UKtravelbear

lol only 4 posts in and we've already reached the 'apologist' accusation.

I certainly don't work for DL (or any other airline) but giving an explanation does not mean people work for DL.

Price is only one factor in choosing an airline. Schedule is important as well. When it comes to corporate contracts there are many more factors to take into account than just price. Leisure travellers have different criteria.

I know of one company that has at least 6 8 seats booked per flight from one international city to another and is prepared to pay handsomely for that standing reservation even if it does not use all the seats because it knows over a period of time it will save it money rather than buying one off last minute tickets. It has also negotiated other contractual aspects such as higher level lounge access and luggage allowances that it also considers important. And it has flexibility to call up and say 'hey we don't need the seats on Thursday but we need double next Wednesday' and knows it will get accommodated.

marinster84

I'm sure it won't make a dent all. Our company is just cutting increasing travel costs, not trying to hurt Delta. And yes, Delta did increase their profits last year with this new strategy, it is working for them.

The Situation

Yes, the airfares at DL are more expensive, but the company I work for (<1% of the size of the company you work for), realized that IRROPs is also very expensive and the waivers and favors routinely received more than make up for the fare premium flying DL. We are given wide discretion to pick the flights that work best for us, but we are strongly encouraged to only book DL or AS. Even though the upfront cost is higher, the overall cost winds up being a little less. Also, I am not sure where you are finding empty seats except on oddball travel days at oddball times on oddball routes. I can't remember the last time I was on a flight that had more than 1-2 seats empty on a route that was popular for business travel.

Orange County Commuter

OMG. I am sure the people that make the airfare rules are quaking in fear that the OPs 94,000 people won't be flying Delta. Bankruptcy is next. Doesn't Delta realize that they should sell seats for lower prices and make less money to make this 94,000 people company happy because apparently the company's management knows much more about airline profitability rules than those idiots at Delta..

But realistically?
I am willing to bet that all 94,000 of those people aren't frequent flyers on Delta! I also hope I don't own stock in OPs company because what I would like for your travel department to do is book flights that make the most sense financially for the company and not be "blind sheep" to Delta or have your employees spending 8 hours to get someplace because "we won't fly Delta we will fly AA and connect twice to stick to our guns" LOL!

Thanks for the laugh! Especially the "you work for the airline" comeback. Pretty much has me hoping I don't own stock in your company because if that's your "comeback" it's not a good sign of a well thought out defense and makes me wonder about your leadership style....

Wimsta

I wish I'd figured out that much about FT in my first five posts.

kop84

I'm sure it's not but that sounds like Nike and PDX/NRT (soon to be HND)

Howste

ORDPSC

Our recent flight from CDG to SEA had many many open seats in C+ and main cabin. For us it was a first and we fly that route a couple times a year

fliesdelta

I need to have a word with you. That extra night in Denver was *not* what I needed at that time.

AntonS

Apparently SEA-CDG 767 is not doing very well since re-introduction of AF flight. I am forced to take this flight 3rd time this year , because it was significantly cheaper or was the only flight with upgrade space available. Last time J was half empty. Flying it again in a few days and the seatmap is the emptiest I have ever seen in all cabins while 2xAMS flights and AF flight are completely sold out in J in the same day.

It's easy to understand why SEA-CDG is struggling.

- US connecting pax prefer AMS
- Premium pax prefer AMS 330 or new AF business class.
- French pax prefer AF
- Better (later) departure time from US on AF metal allows half day of work and still midday arrival to CDG and plenty of connections.
- PE is only available on AF (albeit not great PE but it's always sold out each time I looked).

Gynob001

Just take a few routes and compare the prices! I love Delta and have been patronizing Delta for over 20 years. Been a million miler and platinum for several years. But recently, the price difference between Delta and others (including its partners) is simply not worth the loyalty. Delta has been nice and kind to me on many occasions but as a retiree, I need to compare and find the best value for my money. The OP is right in one regard-as long as I was employed, most of my travel was related to work-I chose Delta and my employer didn't care. Some of my travels were related to NIH business. World Travel that is their travel agency did not allow me to travel as the price was higher than others and had no direct flights between MCO and DCA.

Gig103

My company (about 70k or 80k employees) would not. Bean-counters just see when you deviate from what Concur says is the lowest "reasonable" flight. I've had to type in a manual justification for a higher fare to avoid a two-stop domestic itinerary!! Travel department doesn't care about payroll impacts from IRROPS and employees have their per diem or allowances to cover whatever the airline does not. It's not right, but it's the way it is. If I picked DL over a competitor I'd be more likely accused of trying to accrue status or miles, even if my included baggage allowance saves them $60 on the expense report.

Edit to avoid a back-to-back post.

I'm flying SEA-CDG next month and outbound I chose SEA-AMS-CDG (first leg A330) rather than fly either Delta's 767 or the AF angle-flat business class. On the way back I took the AF CDG-SEA nonstop.

GRALISTAIR

FT is still the tough crowd I love. Also I love Delta, Hertz and Hilton

ijgordon

And what a novel one! Charge as much as you can!

TomMM

Wonder how many customers the OP's employer has lost due to better prices elsewhere?