I agree with the hoop jumping and the fake receipt. I've been tempted to do the fake receipt in order to change my return for a routing that lets me visit friends/family. In that case, the creative routing was cheaper than flying the straight-forward round trip, but the accounting department wants us to stay in policy and not try and make exceptions.

I like the buy-up concept. It frustrates me, as a DM, when I see some people in my company (with lower status) wait until the last minute to buy a ticket, and it's virtually the same price to buy the M-fare or first class ticket than my SLUT fare. Our corporate online site allows this, as it's still the lowest available fare (compared to other last minute fares), but they are getting more MQMs and potentially the front cabin seat. I won't rat anyone out at my firm, but I do believe in karma.

To return to the subject of LAS flights, I've been told at times that there are lots of purchased FC on these due to high rollers (apparently casinos comp FC tickets for players they really want) and some periodic high level trade shows and conventions that are traditionally held in Vegas.

But they allow employees to spend more to buy a ticket from an airline with which they have status? If not, couldn't DL better chase business travelers by focusing on the things that corporate customers care about? Specifically, wouldn't DL be better off aggressively pursuing corporate contracts, seeking scheduling advantages in key business markets, and, where needed, lowering pricing? All of these are much better options for maximizing revenue than giving away your premium products.

I've asked before, but am still waiting on a compelling answer... How does DL extract revenue premiums from elites if elites are constrained by corporate policies and too few to fill the cabin on their own? DL has to charge market-rates. Corporate customers, as a result, pay market rates. No loyalty program will change that calculus for any airline of any scale.

I believe it does. This is especially true when the $50 gets you to $650. Will the last-minute ticket sell without the inducement of a nominal up-charge for F?

No head banging here. I agree with DL's model.
If I want a FC seat, I buy a FC seat. If I can't afford a FC seat or policy doesn't allow for a FC seat, then I know I have to fly coach. It is a "TREAT" when DL allows me to fly up front. It is not expected. It is a gift.

It is a free market. Airlines set up whatever programs they want, charge what ever they want and people either buy into it or choose another product/airline. For those who argue their company doesn't allow it, well you made a choice when you went to work for that company. A choice which says you will follow their policy. If you don't like the policy, change companies, get another job. It is a free market. Nothing or no one is forcing you to remain with the company or fly DL.

One is a complaint and not a very sympathetic one. The other is (usually) an honest question. Let's not attack people asking honest questions, most of whom are noobs.

OP, i flew the exact same flight two weeks ago. 18 of 24 were open. they upgraded the diamonds and plats (i think) at the 6pm window (1.5 hours from now). I was upgraded as a gold (T) about 2-3 hours before the flight. buddy of mine was last on upgrade list due to no status, t fare. he got the last seat up front after i recommended him waiting at the gate and letting the GA know what he was doing. fortunate for us, since we weren't in the air until 11:30 due to a brakes issue.

i was pis$ed about it too. absolutely no reason to hold back that many seats. i complained about it and got one of those replies that say sorry about 50x.

My corporate travel policies permit me to be loyal to Delta:

a) I have some latitude in pricing (up to $150 I think) for fares,
b) I can choose different times.
c) Obviously, DL is often (even usually) the cheapest logical, or nearly so.

In most cases, all the airlines in my markets are all pretty close in price (NYC), so I could choose DL anytime or never. My company actually has a contract with *A so I actually go out of my way to choose DL.

But, my corporate travel policies make booking F unpleasant:
Once, I ended up with an F booking, because I "held" a reservation for a flight within the window with V inventory. I got the upgrade before ticketing, and so the ticket showed a confirmed F seat. This puts a big red flag on the expense report. I ended up having to go back and forth with 2 different "travel policy auditors" in my expense report, and then explain the situation to my boss.

That's the more annoying thing than $50 -- regardless of where the $50 comes from.

So, I agree with bubbashow: If after the fact I could go and pay $50 at DL.com out of my own pocket, I'd have less to complain about, though I'd then need to decide whether DL's FC service was really worth $50 to me.

If I could go online and pay the difference for first versus coach I would do it quite often. For me an extra $100-200 is often worth it. Today there is no way to do that so Delta is unable to monetize that seat with me. Anytime I've seen upgrades being sold at the gate ice been very confident I was getting one anyway but have told colleagues to jump on them. A $150 upgrade at the gate is a fair offer and a good way to monetize the seat. I know it means Silvers won't get upgraded but they can pay the $150 and do so.

What I think would be extraordinary would be to offer a tiered price based on status. $25 for Diamond to upgrade, $50 for Plat, $100 Gold, $150 silver and $200 for others.

This is similar to what AA does with it's sticker system, but they still respect the order of elites.

This would split the different between respecting elites but still increasing revenue -- similar to AA and it's sticker system.

However, it will not maximize revenue. They would have to make the upgrade price the same for EVERYONE or else it will be too tempting to offer non-status flyers upgrades before elites the way FCM currently works.

AA's system really is the most fair for an airline wanting to monetize upgrades. Even if Delta went to the same system but eliminated free upgrades for Diamonds, they'd still make money and have a "fair" system.

Looks like I'll be heading to the battlefield tomorrow for this upgrade. Hopefully it works out for the better :)

Huh? I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong, but gate upgrades aren't sold unless all medallion members (and companions w/ upgrade requests) have already been upgraded.

Absolutely. Even though WN gives me 40% back for Business Select fares as a A-List Preferred, if DL offered splitting the "buy K or higher, upcharge to P" into two line items that I could show our expense report people, I'd give them a lot of my last-minute business even though I'd have to connect most of the time.

F9 does this for buying their "stretch" seating at booking, and it's a snap for me to get the receipt through our expense process because they break it into two lines.

FCM - seriously Delta?
 

DM on an M fare - #1 of 5 with EIGHTEEN open in front at T-22. Eleven open in coach.

Geees....this is for a Saturday midday flight to DTW of all places.

DM on a K fare- #1 of 9 with 16 FC available tomorrow ATL-LAS.

my last VDB cleared into V and I don't see the reason to decline a fine VDB for F vs. V.