So why not just buy first to start with?
 

As an example, I bought SAN-PEK rt coach ticket a month ago for $422. The upgrade price on Delta's website or the app is about $1890 each way, which about the same price had I just bought biz-class originally.

The upgrade prices that AlwaysAA sees are what I see: Original Coach fare plus upgrade price each way equals current first class price. I can't see much attraction in these high upgrade prices unless AlwaysAA and others are not allowed to buy premium class outright by their employer.

I think that has to do with competing with JetBlue Mint.

Connecting from GSO. There was a brief fare sale about a month ago and I had a couple of Delta bump certs I needed to use up. Wasn't offered out of RDU but GSO is an easy drive from Durham.

For what dates? I've typically paid $3K+ for D1 on this route (which I fly frequently), and have even paid more in coach on some occassions!

How close to departure? And OW or RT?

More of an effect of FCM probably and it caught me off guard. Today 3371 IAD-JFK, I’m 1 of 2 for 5 open. Departs in less than an hour. Still hasn’t processed at the gate.

Wow, I'm guessing DL isn't that popular out of IAD, I have been flying out of BWI, might have to reconsider that...

Booked JAX-ATL-RDU today:

- L Fare: $211
- W Fare: $230
- A Fare: $306

I just booked the L Fare which will be fine for the short trip. After booking they want an extra $256 for F. Guess it got super more valuable in that two minute time period.

Was L still available after you booked? It's possible the A fare had an underlying L fare, and when you bought it that sold out which only left more expensive A fares or P fares.

I bought the FCM "upgrade" DCA-CVG-SEA for $266.00 on 9/21/17. This turned out to be an exceptional operational performance by both GoJet and the Big D, as we got to CVG 20 minutes early and to SEA 30 minutes early.

On the way back, SEA-JFK-DCA, I got upgraded JFK-DCA about 4 days out; Delta offered me 5 hours up front in a flat bed seat (757) for $337.00. I passed. I was #2 for 5 open seats 3 hours out; 60 minutes later, I was #3 for 1 open seat, and an hour after that it was gone. Also, the flight went from 60 open seats in the back to 0.

Also, whenever I miss an upgrade like this, Delta always (and I mean always) puts a very large man in the middle seat.

I was on the reservation page, pricing a FC seat.

Had made my flight selections (4 segments). Only needed to click the last button to finalize the purchase.

Total price ~$1100.00 RT.

Midway down the page DL's crackerjack IT was offering me the opportunity to purchase up to FC for $550.00 per segment.

So, the web site had offered me a FC itinerary for $1100.00 RT and was now offering me the opportunity to UG my FC ticket to a FC ticket for an additional cost of only $2200.00.

:rolleyes:

FCM is still $95 for LGA-ORD midday this Monday (4 seats still available and no UPG)....used to be $50 when in C+...no thanks.

I think the offer was "Upgrade to REFUNDABLE First"

I have only recently started reading Gary Leff's blog, but I am enjoying it:

http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....grades-stupid/

It's a hard search term, but if you take an FCM offer do you always get 100% bonus MQM? I've been booking GAP fares direct this year mostly and am used to the 50% bonus MQM with them. Yesterday I flew ORD>LGA and last week I took the $98 FCM offer when it became apparent I might need to take a later flight via SDC (which I did). It rebooked me in G but when my SM posted, it gave me 100% bonus.