First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread
#5041
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,528
Did FCM die or just go crazy? The flights we've booked have all required connections each way, and the upgrade prices for a single segment have ~$280-$540, which usually exceeds the main cabin price for all four legs. But hey, if DL can get people to pay those kinds of prices, good for them.
#5042
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
Did FCM die or just go crazy? The flights we've booked have all required connections each way, and the upgrade prices for a single segment have ~$280-$540, which usually exceeds the main cabin price for all four legs. But hey, if DL can get people to pay those kinds of prices, good for them.
#5043
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Did FCM die or just go crazy? The flights we've booked have all required connections each way, and the upgrade prices for a single segment have ~$280-$540, which usually exceeds the main cabin price for all four legs. But hey, if DL can get people to pay those kinds of prices, good for them.
#5044
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
I seem to clear most of the time on DTW/ORD and always on DTW/MDW and MDW/DTW but I've actually seen zero seats on ORD/DTW more than once and as a diamond have sat in the back of the bus probably 25 percent of the time on that flight. I think a lot of times though coming back it's people connecting. I wouldn't pay $39 to upgrade on that short of a flight much less $399
#5045
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
I seem to clear most of the time on DTW/ORD and always on DTW/MDW and MDW/DTW but I've actually seen zero seats on ORD/DTW more than once and as a diamond have sat in the back of the bus probably 25 percent of the time on that flight. I think a lot of times though coming back it's people connecting. I wouldn't pay $39 to upgrade on that short of a flight much less $399
#5046
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: UA, DL, LH, Marriott, Amex
Posts: 554
Couple of questions here on FCM and corporate travel, appreciate any answers.
Due to corporate travel policies I see a Y-fare in economy that is cheaper than an S-fare in Comfort+. Which one would result in the lower buy-up to F? Is the S-fare re-ticketed with an MQM bonus, or would it still only get 100% MQM? I believe Y-fare still gets 150% MQM even though it's actually cheaper?
Due to corporate travel policies I see a Y-fare in economy that is cheaper than an S-fare in Comfort+. Which one would result in the lower buy-up to F? Is the S-fare re-ticketed with an MQM bonus, or would it still only get 100% MQM? I believe Y-fare still gets 150% MQM even though it's actually cheaper?
#5047
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,206
I don't think any of us can predict what the FCM buy-up would be for your situations... as others have reported there are some wacky pricing being offered lately, and I've seen it as well where it is significantly cheaper to call up and have an agent process/reticket rather than take the upgrade price offered online.
As for your Y fare vs S question, yes Y and B get 150% MQM while the C+ will get normal 100% MQM. Either way, if you buy up to first then you will get 150%
As for your Y fare vs S question, yes Y and B get 150% MQM while the C+ will get normal 100% MQM. Either way, if you buy up to first then you will get 150%
#5048
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
Couple of questions here on FCM and corporate travel, appreciate any answers.
Due to corporate travel policies I see a Y-fare in economy that is cheaper than an S-fare in Comfort+. Which one would result in the lower buy-up to F? Is the S-fare re-ticketed with an MQM bonus, or would it still only get 100% MQM? I believe Y-fare still gets 150% MQM even though it's actually cheaper?
Due to corporate travel policies I see a Y-fare in economy that is cheaper than an S-fare in Comfort+. Which one would result in the lower buy-up to F? Is the S-fare re-ticketed with an MQM bonus, or would it still only get 100% MQM? I believe Y-fare still gets 150% MQM even though it's actually cheaper?
The buy-ups offered are a black box; I don't know if FT in our collective knowledge has enough data to establish a pattern. I will say that one of the unique parts about Delta's FCM buy-ups when they first came out is that they offered a way to go from Y to F with cash any time after booking for a price other than the difference in fare. My guess is that they have a (machine learning-trained) model that takes into account a number of options, including fare class, to arrive at the dollar value to offer as a buy-up. The question you have to ask then becomes: all other factors being equal, is a customer buying Y fares more likely to buy-up at a higher price than a customer buying S fares?
I cannot remember what the rule is for earning MQMs on re-ticketed fares on a buy-up; I think it's dependent on whether it's day-of-departure or not.
#5049
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: 27,046
Y and B fares still get 150% MQMs, according to the How to Earn Miles page on delta.com.
The buy-ups offered are a black box; I don't know if FT in our collective knowledge has enough data to establish a pattern. I will say that one of the unique parts about Delta's FCM buy-ups when they first came out is that they offered a way to go from Y to F with cash any time after booking for a price other than the difference in fare. My guess is that they have a (machine learning-trained) model that takes into account a number of options, including fare class, to arrive at the dollar value to offer as a buy-up. The question you have to ask then becomes: all other factors being equal, is a customer buying Y fares more likely to buy-up at a higher price than a customer buying S fares?
I cannot remember what the rule is for earning MQMs on re-ticketed fares on a buy-up; I think it's dependent on whether it's day-of-departure or not.
The buy-ups offered are a black box; I don't know if FT in our collective knowledge has enough data to establish a pattern. I will say that one of the unique parts about Delta's FCM buy-ups when they first came out is that they offered a way to go from Y to F with cash any time after booking for a price other than the difference in fare. My guess is that they have a (machine learning-trained) model that takes into account a number of options, including fare class, to arrive at the dollar value to offer as a buy-up. The question you have to ask then becomes: all other factors being equal, is a customer buying Y fares more likely to buy-up at a higher price than a customer buying S fares?
I cannot remember what the rule is for earning MQMs on re-ticketed fares on a buy-up; I think it's dependent on whether it's day-of-departure or not.
#5050
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
I'm a bit surprised that DL hasn't fixed this so that they can market increased MQMs as a benefit to buying an upgrade. Then again, I don't believe FCM currently earns MQDs either.
#5051
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
#5052
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
I was wrong -- looks like FCM does earn MQDs for the amount of the additional collection. See this post.
#5053
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
I was wrong -- looks like FCM does earn MQDs for the amount of the additional collection. See this post.
I will book the coach fare in order to have the receipt that I will file with my invoice for client reimbursement. Then I have the agent charge me the difference and issue a FC ticket.
If you pay the differential, say on the seat selection page, and if the fertilizer hits the fan and you end up in coach for some reason, the fee you paid for the upgrade to FC is non-refundable (at least, it was pre-Covid).
The key is not to pay for an upgrade, pay for converting the ticket from a coach ticket to a FC ticket.
Plus, I have often found the price differential for an UG at the seat assignment page to be more than the differential on the booking page.
#5054
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: UA, DL, LH, Marriott, Amex
Posts: 554
If you are going the FCM route, the key is to ensure that you make sure that the coach ticket is replaced with a real FC ticket.
I will book the coach fare in order to have the receipt that I will file with my invoice for client reimbursement. Then I have the agent charge me the difference and issue a FC ticket.
If you pay the differential, say on the seat selection page, and if the fertilizer hits the fan and you end up in coach for some reason, the fee you paid for the upgrade to FC is non-refundable (at least, it was pre-Covid).
The key is not to pay for an upgrade, pay for converting the ticket from a coach ticket to a FC ticket.
Plus, I have often found the price differential for an UG at the seat assignment page to be more than the differential on the booking page.
I will book the coach fare in order to have the receipt that I will file with my invoice for client reimbursement. Then I have the agent charge me the difference and issue a FC ticket.
If you pay the differential, say on the seat selection page, and if the fertilizer hits the fan and you end up in coach for some reason, the fee you paid for the upgrade to FC is non-refundable (at least, it was pre-Covid).
The key is not to pay for an upgrade, pay for converting the ticket from a coach ticket to a FC ticket.
Plus, I have often found the price differential for an UG at the seat assignment page to be more than the differential on the booking page.
Cheating on AA hard here, but I do think DL has handled COVID pretty well and so I am willing to take a few test drives. I guess this is exactly what they wanted.
#5055
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,067
While FCM offer is frequently more than fare diff, it's not always the case (particularly when you have purchased a cheap X/V fare). I believe going the agent route will always result in paying the fare diff (even if FCM offer is less).