Questions and Answers

Hey guys,

I was wondering if someone could educate me more on the standby and upgrade policies at Delta. I just recently did a gold medallion status match and have been enjoying the confirmed same day change benefit.

Today, on my Buf-Lga flight, I called the night before for a same day change to an earlier flight and was told i could only do standby because the same fare class wasn’t available, so i agree and am told i’m #1 on the list. I arrive in time for the earlier flight today, and i’m given a standby boarding pass. Pulling up the app, i saw 18 seats available: 7 in first, 3 in comfort+, and presumably 8 in the main cabin. There were also ~10 people assigned seats from standby already. I’m now 7/7 on the standby list, with 4 people on the upgrade list.

As i’m sitting and waiting by the gate and we get closer to the boarding time, I see all first 6 standby people get assigned seats, followed by all 4 people on the upgrade list getting upgrades. Then I see 4 traveling crew members come up and all get assigned prem cabin seats. There are no 3 first class, 2 comfort +, and 9 seats available. I’m the only one remaining without a seat on the standby list, everyone is upgraded with room to spare in both first and comfort+, and when I asked the gate agent, they said I still had to wait.

It wasn’t until after they started pre-boarding that she called me over and gave me a seat assignment, which I was surprised to see as comfort+.

Ultimately it’s not a big deal, i mean it’s a short enough flight and I would have sat in the back for all i cared as long as I got back home earlier. Just kind of confused by the process and trying to understand better for the next time this happens. Otherwise the same day confirmed benefit has been great.

Any help in clearing this up first me would be appreciated.

Thanks!
-Alex