Delta Fare Class Problems
 

Hey guys and gals,

I fly down to Brazil for work, 6 round trips a year Denver>ATL>GIG. My company gets one of the super discounted tickets for us, which used to be an "L" class and now its a "T" class. So I've made Silver peon status for this year, but it looks like I won't even make that next year.

Anyone know anything I can do to get more miles (other than book personal travel apart from it). I'll only get 18,000 or so next year for these flights, which really sucks.

Thanks,
Jeff

There's your problem.

If these were "regular" (published) L and/or T fares, you'd be banking ~72,000 MQM/yr. They are obviously unpublished/consolidator fares, hence you're earning 25%, which happens to work out to 18,000 MQM.

Aside from getting a new job or changing your employer's travel policy (many would pay for J on this route), I think you're stuck.

Call your head hunter. DEN-ATL-GIG for a reputable employer is in BE.

First off welcome to FT and really review thoses tickets

I'm sorry, BE?

Anyways, I'm wondering if there is anything I can do to get around that "T" class. I realize I'd be able to make Platinum if I got full miles, but my company buys so many tickets for Brazil, then they qualify for the deep discounted tickets.

I doubt there is anything to do, and it'd probably be wise to just stop trying to only buy with Delta if I won't even make Silver status next year.

Thanks

BE = Business Elite = business class. The BE comment was basically saying your employer is shafting you, and you should find a company that will put you in business class on those long hauls.

Ah yeah, gotcha. No joke, there are plenty of guys that work in the same industry that either make platinum/diamond or are on BE class tickets. We'll see what I can do in the near future to make that happen.

Hell, I am in academia and they fly me business for such a long flight. Unless it's a startup and these cost savings are because you decide to take stock options instead of compensation you are definitely getting screwed.

My company is FAR from a start up, and certainly not able to buy us the BE tickets. Privately owned as well, so no stock options either. My only thought is that since there are so many of us flying to Brazil, then it starts adding up.

Can you credit them to another program?

Alaska Airlines is a DL partner. Air France/KLM?

Yes, I have thought about doing it through Alaska, and forgotten about that, thanks for reminding me.

New question: What do I lose out on with going through a partner airline?

Thanks

by crediting to AS, you wouldn't be as high on the upgrade list - however, if it's only miles you're concerned about, then it's fine

Well without going through Alaska, I wouldn't make a status at all, and not even enough miles for a flight with Delta per year. With Alaska, I get miles and make some sort of status within their program.

Since no one really stated it in a way that's fully clear . . .

It has nothing to do with L vs T class. Those both will earn 100% mileage if booked directly through Delta.

If you purchase those tickets through another travel agent, they might be special versions of fares called "consolidator fares" and will only earn 25% mileage. It's a new rule in 2013. There's no easy way to know whether you'll get the full mileage or 25% mileage just by the single-letter fare class.

You'll need to either call Delta on your ticket after it's booked or else use a service like Expert Flyer (with some training) to identify whether or not it's a consolidator fare. (It's sort of a complicated process, but you can compare the 5-letter full fare class--starting with "L" or "T" in your case--from the detailed fare rules, with a list of published fares on Expert Flyer. If it's not in the Expert Flyer list, it's generally an unpublished consolidator fare.)

If your company will let you book your own tickets, buy them through Delta.com and you'll always get full mileage.

Certainly not the norm. Count yourself lucky...or part of the problem of high tuition rates.