First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread
Dec 8, 2017, 8:24 am
#3751
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 scored a handful of UGs on that redeye segment as GM/PM but all were at least 5 years ago ... I also scored a couple of nice VDBs into F on the ATL flight (I was headed to WAS so the connecting point didn’t matter)
Dec 8, 2017, 8:32 am
#3752
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
I am booked in paid C+ on a weekday SLC JFK redeye, waitlisted for first but slim chance since I have very low status for DL. Still for now one out of twenty FC seats is booked, with five weeks to go until the flight. Upgrade is offered for $300, but I value this at 150, it is just a FC seat on a 738. What would you do? Nothing and be happy in C+? Pay $300? Expect this price to come down? Anyone has experienced upgrades on this flight? Thanks!
I don't think paying $300 for a relatively short Salt Lake City-New York flight is worth it, especially when it isn't lie-flat seats. I'd eat a nice meal at the airport, drink a couple glasses of wine, bring a pillow and eye-mask, and sit in a window seat.
Dec 8, 2017, 2:43 pm
#3756
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
given that it's an award ticket ... if I had a C+ seat that I liked, and had no need for SDC flexibility or a few extra MQD, I wouldn't bite on that one
Dec 15, 2017, 5:49 pm
#3758
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,360
Glad I held out for a while on an FCM offer but it did offer an interesting data point. I have SEA-DTW-SEA over New Years. At booking initial offer was $207 or so each way, then went up as high as $300 each way, and I was kicking myself a bit for not jumping on it at $207 but then today it dropped to $136 each way. Happy with that one. 
What I was concerned about and where the interesting data point comes in is for the return I’m traveling with Mrs. ATOBTTR but she is on a separate ticket. I pulled up her reservation to see if she had the same buy up offer. She did.. I decided to buy her’s first just in case there was only one buy-up being offered at $136 because I knew I’d be in big trouble if I bought up for myself first and then the offer for her jumped to a price I wasn’t willing to pay. 
Fortunately the $136 offer was still available after I paid for her buy-up offer.
What I was concerned about and where the interesting data point comes in is for the return I’m traveling with Mrs. ATOBTTR but she is on a separate ticket. I pulled up her reservation to see if she had the same buy up offer. She did.. I decided to buy her’s first just in case there was only one buy-up being offered at $136 because I knew I’d be in big trouble if I bought up for myself first and then the offer for her jumped to a price I wasn’t willing to pay. Fortunately the $136 offer was still available after I paid for her buy-up offer.
Dec 17, 2017, 1:16 pm
#3760
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: PIT/WAS
Programs: Delta GM
Posts: 256
FCM - What would you do??
FO + Companion on LAX-DTW red-eye new years eve, award ticket. $78 FCM offer for first class, per person. Seat map below.
If this was a paid fare, I'd jump at the offer for the MQM bonus. However, it's not, so I'm leaning toward waiting it out to see if the upgrade clears. So...what would you do - spend $175 to guarantee first or wait it out and see if you get it for free?
FO + Companion on LAX-DTW red-eye new years eve, award ticket. $78 FCM offer for first class, per person. Seat map below.
If this was a paid fare, I'd jump at the offer for the MQM bonus. However, it's not, so I'm leaning toward waiting it out to see if the upgrade clears. So...what would you do - spend $175 to guarantee first or wait it out and see if you get it for free?
Dec 17, 2017, 1:29 pm
#3762
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
FCM - What would you do??
FO + Companion on LAX-DTW red-eye new years eve, award ticket. $78 FCM offer for first class, per person. Seat map below.
If this was a paid fare, I'd jump at the offer for the MQM bonus. However, it's not, so I'm leaning toward waiting it out to see if the upgrade clears. So...what would you do - spend $175 to guarantee first or wait it out and see if you get it for free?
FO + Companion on LAX-DTW red-eye new years eve, award ticket. $78 FCM offer for first class, per person. Seat map below.
If this was a paid fare, I'd jump at the offer for the MQM bonus. However, it's not, so I'm leaning toward waiting it out to see if the upgrade clears. So...what would you do - spend $175 to guarantee first or wait it out and see if you get it for free?
Dec 17, 2017, 1:30 pm
#3763
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
FCM - What would you do??
FO + Companion on LAX-DTW red-eye new years eve, award ticket. $78 FCM offer for first class, per person. Seat map below.
If this was a paid fare, I'd jump at the offer for the MQM bonus. However, it's not, so I'm leaning toward waiting it out to see if the upgrade clears. So...what would you do - spend $175 to guarantee first or wait it out and see if you get it for free?
FO + Companion on LAX-DTW red-eye new years eve, award ticket. $78 FCM offer for first class, per person. Seat map below.
If this was a paid fare, I'd jump at the offer for the MQM bonus. However, it's not, so I'm leaning toward waiting it out to see if the upgrade clears. So...what would you do - spend $175 to guarantee first or wait it out and see if you get it for free?
Dec 17, 2017, 1:31 pm
#3764
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
FCM - What would you do??
FO + Companion on LAX-DTW red-eye new years eve, award ticket. $78 FCM offer for first class, per person. Seat map below.
If this was a paid fare, I'd jump at the offer for the MQM bonus. However, it's not, so I'm leaning toward waiting it out to see if the upgrade clears. So...what would you do - spend $175 to guarantee first or wait it out and see if you get it for free?
FO + Companion on LAX-DTW red-eye new years eve, award ticket. $78 FCM offer for first class, per person. Seat map below.
If this was a paid fare, I'd jump at the offer for the MQM bonus. However, it's not, so I'm leaning toward waiting it out to see if the upgrade clears. So...what would you do - spend $175 to guarantee first or wait it out and see if you get it for free?
Dec 18, 2017, 12:10 pm
#3765
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: At the moment? ...
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 377
FCM - What would you do??
FO + Companion on LAX-DTW red-eye new years eve, award ticket. $78 FCM offer for first class, per person. Seat map below.
If this was a paid fare, I'd jump at the offer for the MQM bonus. However, it's not, so I'm leaning toward waiting it out to see if the upgrade clears. So...what would you do - spend $175 to guarantee first or wait it out and see if you get it for free?
FO + Companion on LAX-DTW red-eye new years eve, award ticket. $78 FCM offer for first class, per person. Seat map below.
If this was a paid fare, I'd jump at the offer for the MQM bonus. However, it's not, so I'm leaning toward waiting it out to see if the upgrade clears. So...what would you do - spend $175 to guarantee first or wait it out and see if you get it for free?