Delta One Upgrade – A Complete Guide

A Delta One upgrade means upgrading to one of the world’s (and Delta’s) most exclusive cabins. It entitles you to the airline’s top-of-the-line premium service on international flights and select long-haul domestic flights. Delta One cabins offer spacious lie-flat seats with direct aisle access, high-quality cuisine, complimentary access to Delta Sky Club lounges, and the use of Sky Priority services. Among other things, you will receive priority check-in and boarding, expedited security screening, and dedicated baggage handling services. Plus, you can change or cancel your ticket without being charged change fees on most flights.

An Overview of Delta One Upgrade Policy

If you’re considering an upgrade to Delta One, it pays to know how the upgrade policy works.

• Complimentary Delta One upgrades are available to all Medallion members (Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond) on domestic flights within the 50 United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. Diamond and Platinum Medallion members can also upgrade with Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates via exclusive Choice Benefits.
• Delta One upgrades on domestic U.S. flights clear on the same day based on the preference list below:
  • Diamond Medallion members enjoy unlimited upgrades that start clearing 5 days before departure. 
  • Platinum Medallion members also enjoy unlimited upgrades that start clearing 5 days before departure. 
  • Gold Medallion members enjoy unlimited upgrades that start clearing 3 days before departure.
  • Silver Medallion members enjoy unlimited upgrades that start clearing 1 day before departure.
  • Y-class tickets for Medallion members are upgraded instantly at the time of booking.
• Medallion members who don’t get cleared in advance will be added to a standby list and cleared for upgrades subsequently until the flight departure. 
• You will move up the upgrade list over other elite members at the same Medallion level in the same fare class if you hold a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card or premium Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card.
• There are no complimentary upgrades on international flights, except for Medallion members on a few regional international flights with Delta or Aeromexico. Medallion members are entitled to complimentary upgrades on all Aeromexico flights within Mexico, flights between the U.S. and Mexico, and between Mexico and the Caribbean, Central America, Ecuador, and Colombia.
• Award tickets booked with SkyMiles and Pay with Miles qualify for complimentary Medallion upgrades but are lower in the order of priority list than paid tickets.
• Basic Economy fares don’t qualify for upgrades on Delta. 

Can You Get Upgraded to Delta One?

You can get upgraded to Delta One, but it’s not guaranteed. Upgrades are often granted based on a certain hierarchy and are subject to seat availability. 

Delta’s upgrade hierarchy below will determine whether you’re next in line for an upgrade. The priority of upgrades is as follows:

1. Medallion status
   (Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Silver in that order)
2. Your fare class (from high to low)
3. Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Cardmembers
4. Delta corporate travelers
5. Delta SkyMiles credit cardholders who qualify for the MQD (Medallion Qualification Dollars) waiver in the present calendar year. This requirement will be waived if:
   • You’re a Platinum, Gold, or Silver status member and have spent USD 25,000 on an eligible credit card.
   • You’re a Diamond Medallion status member and have spent USD 250,000 on an eligible credit card.
6. Million Miler status
7. Date and time of upgrade request (the tiebreaker)

How to Get Delta One Upgrade?

There are several ways to upgrade on Delta One, such as:

1. Through Complimentary Upgrades as Medallion members. Medallion members plus a travel companion are entitled to unlimited complimentary upgrades to Delta One seats (as well as First Class and Delta Comfort+ on select routes) on domestic flights (only) as part of their Medallion benefits. 
2. Through Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates that are available exclusively to Diamond and Platinum Medallion Members. You can request and confirm upgrade certificates (subject to seat availability) while booking your ticket.
   • Global Upgrade Certificates are available only to Diamond Medallion members and can be used to upgrade on both domestic and international Delta flights, as well as select partner airline flights. 
   • Regional Upgrade Certificates are also available only to Diamond and Platinum Medallion members and can be used to upgrade to Delta One (and First Class) only on domestic U.S. routes.
   • Upgrade Certificates can also be used to upgrade Delta Award Travel tickets and Miles + Cash tickets on flights operated by Delta, with no limit to the number of companions, as long as the companion is traveling on the same/linked reservation as the certificate holder. 
3. With your SkyMiles. You can upgrade your ticket to Delta One at the time of booking (except Basic Economy) with your miles on domestic U.S. flights—either online through Delta.com (My Trips) or Delta Reservations (by phone). Alternatively, you can upgrade most Delta-marketed and operated flights with miles after booking your ticket—online, through the Fly Delta app, or through Delta Reservations. 
4. With Credit Card Reward Points 
5. With a Paid Upgrade before reaching the airport, or at the airport counter or gate, if Delta One seats are available. 

Delta One Upgrade with Miles

You can choose to upgrade with miles while booking your ticket or after you’ve booked it. Here’s how you can do it:  

How to Upgrade with Miles While Booking?

If you’re traveling within the 50 U.S. states, you can upgrade to Delta One (as well as First Class, Premium Select, and Delta Comfort+) for most Delta flights as explained below:

1. Log in to Delta.com
2. Enter your trip requirements 
3. Select the Upgrade with Miles option in your Trip Summary before completing your purchase
4. Use your miles to upgrade all the passengers in your booking

How to Upgrade with Miles After Booking?

If you’ve already purchased your ticket, you can use your miles to upgrade your ticket to Delta One yourself—online or through the Fly Delta app. Aside from Delta One, you can upgrade to Premium Select, First Class, Delta Comfort+, or even select an Exit Row or a Preferred Seat. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Access your booking via My Trips on Delta.com or the Fly Delta app
2. Click on the Select Seats for money or miles option 
3. Select a seat from the Seat Map 
4. Complete your purchase

If you run into any problems:

1. Call a SkyMiles Representative
2. Provide your trip details to the agent 
3. Request the agent to book a Mileage Upgrade Award
4. The agent will provide the prices and seat availability 
5. The agent will confirm your upgrade if your booking is eligible and you have enough miles in your account

If you make any changes to your booking for any upgrades made online via Delta.com before the check-in window opens, your miles will be redeposited into your account. You can use the redeposited miles later to book another flight in the future with Delta. Remember, if you make any changes to your flight voluntarily, the upgrade will not automatically apply to your new flight booking. 

If you’re upgrading with miles while booking, remember the following:

• If you’re upgrading online via Delta.com, you must have enough miles in your account to upgrade all the passengers in the booking and for all flights in the booking.
• You can upgrade other passengers with your miles (online or otherwise) even if you’re not traveling with them, provided you’re an authorized account user. 
• You can only upgrade Delta or Delta Connection flights booked for travel within the 50 U.S. states. 
• There must be enough seats to upgrade all passengers for all flights in the booking. 
• The MQMs (Medallion Qualification Miles) and MQDs (Medallion Qualification Dollars) you earn will be based on the cash amount of the ticket purchased and the cabin flown, not including fees and taxes. 
• The mileage credit you earn will be on the cash component of the ticket purchased by you, i.e., the base fare and carrier surcharges paid in currency post miles application to your ticket’s total amount. No mileage accrual will apply if you purchased your ticket with miles alone. 

If you’re upgrading with miles after booking on Delta.com, remember the following:

• To complete purchasing an eligible upgrade, you must have enough miles in your account and must be logged in to it.
• Your flight must be operated and marketed by Delta.
• Some flights may not be upgradable online or through the app but can be upgraded with miles by phone. You will not be able to upgrade online or with the Fly Delta app if:
  • A flight segment on your ticket departs from Honduras, Ghana, India, France, or the U.K. 
  • You’ve checked in for your flight already
  • Any flight segment is operated by one of Delta’s partner airlines
• The MQMs (Medallion Qualification Miles) and MQDs (Medallion Qualification Dollars) you earn will be based on the cash amount of the ticket purchased and the cabin flown, not including fees and taxes. 
• The mileage credit you earn will be on the cash component of the ticket purchased by you, i.e., the base fare and carrier surcharges paid in currency post miles application to your ticket’s total amount. No mileage accrual, MQMs, MQDs, or MQSs will apply if you purchased your ticket with miles alone. 

Note. Delta upgrades with miles are limited to some fare classes, based on the route. The eligible fare classes for miles upgrades for the U.S. and Central America include Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, and T fares. The eligible fare classes for international flights include Y, B, M, H, Q, and K fares.

How many miles to upgrade to Delta One?

To learn how many miles are required to upgrade to Delta One, log in to your Delta Airlines account to book a flight and choose a ticket in the Main Cabin. The cash price of upgrading the ticket will be shown and the upgrade with miles option at 1 cent for each mile. For example, if the cost of upgrading is USD 500, you have the option to upgrade with 50,000 miles. 

Based on the pricing displayed, you can take a call on whether the offer to upgrade with miles provides good value or not. In many cases, it may not. 

Upgrading with Partner Airlines

Although this section does not relate to Delta One upgrades, it is worth including. You can use your Mileage Upgrade Award to upgrade an existing reservation (with miles) on Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, or Aeromexico-operated flights.

Remember, the routes and fare classes can be restrictive and the prices may not offer good value. Also, in many cases, the flights may be restricted only to those marketed by Delta. 

If you want to know whether your flight is eligible or wish to receive pricing details or confirm your upgrade with miles, you must call SkyMiles.

How to Maximize Your Delta One Upgrade Chances?

When it comes to maximizing your chances of upgrading to Delta One, there are a few key strategies you can use.

1. If you have Delta Medallion Elite Status

1. Achieve Delta Medallion (Diamond & Platinum) status to earn/qualify Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates and use them to redeem a Delta One upgrade.
2. Check Discounted Fares (incl. Premium Select) before using your Upgrade Certificates, as they often offer good value for money, especially on partner airlines like China Eastern (for Asia) and Aeromexico (for South America). Also, Premium Select tickets from Delta’s hubs like Detroit offer good value and can increase the chances of your Global Upgrade Certificate getting cleared if you plan to use one. 
3. Become a Delta Reserve Cardholder. 
4. Having these cards and meeting the Medallion Qualification Dollar Waiver as soon as possible in the year can increase your chances of an upgrade: Delta Platinum, Delta Platinum Business, Delta Reserve, or the Delta Reserve Business.
5. If you’re a Medallion (Diamond, Platinum, or Gold status) member, you can make a same-day confirmation (SDC) to another flight without paying a fee. Also, if another flight with more Delta One seats is available, you can increase the chances of getting a complimentary upgrade (Silver status members will need to pay a USD 75 fee for an SDC). 
6. Select an aircraft with the maximum number of Business/First Class seats to increase your chances of a complimentary upgrade on domestic routes. Refer to Delta’s aircraft fleet and compare aircraft capacities before traveling.

2. If you don’t have Delta Medallion Elite Status
3. If the pricing is good: 

1. Use your miles to upgrade an existing flight if the pricing is attractive. 
2. Use your miles to purchase your ticket and upgrade with cash. 

2. Check discounted fares as they often provide more value for money, especially on partner airlines like Aeromexico. 
3. Buy a discounted upgrade to Delta One at check-in, as last-minute pricing (if available) can often be significantly discounted.  
4. Offer to surrender your Economy Class seat on an oversold flight and ask for an upgraded seat in exchange on the next available flight. You must ask for the upgrade or you may not get it.

Delta One Upgrade Cost

The best way to know the cost of upgrading to Delta One is to sign in to your account through the homepage (Delta.com) and book your flight (but do not pay just yet). After you select a ticket in the Main Cabin and provide the required information, you will see the cash price component of upgrading your ticket to Delta One (among others).

If you don’t have an account with Delta, book your flight through the homepage (Delta.com) but don’t pay just yet, enter your trip requirements, and select a ticket in the Main Cabin. You will then be shown the cash price component of upgrading your ticket to Delta One as well as other higher-class seats.

Delta One International Upgrade

How to get upgraded to Delta One on international flights

Delta One is a program offered by Delta Airlines that allows you to upgrade your seats to Delta One (or First Class or Business Class) on international flights. The program works by offering eligible passengers the opportunity to purchase an upgrade using either cash, miles, or Global Upgrade Certificates. 

Eligibility is determined based on factors such as your frequent flyer status, the fare class of your original booking, and seat availability on Delta One. Once an upgrade is confirmed, you will enjoy all the benefits of Delta One, including priority boarding, enhanced in-flight service, access to exclusive lounges, and more. 

Delta One Complimentary Upgrades

One of the many perks of flying on Delta is the opportunity for complimentary upgrades to Delta One, the airline’s premium cabin service on international and long-haul domestic flights. Complimentary upgrades on domestic routes are available for all elite status Medallion members and are based on availability. If you’re lucky enough to secure a complimentary upgrade, you’ll have access to premium amenities like lie-flat seats, gourmet meals, personalized service from a dedicated flight attendant, and expedited check-in, boarding, and baggage handling, to name a few.

What You Should Know About Complimentary Upgrades to Delta One

• Delta One complimentary upgrades are available for all Medallion members on most domestic flights within the United States but not on international flights.
• Complimentary Companion Upgrades are available for passengers who travel on the same booking as Medallion Elite members.
  • A Medallion member’s companion is entitled to the same priority status as the Medallion member. 
  • Complimentary companion upgrades work for paid tickets, award tickets, miles plus cash tickets, and Pay with Miles tickets.
• Complimentary upgrades for Delta One (as well as Comfort+ and First Class tickets) apply only to domestic flights. 
• Medallion members are entitled to complimentary upgrades on Aeromexico flights:
  • Within Mexico
  • Between the U.S. and Mexico
  • Between Mexico and the Caribbean, Central America, Ecuador, and Colombia
• Delta Diamond and Platinum Medallion are entitled to complimentary upgrades via Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates. 

Tip. To increase your chances of a complimentary Delta One upgrade, select an aircraft with the highest number of Delta One seats. To do this, check out Delta’s aircraft fleet and compare the seating capacities for Delta One seats.

Frequently Asked Questions on Delta One Upgrade 

As you prepare for your upcoming trip, you may have questions about what to expect from a Delta One upgrade. This FAQ guide provides you with answers to some of the most common questions about Delta One upgrades.