bubbashow

I'm nor arguing that airlines have some of the lowest scores in customer perception surveys (if not THE lowest). What I am arguing is the gamer that books 6 different F trips to Hawaii because they are cheap. It is greed, it is gluttony, and I challenge you to state otherwise (whether you feel the same as I do about the ethics).

What you are quoting there are generally one-off situations. They are the company with the $250 million planes, the infrastructure, the employees, and the fuel purchase. Your SYD example, a customer can wait until the cabin is available (same with your A fare example), and the fare rules clearly describe penalties. People book these and check a box indicating they understand the penalties. DL honored the fares. End of story. I hope in the future, they will do something to take away ancillary benefits from those that participate in greed and gluttony. Grandma signing on to DL.com and finding $90 roundtrip to HNL is F is far-different than someone who posts on FT multiple times a day and buying 10.

sethb

Are you claiming that Delta would otherwise have left behind profits, but because it made a mistake and sold a few tickets too cheaply it's going to someone increase profits over what it would have made? I thought you were the one who was always claiming that Delta was out to maximize its profits at all times; if that was the case, any additional "squeezing" it tries to do can only lower its profits. Is that what you're suggesting it do?

sethb

So you don't think DL should attempt to maximize its profits? That's what "greed and gluttony" is all about, you know.

FlyDeltaJets87

I realized that after I posted it and edited almost immediately to show a blank box and imply I was more-so referencing all of your posts and points rather than that one specific post. You just responded too quickly. ;-)

But again, if you can establish the "greed", is that greed any different than the greed the airlines have established and probably far better and employ far more frequently?

The customer may be given the option of waiting until the next day by the airline but that may not be a reasonable option. I think the case can also be made that if the passenger knew the product they wanted wasn't going to be available, the passenger would have purchased a similar product through another provider rather than accept the lesser product on the same provider. And not saying the fare rules don't describe penalties (I accept them when I click "Purchase"), but DL also knows the DOT rules with regards to published fares and what happens if they accidentally post the incorrect fare. They could invest in the IT to prevent these sort of issues but have chosen not to do so.

They already are with MQDs. While these fares may help the MQM count, they won't help much in the MQD department.

Crazyhotelguy

...and now you will probably have to pay a bit more for that seat to offset the losses from the glitch fare seats... We don't normally agree on everything, but I do foresee some consequences due to this glitch. I will do a bit more research before booking than I would normally do to see if Upgrade potential exists on the flights I am booking. I also expect higher fares on impacted flights/routes. AA may gain a larger share of my business if these things do become apparent.

Speculation on my part, but DL will find a way of recouping its losses...

DLdweeb

It would seem to me that as a stockholder, you would be far less concerned with the thieves (oops, I mean customers) and far more concerned with the very serious control failure (human and otherwise) that allowed this glitch to happen and go on for 8 hours, and more specifically what additional controls are being put in place to make sure it doesn't happen again.

mnbp

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...ing-issue.html

HongKonger

Exactly. Those who are dishonest deserve no sympathy.

sethb

Why do you believe that DL doesn't already maximize its profits? If it could increase its profits to "recoup its losses" why wouldn't it do the exact same thing to increase its profits?

Crazyhotelguy

Never argued that they didn't. However, with Premium seats being sold off cheaply, reduced capacity will require DL to make up for lost revenue on those seats. Now, does this mean less A/G/I type fares? time will tell. I find it hard to believe that those discounted fares would not be impacted on flights where glitch fares were sold. As long as there is demand, the reduction of capacity / seats sold to glitch fares could pay off for DL if they can sell remaining seats at a premium. The ultimate losers will probably be DM/PM/GM medallions hoping for upgrades. This is why I will be a little more careful in strategically choosing flights sith better upgrade odds..

Another question could be on the Y fares. With glitch fares sold in economy, will this mean less inventory in lower fare buckets, thus leading to higher fare availability? I guess that we will see some impact here as well.

I do not expect to see DL lose much here. The losses will be passed along to those trying to book future travel.

javabytes

If DL was able to sell those seats at a premium, it would already do so. Just because they sold a bunch of mistake fares doesn't suddenly make their remaining inventory worth more. You can say all you want that RM will try extra hard now to make up lost revenue by limiting discounted inventory, but they're going to be limited in their ability to do so by 1) the number of people that are willing to pay the higher prices, which hasn't at all changed, and 2) fares filed by competitors that didn't sell a bunch of glitch fares.

ma91pmh

sorry javabytes this is way too intelligent and well thought out a response for this thread. delta will get everyone back for this no matter what the facts are!!!!!!!!

LemonThrower

you say that as if some FTers and some airlines are different from others.

the whole point of miles is to induce more spending. but the airlines were not satisfied with that so they constantly change the rules, move the goals, limit inventory, etc. if the miles were as represented, and could be easily redeemed, there would be no FT. its only because the airlines are essentially deceptive - the provide the illusion of one thing, and then deliver something much less - that you need to spend hours on FT to get close to the value you were led to believe.

and then the whole purpose of FT is to allow you to maximize that value. is that gaming, cheating, greedy, gluttony? pejorative labels are not helpful imho. i don't see how a mileage run is much different from a mistake fare.

Crazyhotelguy

Seriously, you really missed the point..

It is whatever the market will allow. Supply and demand. I am not saying all fares will go up, but I foresee an impact. Less fares in lower buckets is most likely the case. Sure people can buy on other airlines. However, loyalty may keep them at DL.

I would hope that all pricing and selling strategies would remain the same, but that would not be a wise rm move on DL'S part. Why sell the last seat on a plane at a discount when you can try for a premium.

The one major question is how many of these fares are out there and how much capacity is affected. If minimal, its business as usual. If significant, then there will be some obvious changes in strategy. My guess is that it is fairly minimal and only certain flights will see an impact. HNL seems to be listed a lot. Perhaps that route was hit a little harder than others... I do not see this speculation as being too far fetched....

rankourabu

sure, the fares were all available to/from Canada.

And best yet, and this will really irritate the one vocal DL-lover here, we are exempt from MQDs