Originally Posted by
ijgordon
Poppycock.
Well now I really can't take your post seriously. So you're okay with blowing $2,000 extra on that M fare 10% of the time?
I spot-checked a handful of routes, and it looks like M fares are generally in the $2800+ r/t range. CO will let you upgrade to BusinessFirst with mileage for around $1500-2000 on average (CO SWUs have no fare class restrictions), but if the upgrade never clears you'd save $1000 if you purchased the lowest fare. Oh, and no fare restrictions on domestic mileage upgrades either. I think DL still prohibits LUT fares, right? Those K fares are no bargains.
This is generally the same for CO Platinums. Very few reports recently of BusinessFirst upgrades not clearing.
Well, I'm 90% sure there are a bunch of posts in the DL forum talking about their own type of Shenanigans.
Well I believe you get what you pay for. I purchase the highest fare class my organization will allow. The CO SWUs I believe also require flying 100K miles in order to receive them and no fare restrictions would be nice but aren't you limited to 4? BTW, my K fare rt with Delta ATL/SFO was around $550 which I believe is fairly decent.
We'll just have to agree to disagree, I think Delta's BE TPAC & TATL are better than CO's BF product. For me, my experience with CO has never been love at first sight, as much as I try I have never understood the CO culture. Here's one example. Last night in EWR, the boarding process (for a 752 heading for LIS) has started, BF and pax needing assist have boarded. Although the boarding process continues at the gate, we are stopped at the door because the pilot decides to brief the crew. Five minutes later we are allowed to continue boarding. I'm ok because I'm the first to continue boarding, get my seat (exit row) and able to stow stuff in the OH. Pax attempting to board are visibly frustrated, process becomes disorganized as FA announcements telling pax to quickly stow their stuff and take their seats, we leave gate 10 minutes late which really isn't bad. Just saying this was a self inflicted incident that the crew puts on pax. I generally observe a lack of teamwork amongst CO FAs, with Delta this is the exception and is normally with PMNW crews.
Domestically, Delta SWUs are only valid for K fares and up. Complementary upgrades are provided on all fare class down to the lowest T fare. For example, (not taking into account the reserve credit card aspect of status) the only way a silver would trump a Diamond who was on a T class fare would be if the Silver had a Y class fare.
Shenanigans? Of course, don't they exist with every airline? My main point and the point of the OP is frustration with the One Pass program, I say status generally doesn't matter when it comes to upgrades and customer service. Be it as it may, with Delta, status does matter. IMHO, CO One Pass has lost it's way.
Because it might make sense for me to occasionally fly *A due to better flight schedule on some routes, I'll strive to make Gold for continued access to *A international lounges as well as maintaining my President's Club membership. Otherwise Skyteam will continue to be my primary airline alliance. As a Diamond Medallion, access to the Skyclubs are free.