Since it upgrades into O (award ticket class, no mileage earning), anyone have any experience with this with the miles and MQMs actually posting?

Just knowing the dire situation that DL IT is in, I wouldn't be surprised if PU503 upgrades here are treated as an award booking (as class flown is O, not a specific paid ticket PU503 upgrade class) and thus do not get any miles or MQMs.

That's why I am against Delta ever having an Economy+ product.

AF usually frees up "O" inventory at the very last minute (a day or two before, or even the day of).

Thanks. I'll continue searching as my flight dates near.

They do release some in advance. I last summer I booked a J award (O class) for October (to PRG).I was able to get my dates right off, plus the day before and after were also avail. I did find the seats (B777) not a nice as the A330 (haven't done DL B777) but of course, much better than Y.

W Fare on AF Way Cheaper than DL M Fare on Same Flight
 

Just for fun, I looked at the AF website for Premium Voyageur tickets in W class from Washington to Paris and return.

I found an IAD-CDG-IAD itinerary, eastbound 29 October on AF39, westbound on November 2 on AF 28, priced out at $1,546.74 all in--eastbound fare was $714, westbound fare was $713, before taxes and fees.

This is compared to a DL M fare on the same metal: AF 39 is also known as DL8631; AF 28 is also known as DL8496. Here is what an M fare costs on the same metal and dates as above:

Price per passenger: $2,751.20 (USD)
Taxes/Fees: $87.60 (USD)
Subtotal per passenger: $2,838.80 (USD)
Total for all passengers (1): $2,838.80(USD)

So, if you want to sit in business class with an SWU for the lowest possible price, buying the ticket on AF is the way to go.

The question then becomes how and when do you present your SWU coupon to AF personnel?

I spoke with the Plat desk last night about this very issue. In the end, it sounded like the DL agent would have to reissue the ticket (which I purchased through AF), and then apply the SWU. Unfortunately, there was no O availability. This was the first time the agent had heard of the PV-up use of SWU, so I sat on the phone with her as she read through the new instructions.

thanks everyone for the heads up - just booked an LAX -CDG and NCE CDG JFK in A and used the O inventory and SWU to confirm in J. ^

The agent on the DL PM line was very knowledgeable and helpful.

Let us know after the flight how it went with MQM's. I can see DL IT saying "O Class = Award = No Miles" -- it would be nice to know if that didn't happen :)

:eek:

I was nervous about not earning MQMs and SMs, so I called back. Confirmed that I should earn 150% MQMs and 125% SMs based on the fare paid (in A class) and as outlined in the chart using the link below. My journey doesn't commence until 26 Dec, but I'll try to post back what happens then.

http://skymilesoffers.delta.com/airline_partners.php#AF

So to be clear, we book this via Air France, or Delta? Which ticket stock, and which coded flight? I am looking at a trip to Europe over Thanksgiving, and would love to get the $1,500 price and use the SWU. But I will need this trip's MQM to maintain Platinum for 2011.

Thanks for the clarification!!

All in the fares I got for W were around $1400 which was kind of like the old M fares. That said, unless you are flying ex-EU (at least on routes that I care about) where the M fare is around this amount, I have yet to find a better option.

Also, those who disagree should also first look at the Premium Economy seat AF is offering which is more VS in style and nothing close to KL's or UA's version. This is a different seat, one I would be happy to pay slightly more for on a TATL flight. So even if you didn't get the upgrade, you would still be sitting in something much more comfortable than a Delta coach exit row seat. And flying out of NYC where every Paris bound flight is AF, this is something extremely positive.

Again, it simply amazes me that a key top-tier Medallion benefit comes by the way of Air France. Now that is the real shame in all this.

If found similar results but was able to enter W fare on the DL website vs. AF. The only time W presented an issue was on certain multi-leg searches where I suppose the system simply rejected the search for a domestic W fare class.

One note, you might have to fight for the W 150% MQM booking as the DL site returned a 100% MQM's earned in the page just prior to purchase screen. Here I would think one can contact Customer Care and point to the chart someone else linked to.

I would say there is a difference between E+ and PE at least with respect to certain carriers. I have seen VS's PE (and AF's seems similar) which is far better than a Y seat with or without + ala UA or KL.

It appears that the AF site doesn't allow for DL codeshares -- it won't let me book MSN-DTW-CDG. So it appears I have to fly from ORD if I want to take advantage of this. Is this correct?

The DL site lets me book MSN-DTW-CDG, but won't allow W fare. It will allow W on ORD-CDG, but it's $300 more expensive than the AF site.

I had checked in the past for premium eco SAN/CDG. options are either through ATL or JFK, for $1,800 round trip on eiher delta.com or airfrance.us. Booking on Delta.com, the domestic segment shows up in Y with immediate upgrade and the premium eco is A. On AF, the domestic is not upgradable because it's AF and the premium eco is W.
Since both W and A are upgradable using SWU, it means when O is available, $1,800 R/T in first / Affaires. My experience is that O is available when way in advance or last minute (I mostly end up on AF when using skymiles to europe for 100k as delta BE is rarely available).

I was about the choose the $200 voucher for my plat benefits but am seriously reconsidering the SWU. This is a huge increase in the SWU value.