I always thought the J/S policy for Delta was that you would always be assigned first for domestic flights but assigned coach for international flights. I've heard this from a few different people.

Last July........

I would EXPECT any airline to put a paying passenger in First Class over any non-rev. Especially one from a competing airline. That's just the smart thing to do. By upgrading a paying passenger, you can probably make a loyal customer for life--especially one who is already a frequent flyer on the airline.

I understand the "take of of crewmembers" idea, but I would passionately want my airline to take care of those who pay the bills. That gives the employees better pay/benefits and/or fewer furloughs etc..

Last winter my wife and I flew MEM-AMS on NW on the A330. We were in the first row of coach and saw at least 6-7 open in first class. No upgade for us. I had even talked to the crew.

Needless to say, NW/DL more than welcome in our first class...

They already do that for domestic flights. If you give away too many premium seats, then what is the future incentive to buy one. They could just put in for the free upgrade.

Were you riding on a ZED fare? ZED tickets are only good for coach on any airline.

I have NW pass privelages

Weird... When you listed yourself in Travelnet, did you list for First Class? What was the standby list screen at the gate showing? If there were seats available, you should have got them. I've been flying Delta for over nine years and I've always got a First Class seat when I listed for one and it was available.

Correction: I noticed you traveled before inventory cutover so you would have been traveling using the NWA non-rev listing and procedures. I'm not familiar with how that works.

Didn't NWA not upgrade their non-management pilots without you paying something.

I know many a time where a OAL JS rider comes to the flight deck, pokes their head in and has a FC seat. Yes, even international.

Sometimes gate agents just make mistakes or just don't care.

I know one time in November, I was commuting home and there were seats available in FC on a fNWA flight (I work for Comair). I was using my pass privilages and I was assigned a seat in coach, after I boarded 3 jumpseaters (I assume they were jumpseaters as I saw them at the gate talking to the gate agent) 2 Jetblue and 1 AA, boarded and sat in FC.

I wasn't really happy to see that, coach was wide open and since I was in uniform I wouldn't be fully able enjoy FC. So I let it go as it wasn't a big deal, I had a seat home and that is all I really cared about.

I also watched a DTW gate agent clear all off line JS'ers before Nonrevs on a DCI flight. (even the 2 of us pilots who were using our pass privelages to commute). When I looked at Travlnet (godbless the Iphone), he had coded the 4 Js'ers as UP4's or soemthing like that (showed that they were standby upgrades, usually if you already have a ticket in coach, I knew one of the guys JS'ing and he did not have a ps ticket). This put them above every non-rev on the list. Luckily everyone got on, because I'm not sure what we could have done (I guess I would have jumpseated to get to the head of the line).

That being said those are the only two instances I have had (or recall) in the last 5 years and they both happened in the past 7 months, so they very well maybe merger related growing pains.

And another question, Are the agents in SYD Delta employees or outsourced (swissport or something like that)? The reason I ask is sometimes the outsourced agents work 10 different airlines and maybe they got the policies confused.