First is offered on all domestic routes and nearby destinations like Canada, the Caribbean, and Central America. Delta Comfort is offered on all domestic and international flights.
Medallion Members can set their SkyMiles account preferences to have their upgrades requested automatically any time they make a reservation that is connected to their SkyMiles number. Alternatively, they can manually request them for each flight. Medallion Members traveling alone who are not opted in to receive automatic Delta Comfort upgrades can request a Delta Comfort upgrade to any available seat or only a window/aisle seat when checking in for a flight. Once a seat preference has been selected at check-in, the upgrade request will be added to the Airport Standby list. Upgrades will clear based on availability and clearance priority. Medallion Members who choose to opt in to Complimentary Upgrades prior to check-in will still receive top priority within their eligibility window.
If a Medallion Member's complimentary upgrade does not clear in advance, they are eligible for an upgrade at the departure gate if they request to be added to the airport standby list during check-in or at the gate. Upgrade Certificates are available exclusively for Diamond and Platinum Medallion Members as a part of their Choice Benefits. Upgrade Certificates have a higher priority than Medallion Complimentary Upgrades and can be applied when booking a ticket in the Fly Delta app, when logged into delta.com, or by contacting a Delta Reservation specialist.
Delta SkyMiles Members can use their miles to upgrade themselves and other passengers on certain Delta or Delta Connection flights. Upgrades can be purchased on delta.com or the Fly Delta app if the entire reservation is operated and marketed by Delta. If not, upgrades can be purchased by calling a Delta Reservations specialist. To upgrade with miles, Medallion Members must be logged in and have enough miles in their account to upgrade at least one eligible segment in the reservation. All passengers in the reservation must be upgraded for all flights in the reservation.
For Delta-marketed flights operated by Virgin Atlantic, Mileage Upgrade Awards are available from Economy to Premium Economy, Premium Economy to Upper Class, or Economy to Upper Class. For Delta-marketed flights operated by Aeromexico, Mileage Upgrade Awards are available on Delta's published fare classes for travel between the United States and Mexico. For Air France-operated flights, Mileage Upgrade Awards are available from Economy to Premium Economy, Premium Economy to Business, or Economy to Business only on transatlantic Joint Venture flights between US cities and Paris. For KLM-operated flights, Mileage Upgrade Awards are available from Economy to Business.
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Frequently asked questions
Delta Medallion Members can set their SkyMiles account preferences to automatically request upgrades when making a reservation. Medallion Members can also request an upgrade when checking in for a flight. If an upgrade is not confirmed at check-in, your request will be added to the airport standby list for a potential upgrade at the gate before you board.
The cost of upgrading a Delta flight depends on the type of upgrade. Medallion Members can receive complimentary upgrades. Non-Medallion Members can use miles to upgrade, at a value of 1 cent per mile. Alternatively, you can pay for an upgrade at the time of reservation or at the airport.
Delta offers a variety of upgrades, including complimentary upgrades for Medallion Members, companion upgrades, purchased upgrades, and upgrades with miles.
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