First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread
Aug 12, 2019, 7:59 pm
#4756
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,925
Aug 12, 2019, 8:20 pm
#4757
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
I hate that 5C/D are held for the gate. It's relatively new and most of the time it doesn't go to a wheelchair (which would be legit) and instead goes to someone clearing off the standby list (since C+ clears ahead most of the time on the NYC routes).
Means you have to actually make an effort to board early too so that your bag doesn't get stuck way down the plane if in 5B
Means you have to actually make an effort to board early too so that your bag doesn't get stuck way down the plane if in 5B
Aug 14, 2019, 6:27 am
#4758
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
Need a NYC-RDU ticket.
DL Y LGA-RDU $140 (T Fare)
DL F LGA-RDU $179 (Z Fare)
UA Y EWR-RDU $206
$39 for the hour and change flight plus the 20-30 minutes we'll inch around LGA's taxiways is a no brainer.
DL Y LGA-RDU $140 (T Fare)
DL F LGA-RDU $179 (Z Fare)
UA Y EWR-RDU $206
$39 for the hour and change flight plus the 20-30 minutes we'll inch around LGA's taxiways is a no brainer.
Aug 14, 2019, 9:01 pm
#4759
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: ANC
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 1,856
Seeing similar FCM offers here for a SIN trip next month. Already have the return in D1. The outbound SEA-ICN is offering for $2036. I think I'll pass as I'm in C+ already.
Aug 15, 2019, 6:08 am
#4760
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 890
Aug 15, 2019, 8:33 am
#4761
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM, MR Gold, Hilton Gold, National Exec
Posts: 534
MSP-CUN on a 739 w/comp on an award ticket, already have seats in row 19. $121 for C+ (5 seats open), $169 for F (11 seats open, not hopeful for a comp upgrade).
Seems like a good buy, only thing holding me back is it's a winter flight and would hate to lose the upgrade due to weather/IROPS (did a lot of searching and all I could find is this would book into RY, so this is my assumption).
Is it possible to upfare an award ticket without change fees? That leg in F would price 15k higher than we paid, but would book into O, correct? I'm guessing I could do this if there's a schedule change.
Seems like a good buy, only thing holding me back is it's a winter flight and would hate to lose the upgrade due to weather/IROPS (did a lot of searching and all I could find is this would book into RY, so this is my assumption).
Is it possible to upfare an award ticket without change fees? That leg in F would price 15k higher than we paid, but would book into O, correct? I'm guessing I could do this if there's a schedule change.
DL will typically waive the change fee if you upfare to F **on the same flight(s) you have originally booked**
that said, once they reissue the ticket in a front cabin inventory (which I think include F/J/C/I/D/Z), you will be treated as a paid First Class passenger in the event of IROPS or schedule changes
that said, once they reissue the ticket in a front cabin inventory (which I think include F/J/C/I/D/Z), you will be treated as a paid First Class passenger in the event of IROPS or schedule changes
Aug 18, 2019, 8:05 pm
#4762
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
Flying SLC-CVG-RDU next Sunday, applied a RUC way back in May and CVG-RDU cleared instantly, SLC-CVG is still waitlisted. DL is offering to sell me the upgrade for $263 which I obviously am not going to pay. Feels like the crap United does.
Aug 18, 2019, 8:30 pm
#4763
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Tokyo, JP
Programs: DL DM/2 MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, National Exec Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 288
I see very expensive TPAC FCM offers. I may have to settle with C+
SFO-SEA : $59 to F
SEA-ICN : $3,491 to D1 (B767)
ICN-SEA : $1,941 to D1 & No offer to PS (A339)
SEA-SFO : $59 to F
SFO-SEA : $59 to F
SEA-ICN : $3,491 to D1 (B767)
ICN-SEA : $1,941 to D1 & No offer to PS (A339)
SEA-SFO : $59 to F
Aug 19, 2019, 5:36 am
#4764
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 890
Yep. My upcoming TPAC flights between DTW and ICN, particularly on the return, are pretty bad.
Aug 19, 2019, 6:00 am
#4765
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
How many seats are unassigned in F on the seat map on SLC-CVG now? As the flight is in about a week, correct?
Aug 19, 2019, 10:38 am
#4766
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
You used a RUC on CVG-RDU? I feel like that would clear with a RUC even at the gate. I wouldn't have used it on SLC-CVG, but if I wanted to use it on this routing, I would waitlist SLC-CVG and once that longer leg cleared, apply the RUC to the much shorter CVG-RDU.
How many seats are unassigned in F on the seat map on SLC-CVG now? As the flight is in about a week, correct?
How many seats are unassigned in F on the seat map on SLC-CVG now? As the flight is in about a week, correct?
Currently there are three seats left in F.
Aug 19, 2019, 2:00 pm
#4767
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
So here's an interesting one:
*I booked a late LGA-ATL-JAX departure, with a tight connection in ATL two weeks ago.
*Today, the price of the earlier departure with a more comfortable connection time drops to the same price that I paid, so I redeposit/repurchase.
*The ATL-JAX is the exact same flight on both reservations. However, the later departing reservation with the tighter connection is showing the upgrade to F for ATL-JAX at $119.
The flight with the earlier departing LGA-ATL flight is showing $253 instead of $119, for the identical ATL-JAX segment.
--->So it seems the system pricing is looking at the overall "value" or price to get to F on your entire itinerary - so if your initial flight is more full up front, or the fare is higher, this will affect your "offer" even on the exact same flight for the exact same pax on two different itineraries.
*I booked a late LGA-ATL-JAX departure, with a tight connection in ATL two weeks ago.
*Today, the price of the earlier departure with a more comfortable connection time drops to the same price that I paid, so I redeposit/repurchase.
*The ATL-JAX is the exact same flight on both reservations. However, the later departing reservation with the tighter connection is showing the upgrade to F for ATL-JAX at $119.
The flight with the earlier departing LGA-ATL flight is showing $253 instead of $119, for the identical ATL-JAX segment.
--->So it seems the system pricing is looking at the overall "value" or price to get to F on your entire itinerary - so if your initial flight is more full up front, or the fare is higher, this will affect your "offer" even on the exact same flight for the exact same pax on two different itineraries.
Aug 19, 2019, 4:27 pm
#4768
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: 21,371
So here's an interesting one:
*I booked a late LGA-ATL-JAX departure, with a tight connection in ATL two weeks ago.
*Today, the price of the earlier departure with a more comfortable connection time drops to the same price that I paid, so I redeposit/repurchase.
*The ATL-JAX is the exact same flight on both reservations. However, the later departing reservation with the tighter connection is showing the upgrade to F for ATL-JAX at $119.
The flight with the earlier departing LGA-ATL flight is showing $253 instead of $119, for the identical ATL-JAX segment.
--->So it seems the system pricing is looking at the overall "value" or price to get to F on your entire itinerary - so if your initial flight is more full up front, or the fare is higher, this will affect your "offer" even on the exact same flight for the exact same pax on two different itineraries.
*I booked a late LGA-ATL-JAX departure, with a tight connection in ATL two weeks ago.
*Today, the price of the earlier departure with a more comfortable connection time drops to the same price that I paid, so I redeposit/repurchase.
*The ATL-JAX is the exact same flight on both reservations. However, the later departing reservation with the tighter connection is showing the upgrade to F for ATL-JAX at $119.
The flight with the earlier departing LGA-ATL flight is showing $253 instead of $119, for the identical ATL-JAX segment.
--->So it seems the system pricing is looking at the overall "value" or price to get to F on your entire itinerary - so if your initial flight is more full up front, or the fare is higher, this will affect your "offer" even on the exact same flight for the exact same pax on two different itineraries.
Aug 19, 2019, 7:59 pm
#4769
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,662
ATL-RIC is one route with consistently cheap FCM offers $63.99 one way.
Paid fares aren't bad either, checked recently and coach was $270 while F was $388 round trip. If a kettle were to check two bags each way it comes out cheaper to outright buy F or alternatively snag an FCM.
Paid fares aren't bad either, checked recently and coach was $270 while F was $388 round trip. If a kettle were to check two bags each way it comes out cheaper to outright buy F or alternatively snag an FCM.
Aug 20, 2019, 9:53 pm
#4770
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ATL
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,240
How often does FCM come out to be cheaper than C+? I have an upcoming SEA-YYC flight with the offer of $44 to first (and $78.48 to C+). I'm not sure it'll be worth the $44 to me on a relatively short flight (plus I think the SEA skyclub doesn't allow access based on flying in F on a Canadian itinerary anymore). I'm tempted to use miles to pay for it though...