Delta Upgrade Priority Changing As Of 2024

As someone that sometimes (but not always) buys last expensive business trip fares, and as a Delta Reserve cardholder, but not yet a Million Miler, I am negatively impacted by these changes :/

Encouraging long term loyalty is good long term, but I do think the "MQD in the current year" metric should be higher

The big question is whether comfort plus counts in the upgrade priority. If it does it's a big devaluation for diamond/plat who would otherwise get these for free but now have to pay to have a chance at a first class upgrade.

I still value my AA Platinum status. Yes, its definitely not what it used to be 10 years ago however I still get great use out of it.

1)Still get at the worst, Group 3 boarding = more than enough room for my carry-ons, etc. Its great with kids.
2)Lounges in OneWorld airports. I've transited no less than a dozen times this year alone through Doha (with a couple of more times coming the next few weeks) and its great to have lounges to eat, shower, etc.
3). Exit row/Main Cabin Extra seats at time of booking for everyone on my PNR.
4)Better seats on OneWorld carriers.
5)2 suitcases.
6)I've received a few good upgrades - even on the coveted JFK-SFO route.
7)Priort boarding on OneWorld carriers - great, especially with kids.

Probably a few others I have forgotten about.

What exactly is meant by Million Miler status? Does having Million Miler status of any kind count, or do Million Miler Diamonds trump Million Miler Platinums?

Sounds awfully confusing. At least with AA one will know their status, of course, and one would tend to know about what their 12 month rolling dollar spend is. I guess another motivation to either buy first outright or take a buy up offer.

Because status is first, million miler only comes into play between members of the same status in the same cabin. So, regardless of cabin, a non-MM Diamond will be ahead of a MM Platinum.

It's not directly spelled out whether 2MM is prioritized over 1MM either.

DL has not historically counted C+ as a cabin (partly, one suspects, so they don't have to pay downgrade comp in IROPS). However, there's no guarantee that they won't start, at least as far as upgrade priority is concerned.

The MM and status extension changes seem calculated to create a bunch of elites who don't actually fly DL that often, which is a bold strategy, Cotton (we'll see how it works out for them). Those MMers will be prioritized for upgrades, and if they're only flying DL when it makes sense and aren't traveling that frequently, both groups will have more willingness to burn certificates. The remaining DMs and PMs might be incentivized now to pay for C+ as essentially a "skip to the front of the line" payment that also earns elite credit. Imagine the DL app saying, before the complimentary upgrade window opens, that you're currently #8 for 3 seats in F, but if you bought up to C+ for $50 (perhaps after going back to Main and then reselecting your previous C+ seat), you'd get extra MQD and jump to #1.

The change implies that DL will allow complimentary upgrades from PS to D1 on domestic flights (UA requires Plus Points for that, IINM) or (inclusive or, i.e. could be both) they're prioritizing purchased C+ over others.

I would prefer if they removed the DL corporate traveler completely or put it at the bottom. I'm sure it's a perk they put in to make their corporate accounts happy: "and look, your travelers get upgrade priority over others too." I could live with it being the last tie breaker before date and time, but it shouldn't be higher than butt-in-seat time. Granted, this is a big improvement now. I'm sure I regularly lose out to other Diamonds who are corporate travelers in and out of Atlanta. Next year, it will be better for sure. But then again, I'm going to work someplace that pays for F, so I'm not sure it matters to me anymore.

I don't (can't) fly the way most of you do, so I have the Delta Amex. I'm starting to think it's not worth it.

i think elite/top tier flyers think they are oh so special. and crave being catered to.. .but they have NO idea just no idea how many other "top tier" status people there are. The whole "elite" status is seriously diluted. They all need to get over themselves. See you how jam packed the lounges are? most are by the "elite" group there are so dang many people that fly on a regular basis..it would be mind boggling to you if you knew how many other people are just as "special" as you are.

What upgrades? They sell most of their premium seats and they aren’t increasing capacity, not improving their products, and not expanding their networking or improving their poorly planned and executed joint ventures.

No MQMs means no loyalty. They don’t care if we fly them, so we shouldn’t!

I hope Delta follows thru what this article says. To my great disappointment, lately, Delta has been treating loyal customers (e.g., million milers) just like pieces of cheap luggage. I am a 3.5 million miler and was about to switch to a different airline due to Delta's disloyalty.

Upgrades are not zero sum game.

It would have been nice if Delta would have done something for million milers while on-board. Hell, would it be too much to provide a complimentary alcoholic beverage? That is the minimum that they could do for those that have demonstrated true loyalty.

Everyone wants the system that benefits themselves the most. SAD!

What determines whether Delta releases upgrades to empty seats? Just returned from a trip. I got upgraded to Economy plus on the first flight nothing on the return flight all while there were 4 empty seats in economy plus….

I would like to see updates on the useless and worthless GUC which used to be the biggest incentive to keep Diamond
Lately I have been buying first so I am wondering what is the point of keeping status.

I agree with the author of this article. Delta's changes give more priority to their best customers. I am both a Diamond and a million miler, and I have the Delta Reserve card. All I have to do is buy comfort seats and I am practically guaranteed to be at the top of the upgrade list. I am very happy with the changes.

I'm Platinum Medallion in an AA/SW hub city, only time I'm not on top of the priority list is when I'm flying through ATL. These changes seem to have a greater impact on Diamond in hub locations.

Anyone know what happens if you have a personal and business delta reserve card? And what does corporate traveler mean? You signed up for the Delta Corporate account tied to your skymiles or you have to book it a certain way?

From Delta's website...."As a Medallion Member with a Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card or Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card, you are eligible for Upgrade Priority over others in your Medallion Tier, cabin purchased and Million Miler milestone."

This is the only place I've seen this information. Looks like Reserve cards have pretty high priority.

This is not so I am million miler and an Amex reserve card holder and diamond status. Bought a Premium economy at a. Mostly price early and was told it was impossible for me upgrade unless I have an upgrade certificate. Delta I becoming not worth it when it comes to international travel. May work for domestic.. am I wrong in my assessment? Have I misunderstood the structure. Help me understand