Delta response to United Flash sale
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta Skymile DM, Marriott Platinum, PC Gold, Avis Chairman's Club, National EE
Posts: 728
Delta response to United Flash sale
Just wondering if anyone has seen any pricing response to the United flash sale.
Thanks
Thanks
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,051
I assume you are referring to this. I don't see anywhere where they refer to it a "flash" sale
https://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/con...fare-sale.aspx
It seems to be pretty much a straight-up match (with a few minor differences) of an existing WN fare sale that ends today. Of course, the UA prices are BE fares, while WN's are not. Compare and contrast --
https://www.southwest.com/html/promo...FAIR_CNS170620
Don't see anything spectacular. DL will generally match on the routes where they go head-to-head non-stop. Some of the "sale" fares are kind of amusing. ORD-DEN is listed at $155 one-way, but you can find fares as low as $50 on AA/UA (NK/F9 matches). WN doesn't seem quite as desperate as their lowest WGA fare on MDW-DEN is $115 one-way (which is still lower than their advertised "sale" fare of $155).
https://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/con...fare-sale.aspx
It seems to be pretty much a straight-up match (with a few minor differences) of an existing WN fare sale that ends today. Of course, the UA prices are BE fares, while WN's are not. Compare and contrast --
https://www.southwest.com/html/promo...FAIR_CNS170620
Don't see anything spectacular. DL will generally match on the routes where they go head-to-head non-stop. Some of the "sale" fares are kind of amusing. ORD-DEN is listed at $155 one-way, but you can find fares as low as $50 on AA/UA (NK/F9 matches). WN doesn't seem quite as desperate as their lowest WGA fare on MDW-DEN is $115 one-way (which is still lower than their advertised "sale" fare of $155).
Last edited by xliioper; Jun 29, 2017 at 9:49 am
#3
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Plat-ist, Bonvoyyyyyyed, Hilton $15 Daily F&B Receiver, Food Lion MVP
Posts: 1,203
Don't see anything spectacular. DL will generally match on the routes were they go head-to-head. Some of the "sale" fares are kind of amusing. ORD-DEN is listed at $155 one-way, but you can find fares as low as $50 on AA/UA (NK/F9 matches). WN doesn't seem quite as desperate as their lowest WGA fare on MDW-DEN is $115 one-way (which is still lower than their advertised "sale" fare of $155).
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
In all fairness, WN never stopped serving free snacks when the major airlines did and they continue to have no cancellation fees and pax get two complimentary checked bags.
#6
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: 27,042
While last two are correct, when did majors charge for snacks? Snacks were always free, it is meals that went to buy on board, which WN has never had free or for sale AFAIK.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,051
I think the point was that both American and United (but not Delta) eliminated free snacks in coach for a number of years (also NW and US prior to merging). AA and UA returned to serving them early last year. Ultimately, I don't really see the point of bringing it up though. I think customers are looking at what they are getting today, rather than what they did or did not get in the past.
Last edited by xliioper; Jun 29, 2017 at 11:19 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
But it also depends on how you define snacks,as they definitely sell things like cookies and chips that cost money. Southwest is literally peanuts
#9
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
Oh, and Southwest has some consumer-friendly policies. Like letting you change your ticket for free. Letting you check-in bags past the cut-off time (last time Delta made me rebook my flight, cause it was 1 minute past cut-off for checked bag).
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
I think the point was that both American and United (but not Delta) eliminated free snacks in coach for a number of years (also NW and US prior to merging). AA and UA returned to serving them early last year. Ultimately, I don't really see the point of bringing it up though. I think customers are looking at what they are getting today, rather than what they did or did not get in the past.
#11
Join Date: May 2014
Location: LAS
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 283
On longer flights you get a bunch of Nabisco snacks, so more than peanuts and what AA/UA have essentially matched to.
#13
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: PHL suburbs
Posts: 216
I find a lot of my friends and coworkers still have the impression that WN is the cheapest tolerable (read: non-ULCC) airline, and a few even book directly without doing a price comparison. One woman was downright dumbstruck when I showed her that flying AA PHL-MCO was cheaper than WN, even after taking into account checked bag fees.
#14
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
Nope, not true at all. If you are talking about close to departure then yes. But far out you can even get money back (in form of credit) if they have a sale later
#15
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ATL
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,240
IIRC DL kept a complimentary snack service during that time, even if it was just some pretzels or biscoffs - but that was enough for me to be satisfied. As most routes I was flying then had comparable prices between Delta & United I quickly became a big fan of DL. Even little things in the soft product matter!