My Experience Using Delta Systemwide Upgrades on Air France
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.
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!
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees