Air France (AF) ends upgradeable seats from Premium W
Sep 14, 2012, 10:43 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Minneapolis, MN USA
Programs: Hilton Gold, Delta PM, SkyClubs
Posts: 37
Air France (AF) ends upgradeable seats from Premium W
I just got off the phone with the Plat phone line. My AF flight had been booked awhile ago (Premium Class W) and I was just checking back with Delta for upgradeable seats and have had no luck.
The rep told me that she just saw an e-mail yesterday saying that Air France (AF) is no longer offering O class or upgradeable seats for SWU nor for miles for Delta with W class fares.
As a courtesy they (a Supervisor) provided me an upgrade on Delta metal but couldn't offer it on my return flight since there were none available. It's cost me 25,000 for Business Class for the first leg of the journey. She said that all the Business Class seats were full on the return for the dates I was traveling.
My guess is that because AF Premium class W tickets are cheaper (she priced out a M class and it was 2x as much as I had paid) AF doesn't want to honor it anymore.
I'd be interested if others can confirm this.
End of an "error."
FYI: I've posted this same message in the Air France upgrades thread but thought it warranted it's own thread. Moderator close if you think unnecessary.
The rep told me that she just saw an e-mail yesterday saying that Air France (AF) is no longer offering O class or upgradeable seats for SWU nor for miles for Delta with W class fares.
As a courtesy they (a Supervisor) provided me an upgrade on Delta metal but couldn't offer it on my return flight since there were none available. It's cost me 25,000 for Business Class for the first leg of the journey. She said that all the Business Class seats were full on the return for the dates I was traveling.
My guess is that because AF Premium class W tickets are cheaper (she priced out a M class and it was 2x as much as I had paid) AF doesn't want to honor it anymore.
I'd be interested if others can confirm this.
End of an "error."
FYI: I've posted this same message in the Air France upgrades thread but thought it warranted it's own thread. Moderator close if you think unnecessary.
Sep 14, 2012, 12:03 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: MCI
Programs: DL PM; AA EXP
Posts: 215
[QUOTE=Bry_guy;19315006]
As a courtesy they (a Supervisor) provided me an upgrade on Delta metal but couldn't offer it on my return flight since there were none available. It's cost me 25,000 for Business Class for the first leg of the journey. She said that all the Business Class seats were full on the return for the dates I was traveling.
QUOTE]
Can you clarify what you mean by "provided me an upgrade on Delta metal"? Was it on a route that both DL & AF operate so they could just move you to the DL metal flight, or did the Supervisor provide you with a different routing?
FWIW, I'm in the same boat--booked AF W months ago assuming that, as has always happened in the past, O would open up closer to departure date. My route is LAX-CDG, so no DL metal, unless DL is willing to change it to a connecting flight (plenty of Z availability via SLC).
I've read other threads that O has become signficantly harder to find. But just last week I booked 3 J award seats on AF for July 2013. I noticed that whereas it used to be AF's 343s and 380s had availability, now it seemed only the 77Ws had availability (and as we'll be traveling with a 2 year old next summer, I actually wanted the 3 J seats in the middle together anyway).
As a courtesy they (a Supervisor) provided me an upgrade on Delta metal but couldn't offer it on my return flight since there were none available. It's cost me 25,000 for Business Class for the first leg of the journey. She said that all the Business Class seats were full on the return for the dates I was traveling.
QUOTE]
Can you clarify what you mean by "provided me an upgrade on Delta metal"? Was it on a route that both DL & AF operate so they could just move you to the DL metal flight, or did the Supervisor provide you with a different routing?
FWIW, I'm in the same boat--booked AF W months ago assuming that, as has always happened in the past, O would open up closer to departure date. My route is LAX-CDG, so no DL metal, unless DL is willing to change it to a connecting flight (plenty of Z availability via SLC).
I've read other threads that O has become signficantly harder to find. But just last week I booked 3 J award seats on AF for July 2013. I noticed that whereas it used to be AF's 343s and 380s had availability, now it seemed only the 77Ws had availability (and as we'll be traveling with a 2 year old next summer, I actually wanted the 3 J seats in the middle together anyway).
Sep 14, 2012, 12:26 pm
#4
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Well if true that would be another big downgrade to the program... and killing one of the last places you can use an SWU that had good value instead of paying 4k+ for an M fare.
Sep 14, 2012, 12:37 pm
#5
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The memo (as claimed by DM agent) stated "(extremely) limited availability on 'O' fare"
(I put extremely in parenthesis because I could not understand if the word was there, or if it was an addition from the agent)
Either way, it seems like a serious problem, and it makes me not as happy. But, I start linking the dots between notes that different agents give me this week. Seems like there is some ground work for a new system ("Access"?) to replace certain elements of the current system taking place this month
(I put extremely in parenthesis because I could not understand if the word was there, or if it was an addition from the agent)
Either way, it seems like a serious problem, and it makes me not as happy. But, I start linking the dots between notes that different agents give me this week. Seems like there is some ground work for a new system ("Access"?) to replace certain elements of the current system taking place this month
Sep 14, 2012, 12:39 pm
#6
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The memo (as claimed by DM agent) stated "(extremely) limited availability on 'O' fare"
(I put extremely in parenthesis because I could not understand if the word was there, or if it was an addition from the agent)
Either way, it seems like a serious problem, and it makes me not as happy. But, I start linking the dots between notes that different agents give me this week. Seems like there is some ground work for a new system ("Access"?) to replace certain elements of the current system taking place this month
(I put extremely in parenthesis because I could not understand if the word was there, or if it was an addition from the agent)
Either way, it seems like a serious problem, and it makes me not as happy. But, I start linking the dots between notes that different agents give me this week. Seems like there is some ground work for a new system ("Access"?) to replace certain elements of the current system taking place this month
Sep 14, 2012, 1:05 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MEM
Programs: DL DM, Marriott/Starwood Plat
Posts: 441
I just got off the phone with the Plat phone line. My AF flight had been booked awhile ago (Premium Class W) and I was just checking back with Delta for upgradeable seats and have had no luck.
The rep told me that she just saw an e-mail yesterday saying that Air France (AF) is no longer offering O class or upgradeable seats for SWU nor for miles for Delta with W class fares.
As a courtesy they (a Supervisor) provided me an upgrade on Delta metal but couldn't offer it on my return flight since there were none available. It's cost me 25,000 for Business Class for the first leg of the journey. She said that all the Business Class seats were full on the return for the dates I was traveling.
My guess is that because AF Premium class W tickets are cheaper (she priced out a M class and it was 2x as much as I had paid) AF doesn't want to honor it anymore.
I'd be interested if others can confirm this.
End of an "error."
FYI: I've posted this same message in the Air France upgrades thread but thought it warranted it's own thread. Moderator close if you think unnecessary.
The rep told me that she just saw an e-mail yesterday saying that Air France (AF) is no longer offering O class or upgradeable seats for SWU nor for miles for Delta with W class fares.
As a courtesy they (a Supervisor) provided me an upgrade on Delta metal but couldn't offer it on my return flight since there were none available. It's cost me 25,000 for Business Class for the first leg of the journey. She said that all the Business Class seats were full on the return for the dates I was traveling.
My guess is that because AF Premium class W tickets are cheaper (she priced out a M class and it was 2x as much as I had paid) AF doesn't want to honor it anymore.
I'd be interested if others can confirm this.
End of an "error."
FYI: I've posted this same message in the Air France upgrades thread but thought it warranted it's own thread. Moderator close if you think unnecessary.
Sep 14, 2012, 1:07 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: DL DM; SPG Gold
Posts: 1,733
On the phone now and agent @ international desk confirms that AF has terminated the upgrade program, at least temporarily. Agent is now trying to see if they are any upgrade available on DL metal where she could transfer me. Fingers crossed...
Sep 14, 2012, 1:08 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MEM
Programs: DL DM, Marriott/Starwood Plat
Posts: 441
How do you get to the international desk? Plat desk supervisor told me to give them an additional $1200, plus an SWU, or take a hike.
Sep 14, 2012, 1:16 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Begin the phone call with "I'm trying to make a chance to a complex international ticket involving a SWU. Can you please transfer me to the international manual reissue desk?"
Sep 14, 2012, 1:32 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: DL DM; SPG Gold
Posts: 1,733
I told her i thought we were talking about a commercial gesture here to compensate the unannounced loss a platinum benefit but NOPE.
She did confirm again though that AF has blocked all upgrades from W to Affaires. She said their problem is that a W costs $1500 whereas on DL to upgrade, a YBM is required for >$2500 and AF was not happy about that...
Chances are that when they come back with upgrades possibility, it will be from an High End Premium economy fare only...
Sep 14, 2012, 1:56 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: DL Diamond MM, SPG Platinum, Skywards Silver
Posts: 319
Hmmm
Hmmm....does anyone think maybe it's DL that is not happy about that? AF controls their fares, so my conspiracy mind thinks that maybe DL is losing more (from the YBM fares) than AF?
Last edited by FlyingDL4Fun; Sep 14, 2012 at 1:57 pm Reason: spelling
Sep 14, 2012, 2:01 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Actually, AF only sort of controls their fares. The TATL JV is metal neutral, and that includes Premium Economy (only available with AF and AZ). It just happens that DL only has one fare bucket for PV instead of the three that AF uses.
Sep 14, 2012, 2:07 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 543
I didn't think the SWU could become even more worthless.
I even tried to use one one a multi-segment international trip with a mix of fare classes including domestic segments in H class and I was not allowed to use them on those segments because they are part of an international itinerary.
I even tried to use one one a multi-segment international trip with a mix of fare classes including domestic segments in H class and I was not allowed to use them on those segments because they are part of an international itinerary.