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Do Delta Elites Get Upgrades on Transcontinental Flights?

June 21, 2015
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2 min read
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Do Delta Elites Get Upgrades on Transcontinental Flights?
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TPG reader Alyssa messaged me to ask about Delta upgrades:

"What’s the deal with Delta upgrades on transcontinental flights? Do Diamond or Platinum Medallions get upgraded anymore?"

Sadly, the official answer is no. As of December 2013, Delta no longer offers complimentary upgrades to Diamond or Platinum Medallion members on premium transcontinental Delta One flights.

Unfortunately, you can't get complimentary Delta transcon upgrades anymore. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

I typically rag on United for copying Delta, but in this case, Delta copied United. For years United has had flyers use upgrade certificates or miles to upgrade on the airline's premium transcontinental routes like JFK-LAX and JFK-SFO, and Delta has followed suit.

Diamond Medallions on paid tickets with no companions on their reservation should be added to the upgrade list and cleared at the gate if there's space available, but Platinum Medallions will typically be out of luck. Diamond Medallions can also use an upgrade certificate if they have selected that as a choice benefit.

Another option is to upgrade on a K fare for 12,500 SkyMiles each way, which could be a decent value (depending on how much you paid for the K fare). See Leigh Rowan's post on Upgrading Delta Transcontinental Flights for more information.

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Unfortunately, the four regional upgrades given to Platinum Medallions can't be used on transcontinental flights. Delta has made it harder to upgrade, but to give the airline a little credit, its product is pretty nice on those routes. Using your SkyMiles for these kinds of upgrades could be worthwhile.

If you have any other questions, please tweet me @thepointsguy, message me on Facebook or send me an email at info@thepointsguy.com.

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
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  • 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.
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  • $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.
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