Search too much = Bait and Switch
Feb 19, 2018, 10:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: Whatever's Cheapest, Accruing Miles, Redeeming for Premium Cabins, Not Chasing Status Unnecessarily
Posts: 2,264
Search too much = Bait and Switch
Married segment and rev mgmt BS
I find great availability with DL and partner in one direction.
I find it in reverse direction.
I sort out my txfr options.
I'm about to transfer so I check again.
Poof! Everything gone in both directions. Not even one seat. The first leg is still there (meaning the Justice of the Peace will not allow the marriage of the segments). I am certain the 2nd leg would still be there.
I think I will use a VPN next time. Not even sure if that would help.
Total scam and waste of a program.
I find great availability with DL and partner in one direction.
I find it in reverse direction.
I sort out my txfr options.
I'm about to transfer so I check again.
Poof! Everything gone in both directions. Not even one seat. The first leg is still there (meaning the Justice of the Peace will not allow the marriage of the segments). I am certain the 2nd leg would still be there.
I think I will use a VPN next time. Not even sure if that would help.
Total scam and waste of a program.
Feb 19, 2018, 10:54 am
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: Whatever's Cheapest, Accruing Miles, Redeeming for Premium Cabins, Not Chasing Status Unnecessarily
Posts: 2,264
Wow, just like i thought. Change browser, cookies, and wifi source and the flights pop back up.
I'm nervous to transfer a bucket of amex points still....
what a joke.
I'm nervous to transfer a bucket of amex points still....
what a joke.
Feb 19, 2018, 11:15 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: Marriott Titanium, DL DM
Posts: 298
It is unlikely that Delta is tracking your habits to change available fare buckets (people on this site often speculate that they do but without evidence). If you post the route someone might be able to help you work it out.
Feb 19, 2018, 11:59 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,903
I don’t know about your case but I’ve read before there’s evidence of prices changing based on search history. For example
Feb 19, 2018, 12:12 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Skymiles Gold
Posts: 642
I've seen this happen repeatedly on Delta.com (can't say for certain about the app), especially when searching different dates for the same city pair.
What I do is browse in incognito mode in Chrome when looking for flights. When I find one. Close out the browser, reopen, find the exact flights I want and go to book. Only logging in to use points at the end, or not logging in at all if paying cash (Add my SMN after the ticket is issued). This tends to get me the price point I want.
What I do is browse in incognito mode in Chrome when looking for flights. When I find one. Close out the browser, reopen, find the exact flights I want and go to book. Only logging in to use points at the end, or not logging in at all if paying cash (Add my SMN after the ticket is issued). This tends to get me the price point I want.
Feb 19, 2018, 12:23 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: Whatever's Cheapest, Accruing Miles, Redeeming for Premium Cabins, Not Chasing Status Unnecessarily
Posts: 2,264
I think it's borderline criminal marketing behavior and certainly unethical. Very dirty business. Take away award chart. Make prices not only opaque but engage in active bait and switch tactics. Disgusting company.
I've seen this happen repeatedly on Delta.com (can't say for certain about the app), especially when searching different dates for the same city pair.
What I do is browse in incognito mode in Chrome when looking for flights. When I find one. Close out the browser, reopen, find the exact flights I want and go to book. Only logging in to use points at the end, or not logging in at all if paying cash (Add my SMN after the ticket is issued). This tends to get me the price point I want.
What I do is browse in incognito mode in Chrome when looking for flights. When I find one. Close out the browser, reopen, find the exact flights I want and go to book. Only logging in to use points at the end, or not logging in at all if paying cash (Add my SMN after the ticket is issued). This tends to get me the price point I want.
Feb 19, 2018, 2:09 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: Skymiles GM
Posts: 191
Source: I'm in IT, friend in RM at AA
Feb 19, 2018, 3:30 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,989
If you know anything about the airline industry, all prices are posted to a company called ATPCO and are processed by various companies, like Sabre, Amadeus, ITA, etc. Delta.com doesn't even possess the ability to price discriminate across customers due to ITA, if my understanding is right. Most likely what is happening is fare buckets are disappearing from your multiple browser windows. As long as your session hasn't expired those seats are reserved for you.
Source: I'm in IT, friend in RM at AA
Source: I'm in IT, friend in RM at AA
Feb 19, 2018, 9:39 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
Take a few steps back.
By progressing in your bookings to check availability, those seats are being taken by YOU! It takes some time for them to return to inventory after you've failed to book them.
It's not a conspiracy.
By progressing in your bookings to check availability, those seats are being taken by YOU! It takes some time for them to return to inventory after you've failed to book them.
It's not a conspiracy.
Feb 19, 2018, 10:27 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD/MDW/MKE
Programs: DL, UA
Posts: 786
Feb 19, 2018, 11:16 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,878
Even if we pretend that DL's pricing algorithm is based on browser history, which is ridiculous, it's still NOT bait and switch. To be a bait and switch, DL would have to raise the price AFTER you book, and then charge your card the additional amount.
Put your tin foil hat back on.
Put your tin foil hat back on.
Feb 19, 2018, 11:27 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
If you know anything about the airline industry, all prices are posted to a company called ATPCO and are processed by various companies, like Sabre, Amadeus, ITA, etc. Delta.com doesn't even possess the ability to price discriminate across customers due to ITA, if my understanding is right. Most likely what is happening is fare buckets are disappearing from your multiple browser windows. As long as your session hasn't expired those seats are reserved for you.
Source: I'm in IT, friend in RM at AA
Source: I'm in IT, friend in RM at AA
And DL still can - and does - not show certain fare buckets on dullta.com for revenue fares always, but you can book it if you piece it together on ITAmatrix and then use bookwithmatrix and go to dullta.com to book it. I know, speaking from experience.
Directly DL often doesn't show the lowest available fare buckets, though it IS available. The lesson is, if you want to fly DL, it takes a few hours to book. Search on ITA matrix, then use book with matrix to actually book it on dullta.com at the actual best available price based on the inventory available to the public.
Feb 22, 2018, 7:01 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
That's not bait and switch, that's fraud. Bait and switch is advertising a low price (bait), then trying to get you to pay a higher one (e.g. by telling you that the low-priced item isn't any good, or isn't available) (switch).
Feb 26, 2018, 3:37 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: Whatever's Cheapest, Accruing Miles, Redeeming for Premium Cabins, Not Chasing Status Unnecessarily
Posts: 2,264
I don't think it's a problem with me holding seats/fare buckets at all because what happens is on flexible dates MANY dates change. It's just BS. Yes and on revenue tickets Delta.com sometimes chooses to show more expensive seats.
Whatever, I'll deal with it.
When colleagues and friends ask "why do you fly Southwest, Spirit, Jetblue and AA so much" I tell them well Delta costs double the price and the miles are not valuable to me. I don't need seatback screens and Deltalina. And slimline 737 with the LED lights are not much better than Spirit.
Whatever, I'll deal with it.
When colleagues and friends ask "why do you fly Southwest, Spirit, Jetblue and AA so much" I tell them well Delta costs double the price and the miles are not valuable to me. I don't need seatback screens and Deltalina. And slimline 737 with the LED lights are not much better than Spirit.