Originally Posted by
ILovetheReds
I wonder if the Delta cheerleaders consider people on a discounted Corporate fare to be a "moocher" since they aren't paying full fare to be up front?
If the front cabin goes out with more non-revs than paid passengers, I wonder if Delta will start discounting those routes more up front.
Or if American continues to upgrade theirs EP's on this route post merger and Delta diamonds jump ship to American if they will reverse this policy. Two people in my BUR office say they are jumping ship to AA next year over just the LAX/JFK route no longer being upgradeable (they fly this flight 12 to 15 times a year) and both of them take a lot more trips on Delta than that route. And if they are flying international the flagship lounge available to EP's is suppose to be really nice at LAX. Free premium liquor and hot food as opposed to paying for anything drinkable and cookies at LAX SC. Even if AA eliminates free upgrades on that route, they figure on the times they have to pay first or when they fly international in Y, they will get treated a lot better by AA
Have a number of people in my office that have already been on the phone with AA for status match. I work in an industry (financial services) with a large number of highly paid workers. On company business, it's coach no matter who (I've been on flights were some of the executive team (not DL frequent fliers) sat in back while I was up front). However, those who are DL frequent fliers generally send their other business travel to DL as well, which includes int'l J (which is permitted), as well as their personal travel (and there are quite a number of people who buy their own J tickets for personal int'l travel, usually with their families). With the practical loss of transcon upgrades, DL will lose these...many are or will be headed to AA, which (notwithstanding the merger) is an increasingly better alternative in NY.
And for those who talk about preserving the integrity of J on transcons and corporate contracts and whatnot, I don't see it. For the most part (and especially given the increase capacity on the transcons), DMs have not been taking any seats away from anyone. Unless the J cabin is wide open, these upgrades only happen at the gate, and only at boarding. So this process accomodates even the most last minute purchase. So, no seat taken away from any paying pax.
Now, rather than having any empty seats go to DMs, they will go to non-revs. On these routes above all, this make sense why? And, if there is an op-up situation (which could now happen on these routes more frequently), who gets moved up first...the DM. (Thanks to Mrs. TrojanTraveler to pointing this one out to me.)
I fail to see any of the logic in this. They could have just restricted complimentary upgrades to DMs. Why didn't they? (Yes, I do realize it sucks for PMs.)