Part of Delta SkyMiles hub
Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
FREQUENT FLYER GLOSSARY
What is an upgrade certificate?
An upgrade certificate is a status-linked upgrade instrument that an elite member elects in place of another loyalty reward and later applies to a specific booking to request a higher cabin on eligible fares, subject to availability. At Delta Air Lines, Diamond and Platinum Medallion members choose Global or Regional Upgrade Certificates as a Choice Benefit, and the certificates must be booked and flown by the end of the Medallion Year they were selected for. [1]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Delta issues upgrade certificates as Choice Benefits rather than as a points balance, so a member trades another reward for them. [1]
- For the 2026 and 2027 Medallion Years, Diamond Medallion members can take 4 Global, 8 Regional, or 2 Global and 4 Regional certificates, and Platinum Medallion members can take 4 Regional certificates. [1]
- Certificates are one-way and can cover the member and/or multiple companions on the same trip. [1]
- Certificates selected for the 2026 Medallion Year must be booked and flown by January 31, 2027, and those selected for 2027 by January 31, 2028. [1]
- Certificate requests have a higher priority than Medallion Complimentary Upgrade requests, but they still depend on availability and exclude Delta Basic experiences. [1]
How does an upgrade certificate work?
An upgrade certificate is elective rather than automatic. A member who is offered one chooses it from the rewards available at their tier, and the certificate is then held in the account until it is attached to a booking. It behaves as a single-trip entitlement, not as a balance that can be split, topped up or partly spent, and its usefulness depends on how far the eligible fare and the seat availability on a given route stretch.
Electing a certificate at Delta. Delta's Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates are Choice Benefits, and selection is available only in the Delta app. [1] Members who reach Diamond or Platinum Medallion Status are immediately eligible to select Choice Benefits, and every selection for a Medallion Year must be made before that year ends: by January 31, 2027 for the 2026 Medallion Year and by January 31, 2028 for the 2027 Medallion Year. [1] Members with an email address in their profile are emailed within 48 hours of making their selections, and certificate numbers can be viewed in My Profile. [1] Each certificate is one-way and can be used for the member and/or multiple companions. [1]
How many upgrade certificates do Delta Medallion members get?
Delta lists the same upgrade certificate choices for the 2026 and 2027 Medallion Years. [1]
| Medallion Year | Diamond Medallion | Platinum Medallion |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 Global or 8 Regional or 2 Global and 4 Regional | 4 Regional |
| 2027 | 4 Global or 8 Regional or 2 Global and 4 Regional | 4 Regional |
Diamond members may select Upgrade Certificates only once for their 2026 or 2027 Medallion Year selections. [1] The two certificate types do not cover the same flights: Global Upgrade Certificates can be used on Delta and select partner-operated flights, while Regional Upgrade Certificates are used on Delta flights, on the same routes as Medallion Complimentary Upgrades, including all flights with Delta First and the domestic Delta One experience. [1]
Which tickets accept a Delta upgrade certificate?
Delta allows both certificate types on several kinds of ticket, but the paid fares they can be applied to differ. [1]
| Ticket type | Global Upgrade Certificate | Regional Upgrade Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Paid, published Delta fares | Premium Select, Comfort and Main, excluding Delta Basic experiences | Comfort and Main, excluding Delta Basic experiences |
| Award Travel and Miles + Cash tickets on Delta-operated flights | Accepted | Accepted |
| Pay with Miles tickets | Accepted | Accepted |
| Companion Certificates | Accepted | Accepted |
| Tickets booked as part of a Delta Vacations package | Accepted | Accepted |
Certificate requests sit ahead of Medallion Complimentary Upgrade requests in Delta's priority order, and the certificate itself is the mechanism that carries the request rather than a separate purchase. [1] Medallion Complimentary Upgrades themselves are subject to availability and may not be available on all flights or in all markets. [1]
When do Delta upgrade certificates expire?
Certificates must be booked and flown by the end of the Medallion Year associated with the Choice Benefit selection, regardless of when in that year the benefit was selected. [1] In practice that means certificates selected for the 2026 Medallion Year must be booked and flown by January 31, 2027, and certificates selected for the 2027 Medallion Year must be booked and flown by January 31, 2028. [1]
The clock therefore runs on the Medallion Year, not on the date of issue: a member who selects in the first weeks of a Medallion Year and a member who selects close to the January deadline are working towards the same cut-off. [1]
Limits and exceptions
- Change of programme terms. Delta reserves the right to modify or discontinue any Choice Benefit at any time without advance notice, and may substitute a benefit for an alternative of equal or greater value, including after the selection has been made. [1]
- No exchanges. Once redeemed, Choice Benefits cannot be exchanged or replaced. [1]
- One selection only for Diamond. Diamond members may select Upgrade Certificates only once for their 2026 or 2027 Medallion Year selections. [1]
- App only. Choice Benefit selection, including upgrade certificates, is available only through the Delta app. [1]
- Complimentary status holders. American Express Centurion Members enrolled in complimentary Platinum Medallion Status must earn a minimum of $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars in each calendar year after enrolment to be eligible for Choice Benefits for that Medallion Year. [1]
- Availability. Certificates raise the priority of an upgrade request but do not guarantee a seat: Medallion Complimentary Upgrades are subject to availability and may not be available on all flights or in all markets. [1]
Frequently asked questions
Do Delta upgrade certificates work on Delta Basic experiences?
No. Both Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates are excluded from Delta Basic experiences, although they can be applied to other paid, published Delta fares. [1]
Can I use an upgrade certificate on an award ticket?
Yes, on Delta-operated flights: both certificate types can be used on Award Travel tickets and Miles + Cash tickets, as well as on Pay with Miles tickets, Companion Certificates and tickets booked as part of a Delta Vacations package. [1]
Can one certificate cover more than one passenger?
Yes. Delta's one-way Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates can be used for the member and/or multiple companions travelling together. [1]
How long does a Delta upgrade certificate last?
Only until the end of the Medallion Year it was selected for, and it must be both booked and flown by that date: January 31, 2027 for 2026 Medallion Year selections and January 31, 2028 for 2027 selections. [1]
Does a status match come with upgrade instruments?
At United Airlines, PlusPoints are credited only after the flight requirements are met, not with the matched status: 20 PlusPoints for members who qualify for Premier Platinum through the 2026 MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge and 100 for Premier 1K, posted within 7–10 business days. [3]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Delta Air Lines SkyMiles is the programme whose certificate rules are described in detail here; other programmes that issue upgrade instruments, including American Airlines AAdvantage, are not covered on this page.
- Delta Air Lines Choice Benefits (Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates), checked 18 October 2026
- United Airlines MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge terms, checked 18 October 2026