Just noticed that a flight that I bought through Global travel for coach class and was upgraded five days prior because of elite status, didn't pay the typical 50% class bonus. Usually if you sit in first class then you get the bonus. Has anyone else noticed this? I think that they changed this recently.

We lost our discounted NWA fares when the merger was completed.

Lakeside,

I have noticed the same thing. When we were using NWA, Fedex bought our coach class tickets at "Y" class. This is a very expensive, completely refundable coach class ticket. Of course we bought them at a very big discount. If you were an elite (silver, gold, whatever) you would be upgraded the next day after the ticket was purchased (if FC was available). If corporate travel ticketed you (payment was received), you could be upgraded weeks in advance due to the fact it was a "Y" ticket.


You received a 50% bonus due to the fact it was a "Y" ticket, not because you were upgraded. If you were flying an RJ without First Class or if there wasn't room for you in First Class, you still got the bonus. The airlines don't care where you sit, they care what you paid.


With the Delta contract, our coach tickets are being purchased as "H" class or something lower than "Y". Therefore we have to wait longer for upgrades to process and we don't get the bonus.

From Delta website-- When upgrades are processed:

All MedallionsTime of ticketing for Y class fares

Diamond Medallion5 calendar days in advance for B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, and T class fares2

Followed byPlatinum Medallion5 calendar days in advance for B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, and T class fares

Gold Medallion3 calendar days in advance for B, M, H,Q, K, L, U, and T class fares

Silver Medallion1 calendar day in advance for B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, and T class fares


Bonuses:

First/Business Class Mileage & MQM Bonus 50%

Premium Coach (Y,B,M Fares) Mileage & MQM Bonus 50%


How's that for an answer!

Corporate Travel told me that Delta took over the NWA contract and Delta tickets will be reasonably cheap until that current deal expires in June. I got a good deal on an Air France (A-380!) flight using Delta codeshare.

This is all correct.

We used to get the NWA upgrade at time of ticketing for Gold Elite or higher (I believe)??

Now, the upgrade comes as described above - X days in prior based on Elite Status.

However, I haven't been denied upgrade yet.

Also, still receiving the Elite % bonus - based on Elite Status (extra 100% for Platinum Elite) - this is/was in addition to the class % bonus.

Last time I got the class bonus was late Jan 2010.

Here is how it has been recently working for me. The fare basis for the tickets bought by Global Travel have been showing up in the Delta reservation system as an equivalent to a Y-0 (Y-zero) fare. At NWA our tickets used to show up as an equivalent to a Y-26 fare. Those fares would be swept by the computer and upgraded ASAP after being ticketed.

I have called Delta on the Elite line and mentioned the Y-0 fare and requested to be upgraded and they have been upgraded on the spot if seats are available. There is no need to wait for the elite upgrade. Call and you will be upgraded once the reservation is "ticketed" or paid for is a better choice of words.

Where do you find the info about the fare class on our tickets? I looked at my Delta reservation and didn't see it on either the company email record or the Delta web site.

I haven't ever seen it on the email from Global Travel - all that ever says is "Economy" or "First"

The Delta web site under your login - trip itinerary - has the Y or H or F or V codes under the class column.

Their web site is the only place I've ever seen these codes.

You can always call Global Travel and ask them what the class code is on your ticket/reservation.

If you go to trip summary on your pairing, it will also state which class ticket, ie Y, FC, FCF, FFC.....

Actually, it has nothing to do with the class of service purchased. It has everything to do with the "fare basis code" in which the tkt was purchased...If you ask Delta to check that...you'll get your upgrade...