First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread
Sep 20, 2017, 10:12 am
#3676
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Spire Amb, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 1MM
Posts: 3,611
So why not just buy first to start with?
I literally think the upgrade price - is the price of the ticket subtracted from the published discounted FC price currently on Delta.com.. give or take a few bucks.. The higher the coach ticket price, the closer the spread between published coach and discounted fc, the lower the FCM rate..
I've used it 6 or 7 times in the last 60 days.. Love it..
I've used it 6 or 7 times in the last 60 days.. Love it..
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.
Last edited by Bowgie; Sep 20, 2017 at 10:54 pm Reason: Wrong destination: PEK, not HKG
Sep 20, 2017, 10:25 am
#3677
Join Date: May 2013
Location: RMS
Programs: DL Plat, UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Credit Card Diamond
Posts: 8,789
Sep 20, 2017, 1:41 pm
#3678
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
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.
Sep 20, 2017, 3:13 pm
#3679
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM; Marriott Ambasador Elite
Posts: 626
Sep 20, 2017, 5:14 pm
#3680
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
Sep 22, 2017, 2:12 pm
#3682
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
Wow, I'm guessing DL isn't that popular out of IAD, I have been flying out of BWI, might have to reconsider that...
Sep 24, 2017, 11:26 am
#3683
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
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.
- 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.
Sep 24, 2017, 5:35 pm
#3684
Join Date: May 2013
Location: RMS
Programs: DL Plat, UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Credit Card Diamond
Posts: 8,789
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.
Sep 24, 2017, 6:33 pm
#3685
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
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.
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.
Sep 30, 2017, 12:18 pm
#3686
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
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.
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.
Sep 30, 2017, 12:22 pm
#3687
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
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.
Sep 30, 2017, 1:32 pm
#3688
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
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.
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.
Oct 3, 2017, 11:47 am
#3689
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
I have only recently started reading Gary Leff's blog, but I am enjoying it:
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....grades-stupid/
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....grades-stupid/
Oct 14, 2017, 3:53 am
#3690
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSN
Programs: Delta DM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,987
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.