First class upgrade on Delta

[mbstiefel]

Flying to aruba for our honeymoon on aug 9th from seattle to atlanta then aruba. Has anyone every upgraded to first class from coach at the airport for delta? If so how much was it? For those of you who travel to aruba in august, is that a busy time for the airlines? Are the planes normally full? Thanks!

[Arubalisa]

I think the present price is $150 pp each way for the ATL - AUA leg, however there has to be space available. Not sure about your domestic leg.

Depending upon Medallion status, SkyMiles members along with a companion are ugraded anywhere between 1 and 5 days before flying.

You may want to weigh paying for an upgrade now vs. taking a chance at the gate, especially since you are flying such a long distance. If you can afford it now, for a honeymoon, imo it is a well worth while treat. Once you begin your life together there are so many other things to spend money on

Forum member ~Amy~® and her dh fly coast to coast and are Medallion members so hopefully she can give more insight.

[~Amy~®]

I think the present price is $150 pp each way for the ATL - AUA leg, however there has to be space available. Not sure about your domestic leg.

Depending upon Medallion status, SkyMiles members along with a companion are ugraded anywhere between 1 and 5 days before flying.

You may want to weigh paying for an upgrade now vs. taking a chance at the gate, especially since you are flying such a long distance. If you can afford it now, for a honeymoon, imo it is a well worth while treat. Once you begin your life together there are so many other things to spend money on

Forum member ~Amy~® and her dh fly coast to coast and are Medallion members so hopefully she can give more insight.

Lisa's right - any available First Class seats on Delta (both on the domestic leg and the Aruba leg) will be offered to Delta's Medallion members (and their flying companions) as an automatic complimentary upgrade between 1-5 days prior to the flight. If you really want to fly First Class, your best bet is to purchase it now.

[dknn79]

Gate upgrades for non-medallions are restricted by fare class. You need to be a K+ ticket.

Gate upgrades occur after all Medallions and their companions clear. Upgrades to the Caribbean are pretty easy for Medallions compared to other domestic flights as there is not much business traffic.

I noticed the fare difference between coach and first isn't that much so it is probably better to just buy the first class ticket.

I'm Diamond on DL so if have any questions, feel free to ask.

[Andrea J.]

welcome to the forum dknn79

Gate upgrades for non-medallions are restricted by fare class. You need to be a K+ ticket.

Gate upgrades occur after all Medallions and their companions clear. Upgrades to the Caribbean are pretty easy for Medallions compared to other domestic flights as there is not much business traffic.

I noticed the fare difference between coach and first isn't that much so it is probably better to just buy the first class ticket.

I'm Diamond on DL so if have any questions, feel free to ask.

[mbstiefel]

Thanks for the insight guys/gals. The problem is that an up grade right now would cost us $800. I called Delta and they said its $200 per person per leg of the flight. But we have to pay for both legs. Seattle to Atlanta being one and Atlanta to Aruba being the other. They said because because we bought the flights together we have to pay for the whole first half or we can't do it. Bummer for us I guess. Oh well I guess we will just cross our fingers.

[Andrea J.]

please try again and this time ask to speak with a supervisor.
pls explain your predicament, ask the person to be "your hero and to please help you out"

sometimes/oftentimes, the folks in reservations are either too busy, or incapable of the task, or just do not want to be bothered, and maybe it is impossible, but ask again, they might be able to help.

good luck

Thanks for the insight guys/gals. The problem is that an up grade right now would cost us $800. I called Delta and they said its $200 per person per leg of the flight. But we have to pay for both legs. Seattle to Atlanta being one and Atlanta to Aruba being the other. They said because because we bought the flights together we have to pay for the whole first half or we can't do it. Bummer for us I guess. Oh well I guess we will just cross our fingers.

[Chadd]

please try again and this time ask to speak with a supervisor.
pls explain your predicament, ask the person to be "your hero and to please help you out"

sometimes/oftentimes, the folks in reservations are either too busy, or incapable of the task, or just do not want to be bothered, and maybe it is impossible, but ask again, they might be able to help.

good luck

Handing out "free" upgrades will get someone fired more often than not. Your choices are to pay for it now or to be a top level FF for an airline if you want to upgrade close to the day of the flight. More often than not in my experience, the FF upgrades are gone within a couple hours of them becoming available.

[~Amy~®]

Handing out "free" upgrades will get someone fired more often than not. Your choices are to pay for it now or to be a top level FF for an airline if you want to upgrade close to the day of the flight. More often than not in my experience, the FF upgrades are gone within a couple hours of them becoming available.

True! My husband is Gold Medallion with Delta and there are times when even he doesn't get the free upgrade to First Class because they've already been taken by Platinum and up Medallion members (happens on occasion on domestic flights.) I'm a lowly Silver Medallion so my chances of getting the free upgrade are even less unless I'm flying with my husband.

[Andrea J.]

i was unaware anyone was talking about or requesting "free" upgrades.

Handing out "free" upgrades will get someone fired more often than not. Your choices are to pay for it now or to be a top level FF for an airline if you want to upgrade close to the day of the flight. More often than not in my experience, the FF upgrades are gone within a couple hours of them becoming available.