I'm confused: why is DL itin booked as AF 2K cheaper than booked as DL (all DL flts)
Apr 11, 2017, 6:06 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 436
I'm confused: why is DL itin booked as AF 2K cheaper than booked as DL (all DL flts)
So I'm looking at an trip to Italy. All DL metal.
Booked as Air France: $7474
Booked as Delta: $9376
does this make sense? I'd earn more miles (I'm a DL plat) booking the DL itinerary, but NOT worth the $2k (especially since the MQMs the same)
Booked as Air France: $7474
Booked as Delta: $9376
does this make sense? I'd earn more miles (I'm a DL plat) booking the DL itinerary, but NOT worth the $2k (especially since the MQMs the same)
Apr 11, 2017, 6:15 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,041
Regardless AF and DL are free to set whatever pricing they want for their flights. Even though DL may operate the flight in the end, it's still an AF flight.
Apr 11, 2017, 6:17 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,476
AF flights and DL flights, even if on same metal, are treated as different flights by system. They can have different fares and different availability.
Apr 11, 2017, 6:22 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 436
flyerCO: As a plat I earn 9miles/$1 fare on DL, on AF I believe I earn (with medallion bonus and class bonus) ~200% of actual miles. For VPS-ATL-FCO-ATL-FCO it's about 70K miles vs 22K; and yes, of course they can charge what they want but it still SEEMS odd
TerryK: "Normal" .... like my family I guess (or in DL terms "normal" as in their recovery from last week's issues!)
TerryK: "Normal" .... like my family I guess (or in DL terms "normal" as in their recovery from last week's issues!)
Apr 11, 2017, 6:41 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,041
On that routing it does sound like you'll earn more if booked as DL flights. You could also call DL and ask to book the AF fare which then would be issued on 006 stock. Thus youd get DL style per $ earnings on the lower cost AF fare.
Also I'd consider if dropping the VPS segment would lower your fare. Or booking from JFK. Either way the cost of adding a positioning flight can be much less (thousands) then booking it directly from VPS.
Also I'd consider if dropping the VPS segment would lower your fare. Or booking from JFK. Either way the cost of adding a positioning flight can be much less (thousands) then booking it directly from VPS.
Apr 11, 2017, 7:17 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 385
Good Question
I booked a flight from where I live to Beirut, Lebanon via CDG in January. With what I wanted on the DL web page, I called the elite line and they booked some segments on AF and the total was $300 cheaper. That is the one I booked.
Apr 11, 2017, 7:55 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
It can happen for a variety of reasons. A simple one:
AF has been allocated X number of seats on a DL operated flight through their codeshare agreement, DL has sold most of their allotment for the flight so they are only offering higher fare buckets, on the other hand - AF still has a number left to sell so they have lower fare buckets open in an effort to spread them.
The rise of OTAs has helped make these arbitrage opportunities available to the public where in the older days you'd likely need a local TA that was ticketing AF tickets specifically do do this.
I've taken advantage of this on *A a decent amount though the waters are easier to navigate since mileage is award based on operating carrier, not marketing carrier.
AF has been allocated X number of seats on a DL operated flight through their codeshare agreement, DL has sold most of their allotment for the flight so they are only offering higher fare buckets, on the other hand - AF still has a number left to sell so they have lower fare buckets open in an effort to spread them.
The rise of OTAs has helped make these arbitrage opportunities available to the public where in the older days you'd likely need a local TA that was ticketing AF tickets specifically do do this.
I've taken advantage of this on *A a decent amount though the waters are easier to navigate since mileage is award based on operating carrier, not marketing carrier.