Upgrades on ZED's

[night-ice]

Why is it that Delta upgrades other airline staff when they travel but when it's our turn on them, they won't upgrade to save their life and the plane goes out full in coach and has lots of seats open in first/business? I've tried many airlines, both domestic and international but it's always "we don't upgrade staff travel. Coach class only." I know it's normally agent-dependent but I'm somewhere in the neighborhood of "0" out of close to 50 other airlines travel.

This being the case, why doesn't big daddy "D" stop this practice?
Has anyone had any success being upgraded on other airlines using ZED/ID tickets?

 

[gizmo_sc]

I flew IAD AMS with UA last year on a ZED that cost me $64.70 oneway. When I checked in at IAD, the UA said very nicely if I have extra Business Class seats I will be happy to upgrade you. Slowly the flight started to board and I patiently sat with my traveling companion who had to buy a ZED also that was 85.70. When my name was called the very nice UA agent said " I had you two seats picked out and luckly when we moved all the Mileage Plus folks up they remained open and they are together in the Business Cabin. So we got nice seats in Business together for the flight. As always when I have flown on an OAL flight the cabin crew knows you are NR and they come to you asking if you need anything. Once I was on El AL from CAI to FRA" I also got upgraded to Business Class and pampered very well. On that trip when I flew FRA-JFK it was on DELTA and I got upgraded also. On Delta all you have to do is dress nice and if they have seats they will upgrade you. So it does happen but you have to be very polite and dress appropriately.

 

[night-ice]

I flew IAD AMS with UA last year on a ZED that cost me $64.70 oneway. When I checked in at IAD, the UA said very nicely if I have extra Business Class seats I will be happy to upgrade you. Slowly the flight started to board and I patiently sat with my traveling companion who had to buy a ZED also that was 85.70. When my name was called the very nice UA agent said " I had you two seats picked out and luckly when we moved all the Mileage Plus folks up they remained open and they are together in the Business Cabin. So we got nice seats in Business together for the flight. As always when I have flown on an OAL flight the cabin crew knows you are NR and they come to you asking if you need anything. Once I was on El AL from CAI to FRA" I also got upgraded to Business Class and pampered very well. On that trip when I flew FRA-JFK it was on DELTA and I got upgraded also. On Delta all you have to do is dress nice and if they have seats they will upgrade you. So it does happen but you have to be very polite and dress appropriately.

Yeah, I know DL upgrades other airline employees. "Why" is the question if the other airlines will not reciprocate. I dress nice and appropriate, identify myself to staff as a Delta employee and still get told "we don't upgrade staff travel, only coach class."
As a Delta or Delta Connection Employee, we fly in first if seats are open and we have enough seniority, then we go up front. It's automatic when you list through DeltaNet (there are exceptions: children under 6, coach is the only class available or you simply want to fly coach...)
It is aggrivating when I see, for example, a Qantas employee flying DL Business Class on a ZED (who a DL agent politely upgraded)from LAX to SYD but when I ask if it's possible to upgrade (if available) from SYD to LAX on Qantas, I'm told "we don't upgrade......" :angry: Why not reciprocate?!

 

[mrs767er]

Why is it that Delta upgrades other airline staff when they travel but when it's our turn on them, they won't upgrade to save their life and the plane goes out full in coach and has lots of seats open in first/business? I've tried many airlines, both domestic and international but it's always "we don't upgrade staff travel. Coach class only." I know it's normally agent-dependent but I'm somewhere in the neighborhood of "0" out of close to 50 other airlines travel.

This being the case, why doesn't big daddy "D" stop this practice?
Has anyone had any success being upgraded on other airlines using ZED/ID tickets?

You answered your own question. OALs have no obligation to upgrade ANY interline pax unless they choose. If DL does, it's their choice. They don;t contractually have to upgrade OALs--technically it's not in most agreemnets (none that I can recall) You should proud that your airline is generous to other employees--alliance or not. It leaves them witha sense that DL will go the extra step if they can to promote goodwill within the indstry.

How could "daddy D" say anything about OAL practices?

 

[night-ice]

You answered your own question. OALs have no obligation to upgrade ANY interline pax unless they choose. If DL does, it's their choice. They don;t contractually have to upgrade OALs--technically it's not in most agreemnets (none that I can recall) You should proud that your airline is generous to other employees--alliance or not. It leaves them witha sense that DL will go the extra step if they can to promote goodwill within the indstry.

How could "daddy D" say anything about OAL practices?

Well, "daddy D" doesn't have to say anything at all about "other OAL practices". But they "can" say that we are to give the same spill they give us: "sorry, we do not upgrade OAL staff...you can fly coach only." I know it's goodwill from the DL (or gate agent view) but from past experience, I've been stuck many times trying to get out on OAL's while they left with open business and/or first. I know I'm not the only one because I've seen it way too many times with other non-revs. I normally wear 'church clothes' to be on the safe side but look out of place when I do end up sitting in coach. I just remove my tie and unbutton my shirt. Oh well...

All I'm saying is if they (other OAL staff) know DL staff upgrades them when they need to get somewhere (work, vacation,etc😉 and we identify ourselves as DL employees, one would think they, too, would "promote goodwill" and kindly reciprocate the favor.

Yes, it is agent dependent most of the time, but we're all family in a sense..."alliance or not".

 

[mrs767er]

Well, "daddy D" doesn't have to say anything at all about "other OAL practices". But they "can" say that we are to give the same spill they give us: "sorry, we do not upgrade OAL staff...you can fly coach only." I know it's goodwill from the DL (or gate agent view) but from past experience, I've been stuck many times trying to get out on OAL's while they left with open business and/or first. I know I'm not the only one because I've seen it way too many times with other non-revs. I normally wear 'church clothes' to be on the safe side but look out of place when I do end up sitting in coach. I just remove my tie and unbutton my shirt. Oh well...

All I'm saying is if they (other OAL staff) know DL staff upgrades them when they need to get somewhere (work, vacation,etc😉 and we identify ourselves as DL employees, one would think they, too, would "promote goodwill" and kindly reciprocate the favor.

Yes, it is agent dependent most of the time, but we're all family in a sense..."alliance or not".

Then I guess you'll have to give the gate agents chocolate with a disclosure that if they wish to open the wrapper, they should reciprocate because Delta has been nice to some of their people.
Some employees are afraid of bending rules because they would like to continue to receive a paycheck.
I don't see how you can blame them and why you feel you are entitled to an upgrade.
(I hear a little tiny waaaaah and an itty bitty violin playing in the background)

On an ending note: Hey, I'd like that, too, but it is not an expectation nor is it a right.
I earn miles to use when I know I need to "buy" a class upgrade ticket on OALs.

 

[night-ice]

Then I guess you'll have to give the gate agents chocolate with a disclosure that if they wish to open the wrapper, they should reciprocate because Delta has been nice to some of their people.
Some employees are afraid of bending rules because they would like to continue to receive a paycheck.
I don't see how you can blame them and why you feel you are entitled to an upgrade.
(I hear a little tiny waaaaah and an itty bitty violin playing in the background)

On an ending note: Hey, I'd like that, too, but it is not an expectation nor is it a right.
I earn miles to use when I know I need to "buy" a class upgrade ticket on OALs.

"I hear a little tiny waaaaah and an itty bitty violin playing in the background" ..none of that here. just calling it like it is. If you don't like my views, you can keep your childish comments to yourself..this isn't 3rd grade here..
yes, I too, earn miles and have used them to upgrade on SQ, among many others.

 

[mrs767er]

"I hear a little tiny waaaaah and an itty bitty violin playing in the background" ..none of that here. just calling it like it is. If you don't like my views, you can keep your childish comments to yourself..this isn't 3rd grade here..
yes, I too, earn miles and have used them to upgrade on SQ, among many others.

You're right. I hope you'll accept my apology and stop whining.

 

[night-ice]

You're right. I hope you'll accept my apology and stop whining.

Nothing better for you to do, I see. It's like having a conversation with a first grader...although they are much more mature. 🙄