SU fare class?
Jun 3, 2017, 1:19 am
#31
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
I see a more likely motive. Currently, DM and PM get at-booking "upgrade" to c+ if at least 1 W seat is available. By putting the upgrade seats in a separate bucket, they can limit the number of upgrade seats available by zeroing out the S inventory and retain seats to sell us from the W bucket. Monetize, monetize, monetize!
Jun 3, 2017, 6:00 am
#33
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Really? I've definitely booked flights where there are a few available C+ seats (and also C+ available for sale), but as a PM there was not an UG available at booking. Granted, I only have the DL.com tools to indicate this to me, but it has always seemed like WU < W on my bookings.
Jun 3, 2017, 6:58 am
#34
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Really? I've definitely booked flights where there are a few available C+ seats (and also C+ available for sale), but as a PM there was not an UG available at booking. Granted, I only have the DL.com tools to indicate this to me, but it has always seemed like WU < W on my bookings.
Jun 5, 2017, 8:51 am
#35
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So has anyone here had RUC experience after this latest update of WU>SU and the hidden seat maps and everything? Looking for folks who have had experience on flights actually flown - being waitlisted and (hopefully) clearing at some point.
I called DL and they claim that my RUCs are still properly applied, but then the agent offered to "update" them and I said no and hung up - I have no idea what "updating" the RUC entails and didn't want the agent to touch the PNR.
Of course...I still have my doubts. As it did last week, my PNR on DL.com still shows double seat maps, but I no longer have the "Upgrade Status: Waitlisted" notation on the flights in question.
Worst case, I guess I'll see where I end up on the list at check-in. <insert standard rant about why RUCs are so opaque in application>
I called DL and they claim that my RUCs are still properly applied, but then the agent offered to "update" them and I said no and hung up - I have no idea what "updating" the RUC entails and didn't want the agent to touch the PNR.
Of course...I still have my doubts. As it did last week, my PNR on DL.com still shows double seat maps, but I no longer have the "Upgrade Status: Waitlisted" notation on the flights in question.
Worst case, I guess I'll see where I end up on the list at check-in. <insert standard rant about why RUCs are so opaque in application>
Jun 13, 2017, 11:04 pm
#36
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,674
I see a more likely motive. Currently, DM and PM get at-booking "upgrade" to c+ if at least 1 W seat is available. By putting the upgrade seats in a separate bucket, they can limit the number of upgrade seats available by zeroing out the S inventory and retain seats to sell us from the W bucket. Monetize, monetize, monetize!
Jun 13, 2017, 11:28 pm
#37
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Jun 14, 2017, 7:31 am
#39
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,674
OK, perhaps "this" was indeed in response to an overly general idea... My take (and bear with me, I am not a long-term DL flyer and hence not yet a DL fare expert): By differentiating the free medallion upgrades and the upgrade cert vouchers, DL will indeed be able to better control the two inventories. For example, they may constrain the free medallion upgrade inventory in the hope of having people burn their certs.
Jun 14, 2017, 7:37 am
#40
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
OK, perhaps "this" was indeed in response to an overly general idea... My take (and bear with me, I am not a long-term DL flyer and hence not yet a DL fare expert): By differentiating the free medallion upgrades and the upgrade cert vouchers, DL will indeed be able to better control the two inventories. For example, they may constrain the free medallion upgrade inventory in the hope of having people burn their certs.
Welcome to the crazy world of Delta IT
Jun 14, 2017, 10:48 am
#41
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,674
Jun 14, 2017, 11:42 am
#42
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
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Posts: 2,064
Jun 14, 2017, 11:45 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
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Possible reason they did this: I'm not sure how Delta's multi-letter fare codes "read" to partner airlines, but possibly WU was earning bonus miles/MQMs in some partner FFPs?
I recently noticed that for example Virgin Australia's Velocity program gives more miles for Delta bookings in W than in other coach fare classes, so possibly something was getting messed up there? Though I suppose if someone was getting a free or certificate upgrade to C+, it would be unlikely they'd at the same time be crediting miles to Velocity.
Or perhaps award bookings into C+ were accidentally reading as mileage-earning-eligible to some partner FFPs? (If that was the case I'm ashamed all of us here on FT weren't talking about and exploiting it!)
Other possible reason: Perhaps they are planning to separate out Premium Select from Comfort+, though if that was the plan I don't know why they didn't fully move C+ to S/SU rather than keeping W active for now. Presumably at some point they will need a cleaner way to distinguish PS from C+.
I recently noticed that for example Virgin Australia's Velocity program gives more miles for Delta bookings in W than in other coach fare classes, so possibly something was getting messed up there? Though I suppose if someone was getting a free or certificate upgrade to C+, it would be unlikely they'd at the same time be crediting miles to Velocity.
Or perhaps award bookings into C+ were accidentally reading as mileage-earning-eligible to some partner FFPs? (If that was the case I'm ashamed all of us here on FT weren't talking about and exploiting it!)
Other possible reason: Perhaps they are planning to separate out Premium Select from Comfort+, though if that was the plan I don't know why they didn't fully move C+ to S/SU rather than keeping W active for now. Presumably at some point they will need a cleaner way to distinguish PS from C+.
Jun 14, 2017, 12:19 pm
#44
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
Possible reason they did this: I'm not sure how Delta's multi-letter fare codes "read" to partner airlines, but possibly WU was earning bonus miles/MQMs in some partner FFPs?
I recently noticed that for example Virgin Australia's Velocity program gives more miles for Delta bookings in W than in other coach fare classes, so possibly something was getting messed up there? Though I suppose if someone was getting a free or certificate upgrade to C+, it would be unlikely they'd at the same time be crediting miles to Velocity.
Or perhaps award bookings into C+ were accidentally reading as mileage-earning-eligible to some partner FFPs? (If that was the case I'm ashamed all of us here on FT weren't talking about and exploiting it!)
Other possible reason: Perhaps they are planning to separate out Premium Select from Comfort+, though if that was the plan I don't know why they didn't fully move C+ to S/SU rather than keeping W active for now. Presumably at some point they will need a cleaner way to distinguish PS from C+.
I recently noticed that for example Virgin Australia's Velocity program gives more miles for Delta bookings in W than in other coach fare classes, so possibly something was getting messed up there? Though I suppose if someone was getting a free or certificate upgrade to C+, it would be unlikely they'd at the same time be crediting miles to Velocity.
Or perhaps award bookings into C+ were accidentally reading as mileage-earning-eligible to some partner FFPs? (If that was the case I'm ashamed all of us here on FT weren't talking about and exploiting it!)
Other possible reason: Perhaps they are planning to separate out Premium Select from Comfort+, though if that was the plan I don't know why they didn't fully move C+ to S/SU rather than keeping W active for now. Presumably at some point they will need a cleaner way to distinguish PS from C+.
PS will use P, A, and G fare classes, essentially aligining with domestic first. Therefore no need to free up W there.
Jun 14, 2017, 12:21 pm
#45
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
Were C+ awards booked into W or WU? (Though even if the third paragraph of my previous post has any validity, I suppose in theory Delta could have booked C+ awards into WA or whatever other designation to keep them separate from W without needing S.)