Originally Posted by
channa
These are seats that are on open flights, usually departing within the next couple of hours. They were not likely to sell, and if they were or suspected as they would, DL could decline the rebooking when contacted. And they do do that -- e.g., decline taking people on a flight if the earlier one hasn't departed on a mechanical for example.
No doubt this is going to be a hit for DL, as this is lost incremental revenue on a perishable product. In fact, it is likely a bigger hit for DL than AA, since DL likely receives more AA rebooks than they rebook on AA.
I suspect that DL is holding out for a more favorable rate since the deck is favoring them. They'd rather pay AA more for each rebook in return for getting more from AA for each rebook.
Unless DL feels there is more value in having the space available to protect their own passengers. True it's probably possible to decline but as I said earlier in the thread if the DFW ATL flight on AA gets a mechanical and the remaining seats on the DL DFW ATL flight are filled with AA passengers there is no room left for if the DL DFW DTW flight delays or cxlds to protect existing DL customers.