It seems DAL went down below 7.29 in Nov 2009 and Nov 2011 but not in between. Hmmm....

I think a lot of elites who have a lot invested in the game will not jump quickly. Most of us elites have been througha number of regimes and may likely be through more. It is a pretty big ship to turn, but once you turn it, it is hard to go back. When Delta starts losing those types, the FCM guys may well have moved on to the next one

Tomorrow DL1765 10am JFK-SFO has been J0C0D0I0S0Y9 for over a week, so flight doesn't seem sold out. Can't purchase J seats on dl.com. This plane is 752 vs typical 75E BE which I haven't seen before. Anyway, seems odd so many J seats are zeroed out on so many JFK-SFO flights tomorrow, originally thought it was vacationers coming back on TATL flights.

After OLCI I see WL on DL1765 has 2 seats and I'm #1. Now both DL app AND DL.com shows 18 seats via viewing the WL.

Still can't buy a J seat on DL.com, seat maps shows 18 empty F seats.

FCM?

Checked my account....Oct. 4, 2011 was the purchase date...settlement two days later.

That moves my figure to 9 months, not 19. 4000 shares purchased, 4000 still retained.

My investment strategies shouldn't cloud the fact that many of you are unable or unwilling to purchase the services that you desire. I may not have my investment portfolio seared in my mind and might need to check things now and then. However, I can clearly see a cheapskate without the need to cross reference.

Loving the P(A) fare I bought DTWDEN next weekend:

Upgrade to First Class for just $109.00 more per person
Includes taxes & fees

;)

+1

A debate about short term supply-demand matching and maximizing revenue for a flight (or a quarter, or even a fiscal year) completely ignores that an airline's actions can completely alter the demand curve. For example, if prices all went up enough, maybe corporate cultures would change and companies would cut travel and instead purchase telepresence equipment.

Loyalty is much more complicated, as every customer will value their private costs and benefits differently. What I do know is that it is silly to elevate a benefit such as complementary upgrades and put it on a pedestal if your goal is to eliminate this benefit as much as possible.

No doubt this will be noticed by the customers the marketing team is trying to woo, and will likely leave customers feeling like their loyalty is quite one-sided.

For those of you finding several paths to DL's justification here fail to take into consideration that DL continues to present the implied promise of upgrades for elites with those on the highest fares sitting atop the list. This promise is often ranked as the highest reason why many loyally fly DL.

...and DL has not changed that. Any available first class seat is given to Elites. DL can choose their price point up to that. I just confirmed an upgrade for $109 a week out...off of a fare that is double the lowest offered. I paid my way...DL got an extra 109 in revenue. I'm in F....DL got extra revenue. Good for me, good for DL. As a PM out of DTW, I would have stood a decent chance at the upgrade, but didn't want to risk it.

Is your name Dennis DeLong by chance?

It isn't, but thanks for asking.

He was a porn star that specialized in autofelatio.

Wow...the money I could have saved on dating in my teens and twenties.

Well, at least you got it figured out now...

=0( Years too late, I guess.

Happy travels, Mr. Hudson.

FCM is a game and I'm tired of playing
 

Went on line to check my flights before the upgrade window opens in about an hour.

FLL/ATL has shown V9 for months on this flight.

1 Hour before the upgrade window opens; V9 goes to V1. There are only 2 seats assigned in FC in a 24 seat cabin.

So someone at Revenue Management thinks they require 22 seats for gate assignment.

My take: Delta doesn't want to give up a FC seat to a DM until the door is about to shut and they are certain they can't find anyone willing to pay a few extra bucks for that seat.

If you want to play that way Delta; Fine! Just tell us the truth. STOP advertising the 5 day upgrade window. STOP advertising upgrades as a benefit.

ADMIT that the only substantive benefit of DM is a tin luggage tag.

I REALLY just want to get off this hamster wheel of begging for upgrades.

I admit to being a cheap DM sLUT. I only spend $15M - $25M a year on DL. The reality is that I could save at least $5M a year by booking the cheapest fare, flight by flight, with no loyalty to any airline.

So more and more it is clear to me that DL wants people who spend $100M+ and people who spend a few dollars but will pay a few bucks extra to score a FC seat. The middle class (like me) isn't of any interest to DL.

I do believe that in the long run, once DL has convinced me (and thousands like me) that there is no value to paying more to fly on DL, they will lose millions in revenue. But then it will be too late for both DL and me. It would take a lot of convincing to get me to again buy into the Medallion hamster wheel.

I expect to be flamed by all the "if you want to fly first class just pay for it" people, so please don't bother. I admire you who have an extra $100M a year to spend frivolously. I'm not that rich. Good for you.

I am just tired of being conned by DL.

My take: Delta doesn't want to give up a FC seat to a DM until the door is about to shut and they are certain they can't find anyone willing to pay a few extra bucks for that seat.

If you want to play that way Delta; Fine! Just tell us the truth. STOP advertising the 5 day upgrade window. STOP advertising upgrades as a benefit.

ADMIT that the only substantive benefit of DM is a tin luggage tag.

Yet, for the threads like yours there are others - "cleared at 10 days on a T fare", "Cleared at 6 days".

Its all anecdotal. If you get the UG in the end, what does it matter? It is a complementary upgrade, after all.

Wrong! It's not complimentary
 

I beg to differ. It is not complimentary. I regularly pay more for a DL ticket than I could find on a another airline. My guideline is that I will pay $100 to $200 more for DL with the hope of a "complimentary" upgrade. I believe I pay about $5M per year for "complimentary" upgrades.