Delta and SPG’s crossover rewards offer reciprocal elite benefits for elite members of either program. The benefits to SPG Platinum members just got a little better with the addition of unlimited complimentary upgrades on Delta flights.
The Good News
According to the Delta site which was updated today, SPG Platinum members will receive unlimited complimentary upgrades.
SPG Platinum members are eligible for day of departure upgrades on most published economy fares on Delta and certain Delta-designated codeshare flights in North America within or between the United States (excluding Hawaii) and Bermuda, Canada, Central and South America, The Caribbean, and Mexico. Unlimited Complimentary Upgrades are subject to availability, may not be available on all flights or in all markets, and are not valid for travel to/from Hawaii, Transatlantic and Transpacific destinations. Complimentary Upgrades are not available on flights to/from South American cities that are serviced with our BusinessElite® product (i.e., Buenos Aires, Argentina; Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil; Santiago, Chile; Lima, Peru; Caracas, Venezuela). For travel booked using a SkyMiles Companion Certificate, neither the paid primary passenger nor the companion passenger will be eligible for complimentary upgrades. We limit the seats available for use with complimentary upgrades and may not make seats available on all flights. Changes in reservations on ticketed itineraries are permitted only pursuant to the rules of the original economy fare purchased. Where permitted, changes may require payment of a change fee and/or any difference in the applicable fare. Upgrades are not eligible on fares that do not allow mileage accrual. Upgrades are not eligible on Award or Pay with Miles tickets. SPG Platinum member companions are not eligible for complimentary Companion Upgrades. Upgrades do not affect SkyMiles mileage accrual. Mileage accrued is based on the original fare purchased. Tickets purchased from Delta over the telephone or at an airport or city ticket office will incur a direct ticketing charge. Travel agents may impose an additional service charge for ticketing. Flight cancellation, substitution of equipment, or other irregular operations may result in the cancellation of confirmed upgrades. Delta’s liability, if any, in the event of irregular operations is governed by the terms of its Contract of Carriage and shall be based upon the original fare purchased.
The Bad News
SPG Platinum members will receive one of the lowest upgrade priority levels.
1) As an SPG Platinum elite member enrolled in Crossover Rewards, how do I become listed on the upgrade list?
At the time of booking, your upgrade request will be automatically added to your itinerary and will be included on the airport standby list upon check-in for your flight. Standby upgrades will clear based on availability at the gate.
2) As an SPG Platinum elite member enrolled in Crossover Rewards, where will I be listed on the upgrade list?
For eligible flights, you will be given priority behind Medallions, Medallion Companion, and KLM, Air France, and Alaska elite upgrades.
Bottom Line
Delta and SPG’s crossover rewards just got a little better for SPG Platinum members with the addition of unlimited complimentary upgrades.
Sign up for Email || Twitter || Facebook || Tips & Tricks
Hotel Offers || Airline Offers || Bank Offers || Cash Back Offers
About The Weekly Flyer
The Weekly Flyer writes about travel from a business traveler perspective. He travels the world every week accumulating points and miles along the way.
Sign up for Email || Twitter || Facebook |
Hotel Offers || Airline Offers || Bank Offers || Cash Back Offers
Hey, as a SPG Platinum and Delta Medallion-nuttin’, I’ll take it!
Does that mean SPG Plat gets into the E+ also? If so, I take it.
Would the upgrade be available to a companion flying on the same itinerary or is it just the platinum member (one person only)?
Finally, someone will be below me on the DL upgrade list (am AS MVPG).
@Charles, I doubt you’ll get E+. I don’t get E+ as an AS MVPG (do get exit rows, though), and it seems DL considers SPG Plats as a rung below other airline elites.