E Fares....What a Joke!!!
Mar 18, 2014, 9:38 pm
#31
Join Date: Aug 2004
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IBTL
Mar 18, 2014, 10:32 pm
#32
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 640
OP needs to look up the definition for "joke"... and then stop using it repeatedly out of context. It's really not humorous or entertaining at all.
You get what you pay for. If you don't like it, purchase an alternate fare or fly another airline.
You get what you pay for. If you don't like it, purchase an alternate fare or fly another airline.
Mar 18, 2014, 10:51 pm
#35
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MSP
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Posts: 2,218
Do E Fares earn MQM's and RDM's?
Have been offered E Fares for sectors like MSP-LAS but price difference between E and the next fare level was only $20 each way, so booked the next level fare.
3/19/2014 10.23pm CST
Edited to add: Yes, E-Fares do earn MQMs and RDMs similar to one's status this year till Dec 31, 2014.
As we know, from Jan 1, 2015 ... RDMs are going to be earned per the new multiple rules of USD$ spend.
Have been offered E Fares for sectors like MSP-LAS but price difference between E and the next fare level was only $20 each way, so booked the next level fare.
3/19/2014 10.23pm CST
Edited to add: Yes, E-Fares do earn MQMs and RDMs similar to one's status this year till Dec 31, 2014.
As we know, from Jan 1, 2015 ... RDMs are going to be earned per the new multiple rules of USD$ spend.
Last edited by dd1612; Mar 19, 2014 at 9:23 pm
Mar 18, 2014, 10:51 pm
#36
Join Date: Feb 2014
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Mar 18, 2014, 10:59 pm
#37
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: ATL
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Posts: 567
According to dl.dumbphoneapp, you can choose to pay for a preferred/EC seat after booking, but then get an error message after clicking through to "buy" a preferred or EC seat. Very classy.
Mar 18, 2014, 11:24 pm
#38
Join Date: May 2005
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Now that I've gained the experience of an E fare, I see them as a joke. I admitted my laziness in not noticing the "cleary" stated rule when booking. I stupidly assumed, after the fact, that I might be able to call and get a seat assignment, and was treated like a turd, as usual these days. I stupidly posted a thread about it on FT, thinking I might hear from others about their experiences booking an E fare (whether intentionally or accidentally), and yet again get treated like a turd (as do most every other OP on this forum these days).
As a professional courtesy, I have grown to expect it from DL, and as a common courtesy, I am coming to expect it from DL FTers, as well.
As a professional courtesy, I have grown to expect it from DL, and as a common courtesy, I am coming to expect it from DL FTers, as well.
If the E fare doesn't work for you, don't buy it. It seems as simple as that but again, I made an effort to understand your position but apparently you don't want to explain it.
I could say that F fares are a joke because they are so expensive but that doesn't make any sense either. For some, the fare provides exactly what they are looking for even if I wouldn't buy them.
Mar 19, 2014, 12:42 am
#40
Moderator: Hilton Honors forums
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Marietta, Georgia, United States
Posts: 24,996
You are entitled to express yourself — but then, so are other FlyerTalk members.
In fact, I will post a comment in your favor...
The lowest E fare I can find on this route today is $89.00 each way, inclusive of taxes and fees; but with no way to secure an advance seat assignment and no changes allowed at all — not even for a fee.
Of course, one can say that $49.00 one-way is not sustainable for an airline to stay in business on that route — but I do not have all of the costs and figures to verify that...
...or one can say that it is a devaluation where an E fare is a way to increase airfares and still offer a low airfare but with greater restrictions — but I have no way to prove that either.
The reality is that we can only decide on what is available to us. In my opinion, if I know I must travel on a flight and would rather save a significant amount of money than have an assigned seat, I will most likely choose an E fare and take my chances on the restrictions; whereas if the flight is several hours in duration and I am uncertain as to whether or not I may need to be more flexible, I might consider paying for a higher airfare or using my SkyMiles...
Mar 19, 2014, 6:52 am
#41
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To answer one more question. Federal law requires that all carriers permit cancellation (or a hold) within 24 hours of booking through the carrier. That applies to all tickets. DL's policy simply implements the law (and a bit more).
If one mistakenly books an E fare, as it appears OP did, and then realizes that one cannot reserve a seat, one can simply cancel and book a new ticket at any other fare bucket and make the reservation seat. That is likely why when he called DL, they were at least willing to consider offering him a fee-free change for the simple upfare.
While I do not fly from E fares and hope that I will never have to, I am glad that they exist for those who cannot otherwise afford to fly. While it is easy to be dismissive of these fares as a "joke", to some people this is the difference between seeing relatives, taking your kids on a trip or doing something important in your life or not.
Fares such as this have existed in Europe for decades and travelers manage just fine. They can do just fine with them here too.
If one mistakenly books an E fare, as it appears OP did, and then realizes that one cannot reserve a seat, one can simply cancel and book a new ticket at any other fare bucket and make the reservation seat. That is likely why when he called DL, they were at least willing to consider offering him a fee-free change for the simple upfare.
While I do not fly from E fares and hope that I will never have to, I am glad that they exist for those who cannot otherwise afford to fly. While it is easy to be dismissive of these fares as a "joke", to some people this is the difference between seeing relatives, taking your kids on a trip or doing something important in your life or not.
Fares such as this have existed in Europe for decades and travelers manage just fine. They can do just fine with them here too.
Mar 19, 2014, 7:09 am
#42
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
To answer one more question. Federal law requires that all carriers permit cancellation (or a hold) within 24 hours of booking through the carrier. That applies to all tickets. DL's policy simply implements the law (and a bit more).
If one mistakenly books an E fare, as it appears OP did, and then realizes that one cannot reserve a seat, one can simply cancel and book a new ticket at any other fare bucket and make the reservation seat. That is likely why when he called DL, they were at least willing to consider offering him a fee-free change for the simple upfare.
While I do not fly from E fares and hope that I will never have to, I am glad that they exist for those who cannot otherwise afford to fly. While it is easy to be dismissive of these fares as a "joke", to some people this is the difference between seeing relatives, taking your kids on a trip or doing something important in your life or not.
Fares such as this have existed in Europe for decades and travelers manage just fine. They can do just fine with them here too.
If one mistakenly books an E fare, as it appears OP did, and then realizes that one cannot reserve a seat, one can simply cancel and book a new ticket at any other fare bucket and make the reservation seat. That is likely why when he called DL, they were at least willing to consider offering him a fee-free change for the simple upfare.
While I do not fly from E fares and hope that I will never have to, I am glad that they exist for those who cannot otherwise afford to fly. While it is easy to be dismissive of these fares as a "joke", to some people this is the difference between seeing relatives, taking your kids on a trip or doing something important in your life or not.
Fares such as this have existed in Europe for decades and travelers manage just fine. They can do just fine with them here too.
Mar 19, 2014, 7:11 am
#43
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Glad to hear that at least a couple of people understand my post and why these pooper fares are a joke.
I am usually a stickler for the rules, and this is one instance where I completely missed a fact that I frankly would have thought "that's got to only apply to kettles" if I had noticed the stipulation when I was in the process of booking the ticket.
To me, the experience of an E fare it is a f ing joke. The possibility that the airline would even offer a "no seat assignment before check-in" fare where Medallions who are eligible for free upgrades and free preferred seats and free/discounted Economy "comfort" seats on a normal basis are relegated to the kettle boat where no seat can be assigned (even through the normal loop holes)..... That is a joke. May as well go to the WN way of thinking and not assign anyone a seat. Last I looked, WN looks like a legacy carrier, too....aside from the no F and no assigned seats (and no change fees or bag fees). And no, I will never fly WN simply because they do not allow seat assignments.
To add to the joke, the fare rules apparently didn't even allow the medallion agents to bend the rules, so they are relegated to the uncomfortable position of trying to sell the extraordinary value that is gained by paying up from an E fare to the vastly superior sLUT etc fares that do allow seat assignments. I'm sorry, am I so stupid as to misunderstand the value proposition that is presented by a $198 non-changeable, non-refundable E fare vs. a non-refundable sLUT fare that is changeable with a $200 change fee? What a f ing joke.
I am usually a stickler for the rules, and this is one instance where I completely missed a fact that I frankly would have thought "that's got to only apply to kettles" if I had noticed the stipulation when I was in the process of booking the ticket.
To me, the experience of an E fare it is a f ing joke. The possibility that the airline would even offer a "no seat assignment before check-in" fare where Medallions who are eligible for free upgrades and free preferred seats and free/discounted Economy "comfort" seats on a normal basis are relegated to the kettle boat where no seat can be assigned (even through the normal loop holes)..... That is a joke. May as well go to the WN way of thinking and not assign anyone a seat. Last I looked, WN looks like a legacy carrier, too....aside from the no F and no assigned seats (and no change fees or bag fees). And no, I will never fly WN simply because they do not allow seat assignments.
To add to the joke, the fare rules apparently didn't even allow the medallion agents to bend the rules, so they are relegated to the uncomfortable position of trying to sell the extraordinary value that is gained by paying up from an E fare to the vastly superior sLUT etc fares that do allow seat assignments. I'm sorry, am I so stupid as to misunderstand the value proposition that is presented by a $198 non-changeable, non-refundable E fare vs. a non-refundable sLUT fare that is changeable with a $200 change fee? What a f ing joke.
But not enough of a joke to the point where you were willing to pay the upfare to a ticket that wasn't "a joke" when given a very generous offer by DL that was beyond the fare rules of the ticket you bought.
So again - how is this a "joke"? You kept the original choice when given the option to change by determining the "not joke" fare wasn't worth the additional $72.
So again - how is this a "joke"? You kept the original choice when given the option to change by determining the "not joke" fare wasn't worth the additional $72.
Mar 19, 2014, 7:52 am
#44
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Maybe something like PeopleExpress in the early 80s? They charged a $2 for a snack pak.