The Definitive B/E Upgrade Complaint Thread
Apr 4, 2012, 1:43 am
#721
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
UA's International F cabin is a 1 - 2- 1 config, which is on par with DL's J cabin.
Apr 4, 2012, 6:42 am
#722
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ICT
Programs: AA EXP, UA Plat, DL G, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,330
Apr 4, 2012, 6:54 am
#723
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA EP, DL DM, DL 1M, Marriott Elite, Hilton Gold, SPG Elite
Posts: 140
They are way out of line. I can book L for any random week trip to NGO for < $2000 (in fact, I flew for $1300 on L this week to NGO). The M ticket is $4929 on a 747. That is obscene, especially when you factor in that they flew the plane with 322 of 330 coach seats filled and 21 out of 68 BE seats filled. 47 empty seats, Delta, 47.
Yes, I get the model, but when you price the upgradeable out of reach, aren't you doing yourself economic harm when you could fill BE on SWU's if the M fare was $3000-3500.
Yes, I get the model, but when you price the upgradeable out of reach, aren't you doing yourself economic harm when you could fill BE on SWU's if the M fare was $3000-3500.
Apr 4, 2012, 7:01 am
#724
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
Yeah? 3x? Out of your own pocket? BS!!!
3x is a stretch. And again, if you dig, I am sure you will find the one fare between two city pairs where the price diff is 3x. So, for that one route, I will pay 3x so your right.
HHellllooooo... down there in the rabbit hole. Have you seen my friend Alice? Give me a break? Width/Pitch 22/44 vs. 31/78? Shoot me some of those pills!
3x is a stretch. And again, if you dig, I am sure you will find the one fare between two city pairs where the price diff is 3x. So, for that one route, I will pay 3x so your right.
HHellllooooo... down there in the rabbit hole. Have you seen my friend Alice? Give me a break? Width/Pitch 22/44 vs. 31/78? Shoot me some of those pills!
Of course, you can't compare DL's J to UA/AA's F but still, if you don't want to spend the $$$ for F, and you want an F experience, then the next best thing down the totum pole is DL's J, then after that you can either pick from UA or AA's J. Pound for pound, your getting a much better J experience on DL. is it worth the extra $$$ for me to spend on DL? I guess so. Plus, I don't get short changed on the medallion benies when I upgrade on DL. From what I hear, on the cheapest upgradeable UA and AA fares, the benies are greatly diminished, plus copays and/or mileage contributions exist.
Disclaimer: until DL completes the refurbishments of the 763, 744 and A330 fleet, then yes, DL's hard product suffers.
Apr 4, 2012, 7:34 am
#725
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,166
They are way out of line. I can book L for any random week trip to NGO for < $2000 (in fact, I flew for $1300 on L this week to NGO). The M ticket is $4929 on a 747. That is obscene, especially when you factor in that they flew the plane with 322 of 330 coach seats filled and 21 out of 68 BE seats filled. 47 empty seats, Delta, 47.
Yes, I get the model, but when you price the upgradeable out of reach, aren't you doing yourself economic harm when you could fill BE on SWU's if the M fare was $3000-3500.
Yes, I get the model, but when you price the upgradeable out of reach, aren't you doing yourself economic harm when you could fill BE on SWU's if the M fare was $3000-3500.
In fact, see my post a few above where an I fare (yes, I fare, not even a deeply discounted S) is ~750 more than the M. Thats pathetic. Yes the DL hard product is better than UA with the DL lie-flats. However, when the UA SWU upgradable fare is under 2k and DL is over 5k its pretty absurd. Then take a look at west coast routes where DL is still flying old 763s. Can anybody justify almost 5k for sitting in a recliner?
Apr 4, 2012, 8:10 am
#726
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
Exactly. I think the vast majority of us agree that there is a serious problem when it costs 5k to have the non-gauranteed chance to upgrade using an SWU.
In fact, see my post a few above where an I fare (yes, I fare, not even a deeply discounted S) is ~750 more than the M. Thats pathetic. Yes the DL hard product is better than UA with the DL lie-flats. However, when the UA SWU upgradable fare is under 2k and DL is over 5k its pretty absurd. Then take a look at west coast routes where DL is still flying old 763s. Can anybody justify almost 5k for sitting in a recliner?
In fact, see my post a few above where an I fare (yes, I fare, not even a deeply discounted S) is ~750 more than the M. Thats pathetic. Yes the DL hard product is better than UA with the DL lie-flats. However, when the UA SWU upgradable fare is under 2k and DL is over 5k its pretty absurd. Then take a look at west coast routes where DL is still flying old 763s. Can anybody justify almost 5k for sitting in a recliner?
Your using extreme examples of a high DL fare against that of the lowest UA fare. Your not comparing fairly. I do see the point you are making though,and if you must travel on set dates and UA/AA is thousands cheaper then DL, then you do what you must do.
Apr 4, 2012, 8:15 am
#727
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,166
Oh its not just certain special dates... those M fares are there for the summer and fall, as well as a lot of availability of the I fares.
Even if you factor in a mid level UA fare at 2.5k+SWU, it is still 1/2 the DL price of 5k+SWU.
Its just quite frustrating that the M fares have crept up so much that the 'value' of an SWU is reduced to under $500 each way. I get better value using an SWU (assuming I can get one of a dozen agents to code it correctly) on a JFK-SFO flight than for international now.
Even if you factor in a mid level UA fare at 2.5k+SWU, it is still 1/2 the DL price of 5k+SWU.
Its just quite frustrating that the M fares have crept up so much that the 'value' of an SWU is reduced to under $500 each way. I get better value using an SWU (assuming I can get one of a dozen agents to code it correctly) on a JFK-SFO flight than for international now.
Apr 4, 2012, 8:29 am
#728
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
I'm seeing availability in may for jfk - dtw- hnd in J for $4,000.00 RT.
AA is offering JFK - HND for the same dates on a business special fare of $4180.00
according to seatguru, All AA T7's have now been configured with angled lie-flat Business class seats.
I'll take DL's flatbeds over AA's angled lie-flats any day of the week.
AA is offering JFK - HND for the same dates on a business special fare of $4180.00
according to seatguru, All AA T7's have now been configured with angled lie-flat Business class seats.
I'll take DL's flatbeds over AA's angled lie-flats any day of the week.
Apr 4, 2012, 8:54 am
#729
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BDL/HPN/JFK/FLL
Programs: DL Diamond Ham Sandwich
Posts: 1,051
As to cheap(er) J tickets for vacations- i just want to be comfortable when I'm flying long haul. I prefer a lie-flat because I get an extra partial day of non delirious vacation out of the deal, but I just want to not be in pain for the entire flight.
Apr 4, 2012, 9:43 am
#730
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Meechigan
Posts: 1,006
Its not a stretch. Compare cabins. I'll gladly pay more for the direct aisle access flat bed seat in a 1-2-1 config. Note that some of these airlines that boast flat beds are in a shameful 2-3-2 config with even some having the seats facing towards the back of the plane.
Apr 4, 2012, 9:49 am
#731
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ICT
Programs: AA EXP, UA Plat, DL G, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,330
+1 on that. Checking in on UA's club at ORD yesterday, I heard the agent say to the pax next to me "sir, upgrades aren't eligible for use of the showers".
Apr 4, 2012, 10:08 am
#733
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
How can you forget the nearly limitless numbers of 752s they use TATL from JFK?!
As to cheap(er) J tickets for vacations- i just want to be comfortable when I'm flying long haul. I prefer a lie-flat because I get an extra partial day of non delirious vacation out of the deal, but I just want to not be in pain for the entire flight.
As to cheap(er) J tickets for vacations- i just want to be comfortable when I'm flying long haul. I prefer a lie-flat because I get an extra partial day of non delirious vacation out of the deal, but I just want to not be in pain for the entire flight.
Apr 4, 2012, 10:13 am
#734
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
Apr 4, 2012, 10:18 am
#735
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BDL/HPN/JFK/FLL
Programs: DL Diamond Ham Sandwich
Posts: 1,051
Too bad most of us have other means of accessing the club than BE tickets....