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Free upgrades are only available to Delta Medallion members or those who 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 qualified companion on the same reservation as someone who’s going to get upgraded. Whether you’re already a Medallion member or not, understanding how the Delta upgrade order works can help you get on the upgrade list.
Delta complimentary upgrade order
Here is the current Delta upgrade order for elites:
- Medallion status: The higher the status, the likelier you are to receive an upgrade.
- Cabin purchased (original fare and paid upgrades): A ticket in a higher fare class will get priority over a cheaper fare class.
- Million Miler status: If you’ve traveled enough to achieve this status, you’ll have priority over those who don’t.
- Delta’s top-tier credit card holders: 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.
- Delta corporate travelers: If you’re a Medallion member and your ticket includes your eligible employer’s Corporate Ticket Designator, you’ll be prioritized over those without a code on their ticket.
- Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) earned in the current year: The amount of MQDs earned in the current calendar year influences your upgrade priority.
- Time and date of upgrade request: The earlier the better in this instance as this factor can be used as a tie-breaker at the gate.
In addition to this list, the region that you’re traveling to will also determine if you get upgraded.
When do Delta upgrades clear?
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 other factors can also determine if you’ll get priority.
For Medallion members, Delta Comfort upgrades clear in the following order (based on availability).
| Delta Medallion tier | Upgrade confirmation timing |
|---|---|
| Diamond Medallion. | Shortly after ticketing. |
| Platinum Medallion. | Shortly after ticketing. |
| Gold Medallion. | Starting 72 hours before departure. |
| Silver Medallion. | Starting 24 hours before departure. |
And here's when Medallion members can expect a complimentary upgrade to clear for first-class seats (if a seat is available).
| Delta Medallion tier | Upgrade confirmation timing |
|---|---|
| Diamond Medallion. | Starting five days before departure. |
| Platinum Medallion. | Starting five days before departure. |
| Gold Medallion. | Starting 72 hours before departure. |
| Silver Medallion. | Starting 24 hours before departure. |
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
Regions with free upgrades on Delta
If you’re a Delta Medallion, you and one travel companion are eligible for unlimited complimentary upgrades to the following cabins:
- Delta Comfort: all domestic and international flights.
- Delta First: within the U.S. and nearby destinations, including Canada, the Caribbean, and Central 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.
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Delta upgrade certificates
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.
- Regional upgrade certificates can upgrade you to Delta One or Premium Select on flights within the U.S., and to Delta First or Comfort in the U.S, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central America and Northern South America.
- 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, Delta First and Comfort).
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 upgrades and four regional upgrades.
How do Delta upgrade certificates work?
You can use an upgrade certificate when booking your ticket through Delta. To apply an upgrade certificate to a booked ticket, including flights booked as part of a Delta Vacations package, call the Delta reservations line at 800-323-2323. If the flight is part of a Delta Vacations package, call 800-800-1504.
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 Delta Main, Delta Comfort, Delta Premium Select and Delta One, you can't jump straight from Main 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.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
If the aircraft you're flying isn't configured with a Premium Select cabin, you can be upgraded directly to Delta One, as long as a seat is available. 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 Sky Clubs
Upgrades on partner airlines
As a member of SkyTeam, Delta is partnered with its fellow alliance members. In addition, Delta has independent partnerships with other airlines.
Delta's airline partners
- Aerolineas Argentinas.
- Aeromexico.
- Air Baltic.
- Air Europa.
- Cape Air.
- China Airlines.
- China Eastern.
- El Al.
- Garuda Indonesia.
- Kenya Airways.
- Korean Air.
- LATAM.
- MEA.
- SAS.
- Saudia.
- Scandinavian Airlines.
- Tarom.
- Vietnam Airlines.
- Westjet.
- Xiamen Air.
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 on select flights: Aeromexico, Air France, KLM, Korean Air 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 Delta Basic 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 but are not lie-flat seats. Those coveted lie-flat seats are only available in Premier One, and you cannot get a complimentary upgrade into that class.
How to get upgraded if you’re not a Delta elite
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, Delta First, Delta One (within the U.S.), and Premium Select (within the U.S.) . 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.
How the cards compare
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Annual fee
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
$650.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
$650.
Upgrade benefit
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Complimentary upgrades to Comfort Plus or first class on domestic flights within the U.S. even without elite status. Terms apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Complimentary upgrades to Comfort Plus or first class on domestic flights within the U.S. even without elite status. Terms apply.
Earn rates
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
• 1 mile per $1 on other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
• 1.5 miles per $1 on eligible transit, U.S. shipping and U.S. office supply store purchases.
• 1.5 miles per $1 on all purchases after spending $150,000 in a calendar year.
• 1 mile per $1 on other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
2. Pay to upgrade your Delta flight
If you don’t have either of the credit cards or any redeemable 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, Delta First, Delta Premium Select or Delta Comfort on most flights. If the flight is eligible, you will see an option to upgrade your ticket at booking or after the reservation has been made.
Typically, your SkyMiles are worth up to one cent each when upgrading this way NerdWallet values Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each, so we don’t generally recommend this method of redeeming miles. 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
Delta complimentary upgrades recapped
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.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, see this page.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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