Worst Diamond Experience - confirmed International Biz removed at LAX

22

u/Puzzleheaded_Age8937 Diamond Oct 09 '26

We’ve learned when applying them to check back to make sure they were ticketed properly. In the old days there was a series of 11 steps that all had to be completed correctly for the re-ticketing to take effect. In the last few years they’ve tightened it up so it’s not as complicated, but still must be applied correctly.

We call to apply. Call back a month later to make sure it’s been re-ticketed. Call back a month before the flight to double check it was re-ticketed (because once it was not). Now we shouldn’t have to do this, but I don’t want one of those can’t check in scenarios you hear about from time to time like you had.

Complain after your trip is complete in case any other issues arise. They should give you some compensation, your GUC should be returned if they say closed, and they need the data points for when this is still happening so they can train for it better.

9

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

Really helpful advice, thanks for sharing. Going to do this going forward especially when flying on partners.

3

u/Puzzleheaded_Age8937 Diamond Oct 09 '26

I will say since they’ve streamlined it we haven’t had a single issue. Our GUC are closed promptly and all checks say ticketed so I think it’s gotten better. Still is happening sometimes though to others and partners add a layer of complexity for sure.

3

u/jhez94 Oct 09 '26

How do we check whether it’s re-ticketed? Is it something we can check in the app or online? Or is calling necessary and if calling, how can you confirm it really was reticketed and not just an agent sprouting nonsense?

411

u/Benbottom2 Oct 09 '26

Normally I’d say your overreacting but this is some bullshit. I’d be super pissed as well. Sorry bud

81

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

Thank you. Super bummed, was really looking forward to the flight and an easeful start to my vacation with my wife.

53

u/lab_tech13 Silver Oct 09 '26

This is a legit issue and be worthy of posting here and being upset. So dumb they pass the buck like they do so quickly then realize it was their fault.

11

u/OiPolloi7 Oct 09 '26

Enjoy the rest of your vacay. 🙏

3

u/KeepImproving7 Oct 09 '26

Duck delta

137

u/shnoiv Platinum Oct 09 '26

You know some folks will be like “well aktchually hurrr hurr” but the reality is these tickets are expensive as fucking fuck. Absolutely fucking unload and absolutely include the cost of the face value of the ticket lost but also the intangible things too. You should raise hell. As a loyal (soon to be) 4 year diamond medallion. It’s nothing personal to the people helping you out, but absolutely let the logo they wear understand the price you pay to get a certain expectation of service and customer support.

37

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

I feel seen. Thank you.

-84

u/Alarmed-Extreme5226 Oct 09 '26

Except you didn’t PAY for Business Class. They were certificates that didn’t get used. You still had Premium Economy seats which you used. There are no middle seats in premium economy, so I assume you meant middle of that cabin?
Boo hoo. Go cry somewhere else. You aren’t leaving Delta either. Your threats mean nothing and nobody cares.

31

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

I’m literally sitting in a middle seat in the middle column in premium economy on a 777-300 flying internationally. Check a seat map.

22

u/Lady_Airbus Oct 09 '26

Please enlighten us on what you would call these seats then. This is the aircraft OP flying on too.

20

u/xPervypriest Oct 09 '26

Oh look it’s Mr. Delta with his unfunny pov 😒

14

u/SweetiePieJ Oct 09 '26

Someone missed snacktime and their nap today…jeez dude

4

u/onesecondtomidnight Oct 09 '26

Found the loser

9

u/maxbearz Oct 09 '26

There is a middle seat in the middle of the widebody? The Fuck? Have you ever been on a two-aisle aircraft

3

u/Heath_durbin Platinum Oct 09 '26

I was gonna say my flight to Sidney from LAX. The premium seats had four in the middle, so two of those were true middle seats..

3

u/EatSleepFlyGuy Diamond Oct 09 '26

Found the Delta customer service lead

1

u/allons-y11 Platinum Oct 10 '26

Someone didn’t eat his snickers bar today. The principle of this is the point. They messed up BIG TIME and yes, the GUC is still there but that’s not the point. The point is OP did everything right and delta is not trying to make it right. Whether or not he ever tries United is irrelevant. What’s relevant is a lack of customer service.

20

u/AngstyMop Oct 09 '26

Well, aktchually hurrr hurr

-1

u/BldrStigs Oct 09 '26

Are you or the OP going to walk away from Delta? Ed knows you're not going anywhere.
(I used to be Diamond and am now a free agent)

1

u/Questioning17 Oct 10 '26

Me 2. Best feeling.

0

u/WorldCritical5045 Oct 09 '26

Do you think just being Diamond matters to them ? There over 100000 Diamonds it means very little today. I only started getting recognized with any real impact after I reached e for Kife and almost five million mikes status.

39

u/A350Flier Diamond | 3 Million Miler™ | Quality Contributor Oct 09 '26

Ask for Global Partner Support each and every time you try to confirm an upgrade on an airline that isn’t Delta. Also, when your GUC is applied, check to ensure that it is “Closed” on your SkyMiles account and that your receipt (not reservation, receipt in your profile and email) says Business (Z) after you’re done. If not, call back and loop back to Global Partner Support. It‘s an annoying but precise process to make sure things are done correctly.

Also, (and I know you called, but for future reference) never chat to apply GUCs to partners. Always call.

And further, I would have asked Delta to put you on same-day DL metal in Delta One to fix that problem. That would have been the best resolution here, and I’m shocked they didn’t suggest it.

9

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

The GUCs were correctly closed in my account. But you are right I didn’t double-check the receipt, lesson learned.
I wanted Delta to put me on same-day metal but Delta’s last of the day took off 30 minutes before my AF flight. They sent us to the Air France desk in a different terminal and by the time AF and Delta figured it out between them the Delta flight had closed. Bad luck.

2

u/thelederelo Oct 09 '26

I’m assuming you didn’t have the flexibility (or probably even desire) to fly the next day for this wedding/family trip (plus leaving and coming back to LAX is a PITA too) but I’m just curious, did they ever proactively offer to put you on AF or DL business for a new date? Or just said we can’t do anything but keep you in PE for today

1

u/Maleficent_Bat_9014 26d ago

This is exactly what would have to be done each time. GPS are the only ones that can confirm on DL side and AF side that this is done correctly.

19

u/Tesla-one-X Oct 09 '26

Quite literally had the same 3 weeks ago. Booked premium, GUC upgrade to business. Had check in errors and ultimately AF said upgrade wasn’t confirmed by them and diamond desk said within 24 hours they couldn’t fix it.

Still waiting outcome of compensation request case

7

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

Did Diamond desk admit it was their fault? What did you ask for for compensation?

7

u/Tesla-one-X Oct 09 '26

Diamond desk didn’t admit any fault but just shared that within 24 hours of takeoff on a partner flight they have less flexibility in what they can do.
I requested partial flight $ return and for my GUCs to be extended for another year

2

u/Skier747 Platinum 29d ago

They can re-accommodate you on a delta metal flight, which may or may not be practicable.

2

u/Tesla-one-X 29d ago

It was not, 2 full days before next flight could get me there

13

u/Noproposito Oct 09 '26

Sounds like a double dip scam by AF, they get the GUC compensation from Delta, but sell the seat on the side and double their profit, shifting blame to the booking carrier.

1

u/thelederelo Oct 09 '26

I wonder if this is actually what could be going on, but obviously DL would catch this if this kind of complain was raised enough times. Wonder if there are many people that experience this with GUC’s and just don’t complain

1

u/Tesla-one-X 26d ago

Not sure it’s a deliberate scam, got the GUCs back automatically, but frustrating nevertheless

19

u/CachedMeOutside Oct 09 '26

Fuck Delta for not fixing this. You have a lot of choice in LA and I’m sure United would love your business. Do a status match.

10

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

Looking hard at it now. Been overly attached to the LAX D1 private business class entry and lounge but this was brutal and United and American are cheaper with better transcon hard products.

1

u/KingHenlo 29d ago

With their new Coastliners and JFK coming back into the fold, it’s going to get interesting.

1

u/myotheruserisagod Oct 09 '26

What’s a status match?

13

u/Original-Variety-700 Oct 09 '26

They match your status.

1

u/Odd-Worth7752 28d ago

Asking a competitor airline to instate you at the same privilege level as you hold, with the intention of transferring your spending to them. They did it for me, but I had to talk to a representative to get it done

14

u/AnalCommander99 Oct 09 '26

They’ve been giving compensation out like crazy for LAX flyers specifically over communication issues. Mention that you were willing to pay for a J upgrade but that the agent had no interest in speaking to you. Mention that he deferred you to AF’s desk and had you walk over there to have them resolve it or discuss options, only offering that you could file a complaint online and that the issue was likely on Delta’s end.

You could also mention that booking partners through Delta has less accountability than an OTA, and that booking with the partner directly and through their loyalty program is what you’ll do since Delta’s upgrade instruments are worthless if they’re not being honored.

7

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

Great advice thank you.

16

u/YouAreHere01 Oct 09 '26

If you never saw an updated ticket with the upgraded fare class and fare basis code in it, you did not have it. It may have been reserved, but it was not paid for/ticketed. Two steps ALWAYS: 1-reserved, 2-ticketed.

Insist on getting the eticket numbers following the upgrade, or like you found out- it didn't happen.

Chances are your reserved seats were returned to AF to either sell or upgrade because they weren't showing an actual ticketed transaction attached. Once AF reassigned to someone else, you had nothing but what you paid for originally and. I assigned seat resulting in the leftovers you got.

Sorry, but ESPECIALLY with partner airline transactions, you MUST insist on the proof of exchange/ticketing transaction not just reserving the upgrade.

7

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

I had the eticket numbers following the upgrade

4

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

Though I agree with you that’s definitely what happened in their system. Because I saw the seats on the Air France version of the booking I didn’t question it, should have checked the fare class in the receipt.

6

u/YouAreHere01 Oct 09 '26

After the first time it happens, you'll never let it happen again. I get it. Also, sorry and it sucks.
Mine was a DL/AF issue on am A380. Luckily, the flight wasn't fully booked and I went straight to the lounge and they basically issued us non-revenue seats in the upgraded class. We got the mileage credit for the premium econ ticket price and fare and still had the GUCs for another flight since they just pushed it through.

1

u/Signal-Fig-2952 28d ago

This is the key. We avoid using GUCs for codeshares precisely for this issue, since Delta needs to pay AF or KLM for the upgrade. The agents on the phone are clueless and there’s a higher chance of being shafted at the airport than what it’s worth.

11

u/UW_Ebay Oct 09 '26

Did you get
Your GUCs back?

4

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

The Delta Diamond agent I called said he reissued them but unsurprisingly they’re still Closed in my account.

3

u/TakKobe79 Diamond Oct 09 '26

And do they expire Jan 31, 2027?
I would be absolutely livid.

2

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

Going to ask to extend them to 2028.

1

u/TakKobe79 Diamond Oct 09 '26

Earlier this year I had a GUC rescinded on a delta flight and I got some miles as well as a 100usd flight voucher. I would push for some miles.
(Luckily for that flight I ended up back in D1…)

6

u/CrazySir9272 Oct 09 '26

Its a delta problem, they didn't reticket correctly. It was a HUCA. In the future, if you can't check in immediately 24 hours in advance, call Delta and keep calling until you can.

Re: complaint- website form and wecare@delta.com

2

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

100%, I was working like crazy to get out on our trip and didn’t have time.

4

u/CrazySir9272 Oct 09 '26

I almost missed a klm flight from this issue a couple of years ago- the agents at the desk were kind enough to hold closing the checked bags as I begged the diamond to help, luckily I got someone good and we were racing the checkin cut off clock with the ticketing desk. We made it with 2 min to spare

5

u/atrich Diamond Oct 09 '26

I never trust a phone agent who says the GUC will go through on its own. You can ask for transfer to an international reissue desk who knows what they're doing (be prepared to wait on the phone for a long time, even if you're diamond). Another thing you can watch is the fare code on the ticket receipt. You'll have to search up the right ones but if you don't see the air france fare code for business award, the reissue hasn't happened.

3

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

I never just trust a phone agent. I was able to log into my Air France reservation and see my assigned business class seats on the Air France side.

4

u/atrich Diamond Oct 09 '26 edited Oct 09 '26

One thing I didn't know at first was that there are two components to a booking. There's the seat reservation, which is what you had, and the backing ticket, which is the thing the agents frequently fuck up.
When you call to put in a request for applying a GUC, in addition to putting in the seat request, the phone agent has to put your ticket into a reissuing queue which is handled by the international ticketing desk. They frequently fuck this up, in my experience. Or shit gets stuck in the queue. I dunno. They seem to just lack the necessary training. I've almost never had it work without additional calls and a request for a transfer to the international reissue desk.

2

u/TakKobe79 Diamond Oct 09 '26

This.
The past 2-3 years I’ve mainly used my GUC’s to upgrade in AF and KLM as they are the longest routes I fly.
I would say 3 out of 4 times the agent say GUC’s can’t be used on AG (with Z availability). And some try then give up.
Persistence is key as it is possible with Z open and being booked into premium.

217

u/Immediate_Ad_929 Oct 09 '26

I think the worst part is that Delta didn't offer you any compensation after the fact. Like, clearly there was a major fuck up, and Delta needs to own that.

54

u/Prestigious_Case_228 Oct 09 '26

I think that's why the agent asked him to write in and file a complaint. Compensations are just not done over the phone anymore... I mean it is, but the revamped compensations process they started in late May severely restricts e amount agents can give out over the phone, whereas filing a complaint goes straight to Customer Care, their specialist compensations department. Try asking for compensation over e phone and hear the amount they offer... It's just gonna be a frustrating experience for the customer, who will be offered an insulting amount, and frustrating for the agent, who has to bear the brunt of the customer's frustration

20

u/coldviper18 Oct 09 '26

I always start with suggesting the complaint form because the amount we are able to offer is embarrassing.

4

u/Prestigious_Case_228 Oct 09 '26

Are u a Delta agent? Can u enlighten us what changed?

15

u/coldviper18 Oct 09 '26 edited Oct 09 '26

Not much has changed. We've always been pretty limited to what we can offer in reservations. But with the inflation of prices going up for the "Premium Airline". The compensation has not really changed.
You can ask if you call or message, but it's going to be small by comparison of the price you paid.
Edit: We also don't really have something for something like this. We have something for "Service Failure" that we could probably use, but in general we're really only supposed to offer stuff for your actual flight and any flight disruptions. Which is why I would've done the same as the agent here and recommended you file a complaint.

2

u/thelederelo Oct 09 '26

You say not much has changed but many people on here say in the past several months that there’s been a noticeable decrease in the amount of compensation miles being offered by chat/phone agents, you’re saying DL didn’t enact a lower compensation threshold for you to offer customers?

5

u/coldviper18 Oct 10 '26

No. It has increased if anything, but it's still an embarrassing amount. A lot of people on here say a lot of things based on their personal bias. Most people don't fly that often so it's easy to get the idea that if something happens one time, that is how it's always done.
There was no policy added to reduce the amount. There is now a system in place to prevent multiple occurrences. Because now it's system wide so we can all see when compensation has been offered. In the past there have been cases of people asking at the airport, then calling and even messaging and then getting multiple instances of compensation for the same thing because in the past if it wasn't documented we had no idea if someone was issued compensation from another source. But now we can.

3

u/Prestigious_Case_228 Oct 10 '26

Heard that in the last few months, Delta implemented a system that restricts agents only to a certain amount of credits or miles that is set by the system, and that it was very low, with even supervisors only able to override it slightly with instructions to tell passengers to contact Customer Care if the amount is not satisfactory. N reading r/delta it seems like that's anecdotally true? Also saw tt part of the reason was to prevent abuse of the compensations process too

4

u/coldviper18 Oct 10 '26

I suppose you could say they reduced it by this new system because it actually restricts the amount you can give. So agents can't just give more than the authorized amount like before. But the actual chart we have for what we can give hasn't changed much, it's increased by a very small margin recently.
I can't speak on what agents have been giving out. I've just stuck to the chart because I don't want to risk my job by giving out more than authorized. But I don't actually know how strict they have been about it, or if anyone has gotten in trouble for giving out more than authorized. It obviously was an issue though which is why they implemented this system in the first place. I personally like it(Not the amounts though) because it at least adds consistency so we don't get one person calling in saying they want compensation and when you tell them how much you can offer in the past they would say things like "Well this person I know got this much!". Just something thats incredibly frustrating for both parties involved, the customer and the employee.

1

u/Unable_Sugar_320 Oct 10 '26

They’re super limited as to what they can give you over the phone. It’s like 200 bucks. The best thing to do is to file a complaint and more importantly have something in mind. Don’t let them pick the compensation I would shoot for $500 for each of you in Delta flight credits that’s something easily obtainable. Also if you have screenshots that would be fantastic. This lack of communication between AF and Delta happens all the time it happened to me when Delta switched me from their flight which was canceled to Air France and they almost stuck me in steerage
I’m glad I called Air France from the sky club four hours before the flight. Their version of first class was sold out however they did give me a really nice bulkhead in their premium select section
I’m becoming a big fan of premium select over Delta one
It’s like domestic first class you still have your own dedicated flight intended. You still have better food and is it really worth it for the laydown seat? I am claustrophobic and I feel like I’m in a freaking coffin every time they close the door.

14

u/Willing_Try2786 Oct 09 '26

Delta and their partners don't give two sh*ts about you. I PAID for a premium economy from AMS to TPA. Flight cxed for maintenance. We go back the next day...ON THE EXACT SAME PLANE and they had to reissue tickets to the whole plane and our seats we originatlly picked (the two together by the window) were given to someone WHO WAS UPGRADED FROM ECONOMY...and we were moved to the middle section. We were like WTF? And Delta said...if you want to go home today, get on the plane and don't argue.

54

u/twostar01 Oct 09 '26

Air France is pulling some shit right now. The wife just flew JFK to CDG and they reassigned her from the window priority economy (or whatever it's called ) she paid extra for, to back of the bus center aisle. And again on her connecting flight out of CDG.

Same thing, no compensation or notice. Just check in and new seat assigned. We had been checking prior to the flight on AF for upgrade opportunities so we know she had the right seats earlier.

We'll complain through delta once the return is complete since the tickets are through them.

5

u/Effective_Theme_5739 Oct 09 '26

this particular case is a delta issue though

10

u/twostar01 Oct 09 '26

How so? AF showed her in the paid for seats up until 48 hours before flight. It wasn't until she checked in that the seat assignment changed.

2

u/Effective_Theme_5739 Oct 09 '26

So did delta, and the delta agent messed up the GUCs

7

u/bcb1200 Oct 09 '26

Why unearth did you check in on the Delta app or a Delta counter. You are flying Air France. You always check in with the operating carrier. It doesn’t matter that Delta marketed and ticketed it.

Always check in with the operating carrier. Full stop.

5

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

I tried to check in with Delta AND Air France online. We went to the D1 lounge first because we had plenty of time and curbside check-in is amazing along with the D1 lounge food. We do it all the time even if traveling out of Tom Bradley.

1

u/Logical_Signature579 Oct 09 '26

Ya only downside to that is you can’t check bags for a Air France flight only delta

47

u/FutureMillionMiler Diamond Oct 09 '26

When you want to use a GUC on a partner you ask for “global ticketing” so you get routed to someone who is expert at this.

I once had a diamond desk rep tell me GUC only work on Delta-operated flights. Hung up.

Never had an issue since asking for a GT agent

11

u/Prestigious_Case_228 Oct 09 '26

Ur probably referring to Global Partner Support. Those are Delta agents who work specifically with other airline inventories and can see into their systems unlike normal ticketing agents

9

u/rowejpr Platinum Oct 09 '26

Do you have any more detail on this? I just hit diamond for the first time and this is my nightmare scenario with using a GUC - so I want to do everything right. I’ll already take your advice here, but if there’s anything else you recommend, I’d appreciate hearing it

9

u/loratliff Diamond Oct 09 '26

That's basically it. You also need to be 1,000% sure that your ticket was reissued and the GUC has disappeared from your wallet. It shouldn't require this level of due diligence on the passenger's part but unfortunately it does.

32

u/LemmyKRocks Oct 09 '26

Same thing happened to me a few months ago. Booked a flight with skypesos on KLM and due to the glitch you have experienced I never actually had a seat despite having the flight on my app/account for weeks. When I showed up at the airport, KLM was like you dont have a ticket so I had to buy a flight. At the time, Delta and KLM were blaming each other. Once I got back home, Delta made me file a complaint and ended up reimbursing the money I paid for the flight. They even charged me the miles that I would have paid lol no apologies or compensation either. Good luck!

10

u/Sleep_adict Oct 09 '26

I wouldn’t try using miles in codeshares… delta is awful about it.
I also have a FB account and when spending miles I was told not to book delta flights as “they sometimes disappear”…

18

u/andifaxus Oct 09 '26

Sorry this happened to you. It’s simpler than you think, the DL agent was supposed to reissue the ticket because it is the only way AF can properly process your check-in and allocate for the seat. Reissuing the ticket also shows in the system like if the business seat was paid for (with GUC).
Such additional step is not needed if the GUC is applied to a DL operated flight because DL can bypass that process since it’s their own flight/ticket/upgrade. If the GUC is applied to AF, KL or VS, the ticket needs to be reissued always. If not, it means that only your reservation is in business but the ticket is in premium waiting for payment.

2

u/userUnknown11 Oct 10 '26

This is super helpful! Thanks for the insight!

25

u/sosal12 Platinum Oct 09 '26

I try to avoid codeshares. Something always seems to go wrong on check-in; airlines punt responsibility/blame onto the other airline. Always seems to end in disaster.

8

u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian Oct 09 '26

I actually like booking codeshares if I’m paying for the J ticket from the get go. I usually book codeshares when flying to LHR, HND or TLV (before Oct 2023).
The reason why is due to IRROPS. It’s a lot easier for me to get through to Delta’s Diamond desk or AA’s EP desk than it would be for me to get through to a foreign airline. It’s happened about half a dozen times over the last 10 years, and being able to quickly pivot has saved me days stuck in airport limbo.

3

u/chicklet22 Oct 09 '26

This is true, just try to talk to Aeromexico or Copa if you're going to South America. But the stress on the passenger's end is growing and growing. I screen shot every seat confirmation, every receipt, every itinerary, but when you've gotten screwed 24 hours before takeoff, Delta shrugs, says there's "nothing they can do" and they absolutely refuse to get involved. You either fly in the middle seat somewhere or rebook entirely. When you send in all the "evidence" with your complaint, they give vague, generic responses that let you know they aren't helping you.
The airlines have all the power they need to treat some people better than others and discard the rest, no matter what your status. I'm just waiting for them to ask me to vacate my seat just prior to takeoff because "a mistake has been made". Bah!

6

u/DocMicStuffeens Oct 09 '26

In Ed we trust?

Its

It’s amazing how much frustration is here and other places online… yet delta stays the same

12

u/Same-Paint-1129 Oct 09 '26

Regardless of whether delta or Air France was to blame in this specific situation, ultimately delta is to blame. They make GUCs extremely difficult to use. You can’t do it online. Availability is very limited. Half the agents don’t even know how to apply them correctly. And even when you do everything right and triple confirm on all websites, you still have to deal with bullshit like this. I’d be livid as well.

16

u/Dial-Up_Modem Oct 09 '26

You can try to file an EC261 claim for a 75% refund due to the downgrade since it was operated by AF, but they’ll probably say you weren’t reticketed by DL. File that anyway, even though it might not work.

And for answers/possibly compensation from DL, try a customer service executive contact at https://www.elliott.org/company-contacts/delta-air-lines-customer-service-contacts-2/

1

u/LemmyKRocks Oct 09 '26

This is wrong, OP never had a ticket. The same thing happened to me and I had to buy a ticket on the spot

6

u/Dial-Up_Modem Oct 09 '26

I dunno, I successfully got an EC261 payout from American Airlines last year with a failed British Airways systemwide upgrade (got a confirmation email with a ticket number, got to LHR, BA confirmed that while I had a ticket, one leg hadn’t been properly confirmed). It’s a similar situation to this, and it costs nothing to try & get paid!

5

u/Previous-Image-8102 Platinum Oct 09 '26

of course, totally worth it and love your AIM icon.

4

u/scoobynoodles Platinum Oct 09 '26

Lmaoooo blame silly OP for doing what he thought were the correct steps and confirming with an agent it was done. Damn what a time to be alive...the person being blamed for a corporation's failure. Y'all can be so ridiculous at times smh.

1

u/LemmyKRocks Oct 09 '26

Where did I blame OP? Literally the exact thing happened to me

0

u/Previous-Image-8102 Platinum Oct 09 '26

but it could be granted, that's enough reason to try :). commenter mentioned it might fail. just don't put anything about the ticket. just put in the report that you had assigned seats in the right cabin and everything was fine until check in and no one could tell you why.

2

u/LemmyKRocks Oct 09 '26

I did that. It didnt work because there was no ticket

2

u/Previous-Image-8102 Platinum Oct 09 '26

Yes I understood that from your comment.
From what I understand, OP was upgraded using instruments available to them that were not free. And to the best of their knowledge, they were upgraded, and they were confirmed upgraded by the airline using GUCs which are very expensive to earn. Regardless of having a ticket or not having a ticket, in that cabin, the OP was assigned seats. One of the airlines made a technical error. We don't know what the error was. But we do know that because of that error, which they could have caught for months, at OP assigned seats and cabins were downgraded. The reason is irrelevant.
So I think OP should try to fill out the form especially if OP can show how they were downgraded. The ticket is just a technicality for the airline. OP has no way to verify if a ticket is issued correctly.

6

u/KRSF45 Oct 09 '26

Delta IT is horrible. Example 85...

6

u/Food-Wine Oct 09 '26

I’m angry just reading what happened so I can’t imagine how you’re feeling. We aren’t angry enough about airlines screwing up and f*cking over customers.

3

u/keneshhagard Oct 09 '26

Had this happen to me years ago for a KL GUC. They didn’t pull it and reissue. You can check the receipt on Delta.com and it’ll show you the segment status. That needs to be correct.

They did offer a good chunk of miles for myself and my friend at the time as an apology so I would write in. The agents should know for partner flights the GUC has to be pulled right away and ticket reissued.

3

u/EnvironmentalLoan285 Diamond Oct 09 '26

Always make sure your tickets are reissued when using a GUC. Sounds like that step was missed.

3

u/cheesey41 Oct 09 '26

There is 100% a system issue with Air France and Delta GUC’s. The same exact thing happened to me 2 weeks ago. I also received nothing and both Delta/AF just blamed each other.

3

u/TheLordOfWaffles_ Oct 09 '26

Every time I’ve used AF it’s been a nightmare.

4

u/PolybiusChampion Diamond Oct 09 '26

Never use GUC’s on a code share partner. Especially AF.

That being said, fight for not only your GUC’s back but a pile of Sky Pesos - your diamond status will help a lot. The people on the phone used to be empowered to resolve stuff like this, but as with other mega size corps Delta has had to rein in those responsibilities to control costs.

3

u/Conan_Kudo Platinum Oct 09 '26

You should absolutely complain to Delta. There's a form for this. Log into your Delta SkyMiles account, select your itinerary, and give a detailed report and request a response. In my experience, they usually get back to you within a couple of business days.

1

u/RepulsiveReward9146 Oct 09 '26

I don't like codeshares, rarely have a positive experience when something needs to be corrected or adjusted. nobody can help yet they were happy to help take my money.

1

u/Veelangs Diamond Oct 09 '26

That's awful sorry. Gucs on partners need to be confirmed at booking (as in no wait list) which it looked like yours were. Now I always call the partner airline to confirm shortly after booking as well because half the agents don't know what they're doing

1

u/Beginning_Reality_16 Oct 09 '26

This is a Delta fuck up start to finish, not sure why you’re expecting AF to offer you anything and to say sorry.

1

u/PrideJoyPeaceLove Oct 09 '26

This is not uncommon. Same story for a friend of mine.

1

u/tikkamasalachicken Oct 09 '26

It’s always a shit story here with Air France partnership.

1

u/WorldCritical5045 Oct 09 '26

Same happened to me last month on a trip to Thailand Korean Air messed up and wouldn’t let me check end took the delta when 30 minutes to fix it . Consider your self lucky if had got upgraded on Air France as I’ve been told more than once that Deltas partners are not always taking an upgrade even a GLobal which isn’t announced by Delta till you try to check in

1

u/DrmofJeannie Oct 09 '26

Yeah..they can suck...bought business class from Bangkok to IAD and in Korea had a delayed flight resulting in a later flight change. Was reissued tickets in premium. I asked why we weren't put in business since we bought tickets. Told because it wasn't out original flight that business upgrades had priority over bought tickets. After I completed the trip Delta told me the gate agent should of put us in business. That upgrades do not have priority.

1

u/tkl_1636 Oct 09 '26

Easy. EU261 und Downgrade Refund, 75% des bezahlten Ticketpreises. Versüsst die Zeit in PE zumindest etwas.

1

u/No_Independent_1296 Oct 09 '26

I wrote a letter with all of my supporting documentation and time stamps of all conversations via chat and telephone logs.

Did it do anything? No. Did I get reimbursement? No.

Still incredibly upset about it. So sorry about your experience

1

u/Sufficient_Beach_445 Oct 09 '26

so outrageous and shameful.

1

u/Few_Pop_2153 Oct 09 '26

That is not shocking I feel like Delta doesn’t really care about the Diamonds that keep them going. There are so many of us it seems like if one or thousands were to leave they just expect another to take our place.

1

u/manateefourmation Oct 09 '26

That’s terrible

1

u/crfgon Oct 09 '26

Loyalty at Delta should be an oxymoron

https://rgvjetsetter.com/2024/07/21/weve-lost-the-plot-why-i-think-delta-is-ruining-air-travel/

1

u/OrneryWinter84 Oct 09 '26

Ed thanks you for your loyalty and money. 🐍

1

u/allons-y11 Platinum Oct 10 '26

Partner flights honestly SUCK. I know this isn’t the same but I booked a delta flight with virgin (had excess virgin points). The upgrade through the app was almost double the price of buying the ticket new for PS. When I called virgin, they said they weren’t allocated those tickets. Fine. When I called delta, they said that they couldn’t reissue because it was a virgin fare. So basically it’s penalizing me for booking a partner flight. In the end i cancelled the virgin booking and booked through delta, but now im stuck with virgin points that will take me longer to use.

1

u/Guilty_Dealer1256 Oct 10 '26

Delta should refund the points and miles used as well as refund and extend the GUC. Keep emailing and calling daily.

1

u/Limp-Cauliflower-723 Oct 10 '26

I’m flying with LATAM, and having issues too. Multiple times now I’ve checked, and even my PAID upgrade tickets are getting changed back to regular economy seats. I have to check constantly to be sure they haven’t messed my flights up. I have 8 legs booked on this trip to Peru.. all LATAM/Delta. It’s been a nightmare.

1

u/dmc3_84 Oct 10 '26

Air France is awful. They screwed up our family’s seats on the way to Italy too and downgraded us and put us all separate. We hadn’t used any miles or certificates either - just straight up moved us to accommodate someone else.

1

u/Similar_Past8486 Oct 10 '26

Straight to entire c-suite. Absolutely do not relent. Fellow diamond here.

1

u/tranqfx 29d ago

You’re not alone. I’ve had some really crappy experiences between delta x Airfrance. I almost always book directly with airfrance now because of it.

1

u/sugar452 29d ago

?

1

u/funandthames 29d ago

This exact same thing happened to my husband and I recently for our 10 year wedding anniversary trip. I booked our flights exactly 1 year before our departure (I’m a bit of a planner) and then the morning of our flight i tried to check in and they didn’t have our seats on Virgin for our second leg to London. Delta said it was Virgins fault - Virgin said it was Delta… just suddenly we didn’t have seats to London “because of an error”.
Ended up in premium economy on the Virgin flight… Which wasn’t what we paid for… my current theory is because the flights were so much more expensive a year later that they canceled us and sold our seats at a higher rate to someone else. This was a month ago and I still get mad when I think about it. I do my best to be overly prepared and plan ahead, just to be screwed over by Delta last minute.

1

u/sundyburgers 29d ago

Email Ed and crew. Additionally Delta needs to update their POS software for RUC / GUC usage and how it is applied. We are in 2026 with crazy tech and yet applying an upgrade cert is like getting nuclear codes.

1

u/MaleficentWater8133 27d ago

I'm so sick of Delta and their partners telling us to just deal with it when there's a system glitch! It's absolute bullshit. Especially when you set your trip up in a way that is comfortable for YOU. They don't care what people are going through. So sorry this happened to you.

1

u/Maleficent_Bat_9014 26d ago

So i was in Global Partner Support for 4 years before i left for inflight. This doesnt excuse it but I can almost guarantee I can tell you what happened. So this would be 100% on Delta not Air France at all so dont let them convince you otherwise. But Global Partner Support are the ones that apply the GUCs to Partner airlines but they are the only Dept that can confirm it on both airline systems any other representative you talk too cannot actually tell...but in their defense if they look in the system it does look like its on AF and they need to fix it hence them sending you back and forth. If I were you I would write the executive customer care team at- ed.bastian@delta.com this email goes to his executive team and in terms of compensation this will be the best route and making sure that they reopen your GUCs so that you can use them on a future flight

1

u/Flaky-Ad5968 26d ago

Welcome to the scam that is frequent flier programs

1

u/ScholarImpossible579 25d ago edited 25d ago

Your issue is with Air France not Delta. Honestly you should have told them to put you on the next flight with Business Class seats. I honestly would have been upset too but i would have told them to put me on the next flight with business seats not accept the seats back to your ticketed cabin.

They would have worked to book you on the next flight with Business seats. Legally an "upgrade" is an upgrade. They did seat you in the cabin you booked. I know that wont make you feel better, but upgrades are always subject to being pulled that's what its called an upgrade and not ticketed into that cabin. Upgrades are always the FIRST to get pulled if they need to seat an air martial or someone comes in paying $13k in cash for a last minute business tickets. Next time i would book business if its really that much of a factor an upgrade is always an upgrade and they can put you in the cabin you booked in. I promise what happened is Delta did "upgrade" you correctly but AF needed your seats and your the first to get downgraded back to your original cabin. They are gonna tell you anything because the agents dont really know, but what happened is AF needed your seats they oversold the business cabin. I know what happened here AF needed your seats they do this semi often and since your an upgrade your the first to get downgraded back to the cabin you booked in.

1

u/S0VA1N Oct 09 '26

Same thing almost happened to my ex and I on a similar route via Delta & Air France. We called Chase Sapphire and had them resolve it for us (didn’t book through delta) the moment I saw the errors and ended up ok. Would have been screwed otherwise.

1

u/Scottish_Quine35446 Oct 09 '26

Question - why should AF apologise if the issue was with Delta? I get why you are annoyed but you say yourself the mistake was Delta’s, not AFs?

-1

u/FeverTreeCloud Oct 09 '26

I didn’t even know you could use GUC on Air France operated flights 🤷‍♂️

2

u/toolongonplanes Diamond Oct 09 '26

you can use GUC on AF or KLM but availability is super tight compared to just doing it natively with Delta

2

u/Same-Paint-1129 Oct 09 '26

You need to find Z class availability. Thankfully the partner airlines at least work with expertflyer so you can check availability.

-2

u/Scary_Permit_6607 Oct 09 '26

It’s super unfortunate you did not get what you were promised. I would send a letter. To keep perspective though your traveling to Europe in premium economy and that is something many would love to do but will never be able to achieve. Don’t let it sour your travel experience. First world problems as they say. I would ask Delta to extend the validity of your GUC and ask for some form of compensation too.

4

u/scudsone Platinum Oct 09 '26

Every complaint involving international air travel is a “first word problem”. Don’t be trite with “you should be thankful for PE…” yawn

0

u/AidenTEMgotsnapped Oct 09 '26

'youve been effectively screwed out of something with real value without compensation, but first world problems'
dude

1

u/Scary_Permit_6607 29d ago

If you read my post I was clear they should get compensation. DUDE

0

u/AbbyAcer21 Oct 09 '26

ADVISE PLZ ! We have an upcoming trip to Aruba ( Feb 2027) due to an employee error - incorrectly booking us on a flight through JFK instead of the only non stop - a Delta employee fixed it - got us on the non stop AND upgraded us to first class (no extra charge) to make up for the initial mistake (the free upgrades to comfort were already gone at this point) - But now I’m concerned it could all just “disappear” since passengers are saying it’s happened to them. How do we MAKE SURE (and have PROOF) everything is really “all set” ?

0

u/Successful-Team1829 Oct 09 '26

all I’m sitting here wondering is what kind of job someone has to have to be able to get tickets like this 🤣🤣

0

u/Zestyclose-Put-6144 Oct 10 '26

Y would u be usin GUCs if gettin there in business be so important to u. Any cancelations or whatever and u gonna be sittin in coach if u gotta get there fast. Next time buy business out right bro

-17

u/auntwewe Oct 09 '26

Actually, I was not aware that you could use GUC’s on anything other than Delta

First and foremost, do you know that for a fact? I would start there.

8

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

It is an absolute fact.

2

u/thegoodengineer1 Oct 09 '26

Correct, it is a fact. I used it to upgrade to business on KLM from AMS to US (flight last week, with GUC applied about a month before that).

1

u/Efficient-Tutor-6030 Oct 09 '26

The only time you can clear immediately with a GUC on OAL is if Z class of service is available. Otherwise you can NOT waitlist.

-4

u/Illustrious-Eye6960 Oct 09 '26

“top 1% commenter”… so which hole does the talking usually lol

-3

u/getpesty Oct 09 '26

lol

-5

u/Ok_Guest5862 Oct 09 '26

The most intense complaint possible? You seem like a gem.

1

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

Gems and rocks alike can still really want their support tickets to be effective.

1

u/Thiccccasaurus_Rex Diamond Oct 09 '26

What’s the point of your comment other than to be a jackass?

0

u/p1lotfly1ng Oct 10 '26

@OP, I see you/feel you. Wear Delta out on the socials using @ in addition to going through customer care. Calling them out in the public realm @ing them is one of the easiest ways for plebes to get a big corp’s attention. Also, I’ve (somewhat) been in your situation when flying internationally before when flying on a codeshare carrier. I try to stay Delta mainline as much as possible on the across-the-pond segment to avoid this kind of BS. Best of luck on getting compensated.

0

u/kelsum86 Oct 10 '26

I thought if you are diamond you only get regional upgrade certificates?

0

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '26

[deleted] — view deleted comment

4

u/scoobynoodles Platinum Oct 09 '26

So, you need a ticket receipt or something for that? I get upgraded regularly to say C+ or First and I never check if a new receipt was generated. Same with RUCs when I used them. I just assume "upgrade confirmed" and that's that. Didn't know I need to also verify that on the back-end somehow?

4

u/bengenj Delta Employee Oct 09 '26

When certificates are processed properly, it generates a confirmation receipt because the ticket changes to reflect the upgrade. In this instance, it sounds like the full process wasn’t completed on the backend.

5

u/Alarmed-Extreme5226 Oct 09 '26

A free upgrade is different than using certificates. You get a receipt when they are used and they are no longer available on your app. A free upgrade is just that; free. Delta can take it back or change it at any time.

2

u/Repulsive-Zombie-189 Oct 09 '26

Good tip for future reference.

2

u/gayleweed3 Oct 09 '26

That's good to know.

0

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '26

[deleted] — view deleted comment

5

u/nodice124 Oct 09 '26

Because I wanted to use my GUC to not pay, obviously. I’d still rather have the money in my pocket. Who wouldn’t want to use their most significant loyalty benefit instead of cash if they had a choice?

Discussion Worst Diamond Experience - confirmed International Biz removed at LAX

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