Refundable ticket just for SC access?
Dec 15, 2017, 11:07 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Tel Aviv (TLV), Chicago (ORD)
Programs: United Premier 1K, Starwood/Marriott Gold
Posts: 248
Refundable ticket just for SC access?
Hi guys,
I am usually a UA flier, so cut me some slack for asking a stupid question... but I am flying out of an airport that has no United Club or other lounge options. My AMEX Platinum gives me access to the DL Sky Club. Is it totally stupid to buy a refundable Y fare and then cancel it prior to departure so I can access the lounge with my Platinum Card?
Thanks!
I am usually a UA flier, so cut me some slack for asking a stupid question... but I am flying out of an airport that has no United Club or other lounge options. My AMEX Platinum gives me access to the DL Sky Club. Is it totally stupid to buy a refundable Y fare and then cancel it prior to departure so I can access the lounge with my Platinum Card?
Thanks!
Dec 15, 2017, 11:29 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
No problem. Don’t do it too often.
Just know that you’ll have to call to cancel since you will need to check in to get a bp and then uncheck in to cancel.
Just know that you’ll have to call to cancel since you will need to check in to get a bp and then uncheck in to cancel.
Dec 16, 2017, 12:25 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: DTW / SJC
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 764
If you do this, you won't need to buy a refundable ticket - Delta's Risk Free Cancellation allows you to cancel any ticket booked the day of or day prior to the flight up until the end of the day of the flight (technically even after departure).
Dec 16, 2017, 1:56 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
Anyway, the handful of times that I’ve done this only fully refundable fares have been available anyway, considering the day-of-departure purchase.
Dec 16, 2017, 8:19 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Tel Aviv (TLV), Chicago (ORD)
Programs: United Premier 1K, Starwood/Marriott Gold
Posts: 248
I ask myself that question a lot. I actually prefer DL over UA anytime, I think DL has a superior product and service than any other US carrier, but UA route network better fits me.
Thanks guys for all of the help! How do I uncheck in?
Thanks guys for all of the help! How do I uncheck in?
Dec 16, 2017, 8:53 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
You can't do it yourself. You'll have to call, and at that point, you may as well just cancel the ticket when you call. Technically the Sky Club agent could do this for you, but I think better to not do it that way in this case.
Dec 16, 2017, 9:49 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Posts: 11,072
I would still buy the 100% refundable ticket. I do not have all the rules handy, but it would not surprise me if there was some sort of fares that did not apply when purchased the same day, somehow. I know awards have a "within 7 day" clause.
Dec 16, 2017, 10:05 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
Hi guys,
I am usually a UA flier, so cut me some slack for asking a stupid question... but I am flying out of an airport that has no United Club or other lounge options. My AMEX Platinum gives me access to the DL Sky Club. Is it totally stupid to buy a refundable Y fare and then cancel it prior to departure so I can access the lounge with my Platinum Card?
Thanks!
I am usually a UA flier, so cut me some slack for asking a stupid question... but I am flying out of an airport that has no United Club or other lounge options. My AMEX Platinum gives me access to the DL Sky Club. Is it totally stupid to buy a refundable Y fare and then cancel it prior to departure so I can access the lounge with my Platinum Card?
Thanks!
Unethical? Yes
Selfish and self-indulgent? Beyond doubt.
In an era when airlines are doing their best to fill airplanes, you will be tieing up, until the very last moment, a seat that someone might actually have a legitimate need for. Preventing them an opportunity to make orderly plans to address their travel needs.
But, go ahead and seek your gratification.
Don't take that as approval... rather, take is as an acknowledgement that considering the impact of one's actions on others is becoming an increasingly rare phenomenon.
More disconcerting than you actually posing the question is the fact that the first 8 responses in this thread actually condone your plans.
Dec 16, 2017, 10:38 am
#11
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
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Posts: 15,408
Not that I condone doing this, but, one could certainly buy a ticket for a flight for 8, 10, 12 hours later in the day, and cancel it, and that would still make the seat available for sale far ahead of flight time.
Dec 16, 2017, 10:39 am
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Totally stupid? No.
Unethical? Yes
Selfish and self-indulgent? Beyond doubt.
In an era when airlines are doing their best to fill airplanes, you will be tieing up, until the very last moment, a seat that someone might actually have a legitimate need for. Preventing them an opportunity to make orderly plans to address their travel needs.
But, go ahead and seek your gratification.
Don't take that as approval... rather, take is as an acknowledgement that considering the impact of one's actions on others is becoming an increasingly rare phenomenon.
More disconcerting than you actually posing the question is the fact that the first 8 responses in this thread actually condone your plans.
Unethical? Yes
Selfish and self-indulgent? Beyond doubt.
In an era when airlines are doing their best to fill airplanes, you will be tieing up, until the very last moment, a seat that someone might actually have a legitimate need for. Preventing them an opportunity to make orderly plans to address their travel needs.
But, go ahead and seek your gratification.
Don't take that as approval... rather, take is as an acknowledgement that considering the impact of one's actions on others is becoming an increasingly rare phenomenon.
More disconcerting than you actually posing the question is the fact that the first 8 responses in this thread actually condone your plans.
An alternative would be to ask for a gate pass. DL is particularly easy about these and you then don't have to spend time afterwards fixing things.
Last edited by Often1; Dec 16, 2017 at 7:05 pm
Dec 16, 2017, 11:00 am
#13
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
Dec 16, 2017, 11:54 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
It is no unethical, it is ticketing fraud and directly violates DL's COC. At some point, DL cottons on because this sort of fraud costs a lot of money in revenue forgone.
An alternative would be to ask for a gate pass. DL is particularly easy about these and you then don't have to spend time afterwards fixing things.
An alternative would be to ask for a gate pass. DL is particularly easy about these and you then don't have to spend time afterwards fixing things.
It is not hard to envision a situation where this shenanigan directly costs DL revenue.
OP buys last aisle C+ seat (or last C+ seat, period).
Someone might have been willing to buy that seat (or pay the increment to access that seat), had it been available. But it wasn't. Seat becomes available at last moment. Someone gets moved into it without having to pay the UG fee.
DL loses the incremental income.
Dec 16, 2017, 11:57 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,784
It is no unethical, it is ticketing fraud and directly violates DL's COC. At some point, DL cottons on because this sort of fraud costs a lot of money in revenue forgone.
An alternative would be to ask for a gate pass. DL is particularly easy about these and you then don't have to spend time afterwards fixing things.
An alternative would be to ask for a gate pass. DL is particularly easy about these and you then don't have to spend time afterwards fixing things.