Originally Posted by
CabinCaptive
My post was not to indicate a lack of upgrades, but when upgrades are available.
For example. As a GM, I have upgrades at T-72, if available. That has actually been explained here as 4 days prior, 5pm ET. If I log in and try to book a ticket within this window, I see "upgrade eligible." If I choose Y booking class, then I see "upgrade available."
My questions is why does this difference exist, when within the upgrade window?
I noticed this as well and posted in either the FCM or Upgrade Success thread a few weeks ago. It does seems that
javabytes's explanation is correct, as when I do get window UGs, they still seem to happen around 5pm ATL time 6 days out, or around 2-3am ATL time after that (it seems that is the time that additional RU inventory is released?)
Originally Posted by
yohanson
I can't comment on the full Y ticket upgrade availability but I assume that a full Y fare will nearly always be cheaper than the discounted F fares that Delta offers within the "FCM window".
Originally Posted by
yohanson
It's in quotes for a reason. In the past, Delta held about 50% of it's FC cabin for Medallion upgrades. They don't do that any more on many flights so I think I'm being accurate when I say "FCM Window" as it relates to Medallion upgrades and FCM. Typically the discount F fares drop near the DM/PM window from what I've noticed.
I may be misunderstanding what you're saying, but I book many tickets 21+ days in advance, and many other tickets <5 days in advance. The last-minute tickets are of course more expensive in general, but the difference between a coach and first class ticket always seems to be anywhere from $100 to $300 depending on route, and this difference does not seem to change the closer in I book. And, even when only P fares are available in FC, they are still substantially cheaper than a full Y fare (and even a BM fare most of the time).
Could be route and schedule dependent, but IME, YBM fares are still a bit higher than discount first fares.
Originally Posted by
marcworld
I wonder though...Upgrades are basically the best & most valuable benefit of the loyalty programs. (Maybe it used to be "free tickets" but free ticket benefits have been diluted so much they barely exist now.)
It seems the airlines' goal is to gradually price First Class slightly and slightly lower until the magic threshold where the cabin is purchased to full occupancy, meaning eventually nobody gets upgraded. But then, if I can't get upgraded, why bother being a DM? How will this end?
Deep thoughts.
If DL is able to keep its planes full and sell out the F cabin to paying passengers, I can't exactly blame them. However, I also do not see UGs as the "best & most valuable benefit of the loyalty programs" - at least, not DL's.