Buying FC and immediately SDC to cheaper...
Jun 17, 2019, 10:38 am
#31
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
DL has lots and lots of data and can probably predict very well how many coach and C+ passengers will be no shows (or miss the connection) as scheduled departure time approaches. Coach can be overbooked at T-24 but depart with empty seats.
To the extent that FC SDC is easy, DL can sell more (paid) FC tickets or get people to generally pay more for such tickets since they're implicitly more flexible.
To the extent that FC SDC is easy, DL can sell more (paid) FC tickets or get people to generally pay more for such tickets since they're implicitly more flexible.
Every time I have seen the $1900 full-fare F bucket (for 1 F seat) available with Y sold out, it guarantees they'll be looking for volunteers at the gate.
My point is that if someone SDCs into that seat, it will cost Delta money. It's not just a revenue loss, it's cold hard money out of their pockets. Delta doesn't like that.
Jun 17, 2019, 10:39 am
#32
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
By definition if they are offering a ticket for sale it is not an oversale. But it doesn't change the fact that they are booking you into a flight they know they will have to solicit volunteers.
Jun 17, 2019, 10:41 am
#34
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3,097
Jun 17, 2019, 10:49 am
#35
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: PHX
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HHonrs Diamond
Posts: 1,336
When I travel, I know I need to be somewhere 90 days in advance. However, I am not always sure when business will wrap up.
If DL decided to force Z, or Z and I, to SDC only within fare class, they will definitely lose my cash F purchase at booking.
And most of the time, my return does not get SDC'd at all. While half of the time when it does, I SDC to a flight with more F inventory to sell at the last minute, and always in my case, an earlier flight that has less time to sell that inventory.
If DL decided to force Z, or Z and I, to SDC only within fare class, they will definitely lose my cash F purchase at booking.
And most of the time, my return does not get SDC'd at all. While half of the time when it does, I SDC to a flight with more F inventory to sell at the last minute, and always in my case, an earlier flight that has less time to sell that inventory.
Jun 17, 2019, 11:34 am
#36
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,879
o·ver·sell
/ˌōvərˈsel/
sell more of (something) than exists or can be delivered.
/ˌōvərˈsel/
sell more of (something) than exists or can be delivered.
Jun 17, 2019, 11:40 am
#37
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,856
Jun 17, 2019, 12:38 pm
#38
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: SPG, DL
Posts: 307
If DL decided to force Z, or Z and I, to SDC only within fare class, they will definitely lose my cash F purchase at booking.
And most of the time, my return does not get SDC'd at all. While half of the time when it does, I SDC to a flight with more F inventory to sell at the last minute, and always in my case, an earlier flight that has less time to sell that inventory.
And most of the time, my return does not get SDC'd at all. While half of the time when it does, I SDC to a flight with more F inventory to sell at the last minute, and always in my case, an earlier flight that has less time to sell that inventory.
For every SDC into the last F seat which causes a Y passenger bump (due to no more medallions being upgraded to free a Y seat) there is an SDC out of a full F cabin to open up a seat to prevent a passenger bump. In fact, personally, most of my SDCs are out of "prime time" flights that are full to mid-day flights that are relatively empty, all because my meeting ended early and I want to get home.
Jun 17, 2019, 2:02 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,220
It definitely won't be.
Because last minute F - regardless if it's half the price of another routing - is still last minute F pricing. It's more than Y in almost every case.
DL wants to SELL F. Within 24 hours of departure, they really don't care which seat on which flight on the routing gets occupied - they just want the extra revenue and for paid F to hit their numbers.
Because last minute F - regardless if it's half the price of another routing - is still last minute F pricing. It's more than Y in almost every case.
DL wants to SELL F. Within 24 hours of departure, they really don't care which seat on which flight on the routing gets occupied - they just want the extra revenue and for paid F to hit their numbers.
There is certainly a case to be made that SDC into any available FC inventory can leave money on the table and is a potential leak in revenue management. I guess the question, as others have alluded to is whether that leakage is enough to offset the selling point benefit of the SDC policy, which frankly, they don't really market particularly well (let alone train their agents on it!)
Jun 17, 2019, 3:23 pm
#40
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Home
Posts: 469
To all the posters who think delta allowing SDC to more expensive FC flight when you are still within 24 hr free cancellation window is a loophole waiting to be closed.. possibly you are on right track.
Remembers few yrs ago there were posters here bragging about SDC from MSP - JFK (or maybe reverse.. don't remember) to MSP - LAX - JFK just to enjoy D1 cabin and lots of MQM.
well that went away and now you can't SDC from normal FC to D1. This will probably end same way.
Remembers few yrs ago there were posters here bragging about SDC from MSP - JFK (or maybe reverse.. don't remember) to MSP - LAX - JFK just to enjoy D1 cabin and lots of MQM.
well that went away and now you can't SDC from normal FC to D1. This will probably end same way.
Jun 17, 2019, 7:10 pm
#41
In memoriam
Join Date: Dec 2001
Programs: DL 2MM, AA MM, DL Sky Club Life, AA Admirals Club Life, Hilton Gold Life
Posts: 1,732
I made my first attempt at SDC on a paid F with my wife on the PNR. I was denied a freebie change on the basis that my wife does not have status. Is this to be expected?
Jun 17, 2019, 7:14 pm
#42
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,164
Jun 17, 2019, 8:29 pm
#43
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,368
Eh, I think DL's real goal is to maximize revenues. Notwithstanding the meaningless statistic of what % of first class seats were sold as first class tickets. If that's not their goal, then short the stock.
There is certainly a case to be made that SDC into any available FC inventory can leave money on the table and is a potential leak in revenue management. I guess the question, as others have alluded to is whether that leakage is enough to offset the selling point benefit of the SDC policy, which frankly, they don't really market particularly well (let alone train their agents on it!)
There is certainly a case to be made that SDC into any available FC inventory can leave money on the table and is a potential leak in revenue management. I guess the question, as others have alluded to is whether that leakage is enough to offset the selling point benefit of the SDC policy, which frankly, they don't really market particularly well (let alone train their agents on it!)
I hope their goal is to maximize profits or (better yet) stock market valuation. High revenues can be associated with negative profits.
The good news is that DL never accepted my offer of consulting services to show them how to sell virtually 100% of the FC cabin on every flight. The method would have shown how silly this is as a goal.
The good news is that DL never accepted my offer of consulting services to show them how to sell virtually 100% of the FC cabin on every flight. The method would have shown how silly this is as a goal.
Jun 17, 2019, 8:31 pm
#44
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,879
Not necessarily ‘wrong’ depending on how you interpret the wording – poster said he was denied “freebie” SDC, but he could have meant that he was denied the waiver for his wife rather than denied the waiver for him and his wife. Everyone is entitled SDC, but only GM+ are entitled to have the $75 fee waived. As you point out, the waiver doesn’t extend to companions.
Jun 18, 2019, 9:23 am
#45
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3,097
To all the posters who think delta allowing SDC to more expensive FC flight when you are still within 24 hr free cancellation window is a loophole waiting to be closed.. possibly you are on right track.
Remembers few yrs ago there were posters here bragging about SDC from MSP - JFK (or maybe reverse.. don't remember) to MSP - LAX - JFK just to enjoy D1 cabin and lots of MQM.
well that went away and now you can't SDC from normal FC to D1. This will probably end same way.
Remembers few yrs ago there were posters here bragging about SDC from MSP - JFK (or maybe reverse.. don't remember) to MSP - LAX - JFK just to enjoy D1 cabin and lots of MQM.
well that went away and now you can't SDC from normal FC to D1. This will probably end same way.
