Upgrading Delta flights with Velocity points??!?!?!?

[James White]

Probably been asked 100 times..... But can we still upgrade Delta tickets with Velocity points??
Everytime i search it says yes, but cant find it anywhere on the companys websites or how to do it

 

[TMP]

Whilst you can redeem reward seats with points for DL, I don't think that the ability to upgrade with points has returned, per this information (even though it is quite old, Sept 2020):

Delta Air Lines

From September 2020 Velocity Platinum, Gold and Silver members are no longer able to apply for Complimentary Upgrades to Delta Comfort+. Additionally, as Virgin Australia has paused the sale of Delta flights with a Virgin Australia (VA) flight number, Velocity members are currently unable to Upgrade with Points on these flights.

https://experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com/member-support/media-centre/2020/velocity-program-update---airline-partners

 

[Mattg]

As per above, this was axed in September 2020 sadly.

Velocity Cuts Partner Airline Benefits

Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer program has permanently removed some of the benefits offered to frequent flyers when travelling with international partner airlines.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

When is your flight OP?
From April its over in regards to VA and DL.

 

[ozstamps]

Any guesses if Virgin points will be able to upgrade United Flights when all that rolls out?

 

[jase05]

Any guesses if Virgin points will be able to upgrade United Flights when all that rolls out?

Has been some talk of it happening.
Personally I think it’s a almost certainty to happen

 

[ozstamps]

Be interesting to see how it works, if it occurs, and whether there is ever any F inventory left.

US top Elite flyers more or less expect upgrades on every flight, so after they are catered for, and get many automatically, and after the United member points upgrades, and money upgrades are processed, will be very interesting to see how many are ever left.

MileagePlus Updates

mileageplusupdates.com

There were always big LCD screens at UA gate with a huge list of names who were ''on the upgrade list', and many times that large list stayed a large list when the flight was closed!

I was a United 1K for 10-15 years, and more or less got upgraded free for 2 million real flight miles globally. Back then you could get upgrades fully confirmed way in advance, on any route globally, on even the very cheapest fares, and in lie flat widebodies all the way.

Cheapie 15,000K flights like SYD-LAX-IAD-EZE/GIG/GRU were covered by a single 1K 'Systemwide' Certificate. All fully confirmable in advance. Those were the days.

Not so easy now for 1Ks - https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/2060545-frequency-upgrades-1k-3.html

Interesting to see where points upgrades from a non Star Alliance partner will fit in the voodoo upgrade mix now. NC and NF used to be the fare buckets needed. UA must get money for it in some form, so whether they prefer to take Mileage Plus member money, or money from Virgin will be interesting. There is a mega conga line ahead of Virgin members.

 

[jpp42]

Most US airlines also offer paid upgrades via various bidding systems or invite emails, etc. I am not sure the details of what United is currently doing, but American Airlines invited me to upgrade for $150 on a cross country flight recently, and this is not new. I get the impression they are filling more seats with this kind of paid upgrade and leaving even fewer domestic First/business seats available for free upgrades no matter what the FF tier.

 

[ozstamps]

Yes the never ending PAID upgrade offers are part of all their armouries of course! Money for jam!

On a transcon with 10 empty F seats that the IM know are unlikely to sell to revenue buyers, they'll do the email offer.

But IM will keep SOME of those - 2 or 3 or 4 for ELITES and others to access. If they go into fare buckets NC or NF etc, FF's can access them, first in, best dressed.

They will have NO elites if a decent number of upgradeable seats do not keep showing.

THEN whatever is (maybe) left the zoo at the gate screen sorts out!

 

[James White]

When is your flight OP?
From April its over in regards to VA and DL.

Leaving Feb 9th for 10 days.
Ended up booking Delta Melbourne-Sydney-Lax- Hawaii- LAX- Sydney -Melbourne

I wonder if I can end up on more flights than days I am there
I still need to go to Portland as well

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Best of luck, and my paws are crossed for you, enjoy DL and VA while the relationship last, or what remains of it anyway.
And be prepared to pay a lot for each PCR/RAT test you need, as you travel.