Tommy thinks the reason is the proximity of the NordicMD and SMD5 and is looking at increasing Tommy Class capacity (great minds think alike!
)
From NYU on MP has a pretty exhaustive list of other potential reasons:
1 - Higher pricing of the Do itself, let alone the fly-ins, hotels (not yet priced), etc.;
2 - Not a great grouping of activities, to me, unless and until exactly what AC is planning is explained more fully, and is there more to SF than dinner in a hangar, which we did on SMD4 just a few months ago;
3 - It’s another Star Mega Do, as opposed to a Skyteam or 1World Do, either of which would’ve gotten a bigger response;
4 - It’s jumping the gun a bit at this point to move to more Tommy Class, imo, but I understand the financial issues;
5 - The introduction of Gold & Diamond status may’ve put some people off, even though those sold, but the impression...;
6 - It’s tough to pull out that many weekdays in the lead-up to Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc., especially shortly after a just-previous Do; and,
7 - There wasn’t the same PR build-up as there was for OWMD, especially, and even for SMD4, with gatherings in cities and audio-visual announcement parties and streaming this‘ and thats.
My guess is that it's hard to sell a 'once in a lifetime experience' to the same audience for the fifth time. And for better or for worse, the MP audience is much smaller than the FT audience (although I feel like I've done all I can to keep this thread at the top of the forum!
).
What holds me back from participating is the simple value proposition. That false-start Brazil Megado charter I would have done for $5k. But putzing around North America just doesn't get my juices flowing.
Anyway, I hope the boys can market and/or reconfigure their way to a sell-out.