Does anyone know if this is possible...If Radisson made our flight arrangements is it still possible to upgrade directly with the airline, specifically Delta, to first or business using frequent flyer miles. thanks...

On Delta you won't be able to use miles to upgrade. If you are medallion, you can try for a medallion upgrade for a domestic flight. For international, you won't be able to upgrade at all. Only way to upgrade would be to "upgrade" your fare for cash. This would work for domestic, I don't know about internationa.

We have tried many times, even with really high status with american and United, they tell us that Radisson like all others buy at a "bulk rate" which can not be upgraded. Now, that is just our experience, you do your best, but we have always found even with alot of miles, that we need to upgrade with Radisson with cash (though Naire this time, works the best.... tough thing but we think it is worth it to get the trip going in the right direction).
Best of luck!!
Cindy

Well Marc....I thought that might be the answer, but i asked anyways...as always thanks for the input, and I can see via your ticker that your cruise is creeping up...hope you have a great time...clare :(

When we took our PG cruise we were able to upgrade on Air Tahiti Nui for 600.00 per person which I thought was really reasonable. We were only able to upgrade one way as it was sold out on the way back. We did this upgrade at the aiport the day of the flight (LAX) directly with Air Tahiti Nui...do you think that this might be the best way to do it with Deta for our flight to Nice, France...clare

Clare, we were able to do the same thing for our LA-Sydney flight, we thought it was a steal. And like you the back end was sold out, so we will try at the airport. We simply cannot think of the LA Sydney route in coach, as was said on this board........they use that flight in hell to torture people!!! OK , i get that we are ALL blessed to travel like this, but boy 14 hours straight after a 5 hour flight to LA from Chicago the same day is a real character builder....
Cindy

Cindy, I just had to respond to your comment regarding multiple flights "building character"! My poor husband finished a cruise on September 10th arriving at our home in England at 8:30pm and was on a plane bound for China the next morning! He has now arrived home (9/17 and will be on a flight to the US on 9/20. I didn't really appreciate how hard this was until I read your comments. The worst flight I take are the ones across the pond going back home (east coast)to see family.... And I don't have to work at the end of my flight!
Cheers, Pam

I note that Air Tahiti has a small first class section, is it possible to upgrade from business with cash? Any experience with this?

The best deal I have found is to get the cash credit from Radisson, then using miles get a revenue ticket and up grade using miles to first or business. On UA, for 25k you can get a 1 class up grade on a m or better class ticket in coach. They uses to allow double -ups but that has gone.

If you work for or own a company that has an air cargo contract with an airline.... you can get comp. up grades, outside the frequent flyer program, from the Cargo sales division. If you know a airline staffer..... you can get buddy-passes too..

I used to get cargo sales certificated all the time. They trump a frequent flyer certificate as it is the airline rewarding a contract agreement.