Day of flight upgrades on Delta?

If business class seats are still available, you could get an email asking if you want to upgrade a few days before your flight. They could be $500 and up.

Ah, that's a good tip, Bets. Thanks! In the Delta app, I clicked on the place that said "Upgrade list", and per your advice I will look for the email. Guess now it's just a waiting game.

I think what you clicked on that said "upgrade list" in the app is where the status upgrades priority list will appear 24 hours before departure. That doesn't have anything to do with purchasing an upgrade.
I just checked in for a Delta flight tomorrow and during that process I got an offer to upgrade my main cabin seat to whatever business class is called on this flight (I'm just flying to Canada). I have status, so I was able to choose an exit row seat for free when I bought my ticket, so I wasn't interested in upgrading. But watch for an upgrade offer when you check in.

JFK to BRU is barely 7 hours, not worth a $1500 upgrade. Not sure it’s worth $500, maybe.

Thanks, Kayla and Tom. I will look for that alert when checking in. Good tip!
Tom, I agree and since I mostly fly into Brussels, that's why I have never upgraded in the past. This time it's a very quick trip where I need to hit the ground running, so some extra sleep in a lie-flat bed would be much appreciated!

And you said that you feel like celebrating. It’s been a rough couple of years. So enjoy. We all have different physical abilities, budgets, priorities, and no one needs to explain their choice to anyone else.

Thanks again for all of your support and info, Bets. Have a nice trip tomorrow. So kind of you to take the time to reply on the day before your flight.

Thanks for the bon voyage, but I'm not flying over until August. Answering your question was a nice diversion from what I should be doing right now. So than you.

As to the additional cost, what’s the value received? Does it matter?

I’m going biz/first next time because I feel like it.mand I am definitely worth it. I want the seat, I want the food, I want the lounge.

I’m going to be the voice of doom and gloom. It’s highly possible that if they’ve sold the lotta seats the price forgot up. Generally about the best you’re gonna do is about $800 on Delta they don’t tend to go much cheaper and they can go a lot higher.

I would say the gate is probably not the best place to ask. see what they offer you when you check in, that may be your best deal. I’ve never had much success with Delta at the gate I have gotten some decent $800 offers a check in

Boglesan, had to chuckle at your answer! I want it all too, but only if it's reasonably priced because from the videos I have seen, Delta isn't all that special on the old 767's.
And looking at Carol's reply, I suspect it won't be that good of a deal. I'd rather save those dollars towards my trip next spring on Brussels Airlines or Aer Lingus (assuming Dublin Airport problems are resolved), both of which have much better first/business class reviews. So I will see what's offered, but I'm planning on making my nest in economy as I have always done in the past. Bottom line...We're all just lucky to be traveling again, right?

I fly Delta almost exclusively; some of the trends I have noticed: Check your itinerary on the app often, there will always be an upgrade offer it seems, but the price goes up and down, if something sounds good, take it. Check in is about the last time to take an offer, I can't say there is trend that a last minute offer is so much better or worse than earlier offers, it depends much on the flight.

What you do have going for you is that on international flights, those with status (except for Diamond) are not getting free upgrades to Delta One or even the new Premium Select. However, premium seats tend to be fuller on these flights anyway for the many reasons people on here have for purchasing those seats.

Personally, Delta One would be nice on the way there if you would like a little sleep, less so on the way back. But like you, I look at the upgrade cost, in Dollars or Miles, and just see the cost of the ticket for my next trip. Frugal me just stays in the back, but due to status (for the time being) upgraded to Delta Comfort.

I walk directly to the Customer Service counter when I arrive at the airport to ask about available upgrades. Some won't do it within an hour of departure, so do it right away. Last December I scored a Business class upgrade from CDG to SEA for 675 euros by going to the customer service desk as soon as I got off my originating flight. Can't hurt to ask, you may get lucky!

Anne, I am definitely going to try your tip next time. Thanks! Business may be too rich for me, but an upgrade to Premium Select would be nice. I accidentally got this upgrade to Premium Select from Comfort+ for $145 last time when I had to change my flight. Never hurts to ask.

Delta Premium Select is usually easier - I upgraded for only 11k miles on my flight to Europe in April this year. It was worth it. Right now they're wanting 55k miles for PS on my flight next year and at that price, it's definitely not.

The week to ten days prior to departure, the empty seats for bus and first are released for FF awards. That is normal when we score our business class seats. You do needs some nerves of steel to pay that game.

Another factor to watch for is how packed the flight is. We flew into Madrid today, the flight was packed, they turned away a half dozen standby customers,

In that case, they did offer deals for Delta One, $600 (Not bad, but $1200 buys a lot of wine and tapas in Spain) and miles were like 55,000. They did not offer deals on Premium Select, but only, I assume, because they had a number of Diamond and 360 customers to upgrade into those seats.

Please know that Delta will fly with empty seats in business class on international flights. You can always make an offer and see what gate agents tell you.