If you go the fare change route and pay fare difference, you can't upfare individual flight segments in each one-way direction. This is because all flights in each one-way direction (in vast majority of cases) are on a single fare component (the fare charged is based on origin and destination -- not hop-by-hop). When you do an upfare in one direction, you will be upgrading all flight segments in that direction on that single fare component. The FCM offers do not actually do an upfare which is how you are able to upgrade individual flight segments. It is an add-on charge, not an upfare. While fare class on upgrading segment changes, the actual underlying fare and ticket is not exchanged.

Got a great deal on BOS-MSY recently... started with a $133 V fare ticket, and nabbed the buy-up FCM a few days after booking for $99.

It's actually pretty close to the upfare charge of $144 from cheap V to cheap Z on this route (133.90 vs. 278.90). The catch is that there has to be Z bucket open on flight to upfare for that diff. Often there might be X or V bucket open in coach, but only J/C/D/I inventory for FC fares (and hence larger fare differences).

Any data points for upfare from either MSP or ATL to Tokyo?

LAX-ATL Redeye.

12/3

SCS "Upgraded" flight from a A321 to a 763 76L

FCM $1299.68. 120,900 miles.

25 open seats.

That would mean it doesn't earn 50% more MQM but does the FCM cost count towards MQD? I noticed a C+ upgrade did and it surprised me. And what if I pay an FCM with points?

Offered SFO-MSP (s Sunday afternoon flight) for $138. Original fare is an award ticket. Haven’t jumped yet - might do if I need the extra MQM

Don't do it for the MQMs, you won't get any extra. Award tickets aren't eligible for MQM cabin bonus when upgraded via FCM offer.

Thanks! Wasn't aware of that.

FCM offers on award tickets book into OY class which is also used for cert upgrades (which don't qualify for MQM bonus when upgrading from coach). FCM offers on revenue fares book into revenue fare classes.

I noticed this too - system is using a $129 differential even though the fare table is back up to $300. Something is broken there, enjoy while it lasts I guess.

The good news is next year, when MQMs won't matter, you can buy-up on an award ticket and the buy-up, whether paid with $$$ or miles, should still count as MQDs (if one cares and is pursuing status).

$20 per minute domestic F on a 739? Uh, thanks but I'll pass on this generous offer.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...940127af8d.png

Was your PNR hit by and/or was rebooked due to a schedule change? I've noticed that post-schedule change rebookings tend to have insane FCM offers like this and somehow messes up the calculation. (usually it's more than the fare difference!)

No, in fact this was shown the first time I checked the itinerary on delta.com after it was ticketed. This was part of a multi-city, no-saturday-stay international itinerary booked through my corporate travel agent, though, so I can imagine some weirdness.

That said, at the same time as I saw this, I also got a ~$1100 D1 buy-up offer on the return eastbound international segment (which I took. $100/hr is totally worth it to avoid not-sleeping in a coach seat overnight across 9 time zones.)