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One of the best parts of having airline status is the chance to score first-class upgrades. But let’s face it — upgrades aren’t as easy to come by as they used to be. That’s where Delta’s upgrade certificates come in. These “golden tickets” let you confirm an upgrade at the time of booking, but they come with plenty of fine print. If you want to get the most out of them, it’s important to know the ins and outs.
Here's what you need to know about earning and redeeming Delta Global Upgrade Certificates & Regional Upgrade Certificates.
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How to Earn Delta Upgrade Certificates
First and foremost, these certificates aren’t just available to any traveler. Each year, Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Diamond Medallion members — the two highest tiers of Delta status — can choose either Regional Upgrade Certificates (RUCs) or Global Upgrades Certificates (GUCs) as a perk of their elite status.
Delta’s Choice Benefits program gives Platinum and Diamond members a wide range of options to choose from including gift certificates, credits towards flights, and the coveted upgrade certificates.
To achieve Platinum Elite status, you'll need to earn $15,000 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) in a calendar year. Meanwhile, achieving Diamond Elite status will set you back $28,000 MQDs each year. You don’t have to spend that kind of money only on flights, however.
You can earn MQDs from everyday spending on cards like the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. Each of these cards also offers a $2,500 MQD boost each year just for holding the card.
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar at hotels
- 2X miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1.5X miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after spending $150K per calendar year
- 1 mile on every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
In terms of upgrade certificates, Platinum Medallion members can select four Regional Upgrade Certificates as one of their Choice Benefits. Diamond Medallion members can choose from the following:
- Four Global Upgrade Certificates
- Eight Regional Upgrade Certificates
- A combination of two Global and four Regional Upgrade Certificates
The good news is that you’ve got until the end of the year that you earned the certificates to use them, plus another month. So, if you quality as a Platinum Medallion member in August 2025, you’ll get the certificates valid until the end of 2026 plus a month, for an expiration date of January 31, 2027.
Unlike some certificates, that expiration date is the fly-by date, not the use-by date. That means that all travel will have to take place before Jan. 31 in order for the certificate to be good.
Related: Delta SkyMiles Elite Status: How to Earn it in 2025 and the Perks You'll Enjoy
What is a Delta Global Upgrade Certificate?
Global Upgrade Certificates are certificates that, when applied correctly, can upgrade you into Delta One — Delta’s highest class of service. On domestic flights, you can move yourself up to first class. If you don’t want to move to first class, you can always go to Comfort Plus (now called Delta Comfort). But, if something better is available, why would you?
Global Upgrades are only available to Diamond Medallion members who achieve status and choose them as their benefit. While they’re available on any Delta flight, you can, technically, also use them on partner airlines Aeromexico, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, and Virgin Atlantic. However, availability tends to be rather hit-or-miss.
What is a Delta Regional Upgrade Certificate?
Like Global Upgrade Certificates, Regional Upgrade Certificates can move you up into first class — but only on shorter flights. The good news: “Regional” doesn’t just mean the lower 48 states, as these certificates recently got bumped up to include Canada, Mexico, Central America, Northern South America (think Colombia), and most of the Caribbean.
Regional Upgrades are available to both Platinum and Diamond Medallion members in varying quantities. Platinum members have access to four certificates each year. Diamond members can select up to six additional for a total of 10 regional upgrade certificates. That’s because Diamond members can choose their four at the Platinum level. Plus, choose an additional six once you reach Diamond status.
How to Redeem Delta Upgrade Certificates
This section alone could be 3,000 words, but let me try to condense it down to the most important information. First, it’s important to know what Delta considers each class of service and how it characterizes its planes.
Delta One are typically international business class seats. Think lie-flat seats on mostly long-haul flights and transcontinental routes. Premium Select is kind of like a domestic first class seat, but on a long haul international flight. First Class is exactly that, seats in the front of the plane (a big recliner seat) which is used for most domestic flights and some of those short haul flights to the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico.
If cleared, Delta upgrade certificates move you up one class of service. For example, if you want to use a Global Upgrade Certificate to move up to Delta One, you’re going to have to book yourself one class of service below, which is Premium Select. If you were to book a Main Cabin seat on an international long-haul flight, you’d only be able to move up to Premium Select. You would be considered on the waitlist for Delta One, but it’s not a guarantee. You’d clear like everyone else during the normal upgrade windows.
If you want to book a domestic First Class seat using your Regional Upgrade Certificate, you’ll want to book into Main Cabin. As long as there is upgrade space available at the time of booking, you’ll be able to be moved into first class right away.
How to use Upgrade Certificates to get on the waitlist
If a flight doesn’t have confirmed space, you’ll be able to use your upgrade certificates to be added to the waitlist for an upcoming flight. If that space becomes available and you clear on the upgrade list, the voucher is removed from your account and you’re moved up. The problem with this, of course, if you’re playing the risky game of potentially being stuck in economy if your upgrade doesn’t clear.
The easiest way to be waitlisted using a certificate is to call Delta and have them apply your certificate for a waitlist. The representative will be able to take it out of your account and apply it for a waitlist. If your waitlist request doesn't clear, it will remain in your account for use on another flight.
How to know if space is confirmed or waitlisted
Delta makes it pretty simple to see if a flight is confirmable or if you’re going to have to waitlist. Once you’re logged into your account and searching for a flight, you’ll be able to see if the space you’re looking for is confirmed or waitlisted.
For example, take a look at this flight from Seattle (SEA) to Atlanta (ATL). You can see on the bottom left that it says “First Class Available with Regional or Global Upgrade Certificate” meaning that if you were go use one of your RUCs, you would be able to get moved up to First Class upon booking.
Alternatively, on this same flight just an hour later, since there is no availability, you can only request an upgrade. This means that you could buy your economy seat and have your upgrade certificate applied, but nothing would be guaranteed until you got within the upgrade window 24 hours out. It should be noted, however, that your upgrade certificates, when applied, put you higher on the list for an upgrade above other travelers with elite status.
For Global Upgrade Certificates, it’s a little bit different. You’ll be able to see confirmable space and waitlisted space in different cabins, depending on the route.
On this Los Angeles to Sydney (SYD) route, you can see that, using a Global Upgrade Certificate, you can confirm yourself right away into Premium Select and then be waitlisted for Delta One…
If you move just one day later, you can use your certificate to move right into Delta One.
Also, if you wanted to burn one of your Global Certificates domestically, most routes open availability if you’re using one of the more coveted certificates.
Things to Watch Out With Delta Upgrade Certificates
Over the years using these certificates I’ve found that they don’t always work like they’re designed to. Technically, you should be able to apply them at checkout and have them work automatically, but I find that there’s often a glitch and it doesn’t quite work. Therefore, I find myself calling the dedicated Medallion member customer service line to make sure they get applied correctly.
The second problem comes when calling the Medallion line for assistance. There are two steps that phone agents must do when they apply a certificate. First, they have to take it out of your account (obviously…), but also they have to re-issue the ticket. This final step is the one that most agents miss out on, and this could cause issues when you go to check in for your flight.
If they don’t reissue the ticket, you’ll get an error message when checking in with something along the lines of “there is no e-ticket attached to your itinerary” or “call for assistance with your check-in.” If you don’t have this taken care of before you get to the airport, you’ll find yourself stuck and not able to board. Make sure to ask the phone agent to completely reissue the ticket before you get off the phone.
Final Thoughts
Moving up to First Class or Delta One can be the start to an amazing vacation, and what better way than having it confirmed at time of booking. Delta offers its top-tier elite members the ability to upgrade their flights using Regional and Global upgrade certificates, but with a lot of caveats. Make sure you know exactly what you’re booking and how before you run into disappointment at the gate.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
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