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First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread

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First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread

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Old Nov 12, 2015, 3:39 pm
  #2791  
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: DL PM MM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 3,276
Quick question - I don't know if it's already been addressed, but if I buy the buy-up to F during check in, does the money count as MQD?
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Old Nov 13, 2015, 2:46 pm
  #2792  
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Originally Posted by CMK10
I was monitoring it every day, the seat numbers haven't changed. There's an upgrade list of 34, you'd think they'd try to offer it for say $99 which a reasonable person with a bad Y seat might pay. But hey what do I know.
Perhaps RM is also calculating the likelihood of selling that seat so someone going XXX-ATL-FLL, where XXX-FLL is a market that tends to sell more last-minute FC seats?

I have no idea...just a random thought.
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Old Nov 13, 2015, 5:52 pm
  #2793  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 51
FCM offer popped up on a 8000+ mile round trip for $1500. That's only $375 per leg.
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Old Nov 13, 2015, 9:21 pm
  #2794  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: West of CLE
Programs: Delta DM/3 MM; Hertz PC; National EE; Amtrak GR; Bonvoy Silver; Via Rail Préférence
Posts: 5,384
On my last 3 domestic segments Delta sold 39 out of 40 F seats in advance. One of those segments, MSP-DCA on Monday morning, had 61 pax on the UG list; I was #5; my PM wife was #20. No one got upgraded.

On the last of the three, JFK-DCA on a CRJ-900, there was one seat unclaimed in F; they didn't upgrade #1 on the UG list, but rather gave the seat to a military officer in uniform (it was Veterans' Day) (I was #2 on the UG list).

On the other side of the coin, my wife got extremely lucky--we were flying DCA-ATL-SEA on a Thursday morning on cheap coach tickets; the ATL-SEA was an ETOPS 767 with 34 flat bed seats up front; my UG cleared 3 days in advance; leaving DCA, my wife was #5 on the UG list on my phone for 4 open seats--when we hit the ground at ATL, about 50 minutes before departure on the SEA leg, we got the great news that there was a no show and that she got the final UG to flat bed glory.
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Old Nov 14, 2015, 9:23 am
  #2795  
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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
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Originally Posted by woodchuck
FCM offer popped up on a 8000+ mile round trip for $1500. That's only $375 per leg.
Were all of the segments domestic or was international included in FCM? Perhaps northern South America or was it the long way to Alaska?
MSPeconomist is offline  
Old Nov 14, 2015, 11:44 am
  #2796  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Seattle
Programs: DL DM, HH Silver
Posts: 64
I try not to buy up to first often but this one was too tempting.

Flying next week I am on a u fare sea-dtw and back. Seat map was showing about 8 seats open on a 757. It's been a tough upgrade for me this year. Earlier this week it was $424 for the upgrade, then mid week $262. I was frustrated waiting for someone to jump on them.

I had missed my last 4 upgrades going to either msp or dtw as a diamond and usually by 6 or 7.

Today I looked and it was $166 to upgrade for both legs... I bit.

No wonder I never get upgrades anymore.

Lately there have been 3-4 seats at t-24 and by take off they are gone.
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Old Nov 14, 2015, 2:00 pm
  #2797  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 51
Originally Posted by MSPeconomist
Were all of the segments domestic or was international included in FCM? Perhaps northern South America or was it the long way to Alaska?
Destination is south of the US border.
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Old Nov 14, 2015, 5:17 pm
  #2798  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SLC
Programs: DL FO, KM, & 1.7MM; UA nothing; HH♦; National EE
Posts: 6,344
Originally Posted by woodchuck
Destination is south of the US border.
South of the North US border? Or South of the South US border?
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Old Nov 14, 2015, 5:19 pm
  #2799  
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Join Date: Sep 2009
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Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,403
South of the border usually means Mexico, right?
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Old Nov 14, 2015, 5:27 pm
  #2800  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SLC
Programs: DL FO, KM, & 1.7MM; UA nothing; HH♦; National EE
Posts: 6,344
But not always.

South of the Border
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Old Nov 15, 2015, 6:30 am
  #2801  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 51
Originally Posted by Howste
South of the North US border? Or South of the South US border?
I don't know if you're joking or purposefully pedantic.
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Old Nov 15, 2015, 9:10 am
  #2802  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SLC
Programs: DL FO, KM, & 1.7MM; UA nothing; HH♦; National EE
Posts: 6,344
Originally Posted by woodchuck
I don't know if you're joking or purposefully pedantic.
Oops, I forgot the
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Old Nov 15, 2015, 10:32 am
  #2803  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: DL PM/MM, Hilton Silver, SPG+, Hertz PC
Posts: 7,899
FCM has been joined by C+M
thesaints is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2015, 11:18 am
  #2804  
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: msp
Programs: AA PLT 3MM, DL PM 2MM
Posts: 1,142
MSP PLT and UG/FCM

As I end the year I share my thoughts and welcome others with their UG strategy and experience out of MSP for PLTs. At the beginning of 2015 I had about 50% UG experience but that fell off after maybe March. My connections are mostly east and west coast (LGA/DC/SFO/LAX). Begin to notice FCM not that much higher than coach especially if plan ahead. So for the rest of the year did FCM most of the time. I'm sure DL likes that. Now planning for 2016. How is UG's at the 72 hour time point or at the gate for other PLT's in MSP currently. Still a challenge? Also I've noticed UA FCM often beats DL $$$$$ for west coast. Something I"m keeping in mind. Welcome others strategies and experiences out of MSP. Thanks
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Old Nov 15, 2015, 1:36 pm
  #2805  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: home airport RSW
Programs: Delta Plat, Marriott Life Gold, ***Princess Status***
Posts: 875
DM now, was PLT 50% of the year - have the reserve card. Purchase mostly airfare 1-2 weeks in advance.

Made about 66% of UG on status MSP to LAX/SFO/SMF and those barely, never ever in by a lot.
nikitta28 is offline  


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