First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread
#3301
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
R/t or o/w? If r/t, I'd say that's a pretty decent offer depending on the fare paid. Note: not a GREAT deal considering the negligible MQM bonus, but as a frequent shuttle flyer, seems surprisingly low considering the route.
#3302
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
R/T.....but i was recently offered $50 each way on LGA-ORD-LGA which actually had a meal so $158 R/T for a much shorter flight does not seem like a good deal when everyone in coach gets free drinks anyway. It's literally 35 minutes of flying time.
#3303
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,645
Coming from Unitedland, I've been looking at Delta flights for certain places where United either doesn't serve, or doesn't serve with an efficient routing.
So, I've been looking... and this is what I see. Please explain what's going on here.
If I search for a flight from XXX-YYY, it will show me a price for a coach fare (U, L, K, etc), a Comfort+ (W) fare, and the First Class fare, an A fare, costs $300 more. But, if I select a coach fare, and select all the legs I want, it asks if I want to upgrade to First per person each way for $39 more. If I click this, both flights chosen now show an A fare.
Is this a "false" A fare, where all earnings will be for the original class, or is it some sort of -UP fare that books into A? In any case, if I selected this option, what will the earnings actually be?
So, I've been looking... and this is what I see. Please explain what's going on here.
If I search for a flight from XXX-YYY, it will show me a price for a coach fare (U, L, K, etc), a Comfort+ (W) fare, and the First Class fare, an A fare, costs $300 more. But, if I select a coach fare, and select all the legs I want, it asks if I want to upgrade to First per person each way for $39 more. If I click this, both flights chosen now show an A fare.
Is this a "false" A fare, where all earnings will be for the original class, or is it some sort of -UP fare that books into A? In any case, if I selected this option, what will the earnings actually be?
#3304
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Coming from Unitedland, I've been looking at Delta flights for certain places where United either doesn't serve, or doesn't serve with an efficient routing.
So, I've been looking... and this is what I see. Please explain what's going on here.
If I search for a flight from XXX-YYY, it will show me a price for a coach fare (U, L, K, etc), a Comfort+ (W) fare, and the First Class fare, an A fare, costs $300 more. But, if I select a coach fare, and select all the legs I want, it asks if I want to upgrade to First per person each way for $39 more. If I click this, both flights chosen now show an A fare.
Is this a "false" A fare, where all earnings will be for the original class, or is it some sort of -UP fare that books into A? In any case, if I selected this option, what will the earnings actually be?
So, I've been looking... and this is what I see. Please explain what's going on here.
If I search for a flight from XXX-YYY, it will show me a price for a coach fare (U, L, K, etc), a Comfort+ (W) fare, and the First Class fare, an A fare, costs $300 more. But, if I select a coach fare, and select all the legs I want, it asks if I want to upgrade to First per person each way for $39 more. If I click this, both flights chosen now show an A fare.
Is this a "false" A fare, where all earnings will be for the original class, or is it some sort of -UP fare that books into A? In any case, if I selected this option, what will the earnings actually be?
#3305
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,645
Ok, so there's no difference to selecting an A fare from the list of flights to choose from, and clicking the Upgrade button to turn the coach fares into A fares after I've selected my flights (but before the payment screen for the itinerary) besides the price (even though the "fee" to upgrade after selecting flights, but before booking is less than the fare difference on the first page)?
#3306
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Spire Amb, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 1MM
Posts: 3,611
Ok, so there's no difference to selecting an A fare from the list of flights to choose from, and clicking the Upgrade button to turn the coach fares into A fares after I've selected my flights (but before the payment screen for the itinerary) besides the price (even though the "fee" to upgrade after selecting flights, but before booking is less than the fare difference on the first page)?
#3307
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,375
... Please explain what's going on here.
If I search for a flight from XXX-YYY, it will show me a price for a coach fare (U, L, K, etc), a Comfort+ (W) fare, and the First Class fare, an A fare, costs $300 more. But, if I select a coach fare, and select all the legs I want, it asks if I want to upgrade to First per person each way for $39 more. If I click this, both flights chosen now show an A fare. ...
If I search for a flight from XXX-YYY, it will show me a price for a coach fare (U, L, K, etc), a Comfort+ (W) fare, and the First Class fare, an A fare, costs $300 more. But, if I select a coach fare, and select all the legs I want, it asks if I want to upgrade to First per person each way for $39 more. If I click this, both flights chosen now show an A fare. ...
that said, however, the next screen (that displays the new price) also includes a "cancel upgrade" button
#3308
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
Ok, so there's no difference to selecting an A fare from the list of flights to choose from, and clicking the Upgrade button to turn the coach fares into A fares after I've selected my flights (but before the payment screen for the itinerary) besides the price (even though the "fee" to upgrade after selecting flights, but before booking is less than the fare difference on the first page)?
Interesting. I've definitely seen UA do this especially in instances when there is a connection from a main line flight to a regional. The $49 o/w upgrade is good only say from IAD to PIT, as opposed to BOS to IAD to PIT.
#3309
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
Isn't LGA-DCA-LGA a shuttle??? What does FC get you on the shuttle that Y does not? More room? Mixed drinks? I'm assuming beer and wine is still free in Y on the Delta Shuttle, I know it is on AA.
#3310
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,645
I too split my flights between DL and UA out of BOS, especially after AA has become such a dumpster fire post merger. Thanks for posting this because I just buy the cheap A/P fare straight out and didn't realize that the discounts were so significant; now I know I should do a Economy booking first to continue the tradition of being the least profitable passenger on the plane.
#3311
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Was offered $109 on check-in for LGA - RDU on a W/C+ fare.
Interesting offer since when I bought this ticket two days ago straight F was only $40 more than the W/C+ fare which itself was only $10 more than Y.
Declined both at booking and at check-in. Now if I get that offer on SLC - RDU next week maybe I'll bite.
Interesting offer since when I bought this ticket two days ago straight F was only $40 more than the W/C+ fare which itself was only $10 more than Y.
Declined both at booking and at check-in. Now if I get that offer on SLC - RDU next week maybe I'll bite.
#3312
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: BWI
Programs: DL FO
Posts: 312
So here's a tale of an FCM failure...
I'm making plans to attend a conference in February. My department will reimburse the travel costs, but I have to purchase a Y ticket and turn in the receipt. Yesterday, I bought my Y tickets for BWI-SLC-LAS and LAS-ATL-BWI. In the flight search results, F was listed as $150 more than Y for my chosen flights. I was fully planning to buy up as soon as I received a "clean" receipt for the Y purchase. I noted during check out that the buy-up offer was for $375, each way - so $750! I figure maybe it was a glitch, checked out, and got my email confirmation and receipt. I check the My Trips section, and the buy-up offer is still $375 each way. So I did another search for the flights - F prices jumped $600 in the 5 minutes from my initial search to time of purchase. Now I will watch the flight closely, and hopefully have a chance to buy-up for a more reasonable (to me) price.
I'm making plans to attend a conference in February. My department will reimburse the travel costs, but I have to purchase a Y ticket and turn in the receipt. Yesterday, I bought my Y tickets for BWI-SLC-LAS and LAS-ATL-BWI. In the flight search results, F was listed as $150 more than Y for my chosen flights. I was fully planning to buy up as soon as I received a "clean" receipt for the Y purchase. I noted during check out that the buy-up offer was for $375, each way - so $750! I figure maybe it was a glitch, checked out, and got my email confirmation and receipt. I check the My Trips section, and the buy-up offer is still $375 each way. So I did another search for the flights - F prices jumped $600 in the 5 minutes from my initial search to time of purchase. Now I will watch the flight closely, and hopefully have a chance to buy-up for a more reasonable (to me) price.
#3313
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: STL
Posts: 88
So here's a tale of an FCM failure...
I'm making plans to attend a conference in February. My department will reimburse the travel costs, but I have to purchase a Y ticket and turn in the receipt. Yesterday, I bought my Y tickets for BWI-SLC-LAS and LAS-ATL-BWI. In the flight search results, F was listed as $150 more than Y for my chosen flights. I was fully planning to buy up as soon as I received a "clean" receipt for the Y purchase. I noted during check out that the buy-up offer was for $375, each way - so $750! I figure maybe it was a glitch, checked out, and got my email confirmation and receipt. I check the My Trips section, and the buy-up offer is still $375 each way. So I did another search for the flights - F prices jumped $600 in the 5 minutes from my initial search to time of purchase. Now I will watch the flight closely, and hopefully have a chance to buy-up for a more reasonable (to me) price.
I'm making plans to attend a conference in February. My department will reimburse the travel costs, but I have to purchase a Y ticket and turn in the receipt. Yesterday, I bought my Y tickets for BWI-SLC-LAS and LAS-ATL-BWI. In the flight search results, F was listed as $150 more than Y for my chosen flights. I was fully planning to buy up as soon as I received a "clean" receipt for the Y purchase. I noted during check out that the buy-up offer was for $375, each way - so $750! I figure maybe it was a glitch, checked out, and got my email confirmation and receipt. I check the My Trips section, and the buy-up offer is still $375 each way. So I did another search for the flights - F prices jumped $600 in the 5 minutes from my initial search to time of purchase. Now I will watch the flight closely, and hopefully have a chance to buy-up for a more reasonable (to me) price.
It's a pretty big flaw in the system and stopped me from paying Delta $150 to upgrade.
#3314
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
Multi city trip. Offered at check-in for ONLY SLC-DFW and not ATL-SLC.. 159 dollars. No thanks.
Looks like I'll get that seat for free though
Looks like I'll get that seat for free though
#3315
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,648
So here's a tale of an FCM failure...
I'm making plans to attend a conference in February. My department will reimburse the travel costs, but I have to purchase a Y ticket and turn in the receipt. Yesterday, I bought my Y tickets for BWI-SLC-LAS and LAS-ATL-BWI. In the flight search results, F was listed as $150 more than Y for my chosen flights. I was fully planning to buy up as soon as I received a "clean" receipt for the Y purchase. I noted during check out that the buy-up offer was for $375, each way - so $750! I figure maybe it was a glitch, checked out, and got my email confirmation and receipt. I check the My Trips section, and the buy-up offer is still $375 each way. So I did another search for the flights - F prices jumped $600 in the 5 minutes from my initial search to time of purchase. Now I will watch the flight closely, and hopefully have a chance to buy-up for a more reasonable (to me) price.
I'm making plans to attend a conference in February. My department will reimburse the travel costs, but I have to purchase a Y ticket and turn in the receipt. Yesterday, I bought my Y tickets for BWI-SLC-LAS and LAS-ATL-BWI. In the flight search results, F was listed as $150 more than Y for my chosen flights. I was fully planning to buy up as soon as I received a "clean" receipt for the Y purchase. I noted during check out that the buy-up offer was for $375, each way - so $750! I figure maybe it was a glitch, checked out, and got my email confirmation and receipt. I check the My Trips section, and the buy-up offer is still $375 each way. So I did another search for the flights - F prices jumped $600 in the 5 minutes from my initial search to time of purchase. Now I will watch the flight closely, and hopefully have a chance to buy-up for a more reasonable (to me) price.
Without looking at the fare structure in EF, we don't know what the explanation is though.