Option to Buy Up Disappears? FCM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1999
Location: CVG
Programs: DL DM 4MM, Lifetime Marriott Plat Elite, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,429
Option to Buy Up Disappears? FCM
I am finding it difficult to use the "buy up" to FC. I booked today through our corporate travel agent, waited for the ticket to issue and then went to the itinerary. It gave me the option of upgrade for ~$181, decent for a 2800 MQM set of flights.
So, as I always do for coach tickets, I hit the "Manage Upgrades" button and select to include C+, and it does it's thing, and now I am in C+ with an SU fare basis.
The problem, the option to PAY for the upgrade disappeared. Called the diamond desk and they priced the upgrade at $221. I'm not going to quibble over $40 dollars, but I thought the whole concept of FCM was to keep that upgrade price in front of you to get you to pay... My other coach itineraries have it, why not this one?
Anyone else seeing the pay for option disappear? Thoughts?
So, as I always do for coach tickets, I hit the "Manage Upgrades" button and select to include C+, and it does it's thing, and now I am in C+ with an SU fare basis.
The problem, the option to PAY for the upgrade disappeared. Called the diamond desk and they priced the upgrade at $221. I'm not going to quibble over $40 dollars, but I thought the whole concept of FCM was to keep that upgrade price in front of you to get you to pay... My other coach itineraries have it, why not this one?
Anyone else seeing the pay for option disappear? Thoughts?
#2
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: MCO
Programs: Delta - PM, HH - Gold, SPG - Gold, Marriott - Plat
Posts: 1,060
I am finding it difficult to use the "buy up" to FC. I booked today through our corporate travel agent, waited for the ticket to issue and then went to the itinerary. It gave me the option of upgrade for ~$181, decent for a 2800 MQM set of flights.
So, as I always do for coach tickets, I hit the "Manage Upgrades" button and select to include C+, and it does it's thing, and now I am in C+ with an SU fare basis.
The problem, the option to PAY for the upgrade disappeared. Called the diamond desk and they priced the upgrade at $221. I'm not going to quibble over $40 dollars, but I thought the whole concept of FCM was to keep that upgrade price in front of you to get you to pay... My other coach itineraries have it, why not this one?
Anyone else seeing the pay for option disappear? Thoughts?
So, as I always do for coach tickets, I hit the "Manage Upgrades" button and select to include C+, and it does it's thing, and now I am in C+ with an SU fare basis.
The problem, the option to PAY for the upgrade disappeared. Called the diamond desk and they priced the upgrade at $221. I'm not going to quibble over $40 dollars, but I thought the whole concept of FCM was to keep that upgrade price in front of you to get you to pay... My other coach itineraries have it, why not this one?
Anyone else seeing the pay for option disappear? Thoughts?
#5
In memoriam
Join Date: Dec 2001
Programs: DL 2MM, AA MM, DL Sky Club Life, AA Admirals Club Life, Hilton Gold Life
Posts: 1,732
On a related note, just reading this thread caused me to take a look at options for one of my trips booked in coach. I was ambivalent about even putting in for an upgrade to Comfort figuring that I would be one of the many that got upgraded at the gate into a center seat from my nice exit row aisle seat.
The flight was 1400m with a connection so I would have at least burned up a couple of drinks. For the first time in my career I checked the upsell prices and was astounded to see that they would upgrade me all the way to first for $52 but could offer Comfort + for $62.
I suspected a scam but I chose my seats in first and gladly paid the $52 with my cc. Why would they offer comfort + for more money?
Is this how it typically works?
The flight was 1400m with a connection so I would have at least burned up a couple of drinks. For the first time in my career I checked the upsell prices and was astounded to see that they would upgrade me all the way to first for $52 but could offer Comfort + for $62.
I suspected a scam but I chose my seats in first and gladly paid the $52 with my cc. Why would they offer comfort + for more money?
Is this how it typically works?
#6
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MKE
Programs: DL Diamond, 2 MM
Posts: 1,009
I have a flight coming up MKE-ATL-CDG-DTW-MKE. Every time I check my itinerary a box comes up on the side offering me an upgrade from C+ to F on the domestic legs. The prices are absolutely crazy! MKE-ATL for $502??? DTW-MKE for $203???
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,289
Couple of data points for some of my upcoming trips:
I have a one-way SEA-LAX-OGG. There was an upgrade offer after I booked but shortly after booking I waitlisted RUCs and now there's no UG offer displayed.
I have a trip to Florida next January. Initial offering was around $300 each way. I didn't bite. Then oddly, it only gave me an option to buy up for the return. First time it was $149 for JAX-ATL-SEA. I didn't jump on it. Next time I logged in, it was over $500+ for JAX-SEA. I regretted not jumping at the $149 offer. The next day I saw $149 for JAX-ATL-SEA again and jumped on it this time. Still no offer for the outbound (SEA-JAX).
I have a one-way SEA-LAX-OGG. There was an upgrade offer after I booked but shortly after booking I waitlisted RUCs and now there's no UG offer displayed.
I have a trip to Florida next January. Initial offering was around $300 each way. I didn't bite. Then oddly, it only gave me an option to buy up for the return. First time it was $149 for JAX-ATL-SEA. I didn't jump on it. Next time I logged in, it was over $500+ for JAX-SEA. I regretted not jumping at the $149 offer. The next day I saw $149 for JAX-ATL-SEA again and jumped on it this time. Still no offer for the outbound (SEA-JAX).
#8
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,241
Those prices aren't crazy. They used to be the norm before FCM.
#9
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: DL PM, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 193
Inventory
On a related note, just reading this thread caused me to take a look at options for one of my trips booked in coach. I was ambivalent about even putting in for an upgrade to Comfort figuring that I would be one of the many that got upgraded at the gate into a center seat from my nice exit row aisle seat.
The flight was 1400m with a connection so I would have at least burned up a couple of drinks. For the first time in my career I checked the upsell prices and was astounded to see that they would upgrade me all the way to first for $52 but could offer Comfort + for $62.
I suspected a scam but I chose my seats in first and gladly paid the $52 with my cc. Why would they offer comfort + for more money?
Is this how it typically works?
The flight was 1400m with a connection so I would have at least burned up a couple of drinks. For the first time in my career I checked the upsell prices and was astounded to see that they would upgrade me all the way to first for $52 but could offer Comfort + for $62.
I suspected a scam but I chose my seats in first and gladly paid the $52 with my cc. Why would they offer comfort + for more money?
Is this how it typically works?
#11
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Amb./LTP
Posts: 287
I also book the majority of my tickets through a corporate travel agent. Whenever I have flights that I want to upgrade, I wait for the ticket to issue (meaning I get a second email from my agency) and call the DM line. The price they quote is always far less than the website.