The Definitive B/E Upgrade Complaint Thread
#691
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
Programs: United1K, AA ExPlAAt, DL MM/Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 13,316
Just a datapoint: I'm looking for a Sept/Oct trip from NY to Seoul, doing a stayover in Tokyo on the way back for a few days.
UA J fare? $4500
DL J fare? $6700-9000
DL M fare? $4600
What kind of moron would pay their own money for a Delta ticket on that?
Keep in mind NOBODY is going to argue that WBC recliners >> UA J.
UA J fare? $4500
DL J fare? $6700-9000
DL M fare? $4600
What kind of moron would pay their own money for a Delta ticket on that?
Keep in mind NOBODY is going to argue that WBC recliners >> UA J.
#692
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
people vote with their wallets, right? So, if corporations and regular guys like me are willing to pay extra for a premium product, then DL must be doing something right.
Everything I've heard about UA's cheap ugrades comes at a price.
Plus, there is a huge product gap between what DL has and what UA has. Personally, I'd rather be on a 747 upperdeck with a 1 - 1 config then anything UA can throw at me. You pay for what you get.
Everything I've heard about UA's cheap ugrades comes at a price.
Plus, there is a huge product gap between what DL has and what UA has. Personally, I'd rather be on a 747 upperdeck with a 1 - 1 config then anything UA can throw at me. You pay for what you get.
#693
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Southern California
Programs: DL DM, EY Plat, MM Senator
Posts: 493
Why is it that you,and others, seem to think that DL's premium cabin is only filled with nonrevs? What kind of inside information do you have to back that up with?
Sure,there are some routes certain times of the year where you will most likely find more Non revs then paying pax, but you make your statement seem like its a blanket statement.
As DL's product gets revamped, I would gladly pay more to fly on the upper deck of a 747 in a 1 - 1 config then that of UA's 2 - 2 747 config. I'm not the only one either as Delta's international long haul fleet, once complete, will leave the competition in the dust... more and more corporations will pay the extra $$$$ to have that flat bed, direct aisle acess.
Sure,there are some routes certain times of the year where you will most likely find more Non revs then paying pax, but you make your statement seem like its a blanket statement.
As DL's product gets revamped, I would gladly pay more to fly on the upper deck of a 747 in a 1 - 1 config then that of UA's 2 - 2 747 config. I'm not the only one either as Delta's international long haul fleet, once complete, will leave the competition in the dust... more and more corporations will pay the extra $$$$ to have that flat bed, direct aisle acess.
Sorry, but I cannot agree that DL fleet will "leave the competition in the dust." First, I am flying now, not in the future, and second I am not about to pay 2-3x for a product that is not worth that high a premium (and am definitely not paying these ridiculous fares for the "premium" routes such as LAX/SFO-TYO, JFK-SVO flown in the old recliners; I personally find ex-NWA A330 recliners even worse than old BE). Add to that the declining quality of the soft product, especially noticeable on the TPAC routes (for which even the improved hard shell would not compensate), and the decision becomes a no-brainer, unless you are spending someone else's money are are careless doing so.
#694
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Southern California
Programs: DL DM, EY Plat, MM Senator
Posts: 493
No on the second point as well, as there are only a couple of those 747s you are referring to in DL fleet and plenty more lie-flats on UA that can be had for much less money (or go UA IFC for about the same as DL BE). And if you don't want to go with UA metal, you can do even better with Asian airlines TPAC and some TATL and LH with TATL and still get a better product? Surely beats DL/AF/KL combo.
#695
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BDL/HPN/JFK/FLL
Programs: DL Diamond Ham Sandwich
Posts: 1,051
#696
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Meechigan
Posts: 1,006
To say DL is leaving competition in the dust is a stretch. They have a long way home before the fleet is converted, and even at that point the product isn't that much better.
If I compare the best DL J experience (777, hopefully soon the 744) with the best UA J experience (CO 777) I give CO a slight edge. If I'm not mistaken there are more of these CO birds than DL's 777 fleet.
If I compare the best DL J experience (777, hopefully soon the 744) with the best UA J experience (CO 777) I give CO a slight edge. If I'm not mistaken there are more of these CO birds than DL's 777 fleet.
#697
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,679
I think there is a compelling argument to be made that that marketplace for Y/B/M upgrades is very closed and operates exactly the way DL wants it. It's hard enough to query DL/3rd party service to figure out inventory, let alone compare prices to another program on a day to day basis.
I think at the end of the day DL begrudgingly provides Y/B/M upgrades as a line item on the FFP benefits guide, but in reality they want customers to be in the J cabin on Awards and Revenue tickets.
#698
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: TPA & ATL
Programs: DL PM, USLess air & HHoners
Posts: 1,237
#701
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
Then I will bring it back to my point....why are y'all here? Why don't you go over to the grass-is-greener UA? Read the posts on their thread. My oh my...it is a paradise in which to be right now.
When you wedge yourself into that 8 abreast J in UA, feel special, and feel priveledged knowing that you have a J on your boarding pass. You are flying BUSINESS class my friends. You are a success.
Back to my domestic upgrade meal choice.....hmmmm....Cheerios.....or Cheerios. These upgrades have made it so luxurious!
When you wedge yourself into that 8 abreast J in UA, feel special, and feel priveledged knowing that you have a J on your boarding pass. You are flying BUSINESS class my friends. You are a success.
Back to my domestic upgrade meal choice.....hmmmm....Cheerios.....or Cheerios. These upgrades have made it so luxurious!
#702
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL PM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,335
Isn't that OBVIOUS? Why would we waste our valuable time writing comments on this forum otherwise?
#703
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 18
Because more choices and more competition is better. We'd like DL to speed up their conversion to flat bed seats and we'd like DL offer a competitive FF program, which results in a reasonable cost of travel. Some of us have put in a lot of miles on DL, and most of it was pretty good until the current management regime. We are hoping that at some point, DL will go back to providing a good product at competitive prices.
Isn't that OBVIOUS? Why would we waste our valuable time writing comments on this forum otherwise?
Isn't that OBVIOUS? Why would we waste our valuable time writing comments on this forum otherwise?
#704
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL PM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,335
My time is cheap enough that I can afford to spend two minutes writing a comment if I think it might in the future save me $50k a year, which is how more I would be spending if I had the same travel pattern and flew DL instead of UA.
#705
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
+1. If I have a choice and prices are the same, I'll pick direct aisle access. But they're not, and it's not worth the high premium to me. YMMV.
I do love DL's 777, they're my favorite. But I much prefer UA's new J cabins (including their 777) to DL's 763, 747, and 330 J cabins today (not in the future).
And, although I think UA's 2-4-2 configuration in J was a mistake, I sat in one 4 weeks ago and had a surprisingly good sleep -- much better than I do on the sliders. Yes, your neighbors are close but lie flat is key for me.
I do love DL's 777, they're my favorite. But I much prefer UA's new J cabins (including their 777) to DL's 763, 747, and 330 J cabins today (not in the future).
And, although I think UA's 2-4-2 configuration in J was a mistake, I sat in one 4 weeks ago and had a surprisingly good sleep -- much better than I do on the sliders. Yes, your neighbors are close but lie flat is key for me.
Why can't people get it through their heads that DL doesn't want low fares up front on international? I for one am glad. They have ruined domestic F by letting everyone with any status get up front for free.