Then take it up with your company and their travel policies or find a company with better travel policies. It's not DL's job to plan it's revenue and business strategry around your company's travel policies. :rolleyes:

Good Lord do some people read what they've written before they post it?

Yes right on target. This is the strategy for today's environment. Make it work to one's advantage! :D

I don't understand why domestic US first class is priced at such a high multiple... that few passengers purchase the fare... and therefore seats are given away to elites or upgrades are sold.

For DL, why not lower the first class price differential, make up for the drop in per ticket revenue with greater volume (more passengers paying a lower fare)... and upgrade the service offering.

On some routes I'd pay for first class (out of my pocket) if the fare was not 3x, 4x, or greater than the price of coach. The current system just degrades the product.

I'm sure they have smart quant jocks who have modeled this out. I've just never seen a rationale for not doing the above vs maintaining the same Pterodactyl pricing models.

And... I don't buy the argument that "the Elites" would retaliate and go to another airline since 1) most are flying based on corporate pricing and are somewhat directed to specific airlines; 2) a lot are captive to airlines' market share on a given route or city, e.g., where would all the p-offed PMs and DMs in ATL go?; and 3) if one airline did it, they'd all follow.

Wow, did you just wake up from hibernation? OP is pissed because DL's F fares are too low.
And indeed, in most markets, DL's F fares are priced much more competitively these days.
That is why more pax (elites and non-elites) are buying F, leaving some DL elites in the back of the bus.

I'm all for charging for upgrades (like AA does for all but EXPs) if that will improve the food.

THIS.

This thread is not about monetizing a seat. I am all for it. It is a bit irritating for me to buy a last minute M or B fare and sit in the back, while a non FF is sitting up front on a fare that was 1/3 the cost.

QUOTE=StuckOnSegments;20471134]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.[/QUOTE]

Besides learning how to use quotes correctly :) you can also buy a last minute A or P fare just like others have that option (if it is offered). My guess is that the reason you don't do it is either it is not offered (thus a non FF is not sitting up front on a fare that was 1/3 the cost) or your company's travel policy requires you to buy the coach fare that costs 3x the last-minute first fare. The latter is an issue with your company's travel policy, not with DL.

No not luckier, smarter. When I was SM on NWA I played the game right and got over 50% UG rate. Gold was close to 75%, PM 90%, now with DM I'm close to 97%. It's all about picking the right routes/times/

+1

Whoa, Sparky. I'm wide awake. The OP's example was A fare less than economy. My point was different. Sorry to have interrupted YOUR thread.

Does your travel policy allow you to search for F or do you book direct?

Since i'm getting hammered over this quote(screw you for not understanding that people have travel policies) from people who didn't read the whole thread, this was a response to a person saying that I'm doing something wrong if i'm 0/22 on my normal route as a PM. I was simply telling him that i don't have flexibility to leave later on Monday or earlier on Thursday. I could plan my flights to get more upgrades, but i can't. It's that simple.

The whole reason i brought that up was because i'm ok with not getting upgraded on that flight. Jesus people, read the thread.

This complaint is around a different flight(ie not my normal route) where delta had almost no upgrade inventory in order to sell cheap F seats. I bought the seat, i'm just mad that what should have been an easy upgrade wasn't. This is another nail in the coffin of skymiles. I'm getting to the point where trying to fly DL just isn't worth it anymore.

I get it, I know how to raise my chances, i just can't do it. As a result i'm 0/22 on my normal route as a PM. And i'm ok with that.

"dumb luck should get you to 12/22"

That seemed like a personal attack.

I'd really like for you to tell me what i'm doing wrong.

From someone who didn't read the thread. Nice, why don't you do some reading before you post.

I did read the thread. Delta doesn't have to plan it's pricing or upgrade strategies around your companies travel policies or your travel habits. Telling other posters "screw you" isn't going to change that.