I ranted earlier in the week in another thread about a lack of late night flights RDU-ATL, and mentioned that DL 5250 3/10 was Y0 (the only flight I have a chance in h*11 of makin).

So, I set up an alert in EF in case Y opened up and bought a refundable ticket on FL. Y opened up yesterday, but Y fare was a little too rich for my blood ($700+). So, I set up another alert for B.

That alert triggered this afternoon. However, DL.com still refused to return 5250 in the list of OW flights from RDU-ATL on 3/10. I called SMS and at first she quoted me the Y fare. I then told her I thought B was available and could she price that? She did and it priced properly (~ $340), but of course there would be a DTC unless I went to online support. I did so reluctantly.

I ended up getting an online support agent in Montego Bay, Jamaica. First time this has happened to me. Connection was really bad. He showed me to 'search by schedule' and that did bring up 5250, but only in Y. I again told him to try to book it in B, which he was able to do and went ahead and ticketed me, waiving the DTC.

I was surprised that DL.com does not seem to show all availability. I guess not surprised, per se. Just a reminder that we have to be very diligent in terms of checking various sources before we take DL.com's word as to availability and price. If it wasn't for EF, I could have easily paid double for the same seat.

In all, 30 mins on the phone and a whole lot of effort on my part, just to give DL $340 for a Y seat on a CRJ, that would have otherwise gone to FL for business class. Am I nuts or what???