Well, when you already bought an M fare, when F was more expensive, and now the seat in first is occupied by someone who paid less than you...it's a little frustrating.

How many businesses really do have archaic policies in place requiring coach travel no matter the cost?

Traditionally, Delta has done this if you buy up from one cabin to the next. It is not waived for changing to a higher fare in the same cabin, but if you buy up to F it traditionally has been.

I don't think that appears anywhere in writing, but it has been the case in the past in my experience.

There are just as many complaints about UA and AA and the oddities of how their UG's work. The fact is that there is less competition (soon to be a lot less when US acquisition of AA is complete), capacity has been cut and an improved economy.

UG's will, if they survive, be a rare occasion for those paying top $ fares or with very large BIS spends.

The details can be argued as much as one wants, but this is the way things are headed.

The policy doesnt even necessarily allow it. If you look at the underlying fare basis codes, they are normally Y fares on such discounted F. AA does the same thing.. books into F yet the fare basis on the the ticket is a a y class fare basis so rarely causes issues with expense reports.

I personally love the trend to offer these kind of fares. Beats playing the upgrade game.

The thread title is comical from a business perspective:

OP is "infuriated" because DL is *monetizing* it's FC product. LOL

I have bought an A/P fare every week this year so far, except when I was traveling internationally (and I own the company, so I pay out of my pocket). I love the A/P fares and if DL wants to take my money (even as a DM :D ) to get me into FC, go right ahead! I don't want to deal with the upgrade hassle and would rather just pay a couple of hundred extra bucks to have the seat confirmed at booking.

So, I say "Bravo DL! Keep it coming!"

TFD

If you book more than a few days out, these fares aren't available. This is the issue. If these fare were always available, of course i'd book it.

I routinely book A/P fares same day or a couple of days ahead. I agree with you that on some routes, they wipe out A/P inventory ahead of time. But, it's not my experience on most routes (especially in winter traveling in the NE to/from my home airports).

TFD

I'm not sure if you're agreeing with me or not. It is standard Delta practice to do FCM(A/P fares) a few days out. I've never experienced seeing such a fare more than 5 days out. If you're saying they exist more than 5 days out, i'll have to disagree.

I'm glad this works out for you, but as someone who is required to book travel 2 weeks in advance, this doesn't work for me. I'd imagine the vast majority of flyers book more than a few days out.

Fare rules are your friend. May I suggest an EF subscription :D

No advance purchase requirement for A/P fares - The lack of availability you are seeing is 100% inventory management.

FARE RULE
CONFIRMED RESERVATIONS FOR ALL SECTORS ARE NOT
PERMITTED UNTIL 90 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE.
WAITLIST NOT PERMITTED.
TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED BY MIDNIGHT 1 DAY AFTER
RESERVATIONS ARE MADE.
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
STANDBY IS NOT PERMITTED.
SAME DAY CONFIRM/SDC -
PASSENGERS HOLDING CONFIRMED RESERVATIONS AND
TICKETS MAY CONFIRM EARLIER/LATER SAME DAY
FLIGHTS BETWEEN SAME ORIGIN/DESTINATION/
STOPOVER POINTS FOR A NON-REFUNDABLE FEE OF
USD 50.00 PLUS ANY DIFFERENCE IN GOVERNMENT
IMPOSED ITINERARY BASED FEES. NEW ITINERARY
MAY NOT BE CONFIRMED MORE THAN 3 HOURS PRIOR
TO DEPARTURE TIME OF NEW OUTBOUND FLIGHT. THE
NEW ITINERARY MUST BE VALID FOR THE ORIGINAL
FARE PURCHASED. EXCEPTION- IF ORIGINAL FARE
PURCHASED REQUIRES TRAVEL VIA A CONNECTING
POINT - TRAVEL VIA NON STOP SERVICE IS
PERMITTED FOR NO DIFFERENCE IN FARE.
SEE PENALTIES/VOLUNTARY CHANGES FOR COMPLETE
RULES AND RESTRICTIONS.

ADDITIONALLY, THE FOLLOWING RULES APPLY-

**BASE FARE**

FARE RULE
CONFIRMED RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL SECTORS.
WAITLIST NOT PERMITTED.
TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED BY MIDNIGHT 1 DAY AFTER
RESERVATIONS ARE MADE.
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
STANDBY IS NOT PERMITTED.
SAME DAY CONFIRM/SDC -
PASSENGERS HOLDING CONFIRMED RESERVATIONS AND
TICKETS MAY CONFIRM EARLIER/LATER SAME DAY
FLIGHTS BETWEEN SAME ORIGIN/DESTINATION/
STOPOVER POINTS FOR A NON-REFUNDABLE FEE OF
USD 50.00 PLUS ANY DIFFERENCE IN GOVERNMENT
IMPOSED ITINERARY BASED FEES. NEW ITINERARY
MAY NOT BE CONFIRMED MORE THAN 3 HOURS PRIOR
TO DEPARTURE TIME OF NEW OUTBOUND FLIGHT. THE
NEW ITINERARY MUST BE VALID FOR THE ORIGINAL
FARE PURCHASED. EXCEPTION- IF ORIGINAL FARE
PURCHASED REQUIRES TRAVEL VIA A CONNECTING
POINT - TRAVEL VIA NON STOP SERVICE IS
PERMITTED FOR NO DIFFERENCE IN FARE.
SEE PENALTIES/VOLUNTARY CHANGES FOR COMPLETE
RULES AND RESTRICTIONS.

So what's your problem? You bought an F seat and will get 50% COS bonus MQMs. Sounds like a good deal to me.

I had to pay extra money(chaged to A fare) in order to sit up front, when I should have been upgraded at the 5 day window. I'm a PM.

You wanted te guaranteed FC seat now. No one made you buy it, you might have been upgraded anyway, you chose not to wait. Can't blame DL for wanting to make money on a seat, tat is their business after all

So you're a PM. Big deal. That doesn't guarantee you an F seat on a Y ticket.
Wanna a guaranteed seat in F, but an F ticket... like you did.

This. It's great to have the opportunity to spend a few extra bucks (or in the OP's case, a couple fewer dollars) to have a better ride.