How to Get Delta Complimentary Upgrades

Free upgrades are only available to Delta Medallion members or those two hold a top-tier Delta credit card. If you don’t fall into this group, you will only be able to upgrade by paying cash, using your SkyMiles or traveling as a companion with someone who’s going to get upgraded. However, being an elite isn’t enough, you’ll also need to understand how the Delta upgrade order works and what you can do to get on a Delta upgrade list.

As of Jan. 1, 2024, the Delta upgrade order for elites is the following:

1. Medallion status: the higher the status, the likelier you are to receive an upgrade.

2. Cabin purchased (original and paid upgrades): A ticket in a higher fare class will get priority over a cheaper fare class.

3. Million Miler status: if you’ve traveled enough to achieve this status, you’ll have priority over those who don’t.

4. Holders of Delta’s top-tier credit card: If you have the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, you’ll have priority over elites who don’t have the card.

5. Delta corporate travelers: If your ticket includes your eligible employer’s Corporate Ticket Designator, you’ll be prioritized over those without a code on their ticket.

6. Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) earned in the current year: The amount of MQDs earned in the current calendar year influences your upgrade priority.

7. Time and date of upgrade request: The earlier the better in this instance.

In addition to this list, the region that you’re traveling to will also determine if you get upgraded.

When it comes to upgrade clearance timing — meaning when your new seat is confirmed — your elite status tier matters. The higher your elite level, the better your chance for an upgrade because top-tier members get priority. But that’s not all, other factors determine if you’ll get first priority.

For Medallion members, Delta Comfort Plus upgrades clear in the following order (based on availability).

And here's when Medallion members can expect a complimentary upgrade to clear for first-class seats (if a seat is available).

Holding either the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card moves you up on the upgrade list over other Medallion members at the same tier. Terms apply.

Note that basic economy fares aren't eligible for complimentary Delta upgrades. So if your budget is tight, be aware that you'll forfeit a potential upgrade by purchasing a basic economy ticket.

» Learn more: Your guide to earning Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

If you’re a Delta Medallion, you and one travel companion are eligible for unlimited complimentary upgrades to the following cabins:

• Delta Comfort Plus: within the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia Pacific, including Hong Kong and China.

• First class: within the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Bermuda, Central America and Northern South America.

• Delta One: within the U.S.

Unfortunately, there are no complimentary Medallion upgrades to either Delta Premium Select or Delta One when flying internationally. For these cabins, you’ll need to use miles, pay cash or use a certificate.

Upgrade certificates are available only to Platinum Medallion and Diamond Medallion members as part of an annual Choice Benefits selection. They can be applied to Delta flights or flights operated by select partners. Delta offers two different upgrade certificates.

Available Delta upgrade certificates

There are two kinds of upgrade certificates available to elites on Delta.

1. Regional upgrade certificates can upgrade you to Delta One or Premium Select on flights within the U.S., and to First Class or Comfort Plus in the U.S, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central America and Northern South America.

2. Global upgrade certificates are only available for Diamond Medallion members and can be applied to flights to all regions, including South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania in all cabins (Delta One, Premium Select, First Class and Comfort Plus).

How to get Delta upgrade certificates

The type of certificates available to you will depend on your Medallion status.

Platinum Medallion members who choose to receive upgrade certificates will receive four regional upgrades — global upgrade certificates are not available at this level.

Diamond Medallion members may choose one of the following:

• Four global upgrades.

• Eight regional upgrades.

• Two global and four regional upgrades.

How do Delta upgrade certificates work?

To apply an upgrade certificate to a booked ticket, call the Delta reservations line at 800-323-2323.

While using a certificate prioritizes your request over a complimentary Medallion upgrade, it doesn't guarantee you'll receive an upgrade. And depending on the classes of service available on your flight, you might end up on a waiting list.

For example, if you fly on an aircraft with a main cabin, Delta Comfort Plus, Delta Premium Select and Delta One, you can't jump straight from the main cabin to Delta One. Instead, you'll likely score a Delta Premium Select seat (as long as the upgrade clears) and then be added to a waiting list for a Delta One seat.

The good news is you don't lose the upgrade certificate if there's no availability and you cannot use it. It simply goes back to your SkyMiles account until the next time.

It's worth noting that regional and global upgrade certificates expire at the end of your Medallion year. However, you can use them to upgrade other passengers traveling with you to avoid losing them.

» Learn more: How to get into Delta SkyClub

As a member of SkyTeam, Delta is partnered with 18 airlines. In addition, Delta has independent partnerships with three additional airlines (Hawaiian Airlines, LATAM and WestJet).

If you want to upgrade your seat when flying with one of the partner airlines, you’ll need to use a global upgrade certificate. The following airlines allow upgrades: Aeromexico, Air France, China Eastern, KLM, Korean Air, LATAM and Virgin Atlantic.

» Learn more: Delta partner airlines: What to know

Delta upgrades on Aeromexico

Delta elites (along with one travel companion on the same reservation) also receive complimentary upgrades on Aeromexico-operated flights. Eligible regions until all intra-Mexico flights and flights between Mexico and the U.S., Central America, Caribbean, Colombia and Ecuador.

All tickets (including awards) besides basic economy are eligible for upgrades. Tickets can only be upgraded to Clase Premier, which is Aeromexico’s business class. The seats available in this class are fully reclinable and are not lie-flat seats. Those coveted lie-flat seats are only available in Premier One but you cannot get a complimentary upgrade into this class.

If you're a Delta Medallion member and want to upgrade to a region that doesn’t offer complimentary upgrades (and you don’t have a certificate to use), or you’re not a Delta elite, you have three other options

1. Hold the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

If you hold the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, you qualify for complimentary upgrades to Comfort Plus or first class on domestic flights within the U.S. even without elite status. Terms apply.

Keep in mind that if you hold the card but don't have elite status, you'll be below all the Medallion members on the upgrade list, which may lower your chance of receiving an upgrade.

2. Pay to upgrade your Delta flight

If you don’t have either of the credit cards or any SkyMiles, you can upgrade your ticket using cash. The upgrade can be done when booking a new ticket or after you’ve made a reservation by going to the “My Trips” section in your SkyMiles account.

3. Score a Delta upgrade with miles

You can use miles to upgrade to Delta One, first class, Premium Select or Comfort Plus on most flights. If the flight is eligible, you will see an option to your ticket at booking or after the reservation has been made.

Typically, your SkyMiles are worth one cent each when upgrading this way. NerdWallet values Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each, so we don’t recommend redeeming miles this way. However, if you've got the miles to burn, why not fly in a more comfortable seat?

» Learn more: The best airline rewards programs this year

It's much easier to get upgraded for free if you have elite status with Delta, but you still have to compete for space with other status holders. Having the right Delta credit card helps those without status, but you must contend with elite flyers seeking an upgrade to those premium seats.

Upgrade certificates will place you higher on the upgrade list, and cash or a SkyMiles upcharge will put you there even faster.

However, if you want to secure a specific seat right away, the only way to guarantee it is by purchasing the class you wish to outright. Whether with cash or miles, paying for a ticket in a premium cabin is the sure way to get you the upgrade you want.