First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread
Nov 7, 2018, 3:27 pm
#4021
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
Nov 7, 2018, 6:46 pm
#4022
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,210
Nov 8, 2018, 9:50 am
#4023
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 171
Since Delta changed their policy about sending FCM offers to people that book through Concur, every offer I've gotten after booking has been nearly double what it would have cost if I would have booked F to begin with. I just booked a flight for next week to LAS and they wanted $101 more each way when I did the dummy booking. Now that it's booked and I look at my trip, they want $171 each way.
Edited to add:
I went back and did a dummy booking on delta.dumb and the difference between Y and F was $180 RT. I thought when I booked it was less than the $101 each way. Anyhoo, I called our TA and had them book the F ticket for me and they wanted $2 more than Delta, which is odd because we normally get a slight discount. So even with the price difference of $2, the FCM amount is nearly double the difference after booking.
Edited to add:
I went back and did a dummy booking on delta.dumb and the difference between Y and F was $180 RT. I thought when I booked it was less than the $101 each way. Anyhoo, I called our TA and had them book the F ticket for me and they wanted $2 more than Delta, which is odd because we normally get a slight discount. So even with the price difference of $2, the FCM amount is nearly double the difference after booking.
Our company as of 1/1/19, will be using Concur to book travel. I had been under the impression that FCM offers are not available to those that book travel through a company TA. Maybe I read that here? Not sure. (Up until now, I have always booked my own travel, which our HR department has allowed)
So the comment above means... travel booked through Concur, Delta allows FCM upgrades? Or Delta always allowed it through Concur, but the FCM offers are histrionically higher
Nov 8, 2018, 10:10 am
#4024
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
On the comment about Concur.
Our company as of 1/1/19, will be using Concur to book travel. I had been under the impression that FCM offers are not available to those that book travel through a company TA. Maybe I read that here? Not sure. (Up until now, I have always booked my own travel, which our HR department has allowed)
So the comment above means... travel booked through Concur, Delta allows FCM upgrades? Or Delta always allowed it through Concur, but the FCM offers are histrionically higher
Our company as of 1/1/19, will be using Concur to book travel. I had been under the impression that FCM offers are not available to those that book travel through a company TA. Maybe I read that here? Not sure. (Up until now, I have always booked my own travel, which our HR department has allowed)
So the comment above means... travel booked through Concur, Delta allows FCM upgrades? Or Delta always allowed it through Concur, but the FCM offers are histrionically higher
Nov 8, 2018, 3:17 pm
#4026
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
I guess it is possible that some instances of Concur sit on top of TAs that issue tickets where FCM is not available for some reason (perhaps issued as bulk or consolidator tickets)
Nov 8, 2018, 7:57 pm
#4027
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Plat Pro, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic 3, Amtrak Select
Posts: 966
Should probably note for me it's Concur sitting on top of AMEX Corporate Travel as the actual TA for the bookings.
I guess it is possible that some instances of Concur sit on top of TAs that issue tickets where FCM is not available for some reason (perhaps issued as bulk or consolidator tickets)
I guess it is possible that some instances of Concur sit on top of TAs that issue tickets where FCM is not available for some reason (perhaps issued as bulk or consolidator tickets)
Nov 21, 2018, 9:43 pm
#4031
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
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Posts: 2,210
Nov 28, 2018, 11:32 pm
#4034
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
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SEA-DTW-DCA/DCA-ATL-SEA — Concur booking was $598 (Q and M); called the corporate desk after ticketing; they contacted DL, and took my personal credit card ($504) to change to SEA-JFK-DCA/DCA-SLC-SEA (A and P/D)
imo $250 for a TCON redeye is entirely reasonable, as is $250 for greater ability to SDC on the return; that said, while the 0600 departures were ~$80 less, I wasn’t willing to roll the dice on Fri afternoon/evening F availability ... but that said, I’ve found that confirmed F has made it easier to VDB (as well as get more creative IROPS recoveries)
imo $250 for a TCON redeye is entirely reasonable, as is $250 for greater ability to SDC on the return; that said, while the 0600 departures were ~$80 less, I wasn’t willing to roll the dice on Fri afternoon/evening F availability ... but that said, I’ve found that confirmed F has made it easier to VDB (as well as get more creative IROPS recoveries)
Nov 29, 2018, 2:52 pm
#4035
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 78
Flew XNA-MSP-DCA over Thanksgiving holiday - offer upon check-in was I believe $89 for XNA-MSP and $247 for MSP-DCA. I didn't bite as I was in Comfort+ and getting legroom and free booze anyway.
(Service from MSP-DCA was outstanding, by the way... and between going from RJ to mainline gate and looking for quick food in an airport that's being "re-imagined," I got 4,500+ Fitbit steps in MSP)
(Service from MSP-DCA was outstanding, by the way... and between going from RJ to mainline gate and looking for quick food in an airport that's being "re-imagined," I got 4,500+ Fitbit steps in MSP)