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Delta has introduced a new option to upgrade existing reservations on its website. The upgrades can be purchased using cash or SkyMiles for any flight segment operated by Delta Airlines.
Upgrade Overview
You can now purchase any of the following upgrades using either miles or cash, regardless of how your initial ticket was purchased:
- Delta Comfort+
- First Class
- Delta Premium Select
- Delta One
The process is relatively straightforward: Log in to your Delta account, select the seat you would like from the seat map, and pay with cash or SkyMiles.
You can access any Delta reservation using your six-character record locator and the passenger's last name.
One bonus from this new feature is that the upgrades book into revenue fare classes. This means that you will earn the additional MQMs associated with that fare bucket even if you have used SkyMiles to pay for your upgrade.
Our Take
Historically, when hearing news about Delta SkyMiles, members would brace themselves for another devaluation. So it comes as a nice surprise that the news is positive this time around.
This change offers a new way to use Skymiles, without any obvious negative consequences. Delta has made it easy to take advantage of the feature online, so this is a nice win for those with Skymiles or Amex Membership Rewards. Things look even better when you consider that the upgraded tickets will also earn MQMs associated with the higher class of travel, even if you pay for your upgrade with miles.
Source: Points Miles And Martinis
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This will be a game changer for an upcoming family trip to Europe. I have a bunch of Delta points just stewing, so this will be a great chance to use them!
Wow – I really hope other carriers follow suit.
The more options are better, for most travelers. However, for frequent Delta flyers, this will continue to erode complimentary upgrades.
Delta has come with a great idea. It’s such a relief that we can count on this option. Saving our time não é bom difference.
kind of pricey, cash + points
Any idea what an international biz class upgrade from economy will cost in miles?
Good move by Delta
That’s about time!
This might be a way to book first class with paying less money. Buy economy and upgrade with miles. Hope the cost in miles is reasonable
A great way to use scraps! Can I use my points to upgrade someone else?
Wow the point of booking into revenue booking classes is awesome. Hope that availability is good on my upcoming trips.
It’s nice to have the option, but we’ll see how the value works out!
Too bad flights Basic Economy tickets on flights operated by Republic Airline DBA Delta Connection do not have this option. Just looked for it on my reservation and couldn’t find it.
Nice to streamline the process a bit more!
Here’s another tip – Delta would occasionally offer a discounted upgrade when checking in to your flight. I recently upgraded to Comfort+ on JFK-PUJ for $48 vs. $149 regular. Have seen this show on both website and mobile app.
Thanks for the information. 48 dollars. Great value.
It’d be nice if other carriers follow suit
This is a nice move by Delta!
Thanks for letting us know!
Thanks. A little more flexibility is always nice.
might not be the best value for your skymiles, but worth it for the convenience.
Hmm this looks unfortunately not that great in terms of pricing.
just checked and it was pretty easy to use. kudos for delta and hope they don’t devalue skypesos more!
Yes! Finally a potentially useful feature, but like someone said, probably not winning and why not just use cash?
Easy ! Thanks for the info!
if you’re consistently getting 1c per mile, what’s the difference between using cash vs using miles?
What if you can get more than 1c per mile?
Definitely an interesting use of Skymiles. I am certainly happy that they upgrade into revenue fare classes. I always appreciate the opportunity to earn extra MQM because I like to earn status.
I’d rather not use never expiring (but potentially devaluing) Skymiles on an upgrade. I wonder if any ‘airline incidentals’ credits would kick in.
finally they are making something easier this time
Good to see something positive from Delta.
Chances are good we will see UA and AA soon to follow!
The extra flexibility is nice,
Nice opportunity, but a high ratio on miles (in Delta’s favor).
Good news, thanks for the information.
Great to see more options with the skypeso. I just hope they don’t devalue them further!
Let’s hope they price these upgrades rationally.
Positive development for sure. Was always strange that United was ahead of Delta on this give they are so far behind otherwise with tech.
What about the number of miles needed – would they vary depending on the availability of seats in lower class? Wonder if United and AA have this ability to upgrade any reservation.
Not exactly the most life-changing development, is it? A little more frexibility is nothing more that that – more of a side bar than a headline.
Without a chart, I hope the upgrades are reasonable….unlike most of their rewards to Europe.
I’m surprised that the upgrades book into revenue fare buckets!
Nice to see decent upgrade options.
Some good news at last!
Nice picture with the person having an entire row of coach all to themself.
That scenario only happened to me once during 2018.
I cannot get excited about this minor change!
That’s true haha! I didn’t notice that.
Ed, nice catch. Thanks for the LOL. Perhaps Delta would suggest that’s during seating, but that sun is bright.
Helpful update, not Delta’s specialty 🙂
Haha it is surprising… where’s the catch!?
Good deal. I like this convenience!!!
Nice to see added website functionality and use for SkyMiles.
A good news, this add some flexibility which one can use or not.
Speaking of Delta and positive surprises, any news about them allowing AwardWallet to get account info about our miles, so SkyMiles would be visible alongside other miles that we own?
Still at the top of our list for Santa every year. Nothing yet.
Aha, they might be considering after seeing your comment.
Positive development to make it easy to upgrade on the go.
When redeeming miles, even SkyMiles, I’d prefer a stronger value on the return. That said, more options is pretty much always a good thing.
While it seems like a good thing (and, sure, I can see some virtues of it), it’s taking yet more complementary upgrades away from frequent fliers…