First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread
May 2, 2019, 7:02 pm
#4561
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
A cash price (including the $50 credit) of $488 r/t for a relatively long domestic F trip is very good. I would take it before it is gone. I would personally spend cash and save the miles for a D1 award ticket (at least that's what I try to save my miles for).
May 2, 2019, 7:36 pm
#4562
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, AA, WP
Posts: 840
The roundtrip fare difference is probably at least $300, so $139 is definitely in the right ballpark as xliioper notes. I would upgrade your husband and yourself and leave the boys together, they probably would have more fun by themselves anyways.
And like jdrtravel, I'd save the miles for award travel in F, but if you don't have enough miles for that, or want to use miles now, you're getting at least over a penny per mile. That flight is at least four and a half hours, so it's worth it.
And like jdrtravel, I'd save the miles for award travel in F, but if you don't have enough miles for that, or want to use miles now, you're getting at least over a penny per mile. That flight is at least four and a half hours, so it's worth it.
May 2, 2019, 8:13 pm
#4563
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: IAH / HOU
Programs: UA GS, DL-Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Somethingist, Marriott Titanium Lifetime
Posts: 2,853
We have a IND- SEA flight in a few weeks. The prices were seriously low when I bought in March, $260 per person for main cabin (not basic) and the cruise line gave us an additional $50 credit per person. So $210 round trip which I thought was excellent.
I have been watching the upgrade cost. Now the first class cost has decreased to $139 each way or 13,000 miles while the Comfort Plus is $69 or 6,000 miles each way.
Would this be considered a good deal? Since we are a group of 4 that always makes things more expensive, or maybe I will upgrade and leave husband and boys in the back...
I have been watching the upgrade cost. Now the first class cost has decreased to $139 each way or 13,000 miles while the Comfort Plus is $69 or 6,000 miles each way.
Would this be considered a good deal? Since we are a group of 4 that always makes things more expensive, or maybe I will upgrade and leave husband and boys in the back...
May 2, 2019, 8:19 pm
#4564
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Depends how much you value the space...
...in this case (since you mention there are 4 of you), I would assume an upgrade should translate to no one sitting alone. In Y you have to do either 3 + 1 or 2+2 with at least 1 person sitting next to someone they don't know but in F you'll get 2-2 so either the two kids can sit together (and the parents can sit together) or a parent can sit with each kid (depending on age).
Plus any value you place on the meal and drinks would factor in.
In terms of miles vs. cash, depends on how frequently you earn and redeem miles and if you have other needs for them (if you are swimming miles, it's not the worst redemption -- sure you leave some value on the table but cash is cash, especially when you have to x4 for any purchase you are making).
Agree wouldn't pay C+
...in this case (since you mention there are 4 of you), I would assume an upgrade should translate to no one sitting alone. In Y you have to do either 3 + 1 or 2+2 with at least 1 person sitting next to someone they don't know but in F you'll get 2-2 so either the two kids can sit together (and the parents can sit together) or a parent can sit with each kid (depending on age).
Plus any value you place on the meal and drinks would factor in.
In terms of miles vs. cash, depends on how frequently you earn and redeem miles and if you have other needs for them (if you are swimming miles, it's not the worst redemption -- sure you leave some value on the table but cash is cash, especially when you have to x4 for any purchase you are making).
Agree wouldn't pay C+
May 2, 2019, 10:28 pm
#4565
Join Date: Feb 2019
Programs: Delta. AA, National EE, HH
Posts: 162
May 2, 2019, 10:40 pm
#4566
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: DTW
Programs: DL - PM, (NW - Plat), AA - Gold, Marriott - Plat, Avis - First
Posts: 955
I've bought-up to F on several occasions on 2-4 hour flights.
C+ is almost never worth it, particularly on flights where I can snag an exit row seat for free.
Only time I bought-up to C+ was for 5A on an E75 on DTW-DFW for $30 so I could be productive and comfortable on a 3 hour flight
C+ is almost never worth it, particularly on flights where I can snag an exit row seat for free.
Only time I bought-up to C+ was for 5A on an E75 on DTW-DFW for $30 so I could be productive and comfortable on a 3 hour flight
May 3, 2019, 12:58 am
#4567
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: AA Plat Pto, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,536
I don't see a mention of DL status or holding an Amex so presumably there are checked bag fees in play that would be avoided by the buy-up. That makes it an even better deal whether for all of just the parents checking all bags under their F tickets.
May 3, 2019, 7:00 am
#4570
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 116
Flying RT JFK to SFO in July. Was already in Delta One on the return home but wanted to upgrade my C+ seat to Delta One on the way out. The web offer was $963.05 or 89,000 miles. I called and it was $710 on the phone.
These offers continue to be a real mystery to me!
I wish I didn't prefer Delta since all the other carriers seem to be much cheaper on that route.
These offers continue to be a real mystery to me!
I wish I didn't prefer Delta since all the other carriers seem to be much cheaper on that route.
May 3, 2019, 7:49 am
#4571
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
May 3, 2019, 8:00 am
#4573
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
Flying RT JFK to SFO in July. Was already in Delta One on the return home but wanted to upgrade my C+ seat to Delta One on the way out. The web offer was $963.05 or 89,000 miles. I called and it was $710 on the phone.
These offers continue to be a real mystery to me!
I wish I didn't prefer Delta since all the other carriers seem to be much cheaper on that route.
These offers continue to be a real mystery to me!
I wish I didn't prefer Delta since all the other carriers seem to be much cheaper on that route.
While I am sure original fare class does somehow feed into the algorithm for what offers are shown to whom, it does not consider this directly. For example, if I buy a round trip $1300 Y ticket and the F ticket is $1700, it would only cost me $400 to upfare. But I may see an FCM offer for $369 each way for a total round trip cost (to FCM upgrade to F) for $2038. In this case a re-fare is much cheaper.
A lot of times FCM makes sense if you buy very cheap coach tickets because it is truly cheaper than buying F outright. If you buy a lot of close-in fares, I have never found them to be a compelling offer as I have never seen FCM upgrades be cheaper than just re-faring into F/J.
May 3, 2019, 8:02 am
#4574
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
I'd be pretty cranky on not getting a meal on a daytime flight in F on a flight with over 4 hour block time.