Upgrade to First Class on sale for as little as $39 one -way 15 DEC - 5 JAN

turkeyRIOO · Nov 19, 12, 4:39 pm

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...s-upgrade.html

I don't see any fare restrictions. Does this mean kettles on T fare in F for $39? Will there be any seats left for Medallion upgrades? This might be a whole new chapter in FCM.

I can definitely see this works ATL-JAX 18-19 December. Y $243 r/t F $321 r/t (books in A so you get bonus miles and MQMs as well)

MichaelKade · Nov 19, 12, 4:48 pm

There will if you buy them too. Snagged some for ATL-LAX-ATL for less than $100 more each way.

dgxoxo · Nov 19, 12, 4:49 pm

I"m assuming most road warriors are not in the field during this period, so leisure-medallions will see more upgrades anyway.

MSPeconomist · Nov 19, 12, 4:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgxoxo

I"m assuming most road warriors are not in the field during this period, so leisure-medallions will see more upgrades anyway.

No elites won't see more upgrades (as usually happens around holiday periods) if DL sells all the FC seats for $39 to infrequent flyers.

KissFlyGoodbye · Nov 19, 12, 4:53 pm

JFK - SAN at 320 in biz I. You could easily route through JFK - LAX - SAN to get onto the BE route. T fare goes for $182.

Unfortunately I wont be flying domestic in that time period. Great way to get MQMs if you need a last minute MR, but would like to sit comfy in front.

sbjnyc · Nov 19, 12, 4:55 pm

For 12/20-12/25 I'm seeing JFK-LAS in U at $385 and in I at $663, which is +$139 each way. I have a 25k award those dates (but better timing) but I'm also sitting on a 10% voucher which expires at the end of the year. I'll keep watching.

fti · Nov 19, 12, 4:59 pm

For someone with two pieces of checked luggage in each direction, upgrading to F can be a no brainer in many cases. $120 round trip in luggage charges can end up being MORE than they would spend on an F upgrade.

Yet another reason that medallion status continues to diminish.

readywhenyouare · Nov 19, 12, 5:02 pm

What the hell?! This is just going too far.

mudpuppy · Nov 19, 12, 5:08 pm

Just when I thought I might get an upgrade!! Grrr.

Can I buy up my existing tickets without paying a change fee? If not, why would they screw over their existing loyal customers like this?

fti · Nov 19, 12, 5:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudpuppy

f not, why would they screw over their existing loyal customers like this?

MONEY.

We all saw this coming. It has been talked about for a long time - the whole FCM thing.

JPCAG · Nov 19, 12, 5:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by readywhenyouare

What the hell?! This is just going too far.

I disagree

Delta is in the business to make money. We as Delta customers have the option of flying with them or not.

If you are not happy then you can always switch carriers

I actually choose to not let these things bother me.

mudpuppy · Nov 19, 12, 5:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by fti

MONEY.

We all saw this coming. It has been talked about for a long time - the whole FCM thing.

Thing is, I would happily give them the money to buy up my fare, but I refuse to give them a change fee on top of that, especially when the change fee is more than the upgrade cost.

readywhenyouare · Nov 19, 12, 5:23 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPCAG

I disagree

Delta is in the business to make money. We as Delta customers have the option of flying with them or not.

If you are not happy then you can always switch carriers

I actually choose to not let these things bother me.

I'm not one who whines about not being upgraded. I selected to fly on two crj-200's this week even though I had options at the same price to fly on a plane with the possibility of an F upgrade. Giving away your premium product (yes, $39 is giving it away) to someone who in all likelihood is not one of your frequent flyers is not a good idea. If Delta is having trouble filling their first class cabin with actual F fares then I suggest they decrease the seats in the first class cabin and add more economy seats.

javabytes · Nov 19, 12, 5:27 pm

What it sounds like to me is that somebody is incentivized to hit a particular paid FC load by the end of the year.

T-UP fares... ridiculous... this is no longer small buy-ups from expensive last minute fares.

GYEWorldTraveler · Nov 19, 12, 5:28 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by fti

MONEY.

We all saw this coming. It has been talked about for a long time - the whole FCM thing.

This is a SALE! It is not the normal FCM. Obviously this is targeted at the leisure crowd as business travel is pretty much at a screeching halt from Dec 15-Jan 5. Why wouldn't DL try to get a few extra bucks for each seat during that time period? Flights likely will be oversold anyways and the number of road warriors traveling will be quite low. Lots of good F deals out there, I don't think many can complain if they don't get upgraded over the holidays when there is an opportunity to buy F for the price of L or U class. This also probably isn't mainly being done for $$$$ I would imagine that it is being done for exposure and the belief that if someone who normally wouldn't buy F buys it once and tries out the product that they will likely buy it again...at that point it will be far more expensive (normal prices) but may actually help add to DLs bottom line.