First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread
Aug 31, 2016, 9:50 pm
#3256
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Question for y'all, I think this is the place to ask. I'm sorry in advance if it's already been discussed, I've been swamped with school and haven't been on the forums in a few months.
Basically, it's about F fares. Lately, I've noticed that when I do searches for flights, all DL.com ever returns are P fares, for everything. Doesn't matter if it's 6 months away or two weeks away. I'm used to seeing lots of G fares and even the occasional A fare, but it's P across the board, every flight, every combination of connections, no matter where I look. What is up with that? Or is it just me?
Basically, it's about F fares. Lately, I've noticed that when I do searches for flights, all DL.com ever returns are P fares, for everything. Doesn't matter if it's 6 months away or two weeks away. I'm used to seeing lots of G fares and even the occasional A fare, but it's P across the board, every flight, every combination of connections, no matter where I look. What is up with that? Or is it just me?
Sep 9, 2016, 5:49 am
#3257
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,626
Got my first FCM offer in a while today, a week before the flight -- on a ticket booked on 7/27.
DCA-SNA-DCA booked in Q outbound and K return. Original ticket total $768.20.
FCM offer today is $633.25 each way.
Was booked into EC when originally booked so I'm satisfied, although I'm not expecting an upgrade on this one.
DCA-SNA-DCA booked in Q outbound and K return. Original ticket total $768.20.
FCM offer today is $633.25 each way.
Was booked into EC when originally booked so I'm satisfied, although I'm not expecting an upgrade on this one.
Sep 9, 2016, 2:06 pm
#3258
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Got my first FCM offer in a while today, a week before the flight -- on a ticket booked on 7/27.
DCA-SNA-DCA booked in Q outbound and K return. Original ticket total $768.20.
FCM offer today is $633.25 each way.
Was booked into EC when originally booked so I'm satisfied, although I'm not expecting an upgrade on this one.
DCA-SNA-DCA booked in Q outbound and K return. Original ticket total $768.20.
FCM offer today is $633.25 each way.
Was booked into EC when originally booked so I'm satisfied, although I'm not expecting an upgrade on this one.
You are in EC+ Round Trip from DC(Ronald Reagan) to Orange County(John Wayne) for 768 dollars. And got an offer for First Class for an extra 1200 dollars? Thus being almost 2000 dollars total? Can't you have booked FC originally through ATL or MSP for ~1K to start?
That seems steep!
Sep 9, 2016, 2:28 pm
#3259
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
Am I understanding correct.
You are in EC+ Round Trip from DC(Ronald Reagan) to Orange County(John Wayne) for 768 dollars. And got an offer for First Class for an extra 1200 dollars? Thus being almost 2000 dollars total? Can't you have booked FC originally through ATL or MSP for ~1K to start?
That seems steep!
You are in EC+ Round Trip from DC(Ronald Reagan) to Orange County(John Wayne) for 768 dollars. And got an offer for First Class for an extra 1200 dollars? Thus being almost 2000 dollars total? Can't you have booked FC originally through ATL or MSP for ~1K to start?
That seems steep!
Prices for FC range from $1500 to $2200.
Of course, coach fares at this point range from $1100 to $1700.
This is just DL trying to lure someone into paying the difference between the cost of the coach ticket they have and the current FC price.
This does serve to remind that, ultimately when VA Ave feels they have accustomed enough folks to paid FC, the lower cost "enticement" fares in FC will be gradually phased out.
Sep 9, 2016, 2:39 pm
#3260
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,626
I did a dummy booking for a RT next week.
Prices for FC range from $1500 to $2200.
Of course, coach fares at this point range from $1100 to $1700.
This is just DL trying to lure someone into paying the difference between the cost of the coach ticket they have and the current FC price.
This does serve to remind that, ultimately when VA Ave feels they have accustomed enough folks to paid FC, the lower cost "enticement" fares in FC will be gradually phased out.
Prices for FC range from $1500 to $2200.
Of course, coach fares at this point range from $1100 to $1700.
This is just DL trying to lure someone into paying the difference between the cost of the coach ticket they have and the current FC price.
This does serve to remind that, ultimately when VA Ave feels they have accustomed enough folks to paid FC, the lower cost "enticement" fares in FC will be gradually phased out.
When FCM first started I was getting $100 or $150 offers on $600 and $700 originally priced tickets. And last December, VA sold me a PE to business class upgrade from BNE-LAX for about $US 900.
Just commenting that sometimes they are worth it and sometimes not -- in this case, for me, definitely not.
Sep 20, 2016, 8:45 am
#3262
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Is there a way to use an eCredit from a previously unused ticket to pay for a pre-OLCI FCM offer?
On DL.com I can only seem to find the usual CC/Paypal options.
On DL.com I can only seem to find the usual CC/Paypal options.
Sep 20, 2016, 11:17 am
#3263
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mesilla, NM
Programs: DL DM 4.7 MM MQM Marriott Ambassador Lifetime Titanium AA CK
Posts: 2,714
Sep 20, 2016, 11:26 am
#3264
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Sep 22, 2016, 4:16 pm
#3267
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
Sep 22, 2016, 4:49 pm
#3268
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 609
No time flexibility on my part, so I have to take the particular flights I booked. I'm screwed if there's IRROP, but at least I can blame the airline so I won't look too bad to the in-laws.
Sep 22, 2016, 6:54 pm
#3269
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Purchased AT-SFO-ATL W+ RT 458. Went to My Trips right after and it was 303 each way for F. Based on my flight times didn't make any sense to me. It's now 808 each way which is more than the route was originally.
Sep 25, 2016, 2:14 pm
#3270
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: MCO
Programs: Delta - PM, HH - Gold, SPG - Gold, Marriott - Plat
Posts: 1,060
We buy a number of tickets in advance so I've been used to getting FCM offers with some of them good enough to buy.
Haven't had too many recently, but got one today on a trip next month going MCO-ATL-MSY roundtrip for only 996.
EACH WAY
Haven't had too many recently, but got one today on a trip next month going MCO-ATL-MSY roundtrip for only 996.
EACH WAY