<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by yalie25:
if there indeed is this contingent of travelers with a proclivity (and the means) for purchasing full fare tickets (>>$1000), aren't these the sorts of people who just sport the money and buy a first class ticket anyway? i mean, who DOES buy first class tickets? and if you're willing to shell out $1200 for a COACH unrestricted ticket from LA to NY, why not just spend the $2200 and guarantee yourself a first class seat? </font>
I am of the same view. Incidentally, the difference between Y and D and A is often much less than the example in your post. Sometimes it is as little as $50 or $100 between each fare class. In that case, it really would be foolish not to step up a few dollars for the confirmed seat.
However, busybodies have tried to place a stigma on paying for FC. So some travelers resort to various subterfuges, hand in hand with the airlines, to obtain FC through automatic upgrades from Full Y or by buying fares that are designated as "business," but which are first class (CO's domestic D fare).
This stigma is the only reason I can think of that anyone who purchased a last-minute ticket or who needed flexibility would not just buy the first class ticket outright. Some people are so cowed that they will sit at the full Y without stepping up to FC.
jh