More Upgrades for Delta Silver Elites

With surprisingly little fanfare,

Delta

this week added a potentially significant perk to entry-level elite status in its SkyMiles program.

Beginning October 10, 2016 Silver Medallion Members are eligible for Unlimited Complimentary First Class Upgrades on Award Travel 24 hours prior to departure. Relax before reaching your destination and arrive refreshed and ready to go.

_**



Of course, with upgrades, it's a zero-sum game. On any given flight, there are only a limited number of seats, if any, available for upgrades, and Silver elites traveling on award tickets will be among the lowest on the priority list to receive them.



*Related:* The Latest Award Discounts for American Air Credit Cardholders



So, a welcome reward for customer loyalty, or a an empty gesture? Reactions on

Flyertalk

were mixed. A sampling:

I think this is an extremely generous move on Delta's part!

_



The generally skeptical tone of the comments is likely an accurate assessment of the new policy's impact on Silver Medallions' scant chances of snagging upgrades on their award trips. On the other hand, if it resulted in a single upgrade in a year, that would be a plus.

In the world of airline loyalty, gift horses don't come around often. Or, in this case, a gift pony.



Reader Reality Check



Is this a meaningful change for you, or not?

_**_