I just had to book a close to almost last minute ticket from MSP to ATL. I was right at 7 days from flight. The cheapest coach was $700 and the cheapest First Class (A fare, not P orf H-up) was $725. Just out of curiosity I checked the same fare right now and it is $853 coach, $887 First Class. All fares were round trip.

Another data point. Not necessary at all. Everyone reading this thread is aware there are hundreds of similar examples daily. Just like the one mentioned by OP to start.

Or if you had another point to make you didn't make it... Do not pass go! Do not collect $200!! :)

^^^^^^^^^^^^

And the father was a mileplus elite.

I think he's reinforcing the point that upgrades are no longer going to be a real benefit of FF programs. Delta and other airlines are starting to monetize those seats...and it's going to negatively affect us.

^ exactly - i'm traveling a lot less this year but i still manage to be 7/8 on upgrades on fares that aren't Y!. FCM really isn't effecting me, if I wanted to constantly ..... about it on this forum I would make sure it did.... just sayin'

And OP, you are a PM and are 0/22 on upgrades this year - really???? You really need some pointers on how to manage your travel, dumb luck should get you to 12/22.... n

You guys never fail to amaze me. I'm complaining about a problem(.....ing about delta not having upgrade inventory) and you tell me off.... and then you call me an idiot for not making upgrades.

Well let me tell you this- the flight i'm normally fly has around 10 DM's on it and an upgrade list of around ~75 for an MD-88. While it's nice that you are so lucky, .... you. I fly M and TH and take earliest/latest flight respectively every week. I don't have the choice to take a later flight. Screw you for not understanding that some people have travel policies.

Screw you??? that nice :) Where did i say you were an idiot... so leaving your personal attack aside... honestly I am :D

If you are a PM and you haven't made 1 upgrade in 22 flights then you are doing something wrong. PERIOD. Delta have tons of upgrade inventory, ask the 10 DM's who got upgraded..... :) I do have a travel policy to adhere too, i work within it and i still manage to get upgrades. I travel medallion heavy routes.

THe harder i work at getting on the right flights the luckier i get with upgrades....

Why does it upset you, or anyone else for that matter, that DL sells a restricted, discounted ticket in F that costs less than a less-restrictive ticket in Y (that costs much more) :confused:

Also, why would DL want to give a medallion flying on a cheap fare a free upgrade to F when they know there are people -- like me -- who buy these discounted, restricted F fares?

I think the biggest frustration with the whole FCM thing on this board is that domestic upgrades used to be the one redeeming quality of the skymiles program. Award redemptions are tough, SWU's are fairly useless for upgrades, ect.

Flyers dealt with the other crap because they liked the comp upgrade odds. Now that DL is selling the seats on the cheap instead of giving them to medallions it has bothered many, which I understand.

Your question is a good on though, Delta obviously thinks it is a better idea for them to sell cheap F seats then to give them away, but in the process how many medallions are they pissing off? That is what they have to weigh and they obviously think the extra revenue is worth it.

Good post. I don't care what they do but please stop ADVERTISING benefits that're unrealistic to receive.

DL would say "Up to this point, we haven't pissed off enough because they're still hanging around."

+1
Sums it up pretty well.

OP simply doesn't understand that he's exactly the guy DL has no reason to UG. He flies the same route every week on prescribed flights and according to an employer-set policy. He doesn't have a choice. He's stuck w. DL. Why UG him when DL can UG (or sell a F seat) to someone who has and makes a choice?

Perhaps for some, perhaps not for others. IMO, diversification and trip management are the keys. I continue to be 100% on the cheapest coach fares on both DL and AA. I also buy discounted First if the differential is reasonable. I am also willing to connect in most cases. Works fine for me.

I think your anger would be better directed at your employer. Your employer either doesn't think you deserve to fly F or worst case under your FCM example doesn't CARE that you could even without costing them money. How can you fault Delta when there are higher elites on your flight, people with a higher fare class, or folks whose accounting team lets them buy F fares. Your employer's arcane travel policy is really the only entity at fault here.

Also if your flight has around 10 DM's on average for an MD-88 how do you expect upgrades as a PM? Sounds like at a minimum you need to be a DM to compete on this route. The Delta Reserve card would probably help you too if you could reach DM.

Why on earth would ANYONE in their RIGHT MIND think that it is DL's job to supplement a travel policy?

Y'all should be angry at your travel manager, not DL. Just ridiculous.