What's your "loyalty" price max?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: DTW, LAX, MBJ
Programs: AA, Delta Kryptonium (DM) Hyatt Diamond IHG Fake Plat (Ambassador), HH Gold
Posts: 832
What's your "loyalty" price max?
I am a DTW hub captive GM that needs to do a same day turn around for an 11:00 -12:00 business meeting in Midtown June 15.
I like Delta, hope to maximize my MQM's, but loyalty has a breaking point.
non stop Tickets on my dates on DL are 1,159.40 (B) fare. I ended up buy tickets on NK for 220. This price included their Big Front Seat, to LGA and exit row back to DTW.
I have factored in all of the problemsI expect on a NK flight, but I can't pull the trigger on an $900 difference.
I am willing to pay more in DL. Probably double ln this case, but four times!!!
I am curious where people draw the line.
Maps
I like Delta, hope to maximize my MQM's, but loyalty has a breaking point.
non stop Tickets on my dates on DL are 1,159.40 (B) fare. I ended up buy tickets on NK for 220. This price included their Big Front Seat, to LGA and exit row back to DTW.
I have factored in all of the problemsI expect on a NK flight, but I can't pull the trigger on an $900 difference.
I am willing to pay more in DL. Probably double ln this case, but four times!!!
I am curious where people draw the line.
Maps
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: DTW, LAX, MBJ
Programs: AA, Delta Kryptonium (DM) Hyatt Diamond IHG Fake Plat (Ambassador), HH Gold
Posts: 832
The ability to SDC and the relative reliability vs NK are worth something to me. On this itinerary my worst case scenario I could purchase the full trip or a one way for about the same total damage if necessary.
#5
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,365
Obviously $900 is a non starter. I would rather walk.
After thinking a bit, I would set my bar at $100 + 2cpm for domestic. International would be case by case.
That said, I rarely see a domestic ticket out of ATL that runs even close to this much more than the cheapest (I am certain many can flood us with with counter-examples, but not on my flights).
After thinking a bit, I would set my bar at $100 + 2cpm for domestic. International would be case by case.
That said, I rarely see a domestic ticket out of ATL that runs even close to this much more than the cheapest (I am certain many can flood us with with counter-examples, but not on my flights).
#6
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MLB
Programs: TK CP, Lapsed DL FO, Mr. <3Vacations Free Rider, Numerous programs
Posts: 241
Well, normally DL offers the lest expensive flights to where I am going (usually DCA & MLB) . Just happens to work out that way. Since I fly out of Huntsville, even if I fly international it makes it VERY hard to choose some one else. However, I have been waiting 3 months for the price to go down on a trip to Denver in July. The price was hovering around $360 went up to 450, and came back down to $380, I happened to have a Cert so I ended up going with the $380 but I REALLY did not want to pay over about $250 RT. If someone else had a lower fare... (cheapest I saw was $360) prob at least $100 lower, I would have just booked with them.
#7
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Enn Why Cee
Programs: DL, CO, LH, BA etc...
Posts: 1,570
Great question, and one I keep asking myself often
Prior to wide-spread FCM, I would have no problem paying $100-$150 extra for a personal domestic round trip. I figured I am paying extra for the nearly-guaranteed upgrade and status miles.
After a few Q fares gone bad, this is under review...and knowing that coach is a likely outcome of the upgrade game, the last instance of a $100 difference brought me to AS instead of DL
When traveling for work, i apply a reasonableness test - if the fare is up to 30-40% more than the lowest fare of the day and within the parameters of the trip (Arrival and departure times, connections, etc), I go for DL. If another airline has compatible flights and is more than like $50 cheaper, I go that route.
For international, I compare the cost of J, when allowed by policy, to DL's M cost + Z availability. Win-win, unless IROPS occur
Prior to wide-spread FCM, I would have no problem paying $100-$150 extra for a personal domestic round trip. I figured I am paying extra for the nearly-guaranteed upgrade and status miles.
After a few Q fares gone bad, this is under review...and knowing that coach is a likely outcome of the upgrade game, the last instance of a $100 difference brought me to AS instead of DL
When traveling for work, i apply a reasonableness test - if the fare is up to 30-40% more than the lowest fare of the day and within the parameters of the trip (Arrival and departure times, connections, etc), I go for DL. If another airline has compatible flights and is more than like $50 cheaper, I go that route.
For international, I compare the cost of J, when allowed by policy, to DL's M cost + Z availability. Win-win, unless IROPS occur
#9
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Motel 6
Posts: 16
WN flights are automatically ignored and FL only if there are no other options.
#10
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NYC, CDG, NCE
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,634
Good discussion.
I think the first $100 is a no-brainer because of luggage, shorter lines, better irops handling, etc.
After that it depends on the length of the route, etc, but probably stops around $300 for me.
Just a suggestion to the OP - Is it pricing into B because that's all that's available, or because you're doing a same day turn?
Can you do at least OW on DL and the other on NK? At least that way you get half the benefit/credit instead of none.
I think the first $100 is a no-brainer because of luggage, shorter lines, better irops handling, etc.
After that it depends on the length of the route, etc, but probably stops around $300 for me.
Just a suggestion to the OP - Is it pricing into B because that's all that's available, or because you're doing a same day turn?
Can you do at least OW on DL and the other on NK? At least that way you get half the benefit/credit instead of none.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Bonvoy Gold, UA G
Posts: 596
25-30% price difference over Southwest and I'll got DL. Basically with other airlines I hate them so much I'll fly DL no matter the price unless all/in for F/C on another carrier (UA/CO/US/AA) is still less than DL coach.
#12
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: BOS
Programs: riding the lifetime status. DL MM / AA MM
Posts: 2,968
on a short trip (up to about 600 miles), i won't pay much in premium, and in fact, i might pay a premium to a nonstop carrier where i have less status. for longer trips, if DL is vaguely reasonable, i don't even shop around.
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
I will only spend more in those instances where I can receive something of measurable value to me. For example, if I have to check a bag, and the option is paying $xx on one carrier, and $0 on DL, then DL can charge me $xx more than the other carrier. I will also pay for an exit row and will soon be willing to pay for an economy comfort seat, depending upon the distance. I will pay some premium if I can be relatively assured of an upgrade, but will not pay any premium if I assess the likelihood to be low.
I value the bonus miles from airlines with which I have elite status and will pay up to my assessed value for those miles - this primarily comes into play when the choice is between an airline where I will earn usable miles and when the alternative is somewhere that doesn't earn miles or where the miles will be orphaned.
I will pay for lounge access for international flights, but not very much, maybe $10 or so per visit. Most other at-airport amenities don't mean terribly much to me, so I will not pay much for things like priority check-in or boarding, but it would be enough to make up a couple of stray dollars.
All of those items are weighed against the convenience factor, and I am not predisposed to pay more AND to fly out of my way to do it.
I value the bonus miles from airlines with which I have elite status and will pay up to my assessed value for those miles - this primarily comes into play when the choice is between an airline where I will earn usable miles and when the alternative is somewhere that doesn't earn miles or where the miles will be orphaned.
I will pay for lounge access for international flights, but not very much, maybe $10 or so per visit. Most other at-airport amenities don't mean terribly much to me, so I will not pay much for things like priority check-in or boarding, but it would be enough to make up a couple of stray dollars.
All of those items are weighed against the convenience factor, and I am not predisposed to pay more AND to fly out of my way to do it.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: DTW, LAX, MBJ
Programs: AA, Delta Kryptonium (DM) Hyatt Diamond IHG Fake Plat (Ambassador), HH Gold
Posts: 832
My general priorities are flight times, cost, flexibility, upgrade chances, and duration
I make a DTW - NYC trip seven to ten times a year, This route often has non-competitive pricing from DL. I have frequently paid the premium. The spread is getting too great.
I should be more diligent about the total cost
#15
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,427
Hmmm...interesting that you waste your time commenting on an airline you, and your clients don't even fly.