Exactly. A big poke in the eye from Delta to many of its business fliers, the vast majority of which can't buy that P fare, which in the example was IDENTICAL in price to the M fare. Business guys in the back, kettles up front, on IDENTICALLY priced fares.

And some would argue that the revenue provided by frequent-fliers who are part of the class of corprate-programs are more strategically profitable then the revenue provided by the frequent fliers who are part of the class of frequent-flyer-program.

It took 30 years to get here. It'll take a few years for this to sort itself out, if we are truly entering a paradigm shift.

Yet success will be measured by historians, not accountants.

$560 for one way DTW-DCA seems to be a pretty fair price for first class. Seems that the problem is more about an expensive econ fare, and not that the FC fare has been lowered. Do a search for first class seats on all the major airlines, and you'll find that their prices are in line with DL on this one.

How do you know what Diamond is willing to pay? I'm only PM, but I'm sometimes willing to pay $100 (or more) for an upgrade (and I've done it).

If Delta wants my loyalty to continue, then it has to continue providing me benefits for that loyalty. Complete lack of upgrades is not a benefit despite any amount of advertising upgrade availability.

Whether I'm willing to pay $100 for an upgrade depends on the flight length, time, and such circumstances (e.g. I'll pay more to upgrade a redeye, and even more if the plane has int'l Business seats). The amount I already paid is irrelevant. (Suppose you found a $50 mistake fare TPAC. Would you be willing to pay $100 for an upgrade?)

NOt if the upgrade makes the ticket reissued and they find out that something is missing in my ticket.
That's why I only use eVIPs on international paid for my employer because I don't worry about that happening, when my employer doesn't know how to remove that fare element, and, if he does, doesn't want me to have an excuse to not be at the destination on time.
I would upgrade TPAC if it means, for example on AA, a Y to I fare and use eVIP to sit in F.

This was interesting... I was searching for flights for a Same Day Confirmed for my flight to CID next Wednesday. I searched by schedule to see all options, and picked the one I liked (11;17am departure). On the details page, it was showing SFO-DTW in First(A) then onward to CID in (Q). Total price was $486 which seemed a little low to me (was thinking "aha! I found some good FCM!). Looked at fare info and it was showing it is a Q fare (QA00A0NG/WNUP)

Next I searched for economy and it was showing an M fare for $571, and it wasn't showing the second column with first class options like it normally does. Selecting M then put both segments in M, without the upgrade to First(A). I guess it's a good thing for all of us, as it's the reverse of FCM since they aren't showing the lower priced A fare unless you actually search for FC seats. Definitely DL IT screwing over people who are booking a last minute ticket by making them pay more AND forcing them to sit in coach!

Screen shots:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c8...x/61f96963.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c8...x/1141d7a3.jpg


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c8...x/45b7f562.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c8...x/37a7a604.jpg

What were the full fare-rules for the Q-up and M? I'll agree it's odd they don't display them both all of the time, yet the M might offer something that the Q-up doesn't... refundability, reduced change fees, etc.

Fare for the econ was MA00A0RC, and reading the rules it says changes permitted anytime. That would explain the difference in price which is understandable. I just think it's odd that they don't show both of them side by side like they normally do. And if there are still econ Q fares available (even if it is Q-Up), why not show the lowest priced first instead of the higher priced M? If someone wants a refundable ticket they can always search for it.

FCM: Classic Example
 

The picture tells the story. I was looking at DCA-DTW for late August for a midweek business trip. Wile the flights are empty and LUT inventory shows available on EF, DL is not letting me book the lower fares without a Saturday stay.

Lowest fare is the same as First! K=A in this scenario
This was the same for various dates in August

Pic is on the link

http://t.co/cA0uDvvZ

This seems irrational to try to force all business travelers to buy FC. There aren't enough FC seats on board and some companies forbid even Y-UP fares, thus forcing those passengers to other carriers.

This is absurd. I can understand $50-$100 more but same price? All that does is alienate medallions.

Does it? If I needed to book a flight and it showed this, I'd just book the A fare and grab a seat up front. Sometimes it just works out that way...especially if Y is filling up. ;)

If you are charging the same for first and coach, you are doing a very poor job of monetizing FC. I'd call this a case of FC de-monetization :)

US has the same lowest published fare w/o Saturday stay, $638. DL and US are the only two carriers in the market non-stop, at least on a midweek date in August. US will ask the OP to pay that much and then put him on a CRJ or ERJ. Enjoy.

Agreed. I have started to buy F fares if they are anywhere close to the coach ticket. 100-200 usually. I had a paid F DCA-ATl in May. I knew I needed to check three bags. F fare was $469. Coach was around $400. No brainer.

I just don't usually see the lowest available Y ticket the same as F.
And these planes are nowhere near full.