Automatic upgrades to Delta First for Virgin Gold?

Has anyone had any luck with this?

"Effective 01 April 2014, Flying Club Gold members will be eligible to receive complimentary upgrades to First Class when travelling on Delta’s US domestic network."

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/us/en/fl ... nges.html#

This has the usual caveat about availability, of course, and this excludes the DL Business Elite product on domestic routes (JFK to LAX/SFO etc), which is - despite the odd nomenclature - a significantly higher level of service than DL First.

Maybe it was an April Fool's joke!?

I haven't (yet) been upgraded on a domestic DL route on account of my VS AU status. Although the automatic Sky Priority with added extras (via VS AU) and TSApre (via Global Entry) work a treat on DL.

NYLON

I think the key word here is "eligible". I suspect half the passengers on each DL flight are eligible for upgrades, as US airlines hand out upgrades to their FFs as if they were peanuts.

There is a strict hierarchy that determines who actually gets upgraded and I believe VS Au isn't very high up - DL will look after their own elite status pax first and they have four tiers of status.

There was a thread about this a couple of months back - I seem to recall CHill710 saying he saw a TV monitor above the gate for one of his flights listing all the pax who were eligible for upgrades in order of priority. He wasn't very high up - 8th out of 12 maybe? With only one successful.

At least VS Au get Sky Priority and Economy Comfort. That's a genuine bonus.

You're so right about US Air. About ten years ago, I used to fly with them about once a week, and was almost always upgraded to first.

I too have seen my name very far down the list on those DL upgrade monitors...

Well, if I strike it lucky, I'll be sure to let you know!

There was a thread about this a couple of months back - I seem to recall CHill710 saying he saw a TV monitor above the gate for one of his flights listing all the pax who were eligible for upgrades in order of priority. He wasn't very high up - 8th out of 12 maybe? With only one successful.

Yup - The last three internal Delta flights, my name has only made it on to the TV screen once and that was 10th out of 6 seats available!! To me the free bag, econ. comfort wins everytime, still quick off the aircraft....

Agreed, lots of DL elites. It's allegedly quite easy to get to DL elite on a status match though to get "higher" on list via a status challenge - question would be if they would do that with VS status. One of the bosses here does that every year to have both AA and DL status.

Rather agree with NYLON on the upgrade front.
Although they have come in for some criticism Delta used to be our preferred carrier, generally for their Atlanta and New York routes from Manchester, and at one time Edinburgh. We managed to get elite status reasonably easy I and felt really let down if we didn't get a last minute upgrade to Business Elite at check in or, god forbid at the gate!
We might have been lucky but at the time regular travellers were recognised and rewarded. We also had little difficulty redeeming points for trips, including 2x Hawaii Business!
Service was generally ok, especially in the front cabin, though I don't think the crew were as excited by the thought of being on these northern routes instead of Paris or London!

The chances are so remote as to be non existent.
US airlines have a policy on domestic routes to put pretty much everyone on the upgrade list which means you have to be really high up in their FF scheme to stand a chance. VS gold is not. They also offer Starwood Platinums the same 'upgrade' opportunity so the list grows.

I did a return trip on DL from JFK-MCO in April. An upgrade for two to First for two of us, both FC AU, cleared on both legs. So it is possible!

Wow, good to know these things actually exist!

Can I ask, adjonline, when in the process the upgrade to First on DL happened?

I did a return trip on DL from JFK-MCO in April. An upgrade for two to First for two of us, both FC AU, cleared on both legs. So it is possible!

Wow great memory gumshoe.
You are correct I was not the last on the list but low enough for every little chance of an upgrade.
I was however able to select an economy comfort seat after booking Economy via expedia

Wow, good to know these things actually exist!

Can I ask, adjonline, when in the process the upgrade to First on DL happened?

Outbound from JFK, it cleared at the gate about 20 minutes before boarding.

Returning from MCO, it had cleared before I got to the airport to check-in. From memory, it was something like 5 hours before the flight.

Thanks, adjonline

Did you request the upgrade online?

Thanks, adjonline

Did you request the upgrade online?

I think the status updated to "Medallion Upgrade Requested" as soon as I entered my FC AU number.

OK, that's what happened to me - i.e. it kicks off the "automated upgrade process".

Well I'm delighted it worked for you, and I shall keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks!

I guess that means you're on the magic list, now you just have to hope that very few DL FFs are on your flight!

It definitely does happen - I'm currently sat in first on an SJC->MSP flight. I must do about 40 Delta (internal) flights a year and have had a hit rate of around 50%.

Saying that I'm always at the bottom of the list, and on 'popular' routes that list can be 25+ people long.

The tier points and air miles are a massive incentive to fly Delta though!