Online - Sometimes you can upgrade, sometimes you can't and the price rollercoaster
Oct 6, 2014, 8:37 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 6
Online - Sometimes you can upgrade, sometimes you can't and the price rollercoaster
I'm just curious about something here....
When I book a flight I usually check the seating charts every few days and hop around like a Kangaroo until departure/or I get the seat I really want.
With that said I'm curious if someone knows why something happens.
Often there's no option to upgrade to business class on-line, but on this recent flight I've seen it appear then vanish, then appear again, then vanish, and so forth.
One time the upgrade for the entire flight was $700, then it went to $1,000, now it was down to like $450....
What causes these massive swings in price and the availability/non-availability online?
When I book a flight I usually check the seating charts every few days and hop around like a Kangaroo until departure/or I get the seat I really want.
With that said I'm curious if someone knows why something happens.
Often there's no option to upgrade to business class on-line, but on this recent flight I've seen it appear then vanish, then appear again, then vanish, and so forth.
One time the upgrade for the entire flight was $700, then it went to $1,000, now it was down to like $450....
What causes these massive swings in price and the availability/non-availability online?
Oct 6, 2014, 10:30 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K, AA EXP, US G, SPG P, HH D, MR G, NEXUS/GE, DL AMEX Reserve
Posts: 2,035
I'm just curious about something here....
When I book a flight I usually check the seating charts every few days and hop around like a Kangaroo until departure/or I get the seat I really want.
With that said I'm curious if someone knows why something happens.
Often there's no option to upgrade to business class on-line, but on this recent flight I've seen it appear then vanish, then appear again, then vanish, and so forth.
One time the upgrade for the entire flight was $700, then it went to $1,000, now it was down to like $450....
What causes these massive swings in price and the availability/non-availability online?
When I book a flight I usually check the seating charts every few days and hop around like a Kangaroo until departure/or I get the seat I really want.
With that said I'm curious if someone knows why something happens.
Often there's no option to upgrade to business class on-line, but on this recent flight I've seen it appear then vanish, then appear again, then vanish, and so forth.
One time the upgrade for the entire flight was $700, then it went to $1,000, now it was down to like $450....
What causes these massive swings in price and the availability/non-availability online?
Oct 6, 2014, 11:51 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,683
What causes these massive swings in price and the availability/non-availability online?
I like to think there was a collective OUCH from UA when I cancelled 6 C EWR_TLV fares this summer, but I realize they know that historically some fraction of refundables cancel, and they plan for that. It was late and did result in lots of R space opening though...
Oct 6, 2014, 7:46 pm
#6
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
I saw an upgrade offer when I looked at a domestic itinerary today on delta.dumb. It was the same price to upgrade as last week when I bought the ticket, although unless there have been changes in the fare rules, what I purchased then should not be available due to an advanced purchase requirement.
Oct 7, 2014, 4:35 am
#7
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 123
Speaking of the price rollercoaster..
I am booked on a V Fare outbound on the following leaving on Oct 15th:
BSL-AMS-ATL-SAV
Then on the return I am booked on M Fare on Oct 24th from:
MCO-ATL-AMS-BSL
I paid around $2300 total for this round trip about 2 weeks ago.. I was put on the upgrade list for the return portion overnight (which is a stretch for a TATL even as a PM) and I have been calling every day to see if any upgrades had come available for me to use Miles now that we cannot see them on EF. I have also been asking just for reference what the costs would be to upgrade to Business for the entire roundtrip fare and also what the cost would be to upgrade to business on the return portion only.
-Yesterday, I was quoted an ADDITIONAL $3825.00 just to upgrade on the return portion only
-Today I was quoted an ADDITIONAL $7710.40 to upgrade to business roundtrip, although the guy on the phone did it himself and did not transfer me to International Change Desk which usually happens.
-30 Minutes later TODAY, I called and got another rep. I asked again and I was transferred to the International Change Desk. I was quoted only $4100 additional to upgrade to business roundtrip and only $600 additional to upgrade on the return portion only..
I cannot believe how much all over the board they are in such a short period time! It certainly pays to keep calling!!
I am booked on a V Fare outbound on the following leaving on Oct 15th:
BSL-AMS-ATL-SAV
Then on the return I am booked on M Fare on Oct 24th from:
MCO-ATL-AMS-BSL
I paid around $2300 total for this round trip about 2 weeks ago.. I was put on the upgrade list for the return portion overnight (which is a stretch for a TATL even as a PM) and I have been calling every day to see if any upgrades had come available for me to use Miles now that we cannot see them on EF. I have also been asking just for reference what the costs would be to upgrade to Business for the entire roundtrip fare and also what the cost would be to upgrade to business on the return portion only.
-Yesterday, I was quoted an ADDITIONAL $3825.00 just to upgrade on the return portion only
-Today I was quoted an ADDITIONAL $7710.40 to upgrade to business roundtrip, although the guy on the phone did it himself and did not transfer me to International Change Desk which usually happens.
-30 Minutes later TODAY, I called and got another rep. I asked again and I was transferred to the International Change Desk. I was quoted only $4100 additional to upgrade to business roundtrip and only $600 additional to upgrade on the return portion only..
I cannot believe how much all over the board they are in such a short period time! It certainly pays to keep calling!!
Oct 7, 2014, 7:15 am
#8
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
This could reflect fare class inventory fluctuations on your flights. The difference between M and Z could easilyy be about $600, while buying up to D, C, or J is much more expensive. Perhaps your phone agent knew it would be such a big price difference that you would be unlikely to take it so that he/she didn't bother transferring you to the rate desk to check the exact number.
Oct 7, 2014, 7:24 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 6
Oct 7, 2014, 7:40 am
#10
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 123
This could reflect fare class inventory fluctuations on your flights. The difference between M and Z could easilyy be about $600, while buying up to D, C, or J is much more expensive. Perhaps your phone agent knew it would be such a big price difference that you would be unlikely to take it so that he/she didn't bother transferring you to the rate desk to check the exact number.
Regardless, the 1st Rep today could have at least TRIED to sell me on the upgrade and transferred me to the Intl Change Desk for a more accurate price. After all, there is a big difference between $7710 and $4100 and I could have been a business traveler who had to upgrade and would have paid it via the Company... Instead, Delta only got an extra $600 out of me instead of thousands and I am up front TATL ^ Well worth it IMO
Last edited by UGATraveler; Oct 7, 2014 at 7:53 am
Oct 7, 2014, 8:47 am
#11
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
Perhaps.. But $3800 one way upgrade quoted from the Intl Change Desk yesterday vs $600 one way upgrade from the Intl change desk today is a variance I have never seen before in a 24 hour period
Regardless, the 1st Rep today could have at least TRIED to sell me on the upgrade and transferred me to the Intl Change Desk for a more accurate price. After all, there is a big difference between $7710 and $4100 and I could have been a business traveler who had to upgrade and would have paid it via the Company... Instead, Delta only got an extra $600 out of me instead of thousands and I am up front TATL ^ Well worth it IMO
Regardless, the 1st Rep today could have at least TRIED to sell me on the upgrade and transferred me to the Intl Change Desk for a more accurate price. After all, there is a big difference between $7710 and $4100 and I could have been a business traveler who had to upgrade and would have paid it via the Company... Instead, Delta only got an extra $600 out of me instead of thousands and I am up front TATL ^ Well worth it IMO
Oct 7, 2014, 9:05 am
#12
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 123