Can you upgrade part of a through ticket?

We are looking to fly MAN - MSY next year via ATL, and I have a dilemma regarding booking through tickets using points or booking the Delta leg ATL-MSY seperately.

The benefits of booking the through ticket are specifically that usually the flight times mean that the connection is slightly tight for an international - domestic connection at ATL (circa 3 hours) so we would be better protected, and also I think that I've read about some sort of re-check in of baggage at the international side as soon as you collect it, but only for single tickets (can anyone confirm this bit?)

The tricky bit is that there are no PE options, becuase the ATL-MSY plane won't have PE, and as there will be 5 of us travelling I can't stretch to UC.

So my key question is, if I book the through tickets in EC, can I then call up and upgrade the MAN-ATL leg to PE (all with points), or would this not work?

Thanks

[mitchja]

I can answer the separate bookings and ATL options.

It’s very easy as I’ve done this several time now.

Across from where the bag drop area is after collecting bags for connecting flights there are a row of DL check-in desks. Just use those and then take your bag to the drop-off area then use the same flight connections security.

Do ask at MAN VS check-in though to tag your bag all the way to MSP. This can be done even with separate bookings. It’s not always immediately straightforward for check-in staff to do this so a supervisor may be needed; but it can be done and in both directions. DL check-in staff do usually have a better idea on how to do this as well.

I’ve done it both ways at least once.

Thanks James, this is good to know

I found a post from a while ago which suggested that someone had booked the through ticket and then upgraded to PE so I probably just need to call and ask!

All of this is assuming that I have enough points to upgrade 5 people given the lovely state of dynamic points pricing!!!

You shouldn’t have any issue upgrading the VS metal leg as long as the ticket allows it. I do this regularly when doing routes like LHR > SEA > LAS.

Cheers, keepingeverything crossed now for the points!