Originally Posted by dapaterson

I bought a round trip coach ticket on Delta from LAX to BRU before Christmas. Unfortunately, the return trip, even though it had the same exact routing through Atlanta, turned out to be what Delta calls a "through fare".
Here's what I've learned about "through fares":

You can not view, or change seat assignments online.

The domestic leg is not eligible for automatic upgrades.

Mileage is credited based on "non stop" mileage from Brussels to LAX (5,640 miles) instead of the actual mileage flown. (4,446 + 1947=6,373 miles)

Nowhere is any of this information disclosed when purchasing the ticket online! The only clue that you get when booking online is that the itinerary, though listed as a "one stop", does not show the stop over airport.

When questioning Delta about the purpose of designating a flight as a "through fare", I was told that it is for "competitive purposes".

Sounds like something you'd hear from a used car salesman. What competetive purpose is served by trying to make a flight look like a non-stop when it really isn't?

I will definitely think twice before booking another "through fare" with Delta. I fly over 100K miles per year with several airlines and I have never been duped like this before.

Buyer Beware!