First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread
#2311
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
When on an FC fare and SDCing to a flight with no seats in F but available seats in Y, your BP and flight record will still show your FC fare class (F/P/A/G) just with a coach seat assignment. You still receive bonus MQMs.
GAs will NOT downgrade an already boarded medallion upgrade to place you in a FC seat, but they will sometimes downgrade an RU who has not boarded yet (esp. if it was cleared at the gate). Then, you get to see your flight # and date posted in the Shena thread on FT.
How in the world is this Shena? It's a voluntary downgrade in order to get on an earlier flight. You always have the option of staying in your original, confirmed flight in FC if the seat is more important to you than the new flight time, and you are at the top of the UG list in the event of a no-show.
#2312
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: Delta Gold
Posts: 182
Selling first class at check in
Checked in 20 hrs in advance for SAN - DTW. offered to buy upgrade for $300. I declined and learned I was number 4 on list with 9 seats avail.
6 hours prior to takeoff I am still number 4 but only 3 seats avail.
Not sure if it was people spending the $300 or RUG, but it confirms that the value of unlimited medallion upgrades is very very low.
I am looking at getting GM on DL and the lowest level for AA so I can shop around more and get free bags on two lines. Being plat on DL not worth much anymore.
I figure I will fly 5 times a year on AA to do this instead of DL ...I guess DL figures it is worth it to lose my 5 flights to sell more FIRST at last second....
6 hours prior to takeoff I am still number 4 but only 3 seats avail.
Not sure if it was people spending the $300 or RUG, but it confirms that the value of unlimited medallion upgrades is very very low.
I am looking at getting GM on DL and the lowest level for AA so I can shop around more and get free bags on two lines. Being plat on DL not worth much anymore.
I figure I will fly 5 times a year on AA to do this instead of DL ...I guess DL figures it is worth it to lose my 5 flights to sell more FIRST at last second....
#2313
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: DUS
Programs: DL, HHonors, Bonvoy, Hyatt
Posts: 2,072
Summer bargain prices: https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...rst-class.html
#2314
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Minneapolis, originally from Cincinnati
Programs: Diamond with Delta, Hyatt and Hilton. 2 MM and Plat with America (thank you citi:))
Posts: 2,345
Checked in 20 hrs in advance for SAN - DTW. offered to buy upgrade for $300. I declined and learned I was number 4 on list with 9 seats avail.
6 hours prior to takeoff I am still number 4 but only 3 seats avail.
Not sure if it was people spending the $300 or RUG, but it confirms that the value of unlimited medallion upgrades is very very low.
I am looking at getting GM on DL and the lowest level for AA so I can shop around more and get free bags on two lines. Being plat on DL not worth much anymore.
I figure I will fly 5 times a year on AA to do this instead of DL ...I guess DL figures it is worth it to lose my 5 flights to sell more FIRST at last second....
6 hours prior to takeoff I am still number 4 but only 3 seats avail.
Not sure if it was people spending the $300 or RUG, but it confirms that the value of unlimited medallion upgrades is very very low.
I am looking at getting GM on DL and the lowest level for AA so I can shop around more and get free bags on two lines. Being plat on DL not worth much anymore.
I figure I will fly 5 times a year on AA to do this instead of DL ...I guess DL figures it is worth it to lose my 5 flights to sell more FIRST at last second....
It wouldn't be as painful sitting in Y if Delta would give us food off the eats menu the way AA does for the EP members
#2315
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
Checked in 20 hrs in advance for SAN - DTW. offered to buy upgrade for $300. I declined and learned I was number 4 on list with 9 seats avail.
6 hours prior to takeoff I am still number 4 but only 3 seats avail.
Not sure if it was people spending the $300 or RUG, but it confirms that the value of unlimited medallion upgrades is very very low.
I am looking at getting GM on DL and the lowest level for AA so I can shop around more and get free bags on two lines. Being plat on DL not worth much anymore.
I figure I will fly 5 times a year on AA to do this instead of DL ...I guess DL figures it is worth it to lose my 5 flights to sell more FIRST at last second....
6 hours prior to takeoff I am still number 4 but only 3 seats avail.
Not sure if it was people spending the $300 or RUG, but it confirms that the value of unlimited medallion upgrades is very very low.
I am looking at getting GM on DL and the lowest level for AA so I can shop around more and get free bags on two lines. Being plat on DL not worth much anymore.
I figure I will fly 5 times a year on AA to do this instead of DL ...I guess DL figures it is worth it to lose my 5 flights to sell more FIRST at last second....
If you just want free bags, get credit cards. You don't need any status.
DL just doesn't understand that it's a lot cheaper to keep a customer than to lose and re-acquire one.
#2316
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
If all their planes are still going out close to full capacity, is it really costing them more to trade out one passenger for another? Particularly when the incoming one is willing to pay a few more bucks for a FC ticket and the outgoing one is expecting a free UG or otherwise taking a C+ seat that is also being monetized?
If DL's overall sales quantity were declining as a result of this, then I would agree that they ought to focus on customer retention. But as it stands, it seems that they need to put very little effort into retention as with every customer lost, another one is ready and willing to pop into their place and often pay even more.
In essence, DL has found that it can acquire other customers who are willing to pay slightly more for the same product. What incentive do they have to ignore those customers in favor of others, just because the others have been hanging out with them in the past?
#2317
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
I get what you're saying, but play a brain exercise with me:
If all their planes are still going out close to full capacity, is it really costing them more to trade out one passenger for another? Particularly when the incoming one is willing to pay a few more bucks for a FC ticket and the outgoing one is expecting a free UG or otherwise taking a C+ seat that is also being monetized?
If all their planes are still going out close to full capacity, is it really costing them more to trade out one passenger for another? Particularly when the incoming one is willing to pay a few more bucks for a FC ticket and the outgoing one is expecting a free UG or otherwise taking a C+ seat that is also being monetized?
Today, it doesn't matter between them.
In a couple of years, when the airlines no longer have as much oligopoly power, that first customer would be very valuable, only now he's loyal to another airline.
#2318
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
Maybe the outgoing one is someone who, for years, was willing to pay up in order to fly Delta, and would continue doing so if treated well. The incoming one is someone who might not fly that often, or is just not willing to worry about which airline and buys whatever looks best at the moment..
#2319
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
Just like most things in life...what have you done for me LATELY!?
#2320
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Maybe the outgoing one is someone who, for years, was willing to pay up in order to fly Delta, and would continue doing so if treated well. The incoming one is someone who might not fly that often, or is just not willing to worry about which airline and buys whatever looks best at the moment.
Today, it doesn't matter between them.
In a couple of years, when the airlines no longer have as much oligopoly power, that first customer would be very valuable, only now he's loyal to another airline.
Today, it doesn't matter between them.
In a couple of years, when the airlines no longer have as much oligopoly power, that first customer would be very valuable, only now he's loyal to another airline.
In the future state, perhaps all the loyalists who left DL have been replaced by people who left other airlines, and are now loyal to DL.
I honestly can see it both ways, but if I had to lean in one direction, I'd say that the airlines are more or less trading "loyal" customers, not gaining or losing them.
And, they potentially make more money when flying around lower or non-elites that they need to provide fewer benefits to.
#2321
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
I agree, there will come a day when the traveler you describe will be needed back, but I think it will be incredibly cheap to get them back by the thousands.
#2322
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
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Posts: 21,371
on this board, it just SEEMS like more of 'em are ranting about leaving DL
#2324
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
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Posts: 12,159
Only the fact that it's gone back and forth every few years since deregulation.
It's cheap to get travelers. It's expensive to get loyal customers. Somebody who's willing to buy a DL ticket because it's $5 less than someone else? Sure, they're easy to get. They also require that DL continue to underprice. Someone who's willing to buy a DL ticket despite it costing $100 more than someone else? That's not so easy to get, and is a hell of a lot cheaper to maintain than to acquire. But as we've seen, DL doesn't have that much of an eye for the future.
I agree, there will come a day when the traveler you describe will be needed back, but I think it will be incredibly cheap to get them back by the thousands.
#2325
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
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