Originally Posted by
sethb
I suspect that the price of fuel (and the fact that fuel surcharges haven't turned into fuel discounts, as they would if the airlines were honest) has a lot to do with profitability.
Of course. But DL knows it can just give benefits back, perhaps offer "fast track to status promos" and such if the economy downturns or if DL's numbers begin to slip. And many of those people who left will come flocking back.
FCM is working though. I've been utilizing FCM successfully for about 3 years now, happily paying a little more on many flights to confirm a FC seat at booking rather than playing UG roulette.