Thoughts on why Delta doesnt do International upgrades
Jan 13, 2019, 6:38 pm
#1
Original Poster
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Thoughts on why Delta doesnt do International upgrades
Why doesn't Delta do upgrades on international flights. For instance a recent trip from MSP-AMS had literally every seat, except for 2, OPEN in Delta one. I can understand wanting to sell the seats but you would think they would do upgrades 1 hour from departure or something. With 20+ seats open it was a very very small chance or selling out at the last minute.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Jan 13, 2019, 6:44 pm
#2
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Why doesn't Delta do upgrades on international flights. For instance a recent trip from MSP-AMS had literally every seat, except for 2, OPEN in Delta one. I can understand wanting to sell the seats but you would think they would do upgrades 1 hour from departure or something. With 20+ seats open it was a very very small chance or selling out at the last minute.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
They also allow upgrades for some elites using upgrade instruments. I’d guess that the main reason not to allow free upgrades is to encourage customers to actually purchase business class seats.
Jan 13, 2019, 7:21 pm
#5
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DL will adjust their fares and paid/mileage upgrade offers accordingly to maximize profit on that route. Your flight was just one data point in their system, and it was most likely the exception rather than the rule. They will make adjustments to ensure it happens less often in the future.
Jan 13, 2019, 8:35 pm
#7
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DL wants flyers to pay for a business class seat, with GUCs and mileage awards being the exception to the rule. Traditionally, airlines don't earn that much selling economy seats. It makes business sense that DL wants to monetize a premium product.
Theoretically, DL could improve their post-purchase upgrade offers (most retail customers won't pay $10K for a business class ticket and most companies either won't pay for business-class travel or have deeply discounted negotiated rates) or have some sort of bidding process like some of their partners, but I guess DL thinks that doing so would devalue their premium product because then people would start gaming the system.
Theoretically, DL could improve their post-purchase upgrade offers (most retail customers won't pay $10K for a business class ticket and most companies either won't pay for business-class travel or have deeply discounted negotiated rates) or have some sort of bidding process like some of their partners, but I guess DL thinks that doing so would devalue their premium product because then people would start gaming the system.
Jan 13, 2019, 9:17 pm
#9
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VS does offer online bidding for cash upgrades. There is no guarantee they will accept any bid so they retain full control and that prevents people trying to game the system because they control who gets offered it.
BA also has a limit on how many airport cash upgrades you can get (I think it’s 3 per year) so again they can control who gets the chance to buy an upgrade. And it isn’t always the Golds.
BA also has a limit on how many airport cash upgrades you can get (I think it’s 3 per year) so again they can control who gets the chance to buy an upgrade. And it isn’t always the Golds.
Jan 13, 2019, 10:10 pm
#12
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Jan 13, 2019, 10:33 pm
#13
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Are you talking about paid or complimentary upgrades? They do sell upgrades (miles or cash), although are much less aggressive with upgrade offers than other airlines.
The answer as to why they don’t provide complimentary upgrades is simple: revenue management. Which is to say, Delta think they can make more money maintaining high fares even if that means leaving seats empty. If travelers thought they had a reasonably good chance of being upgraded for free, many may not buy the much higher business class fares.
The answer as to why they don’t provide complimentary upgrades is simple: revenue management. Which is to say, Delta think they can make more money maintaining high fares even if that means leaving seats empty. If travelers thought they had a reasonably good chance of being upgraded for free, many may not buy the much higher business class fares.
Jan 13, 2019, 10:58 pm
#14
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Jan 13, 2019, 11:38 pm
#15
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It's on their website, but just to give you a hint... Anything International without Delta One Service (except the newer routes with Premium Select). So Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador.