Delta’s making it easier to upgrade companions, but favoring SkyMiles members with no status over Medallion Gold, Silver, and Platinum members. How does that make any sense?
Delta’s Odd New Companion Upgrade Policy
The issue is companions traveling on separate reservations. Currently, if you are traveling with a companion on the same PNR (reservation), you clear according to the window of the passenger with highest status. So a Gold Medallion member traveling with a Diamond Medallion member would clear at the Diamond window. Up until this week, companions traveling on separate reservations could request Delta link them and thus trigger companion upgrades, but clearance would depend upon individual status (with non-status members clearing at 24 hours prior to travel, subject to availability).
Per Rene’s Points, Delta has adjusted this policy. Companions without status will now clear with the status member. So a Diamond clears as early as 120 hours prior to departure and now their non-status companion will as well, even on a linked but separate reservation.
But here’s the twist. If your companion has status, they will still clear at their respective windows. So let’s say a Diamond is traveling with a Silver. The Diamond may still clear at 120 hours prior to travel while the Silver will still have to wait until 24 hours before travel.
How does that make any sense?
I have no status on Delta. If my friend with Diamond status was traveling, I could link my reservation and jump Platinum, Gold, and Silver members waiting for upgrades in the process? But if I had Gold status I could not do so?
The Language Is Clear, Right?
Something doesn’t add up, but the official language is right here:
If you and your companion are in different paid ticket reservations that have been linked, upgrades to U.S. 50 domestic Delta One, First Class and Delta Comfort+ work a little differently:
- For domestic Delta One and First Class, your upgrades will clear based on your individual Member Status and confirmation windows, if available. For example, if Platinum and Silver Medallion Members are traveling together, the Platinum Medallion Member will clear at the Platinum window and the Silver Medallion Member will clear at the Silver window. If your companion is a General Member who does not have Medallion Status, their upgrade will clear at the clearing time of the Medallion Member’s Tier. For example, if a Platinum Medallion Member and a General Member are traveling together, both will clear at the Platinum window.
There is it…
Two Warnings
First, don’t get cheeky if you have lower tier status and create a fake SkyMiles number so you have a back-up account without status. Delta may respond by shutting down both of your accounts.
Second, don’t think you can just leave out your SkyMiles number all together and add it later. Delta will bypass you for an upgrade without a SkyMiles number affixed to your name.
This Policy Makes No Sense
I don’t see how a policy of favoring members without status over Platinum, Gold, and Silver members makes any sense.
Yet you can now impress the girl in the bar or your boss or a travel colleague by letting them jump the upgrade queue over road warriors with mid-tier status.
That’s not going to go over well..
CONCLUSION
I’m really scratching my head here. I do think there is a nice benefit in allowing friends and family to upgrade when traveling on a separate itinerary. But penalizing those with status? That does not appear to be a well-thought-out policy.
Am I missing something or do you also find this new policy confusing?
image: Delta
Doesn’t make any sense…my bet is IT limitations.
These stupid screw FFs. If you are not on the same reservation, you are not a companion and all it does is screw gold and silver members. Stay in the back if you want to sit next to your free loader.
Just like these idiots going from phx-Las it’s a 42 minute flight but my god I cant be 2 rows away from my spouse after I bought a basic economy ticket and will try to force other people to change seats. Grow up.
Absolutely ridiculous….who sits @ these round tables and comes w/ this stuff!!!
I was traveling with my kindergartener last week my status was higher than his and I got the upgrade and he didn’t.
I gave up my upgrade because kids shouldn’t fly alone. Frequently I have to put some of my family on other tickets because of companion pass or using skymiles.
This is good for me and helps me justify flying DL over Southwest, though Southwest still might be best for helping me maximize my FF value to other family members.
Yea, but how is that fair to me who travels 45 weeks a year. If you want to sit with your kid give up your seat. Then they will give it to the next person in line. I don’t mean to sound mean but on a 3 hour flight i care more about me than your kid.
For same reservations, where the purchaser has status it makes perfect sense. Linking reservations after the fact should not be permitted. If I buy 2 tickets on my delta card, both should be treated equally according to the my status. If I buy a ticket for my diamond medallion friend and I, the ticket should inherit my status, not the higher of the too.
No either both should hold status or you get split. Your companion hasn’t shown loyalty to the airline why should they be rewarded more then those who have? If you want to have them sit in business then use points to upgrade their ticket to the same class as your upgrade.
Muy de acuerdo Mr Mirron Castañedama
Es muy fácil Mr Mike buscar otra aerolínea que no tenga esa restriccion seria bien porque yo por ejemplo viajo 4 veces al año fuera de Los Estados Unidos a otros paises con mi media naranja y me pega sueño or visebersa un ejemplo a donde crees que voy a ir a parar,
Those so obsessed with THEIR status (I fly 45 weeks a year…waaa! Get a different job?) and GETTING UPGRDED to business class ahead of others is laughable and another only in America crybaby story. Wanna ensure you fly business? Buy a business class ticket or expect you won’t always hit the lottery…and quit concerning yourself with who did and why? Life has bigger concerns…lots of them.
When I was traveling frequently I had Diamond status and I finally figured out it was a freakin’ treadmill that wasn’t worth getting concerned about. Now I think about all the people in situations where they are houseless or worse- like the people of Beirut, for example. It makes the entire conversation about upgrade rules seem ridiculous.
Another stupid change. If they have no status & on a separate reservation, the FF can use points to upgrade. Another reason to question your loyalty to an airline.
As a delta diamond, I like this change. If I’m traveling with someone, I will regularly give my upgrade away rather than be separated from them. This has happened countless times due to my companion going to a different destination, booking later etc. Even when I was gold/platinum I had the same problem. If I’m with someone, I would prefer to be upgraded with my companion or not at all. Even if that means less upgrades when I’m alone. I get that it affects other status levels, but realistically most people with high status aren’t regularly with companions. And when they are, they should continue to enjoy their benefits. I’d guess the number of upgrades this will affect is very small.
I can see how Delta May benefit from this. My parents taught me to always stay with the person Im traveling with. They have their very own travel etiquette rules, “It’s rude to separate from a family member or any guess you invited on a trip being personal or business or just traveling with.” With that being said, many will now remain and not separate, much less change cabins due to COVID-19. I just can’t see a spouse or significant other upgrade and leaving their loved one behind, however I’ve seen it happen a lot when one gets upgraded and the other stays behind by the gate while they see their love one board to First Class and how demeaning when they have to walk by them to get to their chair in row 28. when their cabin is called. I can see how Delta is hoping ppl will have a bigger heart and worry less about their status. Family, loved ones, business partner stay together unless previous talks were discussed, “hey it’s cool if you upgrade, we can take a break from each other.
Sounds like a First World problem. Maybe get over yourselves?
Could it simply be to allow more passengers, to earn more revenue ?
This may be a temporary change to increase the number if available seats on a plane. Currently flying alone means an open seat next to you and that is one less flyer. I have been on several flights that have only 50% occupancy in first class thanks to the open seat covid policy.
This could open up as many as 4 seats in the main cabin depending on the plane.
Totally unfair to the people like myself that are trying to get to a higher tier. I might have to rethink flying on Delta in the future if everyone i will be sitting in the back. Until this policy, I thought Delta’s decision making was more reasonable than other airlines (Covid guidelines).
Very disappointing!!!
If you want to impress “the girl in the bar”? 1995 called and they want their sexist expressions back.
I wouldn’t know. I don’t visit bars.