This is from an article that I saw on CNN.com:

>>>Delta also offered unlimited upgrades beginning January 1 to customers with at least 25,000 miles, a perk previously available only to 100,000-mile fliers. That move, however, came only after travelers complained when Delta began to base membership in the elite programs on how much customers spent, not how many miles they flew -- a move copied by Houston-based Continental Airlines last fall.<<<

Does this mean that if I have over 25,000 Delta Skymiles that given availabilty, I will be able to upgrade to a Business Class seat? And if so, is it a free upgrade or will I be charged miles, money, or both?

Using my Delta Skymiles, I am flying on South African Airways roundtrip from London - Johannesburg - Lusaka (Zambia). It is mostly business class with the exception of the flight from Lusaka back to Johannesburg. While this is only a 2.5 hour flight, I would obviously prefer business class. By having 25,000 miles in my Delta Skymile account or South African Voyager account, am I eligible, per what the CNN article said, for a free upgrade to business class, if available?

Thanks in advance.

That article is poorly written. I believe it means that Delta will give free upgrades to all its Medallion members, including the Silve Medallion (who flew 25,000 Medallion Qualifiying Miles the previous year).

Free upgrades usually work only with domestic flights. When there are first class seats available in a particular flight, they will give out those seats based on Medallion levels. If you are Platinum, you have a good chance of getting it, if you're just Silver, you have a lower chance.

And again, this depends on the availability of open seats. Some people book their flights after studying the seat maps, and figure out which plane type has the highest ratio of first class seats compared to coach.

And, they almost never give these seats out on international flights, and never give them out to seats that are claimed with miles, and not paid for with money; and this probably only applies to DL-metal. Your Lusaka flights is not DL, so that probably doens't apply.

In short, what that article says does not apply to you at all.

rkkwan has it exactly right and Delta has been notorious for not doing a whole lot for its medallion members, while simultaneously hacking away at their ability to even earn the status with things like "half qualifying mileage credit on low priced tickets".

Thanks.

Next question...if I have already been issued paper tickets and three out of four of my flights are business class seats procured with frequent flier miles, is there still a chance for me to upgrade to Business Class?

(That is, upgrade on my last remaning economy flight to business class)

I am not familiar with SAA, or Delta's policy with them. Usually, when you burn miles for a C-class travel, you'll get C-class all the way. The flights between JNB-LUN do have business class (2-3 seating) on a 737-200. Maybe the reason why you aren't put on business class is that that cabin was full on that particular flight?

You may want to call Delta Skymiles' International desk to see if there's anything opened up now.

I agree with rkkwan, but I do have one question. When making this res with Delta, didn't the agent tell you the reasons why you will be sitting in the back of the bus on that one segment? I'm sure s/he did, and you must have willingly accepted it. If there were no award seats available at the time of the res, there is still a chance they will open some up before the flight, but if you don't get it confirmed before you leave, SAA will not upgrade you at the airport even if there are empty business seats. The ticket has to be adjusted by Delta. The unfortunte reality is that you will be ticketed in coach and that's the way SAA TA will see it. So keep on calling Delta and see if they could grab a business seat before you leave.

You'll have to keep checking back with Delta to see if a business class award seat becomes available for that one segment. As far as I know, they will not waitlist you on a partner airline award. If a business class seat opens up, you may have to have your ticket reissued and pay the $100 reissue fee.

There will NOT be any charges. The OP booked a business class award ticket, and the one segement was not available at the time of booking, but Delta still "owes" the OP the business class seat, if it becomes available. No change/reissue charges in this instance.

You're absolutely right... the fee only applies if there's a change in the class of service from the original award. For some reason I had that stuck in my head.

I booked these flights with the assistance of www.awardplanner.com. I was told that either nothing in Business Class yet opened up on that one flight from Lusaka - Johannesburg or that all the Business Class seats were already taken.

Because I had a very strict schedule that I needed to adhere to, I was happy just to get a free add on flight at all from Lusaka - Johannesburg. I was fully expecting to have to pay for this flight, and for my wife and I, it would have cost nearly $700 USD, but instead it was a free add-on.

I will check back with Delta/SAA. After an 11 day safari, it would be very nice to sit in Business Class rather than in cattle class.

Thanks for all the feedback.

In response to your original question, Delta will give you a "free" upgrade if it is in full fare or Y class coach, and it is upon availability at the time of your medallion level clearing, (i.e., platinum will have better chance than silver, etc.). Most all airlines have been doing this. It does not cost you an "e-upgrade" or anything, but it is on full fare tickets and domestic only.

You can upgrade with e-upgrades as well, on a restricted fare, again based on your medallion level, etc., same as above, but not for free.

Safe travels!

As I recall, from a couple SA flights within Africa (Joburg- Lusaka and Joburg-Windhoek), there is no real business class in the international sense. It's not a real bus class seat...I think it was 3-3 seating, with typical coach-sized seats, but they didn't put anyone in the middle seat, which folded down into a sort of table/armrest. They do have better meals, free drinks and they are not so crabby about carryon bags. (That's the only real advantage...it's only a 2.5 hour flight, and it is rarely full). Hope you get it, but it is really not like the difference between coach and business class on transcon flights or international flight

BUT if you cashed in enough miles for bus class all the way, and at the time of booking they couldn't offer bus class on one segment, they should be willing to put you there if there are seats available at flight time. I'd ask to be waitlisted and keep calling. ( I had to do this with BA/AA on an Africa trip, and the final segment did come thru...)