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My Experience Using Delta Systemwide Upgrades on Air France

Feb. 09, 2011
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2 min read
My Experience Using Delta Systemwide Upgrades on Air France
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In October I wrote about the ability to use your Delta miles or systemwide upgrades to upgrade Air France Premium Economy to Business class. This is a great value because Air France Premium Economy can be purchased for as low as $1,200 roundtrip from the US (offpeak) and around $2,000 (peak). Alternatively, if you wanted to upgrade Delta economy to business class, you'd need to spend $2,500+ for fares all year long. Needless to say, the Air France option can save you a ton of money.

A VIP client used my services to book an upgradeable trip to Europe this summer. Earning MQMs was paramount because this person needs this trip to maintain Platinum elite status. In answer to her situation I pulled up Delta and Air France upgrade availability using Expertflyer and found none for either.

For this ATL-CDG-ATL trip, the choice was to either book a Delta M fare at $2,700 or an Air France Premium Economy W fare for $2,000. I highly recommended the latter because even in a worst case scenario, my client would be left with Air France's Premium Voyager product, which is roomier and a separate cabin from coach.

On Delta, she'd be in a regular coach seat (this was before they announced their Economy Comfort cabin) and be paying $700 more.

Both fares earn a 50% MQM bonus, so Air France was the easy option. My client purchased the fare on airfrance.us and sent me her confirmation number. I immediately set Expertflyer alerts for O class availability on her flights.

A couple weeks passed and today I got the alert that Air France released O class availability on her return flight.

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I called Delta's Platinum line and told them I wanted to upgrade an Air France Premium Economy ticket to business class using a system-wide upgrade. Without hesitation, the agent acknowledged the request and put me on hold for 10 minutes. She came back and had pulled the SWU and upgraded the reservation and re-ticketed it on Delta so it now showed under the "My Itineraries." There was a $45 additional charge for French luxury tax on business class which my client happily paid for the upgrade.

Overall it was a pretty smooth process. Now I just need Air France to release some O award space on the outbound!

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at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.