Hey there! I actually managed to get an upgrade on Delta not too long ago, and honestly, it felt like winning the travel lottery. I was flying from Atlanta to Seattle for work, and I didn’t expect anything fancy since I’d booked a pretty basic economy ticket. But a few days before the flight, I started getting those tempting upgrade notifications in the Delta app, and that’s when I learned a few tricks that made it possible.
First off, if you’re a Delta SkyMiles member, it really helps your chances. I had joined a while back, mostly for the free miles, but it turns out it also gives you priority when upgrades become available. I kept checking the app, and about a day before my flight, I was offered a discounted upgrade to Comfort+. It wasn’t first class, but it was still a nice step up with more legroom and early boarding. I went for it, and the whole experience was way more relaxing than my usual seat.
One tip I picked up is to check in as early as possible — sometimes open upgrade spots appear closer to departure. Also, being polite and friendly at the gate can go a long way. I’ve seen travelers get last-minute bumps just because they asked nicely or there were open seats.
Now I always keep an eye on the app before my flights, and I try to book directly with Delta since that seems to give you more flexibility with upgrades. It’s definitely worth the effort — even a small upgrade makes a big difference on a long flight!