Quick Links Using status for upgrades Delta One and Comfort+ Regional and Global Upgrade Certificates Mileage and cash upgrades Summary Medallion status grants complimentary upgrades to Delta Comfort Plus, First Class, and Delta One on select flights. Delta prioritizes revenue, so Delta One upgrades are typically given on departure day, starting with Diamond Medallion members. Medallion Platinum and Diamond members can use Choice Benefits for regional and global upgrade certificates with restrictions.
Scoring status with Delta Air Lines is like getting a VIP pass to the good life in the sky. You’ll gain access to the Sky Club lounges and nab those coveted front-row seats, including the swanky Delta One suites. Delta gives you a bunch of ways to upgrade your experience, from freebie options to splurging some miles for an upgrade.
Here’s the lowdown for your next trip. Using status for upgrades The main benefit of earning Medallion status with SkyMiles is the eligibility for complimentary upgrades to the following cabins: Delta Comfort Plus: Available on flights within the U.S.
, Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Asia Pacific region, including Hong Kong and China. First Class: Applicable on flights within the U.S.
, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central America, and Northern South America. Delta One: Available within the U.S.
Sadly, complimentary Medallion upgrades don’t extend to Delta Premium Select or Delta One on international flights. For these, you'll need to use miles, pay out of pocket, or redeem a certificate (more on this below). As of January 1, 2024, Delta’s upgrade hierarchy for elite members looks like this: Medallion Status: Higher status means a better chance of snagging an upgrade.
Cabin Purchased: If you bought a pricier fare or paid for an upgrade, you get priority over those with cheaper tickets. Million Miler Status: If you've racked up enough miles to reach this milestone, you’ll be ahead of those who haven’t. Top-Tier Credit Card Holders: Flashing a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or the business version gives you an edge over elites without it.
Delta Corporate Travelers: Having your employer’s Corporate Ticket Designator on your ticket boosts your priority. Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs): The more MQDs you’ve earned this year, the higher your upgrade chances. Timing: The sooner you request an upgrade, the better your odds.
For first class upgrades, below is a table that outlines when Medallion members can look forward to a complimentary upgrade to first-class seats, provided there's availability. Any tie between two equal status holders is decided by the list above. This means that an Amex SkyMiles cardholder will get the first seat over a Million Miler as an example of priority in the case of a tie.
Delta Medallion tier Upgrade confirmation timing Diamond Medallion. Starting five days before departure. Platinum Medallion.
Starting five days before departure. Gold Medallion. Starting 72 hours before departure.
Silver Medallion. Starting 24 hours before departure. Delta One and Comfort+ For elite status holders, snagging a Delta One domestic upgrade is the ultimate prize.
However, Delta prioritizes revenue from paying customers, so these upgrades are only handed out on the day of departure, typically right at the gate. The order follows the same priority as first-class upgrades, starting with Diamond Medallion members down to Silver, but only if there are any seats left. Delta Comfort+ offers extra legroom, priority boarding, and dedicated overhead bin space in the first few rows of economy.
Medallion members have a great chance at snapping up these seats. Diamond and Platinum members can select them upon booking, Gold members get access 72 hours before departure, and Silver members can choose 24 hours in advance. It's important to remember that Delta loves to offer hefty discounts on Comfort+ and first-class upgrades as departure approaches.
So, even if you notice plenty of available seats in a higher cabin during check-in, there's a good chance they’ve been sold for cash or miles. Delta’s strategy is to make some extra revenue on otherwise empty seats, which means that only the top-tier elites get upgrades consistently. Additionally, upgrade certificates and mileage upgrades take priority over complimentary ones, so they clear first.
This means that unless you’re sitting on a pile of miles or have an upgrade certificate, you might find yourself waiting in line for those coveted upgrades. Regional and Global Upgrade Certificates If you're tired of playing the guessing game with complimentary upgrades, SkyMiles has a solid solution for loyal travelers. Medallion Platinum and Diamond members have access to Choice Benefits, which include regional upgrade certificates (RUCs) and global upgrade certificates (GUCs).
Platinum members can select four regional upgrades as their Choice Benefit, while Diamond members have the option of choosing from eight regional upgrades, four global upgrades, or a combination of two global plus four regional certificates as one of their three Choice Benefits. As part of the Star Alliance, United Airlines miles can be used to upgrade on different carriers with up to 160 destinations. RUCs, as the name implies, can be used on the same routes as complimentary upgrades.
This means all domestic flights within the U.S., including Delta One and first class.
Each one-way trip uses one RUC for a one-cabin upgrade, so Platinum members could potentially use all four vouchers on a single round-trip for two people. However, as The Points Guy warns, if you don't call Delta before a multi-leg trip, your RUC might be applied to the shorter leg instead of the longer one, and there's no way to reverse this. Global upgrades are the top-tier option but come with some restrictions.
Since 2022, GUCs can only be used for a one-cabin upgrade, so you'll need to book into Premium Select to have a chance of moving up to long-haul Delta One. The good news is that you can also use these vouchers to upgrade on Aeromexico, Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, and Korean Air, depending on availability. The best part is that RUCs and GUCs can be applied to all types of bookings, including cash fares, SkyMiles redemptions, Cash+Miles bookings, and even for companions on the same flight.
This makes it a fantastic way to score business class seats without breaking the bank. Just keep in mind that Basic Economy fares aren't eligible for these upgrades. Mileage and cash upgrades Even if you don't have Medallion status, Delta will happily let you enjoy the perks of flying up front, as long as you're willing to pay in cash and miles.
There's no fixed upgrade chart, but Delta generally values miles at about 1 cent each. For example, a $90 upgrade to Comfort+ will cost you 9,000 miles, and you'll even earn MQDs for the booking. While prices might seem steep right after booking, they often drop as the departure date approaches, with the best deals popping up during check-in.
To make sure your desired seat doesn't get snagged by an elite member via a Complimentary Upgrade, start checking six days before your flight and grab the offer to enjoy first class or Delta One..
