Basic Economy as Platinum = stand by list?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 630
Basic Economy as Platinum = stand by list?
I purchased two basic economy tickets dca-jfk for tomorrow’s flight. It was advertised as seats will be assigned at check in, however I checked in and it now says “seats will be assigned at the gate” and me and my wife are showing up on the standby list, is that normal? Looking at expertflyer, it’s showing only 1 seat available. I’m also DL platinum.
We can afford to miss this flight as we connect to an international itinerary booked directly with KE.
What does that mean now?
We can afford to miss this flight as we connect to an international itinerary booked directly with KE.
What does that mean now?
#2
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
I purchased two basic economy tickets dca-jfk for tomorrow’s flight. It was advertised as seats will be assigned at check in, however I checked in and it now says “seats will be assigned at the gate” and me and my wife are showing up on the standby list, is that normal? Looking at expertflyer, it’s showing only 1 seat available. I’m also DL platinum.
We can afford to miss this flight as we connect to an international itinerary booked directly with KE.
What does that mean now?
We can afford to miss this flight as we connect to an international itinerary booked directly with KE.
What does that mean now?
If you have confirmed seats they will be assigned at the gate. First, seats for sale (what you see as inventory on EF) are different than seats for assignment - a bunch of seats for assignment are held back and only the gate agent or other airport agent can override to assign (phone supervisors sometimes can, too). If you really want a Y- seat, call the PM line and they'll try to assign one of these hidden seats to you.
But better to stay standby...you could get F (slim chance) or C+ (more likely) for free. How many seats are showing available in F, C+, and total on the Delta app?
#3
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,495
I purchased two basic economy tickets dca-jfk for tomorrow’s flight. It was advertised as seats will be assigned at check in, however I checked in and it now says “seats will be assigned at the gate” and me and my wife are showing up on the standby list, is that normal? Looking at expertflyer, it’s showing only 1 seat available. I’m also DL platinum.
We can afford to miss this flight as we connect to an international itinerary booked directly with KE.
What does that mean now?
We can afford to miss this flight as we connect to an international itinerary booked directly with KE.
What does that mean now?
I assume you mean you CAN'T afford to miss this flight?
I've never flown BE, and no doubt someone who knows what they're talking about will be along shortly, but if you're a PM you should immediately call the Platinum Desk and get clarification straight from them and see what they can do for you. To my understanding, E-Fares are a bit like Russian Roulette, with little margin for error.
#4
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAS - where you can get married and divorced in the same 24 hour period. Perfect for the woman who's saving herself for marriage and the man who wants a one night stand.
Programs: DL DM, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum, UA, AA, AS, WN kettle, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,613
It means your seats will be assigned after the FC and C+ upgrades are processed. As those passengers move up, seats will become available. The seat assignment will show up on the standby list along with the GIDS monitors. A cheap coach ticket would have netted you an assigned seat in C+ as a platinum on both the domestic and international legs.
#5
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,991
To OP: It's fine. You'll get a seat.
#7
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,991
The "standby list" thing causes a lot of confusion. The standby list includes people with confirmed seats but have not yet been assigned a seat.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,461
OP is "confirmed awaiting seat assignment", not standby. A few threads about this confuse system display.
Flying Blue platinum: bumped to stand-by on a confirmed DL ticket
Flying Blue platinum: bumped to stand-by on a confirmed DL ticket
#10
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,229
The flights tomorrow from DCA to JFK are completely sold out first and coach. As is the Korean flight (coach and business). BE fares are not eligible for
complimentary upgrades anyway (first class or C+ or preferred seats, although they may have to assign you one if that is all that's available).
How much did you save doing BE as opposed to main cabin fare? I hope it was a lot. Otherwise not worth the hassle.
complimentary upgrades anyway (first class or C+ or preferred seats, although they may have to assign you one if that is all that's available).
How much did you save doing BE as opposed to main cabin fare? I hope it was a lot. Otherwise not worth the hassle.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,991
The flights tomorrow from DCA to JFK are completely sold out first and coach. As is the Korean flight (coach and business). BE fares are not eligible for
complimentary upgrades anyway (first class or C+ or preferred seats, although they may have to assign you one if that is all that's available).
How much did you save doing BE as opposed to main cabin fare? I hope it was a lot. Otherwise not worth the hassle.
complimentary upgrades anyway (first class or C+ or preferred seats, although they may have to assign you one if that is all that's available).
How much did you save doing BE as opposed to main cabin fare? I hope it was a lot. Otherwise not worth the hassle.
Not sure what the hassle is in this situation.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 630
The flights tomorrow from DCA to JFK are completely sold out first and coach. As is the Korean flight (coach and business). BE fares are not eligible for
complimentary upgrades anyway (first class or C+ or preferred seats, although they may have to assign you one if that is all that's available).
How much did you save doing BE as opposed to main cabin fare? I hope it was a lot. Otherwise not worth the hassle.
complimentary upgrades anyway (first class or C+ or preferred seats, although they may have to assign you one if that is all that's available).
How much did you save doing BE as opposed to main cabin fare? I hope it was a lot. Otherwise not worth the hassle.
BE was ~$80 pp. regular Y was approx 50% more for each ticket. I can still use my benefits of plat (boarding + baggage) just not seating assignment. I don’t see the reason to pay that for 50m flight. I am also connecting to KE F JFK-ICN.
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
DL's use of "SB" for BE without an assigned seat is confusing, but not a real issue. There really ought to be a separate categroy such as "confirmed space" or the like to make it clear that the passenger is confirmed on the flight and simply awaiting a seat assignment.
In the case of an overbooking becoming an oversell and nobody taking the VDB bait, passengers would be IDB in the pre-established order which starts with status.
I would worry much more about no show on KE on separate tickets, than IDB on a DL micro-hop.
In the case of an overbooking becoming an oversell and nobody taking the VDB bait, passengers would be IDB in the pre-established order which starts with status.
I would worry much more about no show on KE on separate tickets, than IDB on a DL micro-hop.
#14
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: West of CLE
Programs: Delta DM/3 MM; Hertz PC; National EE; Amtrak GR; Bonvoy Silver; Via Rail Préférence
Posts: 5,354
I was shopping for fares yesterday, and I found a real odd ball situation where BE was $70 more than main cabin. It was on a real oddball itinerary, the kind I thrive on: DCA-JFK-SLC-CPR (my destination is Thermopolis, WY). Needless to say I grabbed the main cabin fare (which was a bargain for this route, $470 RT, bought 30 days out).
#15
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,229
A lot depends upon availability when you purchase your tickets, since BE fares are based on the lowest available coach fare. Buying at the last minute, I can see your point. If you were to purchase quite fare in advance, the fare difference is likely about $15.00. I would pay $15.00 for a pre-assigned seat. But then, you paid for a KE F fare and you are worried about $40?