It isn't going to increase profits. The seats go out empty because they're overpriced; taking away upgrades isn't going to change the market's opinion and is also going to cause space in the back to be occupied that might otherwise be sold. I fly DL from JFK to SEA because it's cheap and there aren't a lot of alternatives, but LAX and SFO flyers apparently have a lot more options and are going to work the unavailability of upgrades into their choice of carrier. So, in addition to empty seats in the front there are likely to be more empty seats in the back.

On a heavy leisure travel day (LAS market), it is highly unlikely you will find many interested in upgraded. These are the folks that choose their fare 100% on price.

This market cannot be compared to trans-cons like JFK-LAX/SFO (etc.); I'm not even sure LAS-ATL is considered a trans-con (for marketing purposes).

If there was convention and regular business traffic, you would see first class 100% full. And, as you approach New Years, these flights are packed (I was even unable once, to buy into first class on the 30th).

Remember, nobody "really" wants to visit Vegas the time period around Christmas. (16/17th to 28th of December). It's been considered one of the most cost effective times to visit the city. It's also been a time period where a number of shows are dark; though, that's not as much the case anymore.

I'm not sure where you think "class" would magically come back to first class. This is a commercial airline, aka flying bus. If you want class, fly a private jet.

As a stockholder I'm also surprised you would say that. You must realize that empty seats in F means zero revenue there. Delta upgrades pax from Y into F/J not just as a reward for 'loyalty' but also so they can sell more higher priced tickets in the back. If some of those pax on high priced Y/B/M tickets have zero chance of getting to sit up front then it is reasonable to expect some will take their last minute profitable tickets and go elsewhere.

[QUOTE=bubbashow;22027685].....hmmmm......a for-profit company test marketing something to potentially increase profits. Oh the humanity!QUOTE]

PM don't even get the Global Upgrade Certificate, FYI

You and I both know the empty seats will be full of Non-revs and not left empty

I see what you did there.

And the self deprecation is actually pretty amusing.

The seats up front will just now go to non-revs. If Delta is going to eliminate upgrades and sell those seats at that price, eliminate giving them to non-rev's as well so the people paying those prices can get better service.

AA also services LAX to JFK and some people in my burbank office are switching their loyalty to AA. Even if they don't get upgraded on that route everytime, AA requires 25K fewer miles per year for top status and they get a lot better product. The AA SWU's are more generous than Delta's, and you get a MUCH nicer lounge experience on long hauls on paid first or as an EP.

And a lot of the people that buy that route aren't kettles buying 3 months out for vacation, they are like the people in my office buying a more expensive (often times a B or M) fare on pretty short notice. Delta is going to be losing out on that revenue meaning one of two things-lower revenues/profits (due to fewer passengers or they will drop fares to fill up the birds) and/or higher fares to compensate for it if they don't care about filling the planes.

Well Bubba obviously doesn't fly nearly as much as most FT'ers. He said he only buys F or J, which means only flying 62,500 miles a year with the 100% MQM bonus on an F or J ticket to be diamond and he is only PM.

Medallion upgrades are a benefit of the frequent flyer program, just like non-rev's getting upgraded are one of their benefits. I am sure he would feel a lot differently if Delta were to eliminate free upgrades on these routes to non-revs.

No, Only DM can get the Global certs. PM's can select 4 Regional certs and they are not valid for the transcons

If I'm reading this correctly, it sounds like deja vous all over again.

When I first started flying extensively in 1980, I don't think anybody had free upgrades, but I flew DL because I did get a Flying Colonel membership and thus free access to the Crown Room.

I remember many a DL flight with numerous empty seats in F, and those that were occupied were often by non-revs.

Then Eastern and Western came out with the free upgrades, so I flew them.

Then DL finally came out with upgrades, so I went back to them, and was rather consistently up front, so life was good, over the course of a few thousand flights.

Since my retirement in 2005, we've seen massive consolidation in the industry, and the new carriers generally don't even offer F class. I'm not sure what AA and UA are doing these days, but I never found their upgrade policies as accomodating as DL.

So as a businessman, I can't blame DL for no longer giving away something that the competitors don't. As a shareholder, and with many friends at DL, I hope this works out for them. But for those of you that are required to buy only a coach ticket, you have my sympathy.

I personally feel this will lead to fewer EC seats being available for purchase as the Medallions will scoop them up ASAP. So empty seats up front....limited revenue on the EC seats...who wins?

Good luck with that one. MSP-LGA is usually a A319 with 12 F, and is heavily FCM with at best 1 seat open at the 5 day UG window and usually 0 at the gate. As a DM I was 50% on UG when I purchased coach fares on that route the last couple of years, As a GM you will be in the back.

This is coming soon.

LOL if you think this would make F "classier."