mnredfox

Ok, so more interesting facts here I wanted to share. I've been playing around with 5 different routings and pricings and here's what I get. I'll share the fare structure and then my interpretation

Ticket A: 150K SM
Routing:
SFO-DL-LAX-KE-ICN-KE-CTS(SO)-KE-ICN-KE-PVG(SO)-KE-ICN-KE-LAX-DL-SFO
Fare structure:
SFO DL X/LAX KE SEL(KE SPK0.00CSM150/FT200 KE SEL0.00CSM150/FT200)KE SHA0.00CSM600/FT241 KE X/SEL KE X/LAX DL SFO0.00CSM600/FT241 NUC0.00END ROE1.00 EXEMPTXF
Fare interpretation:
SFO-PVG 60K Connection in LAX, stopover in ICN for two 15K fare components
ICN-CTS 15K
CTS-ICN 15K
PVG-SFO 60K Connection in ICN, connection in LAX
Summary:
SFO-PVG MPM is 7375, TPM is 6837, MPM not broken (SFO-CTS 7182/6768 is 10M, SFO-PVG via CTS 8577/7375 is 20M)
PVG-SFO MPM is 7375, TPM is 6837, MPM not broken (CTS-SFO via PVG 8232/6768 is 25M, PVG-SFO is 6837/7375 where MPM not broken)

Ticket B: 145K SM
Routing:
SFO-DL-DTW-DL-PVG(SO)-KE-PUS-KE-CTS(SO)-KE-ICN-KE-LAX-DL-SFO
Fare structure:
SFO DL X/DTT DL SHA0.00CSM600/FT241 KE X/PUS KE SPK KE X/SEL K
E LAX0.00CSM600/FT241 DL SFO0.00YSM250/FT111 NUC0.00END ROE1.0
0 EXEMPTXF
Fare interpretation:
SFO-PVG 60K Connection in DTW
PVG-LAX 60K Connection in PUS, Stopover in CTS, Connection in ICN
LAX-SFO 25K
Summary:
SFO-PVG MPM is 7375, TPM is 9206. Allowed 25M here, but appears DL has published SFO-DTW-PVG routing that eliminates MPM requirement
PVG-LAX MPM is 7778, TPM is 8215, allowed 10M here. (PVG-SFO via CTS 8554/7375 is 20M)
* If I were able to force SFO-CTS via PVG (and DTW) then CTS-SFO at 10M would be allowed (see Ticket C) and thus ticket at 120K, but it doesn't seem I can force this as the published routing is SFO-PVG via DTW, not SFO-CTS via DTW and PVG.

Ticket C: 120K SM
Routing:
SFO-DL-LAX-KE-ICN-KE-CTS(SO)-MU-PVG(SO)-KE-ICN-KE-LAX-DL-SFO
Fare structure:
LAX KE X/SEL KE SPK0.00CSM600/FT241 MU SHA KE X/SEL KE LAX0.00
CSM600/FT241 NUC0.00END ROE1.00 EXEMPTXF
Interpretation:
SFO-CTS 60K Connection in LAX, connection in ICN
CTS-SFO 60K Stopover in PVG, connection in SEL, connection in LAX
Summary:
SFO-CTS MPM is 6768. TPM is 7182. Allowed 10M here
CTS-SFO MPM is 6768. TPM is 8201. Allowed 25M here, but appears MU fare rules eliminate MPM
*Note, I had to call to add the SFO-LAX on front/back ends, seems like they still need to reticket as SFO-LAX sections show open coupon status
** It also seems feasible the fare could have broken in PVG as well, allowing outbound to break 20M via MU fare, and return to comply with MPM

Ticket D: 120K SM
Routing:
SFO-DL-NRT-DL-PVG(SO)-KE-PUS-KE-CTS(STO)-KE-ICN-LAX-DL-SFO
Fare structure:
SFO DL X/TYO DL SHA KE X/PUS KE SPK0.00CSM600/FT241 KE X/SEL K
E X/LAX DL SFO0.00CSM600/FT241 NUC0.00END ROE1.00 EXEMPTXF
Interpretation:
SFO-CTS 60K Connection in NRT, stopover in PVG, connection in PUS
CTS-SFO 60K Connection in ICN, connection in LAX
Summary:
SFO-CTS MPM is 6768, TPM is 7613. Allowed 15M here (SFO-PVG 6241/7375 does not break MPM)
CTS-SFO MPM is 6768, TPM is 7182. Allowed 10M here (PVG-SFO via CTS 8554/7375 is 20M)

Ticket E: 145K SM
Routing:
SFO-DL-LAX-KE-ICN-KE-PVG(SO)-KE-PUS-KE-CTS(STO)-KE-ICN-LAX-DL-SFO
Fare structure:
Not ticketed, agent said fare broke in PVG and LAX
Interpretation:
SFO-PVG 60K Connection in LAX, connection in ICN
PVG-LAX 60K Connection in PUS, stopover in CTS, connection in ICN
LAX-SFO 25K
Summary:
SFO-PVG MPM is 7375, TPM is 6837. MPM not broken (SFO-CTS via PVG 8209/6768 is 25M)
PVG-LAX MPM is 7778, TPM is 8215, 10M is allowed. (PVG-SFO 8554/7375 is 20M, CTS-SFO 6768/7182 is 10M)

Ticket F: 145K SM
Routing:
SFO-AS-SEA-KE-ICN-KE-PVG(SO)-KE-PUS-KE-CTS(STO)-KE-ICN-LAX-DL-SFO
Fare structure:
Not ticketed, agent said fare broke in PVG and LAX
Interpretation:
SFO-PVG 60K Connection in LAX, connection in ICN
PVG-LAX 60K Connection in PUS, stopover in CTS, connection in ICN
LAX-SFO 25K
Summary:
SFO-PVG MPM is 7375, TPM is 6400. MPM not broken (SFO-CTS via PVG 7772/6768 is 15M)
PVG-LAX MPM is 7778, TPM is 8215, 10M is allowed (PVG-SFO 8554/7375 is 20M, CTS-SFO 6768/7182 is 10M)
* I don't know why fare wasn't allowed to break in CTS, this would result in 15M and 10M as in ticket D and would thus make sense to price at 120K as well - but doesn't. Perhaps I could have had the manual reissue desk force this, not sure.

Do you think I interpreted the fare structures correctly? Looks like what I'm learning is that the DL fare engine actually uses an algorithm to try to search for the various Asian cities I'm stopping in and breaking the fare there. Then backtracking to calculate MPM and then calculate mileage from there.

Edit - added 1 data points ticket F and conclusions below.

Conclusions:
1. When MPM's are not broken, no issues. This is obvious, just confirmed.
2. Published routings on DL metal seem to override MPM (allowing up to 25M in one case)
3. Certain MU fares allow a whole direction to override MPM (allowing up to 25M in one case)
3. 10M & 15M are allowed in several examples where 10M combined with 15M allow for 120K. However another 10M & 15M combo does not allow for 120K pricing.
4. 20M & 25M are never allowed