St Thomas
 

That's what the ladies call me, but that is not important right now....

What I would like to know is what is the FC seating and servce like from ATL to STT? I see it is a 757. Is it just a regular old 757?

What is the lowest fare I can use to upgrade with miles?

Is I fare like a P fare but for the Carribean?


Thanks

I don't know the answer to any of your questions but I do know that domestic flights to STT are upgrade eligible if you prefer to gamble. I was just in SJU last week and I was upgraded on a T fare both ways and my lady friend, who is a GM, was upgraded at the GM window on an award ticket. My guess is STT would be the same.

When I put in First Class it comes up with an "I" Business Class Fare. That makes me think it is not domestic rules... Seems like I used an F fare to San Juan last time I went????

It is regular domestic First class seating. Nothing special. Upgrades are plentiful.

I've been flying DL to STT for years for annual vacation... yes a standard 757, usually the standard domestic 24F version with overhead video. Service is generally good and the FAs cheerier than domestic routes, as well as the passengers.

Normal upgrade with miles is YBM to there since it is not quite treated as domestic, but with SWU you can upgrade on K+ fare. Also found that if you want to use miles, the price of the M is only ~200 less than the I fare.

If you're not flying in peak season (winter) then I'd say ust buy lowest coach fare and you'll clear on the medallion upgrade. If you're flying during any peak or holiday time then the F cabin does tend to fill up due to mileage redemptions.

if DL is selling the I fare, this means that the flight is marketed as Business, not FC. You could say that I is like P in that business/BE fares are S I D C J, where S is special sale or deep discount available only on certain routes and I is normal discount or deep discount, depending on your perspective. Of course, FC fares classes are A P F.

If the 757 seat map shows 16FC, this would be true BE seating on an international configuration. More rows of FC and you have some form of a domestic 757 bird.

It's pretty much domestic F (including the UGs), but they call it biz.

My experience has been it's domestic service all the way. If you're looking at buying YBM make sure to check prices for other airlines. Though I usually end up flying AA out there because their discounted J has been extremely competitive with DL YBM.

A lot of folks can score upgrades on the route, but that can be problematic if you have a companion.

Leaving tomorrow for STT. Upgrade cleared at platinum window for me, and last night for my wife (GM). The F cabin was down to 11 seats remaining before the DM/PM window opened, so probably quite a few miles tickets filling up the F cabin (at least for the saturday flight).

For the return flight on Wednesday, upgrade cleared for me at the window yesterday afternoon, with 13 F seats left and lots of preferred seats left in Y, they may end up selling some upgrades come Wednesday.

Tickets were booked as cheapest available 2 months ago; K fare and U fare...obviously the saturday departure is popular for a leisure destination.

Oh and regarding the I vs P fare thing... in the case for the caribbean (or at least STT) the I fare is "real", not an x-UP fare like the P.

If you're flying out of ATL, it looks like the M fares are running 1k+ while an I fare is 1.5k+

All great info. Thank you very much!

One thing...
Be aware of the upgrade process when leaving STT. My experience there last summer showed me the gate staff are not at all organized or aware of how upgrades should work.

So keep on eye on it if you are waiting for a gate upgrade. And it goes without saying that there is no GIDS there.

Done this route twice in the last 12 months - it is domestic first, as stated. However DL does sell a fair amount F/P and this is an ideal route to use an SWU.

Yucky sandwiches in F (upgrades for both me and my GM SO, on cheapo fares).

If you connect rather than terminate in ATL, the return flight may dump you to your last possible connection, which may be canceled. If you overnight in ATL you will then have to check your precious 6-packs of rum. Ours arrived intact despite this hair-raising complication. Just FYI.

Yes, but domestic connections on an international I fare generally book into A class, which could lead to the same problems on those segments.