Delta Airlines First Class Upgrade Policies – Are you tired of cramped seats and limited legroom on flights? Delta Airlines' first-class upgrade policies may be just what you need to elevate your travel experience to new heights. With luxurious amenities, priority boarding, and personalized service, Delta's first-class cabin offers a truly indulgent flying experience.
In this blog, we'll explore Delta's first-class upgrade policies and how you can take advantage of them on your next flight. In addition to this you are welcome to call Air Ticket Policy toll-free at +1-877-563-0127.
Types of Delta Upgrades
Delta provides several upgrade choices such as upgrading with miles, complimentary upgrades for Medallion Elite members, companion upgrades, and the option to purchase upgrades based on availability.
- Complimentary upgrades: These upgrades are available for Medallion Elite members to upgrade to Comfort+ or first class on most routes within the 50 United States, and to Delta One (business class) where available.
- Global Upgrade Certificates: Diamond Medallion Elite members can use these certificates to upgrade one cabin class on domestic, regional, or international flights on Delta and select partner airlines.
- Regional Upgrade Certificates: Platinum and Diamond Medallion Elite members can use these certificates to upgrade one cabin class on domestic and select regional Delta flights.
- Upgrade with Miles: When making a reservation, passengers can use their miles to upgrade on some flights within the 50 United States..
- Mileage Upgrade Awards: These upgrades are available for purchase with miles on existing reservations for select flights worldwide, with international upgrades limited to fare classes Y, B, M, H, Q, or K.
- Complimentary Companion Upgrades: Passengers traveling on the same reservation as Medallion Elite members are eligible for these upgrades.
- Same-Day Standby Upgrades: These upgrades are available to all passengers for a fee based on availability on the day of departure for specific flight routes primarily in North America, the Caribbean, and Cancún.
Delta Airlines First Class Upgrade Policy for Space Availability
Delta has certain limitations in terms of upgrade availability and the information it releases. These limitations include:
- Delta does not publish upgrade availability and does not provide this information for third-party publishing, except for the recently-added feature of finding upgrade space using Global Upgrade Certificates.
- Passengers are unable to view availability for seats in any class of service other than their own on their existing reservation. For instance, if a passenger has a reservation with a Comfort+ seat, they may only see the seating section for Comfort+ and not for first, business, or Main Cabin.
- Passengers can try a fake ticket for the service class they wish to view and count the available seats in the section they want to upgrade in order to get around this limitation.
- A dummy booking may not be the most precise method, but it is a relatively straightforward way to compare available seating between different flights.
Delta Airlines First Class Upgrade Policy for Priority Listing
To determine who gets the next upgrade, Delta Air Lines and other airlines follow an upgrade hierarchy based on specific criteria. Upgrades are allocated in the following order of priority:
- Medallion Elite status
- Fare class
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Cardmembers
- Delta corporate travelers
- Holders of Delta SkyMiles credit cards who have earned enough MQDs to qualify for the current year's waiver.
- Spending $25,000 on an eligible credit card waives this requirement for elite levels up to Platinum.
- Spending $250,000 waives the revenue requirement for Diamond Medallion Elite status.
- Million Miler status
- Date and time of upgrade request (used as a tiebreaker)
Delta Airlines First Class Upgrade through Delta Medallion Elite Status
When it comes to getting upgraded on Delta Air Lines, having Delta Medallion Elite status is the most significant factor. Delta has several tiers of Medallion Elite status, including:
- Delta 360: Top rank available only by invitation and at Delta's discretion.
- Diamond Medallion: Unlimited upgrades that begin clearing five days prior to departure.
- Platinum Medallion: Unlimited upgrades that begin clearing five days prior to departure.
- Gold Medallion: Unlimited upgrades that begin clearing three days prior to departure.
- Silver Medallion: Unlimited upgrades that begin clearing one day prior to departure.
At check-in, Medallion members can be assigned to a standby list and approved for upgrades up to departure if these complimentary upgrades do not clear in advance.
Delta Airlines First Class Upgrade through Complimentary Upgrades
- Delta offers complimentary upgrades for Comfort+, Delta One domestic flight, and first class on Delta. Except for certain regional international flights operated by Delta/Aeromexico, there are no free international upgrades.
- On all flights inside Mexico, between Mexico and the U.S., and between Mexico and Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia, and Ecuador, Medallion members are eligible for free upgrades.
- Medallion members are granted priority boarding and seating on many international routes and with most partner airlines.
- Delta Diamond and Platinum Medallion members can earn annual Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates, which can be redeemed on International and Regional flights, in addition to complimentary upgrades. When you hit these status levels and accrue Choice Benefits, you can earn Upgrade Certificates.
- If available, immediate upgrades are also available to Medallion members who pay a full Y economy fare.
Delta Airlines First Class Upgrade through Delta SkyMiles Credit Card
One benefit of having an eligible Delta-branded American Express credit card is the potential for flight upgrades for both the cardholder and their travel companion. In addition, cardholders may receive companion flight certificates that are eligible for upgrades, and may also have access to lounges at a discounted or complimentary rate. Other potential perks include faster attainment of Medallion Elite status, free checked bags on Delta flights, and priority boarding.
All of these advantages and more are offered by the aforementioned Delta-branded cards.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Note: The Delta Reserve card and the Delta Reserve Business card are considered the top options among Delta-branded credit cards for enhancing the likelihood of receiving an upgrade on Delta flights.
Delta Airlines First Class Upgrade through Miles
- During the booking process or on an existing reservation, it is possible to upgrade domestic, regional, and international flights with miles.
- When booking a Delta or Delta Connection flight within the 50 United States, the Upgrade with Miles option may be available.
- Existing reservations that include Virgin Atlantic, Air France, KLM, or Aeromexico-operated flights may also be upgraded with miles using a Mileage Upgrade Award.
- There may be restrictions on certain fare classes and itineraries, price barriers, and in certain situations, flights are only available on flights promoted by Delta.
- To determine eligibility, receive pricing information, and confirm the Mileage Upgrade Award, contact a SkyMiles representative..
Delta Airlines First Class Upgrade through Companion Upgrade
- Delta has made it easy to include companions in the upgrade process. A companion upgrade will be given the same status priority as the Medallion member if they are travelling with them.
- Upgrades for a companion are available for paid, award, miles + cash, and Pay with Miles tickets.
Take Away
If you prefer to fly in a premium cabin, keep an eye out for upgrade purchase opportunities during check-in, consider upgrading with miles when the value is good, or choose planes that have larger premium cabins.
To guarantee a seat in a premium cabin, it might be worth looking for and comparing discounted business class tickets on Delta and other Sky Team partner airlines or using miles to buy Premium Select or business class fares. If you require further assistance with Delta Airlines' first class upgrade policy, you can contact Air Ticket Policy at +1-877-563-0127 toll-free.
