First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread
Jan 6, 2019, 8:27 pm
#4126
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: San Francisco
Programs: DL
Posts: 466
Anyone know how FCM works with award tickets? Booked a one-way with miles, SFO-LAX, and tempted to take it ($83), but want to be able to refund this ticket in full. Do I lose the $83 if I cancel the ticket?
Jan 6, 2019, 9:37 pm
#4127
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,050
Yes. The upgrades are non-refundable and there's no exceptions based on status.
Jan 6, 2019, 9:54 pm
#4128
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAS - where you can get married and divorced in the same 24 hour period. Perfect for the woman who's saving herself for marriage and the man who wants a one night stand.
Programs: DL DM, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum, UA, AA, AS, WN kettle, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,613
Delta has new way to get MQ$ with FCM
tI looked at my reservation today to see if seats changed or any deals on FCM. I can upgrade to FC from LAS-LAX for only $840.27. Or I can buy a fully refundable FC ticket on the same flight/date for $325.30. I wonder who thought this through?
Last edited by puddinhead; Jan 7, 2019 at 6:54 am
Jan 7, 2019, 4:19 am
#4129
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: DL DM 1MM+, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 62
The algorithm for selecting fcm seems off. The offers I am getting this year are about 200% of the original ticket price whereas they were about 20-30% of original ticket price last year. And I generally buy W fares.
Something seems off since they did the option to pay with miles for upgrades.
Something seems off since they did the option to pay with miles for upgrades.
Jan 7, 2019, 6:01 am
#4130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,042
I thing the issue above is that OP doesn't have a LAS-LAX fare. Rather they have an LAS-LHR fare. Which means an ineligible international segment. My guess (it's purely a guess) is that the system is being made to break the fare and upgrade the LAX-LHR fare to one that works with LAS-LAX in F or that it's having problems allocating fare between segments.
Regardless I just did an FCM few days ago on a normal one stop domestic fare and had no issue with pricing. (Both miles and cash amounts were correct) LAX-SEA-AUS. Upgraded LAX-SEA for $79. SEA-AUS was medallion upgrade, LAX-SEA wasn't going to clear as it was last minute purchase with other DM higher on list.
Regardless I just did an FCM few days ago on a normal one stop domestic fare and had no issue with pricing. (Both miles and cash amounts were correct) LAX-SEA-AUS. Upgraded LAX-SEA for $79. SEA-AUS was medallion upgrade, LAX-SEA wasn't going to clear as it was last minute purchase with other DM higher on list.
Jan 7, 2019, 7:31 am
#4134
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: STL
Programs: DL DM; HH gold
Posts: 554
I thing the issue above is that OP doesn't have a LAS-LAX fare. Rather they have an LAS-LHR fare. Which means an ineligible international segment. My guess (it's purely a guess) is that the system is being made to break the fare and upgrade the LAX-LHR fare to one that works with LAS-LAX in F or that it's having problems allocating fare between segments.
I’ve had domestic itin buy-up offers DTW-STL recently as low as $79.
Jan 7, 2019, 8:12 am
#4136
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: 10,348
Yea I've been seeing the same thing on a TPA-ATL-SAT return I have (I've already upgraded on the outbound which is via MSP with an RUC). $1560 FCM offer for TPA-ATL-SAT. I could go buy two new FC , round-trip tickets for $750 a piece. I'd happily buy-up on TPA-ATL-SAT for $150 (ie, move the decimal to the left one place) for the SDC flexibility but for $1500? It really makes me wonder if DL misplaced the decimal or if they have some other logic going on (either seeing if they can really get someone to buy-up for that or are purposely discouraging the buy-up to preserve F seats for other routes/tickets).
Jan 7, 2019, 10:15 am
#4140
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Puddinhead's thread got RBP'd as a redundant thread. I'm going to agree as questions long-answered in the primary FCM thread are now popping up here. This will be merged in moments.
3Cforme - Delta Forum Moderator
3Cforme - Delta Forum Moderator