Originally Posted by
xliioper
While AA doesn't do it, DL manages to code their upgrade offers such that they earn MQD even though they are not upfares (they aren't based on fare diff and there's no fare exchange and you lose the value of your purchase should you make a voluntary change).
Good for DL. Do they let you use your elite benefits when you fly basic economy? Do they let you earn status with a relatively small amount of spend with partners? Every airline has pros and cons. Pick the one that suits your needs the best (and hopefully serves your home city well). Personally I would rather get free MCE seats and the chance of an upgrade on basic economy fares than status points on upgrade offers, but if you wouldn't then switch to DL.
Originally Posted by
355F1
I was just using this offer in my flights as an example.
I am not interested in paying $278 to sit in FC for a 2hr flight.
Neither am I. The point here is just that paid upgrades not counting towards status is nothing new. Upfares always have and still do. If your upgrade offer is the same price as, or more expensive than, an upfare (and they are occasionally more expensive), then obviously you would upfare rather than upgrade.
In other words absolutely nothing has changed.