And as a diamond on an L fare you're OK with a FO on a K fare trumping you for the UG?

How about SWU's actually being available when you buy a B fare?

K+ only at the 5 day window for DM/PM, etc would make sense. All else BFUG only to allow for FCM and last minute DM/PM/GM/FO buying really expensive Y/B/M etc. Now that would be fairer.

Why should I as a DM get upgraded 5 days out on a VLUT fare, when there is a PM who books last minute on a Y fare? I think there has to be an algorithim out there that can get a fairer metric, that allows for FCM and above all GENERATES EXTRA REVENUE for DL.

I think I'd look ridiculous wearing a necktie and dress shoes with my sweatpants and t-shirt.

I call shenanigans.

Yes, we are still lacking the B.S.

David

There already is... haven't you noticed that advance upgrades are much much much less available than they used to be on many routes? In particular, those routes that get a lot of last minute high bucket purchases and FCM have little to no advance upgrades.

Honestly I can't believe some people whining and wanting upgrades to be more limited. Don't you see where this is going? Sure... start with XVE, then LUT, then before you know it, its no upgrades for FOs, then GM only on M+ and it keeps getting worse.

To be truthful, I had not noticed but have not taken a DL flight since September 6th - and IIRC I was not upgraded 5 days out - so you could be correct.

Voice of reason and wisdom....

For practicall purposes, the advance UG is dead and future changes will merely bring that about in seemingly more "honest" fashion.

But the tactics don't change - DL Corp loves "them agains us" and continues to nurture that "social leverage" to their advantage....

^ ^ I just bought a G fare ticket (FCM) to LAX, and it was only tens of dollars more than a K fare. Although there were lots of flights with the K fare, and only a handful with the low G fare.

David

I'm all for WFBF and usually get to because of a contract I'm on, but I would buy more K+ and save money if it wasn't such a crap shoot for UG's ATL-LAX or LAX-JFK.

The herd will be thinned boys and girls. No going back now IMO.

A better FC experience for me would be better food on DL. AA is far superior in this area and DL could spend more on the FC "experience" if they were not giving away such a huge amount of FC seats for free.

The more something is given without cost to the user the more it is devalued.

People always smile at me when the don't know or don't care what I'm talking about...

Now THIS would be an improvement

Presumably DL has been making more money on domestic FC due to FCM, but they're apparently not choosing to invest in better meals except on the JFK transcon routes.

Rumors from FAs and pilots are always the best rumors because they spend most of their time exchanging other rumors with employees in the same role (remember playing "telephone" as a child?), thousands of miles away from the true rumor mill in office locations (water coolers, email exchanges), and barely have enough time during their trips to keep up on operational memos that actually pertain to their day-to-day duties.

I'd give this a touch more credibility if changes were happening in the very near term, i.e. a month or two from now. But something happening next year? It's very likely that, other than those at the highest levels of Delta, most people on Virginia Avenue have no idea what is happening next year.

I think you have just made the case that the current system is a benefit to Delta. Well played, sir.

David

You nailed it. I spend a lot of money with Delta and put $60K on my Reserve card because the better % of upgrades as a PM (and hopefully this year as a DM) are worth it to me. When I travel for leisure, I buy the cheapest fares far in advance. I usually get upgraded on those weekend flights. Those upgrades are a big part of why I usually overpay for Delta flights, for both business and leisure travel, versus cheaper ones on Airtran/SW out of Atlanta. (Interestingly, I get far fewer upgrades on my business trips, no doubt because more DM and PM road warriors fly during the week.)

If Delta wants me to downgrade my AMEX to the minimum required for free bags, not spend a dime on that AMEX, and start buying every ticket based solely on price, all they have to do is make upgrades only for K and above. I'll pour my credit card spend into a better rewards program than Delta Skypesos.

Should it be worth it to Delta to maintain an upgrade program that keeps me buying its flights more often at a slight premium to the competition? Maybe, maybe not. It is up to Delta to decide what behavior it wants to encourage and reward. All I know is that my purchase patterns would change substantially if they devalue the upgrade opportunities, and I doubt I would be alone.

That said, I also doubt the rumor based on an FA's smile has any legs. Delta is already thinning the ranks with MQDs. With less DMs and PMs, it would seem that limiting upgrade opportunities would be less of a priority.