Delta Adds 'S' as New Comfort+ Booking Code
Jun 18, 2019, 7:07 am
#16
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Why would RUCs and GUCs book into SY?
Not only can they not be redeemed CURRENTLY for C+ but who would wasn't one on C+ anyways...
I hope this isn't a harbinger of further restrictions on certs to come....
Not only can they not be redeemed CURRENTLY for C+ but who would wasn't one on C+ anyways...
I hope this isn't a harbinger of further restrictions on certs to come....
Jun 18, 2019, 7:32 am
#17
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I just booked an award ticket and chose C+ on the outbound leg only. I could have sworn the class on the receipt was listed as S when I bought the ticket a couple days ago. Now it says SW. I'll be disappointed if they change the SDC rules, because I spent an extra 1000 Skymiles for C+ rather than Y just for the improved SDC availability.
Last edited by xliioper; Jun 18, 2019 at 7:59 am
Jul 6, 2019, 10:49 pm
#18
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Delta Re-purposing 'S' class as discount Comfort+
I have looked around and performed some searches in this forum but have not found this mentioned elsewhere. (C+ is hard to search ) If there is already a thread, mods, please merge.
In looking for some C+ purchases for travel next year, I started to see 'S' class offered as a Comfort+ option here and there.
In looking around, I found this:
Delta Comfort Plus | Delta Professional
This has several ramifications - not so much with Skymiles as MQM earn is still 100% as is with W.
This change may make SDC more complicated if it becomes class based (e.g. Booked in S but only W available).
It could change things with some partners, unless the earn tables are updated. For example with Virgin Australia Velocity, S on Delta currently earns as "Discount Economy" while W earns as "Premium economy".
It seems upgrades may be rebooked into S class as well.
In looking for some C+ purchases for travel next year, I started to see 'S' class offered as a Comfort+ option here and there.
In looking around, I found this:
Delta Comfort Plus | Delta Professional
Delta Comfort+ fares are booked in "W or S*" Class. *Delta Comfort+ fares in “S” class will be filed in markets that offer Delta Comfort+ as a fare through the month of July, for travel on/after September 4, 2019.
This change may make SDC more complicated if it becomes class based (e.g. Booked in S but only W available).
It could change things with some partners, unless the earn tables are updated. For example with Virgin Australia Velocity, S on Delta currently earns as "Discount Economy" while W earns as "Premium economy".
It seems upgrades may be rebooked into S class as well.
Upgrade Notification
- “S” Class will be a valid class used for Delta Comfort+ as a fare and when a customer is upgraded into Delta Comfort+.
- Medallion members will be notified of their new Delta Comfort+ seat assignment via email and will have the option to change to another Delta Comfort+ seat, if available.
- For travel agency booked PNRs: When an upgrade occurs, “S” Class will be a valid class used when a customer is upgraded into Delta Comfort+ (“W or S” class is still used for paid purchases, either as a fare or an ancillary seat product).
Last edited by serfty; Jul 6, 2019 at 11:14 pm
Jul 6, 2019, 10:53 pm
#19
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Jul 6, 2019, 10:59 pm
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Same-day confirmed and same-day standby options
Last edited by serfty; Jul 6, 2019 at 11:19 pm
Jul 6, 2019, 11:12 pm
#21
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There's an existing thread on this topic from a few weeks ago -- Delta Adds 'S' as New Comfort+ Booking Code
Complimentary upgrades to C+ will continue to rebook into "SU" class (not simply 'S') which is exactly the way it works right now.
There are 5 domestic FC classes (J/C/D/I/Z) and DL does not distinguish between them for SDC, so I see little reason for concern simply because they are going from one to two C+ fare classes. As noted, C+ fares all have an underlying coach class and they could have already been using availability in that underlying coach class for SDC if they really wanted to distinguish between C+ fares.
Looking at the fare filings, it's clear that this gives DL the ability to price C+ somewhat independently of coach bucket availability. If coach is wide open, but C+ is getting filled, they can keep open V bucket availability for coach fares, but zero out the S bucket for C+ fares. This means that only the pricier W fares with underlying V can be purchased for C+. For domestic flights, W fares look to typically be $30 more than S fares which in turn are typically $30 more than the main cabin coach fares with matching filings.
Complimentary upgrades to C+ will continue to rebook into "SU" class (not simply 'S') which is exactly the way it works right now.
There are 5 domestic FC classes (J/C/D/I/Z) and DL does not distinguish between them for SDC, so I see little reason for concern simply because they are going from one to two C+ fare classes. As noted, C+ fares all have an underlying coach class and they could have already been using availability in that underlying coach class for SDC if they really wanted to distinguish between C+ fares.
Looking at the fare filings, it's clear that this gives DL the ability to price C+ somewhat independently of coach bucket availability. If coach is wide open, but C+ is getting filled, they can keep open V bucket availability for coach fares, but zero out the S bucket for C+ fares. This means that only the pricier W fares with underlying V can be purchased for C+. For domestic flights, W fares look to typically be $30 more than S fares which in turn are typically $30 more than the main cabin coach fares with matching filings.
Last edited by xliioper; Jul 6, 2019 at 11:38 pm
Jul 6, 2019, 11:21 pm
#22
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There's an existing thread on this topic from a few weeks ago -- Delta Adds 'S' as New Comfort+ Booking Code...
Nov 6, 2019, 6:17 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 2019
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I doubt they will abandon the differential pricing scheme for C+ fares; I assume this just lets them better capacity control the C+ cabin (i.e. if it's booked to N-3, they might only sell a higher W fare even though U or X is available).
Two-letter S* codes for various types of non-paid C+:
Two-letter S* codes for various types of non-paid C+:
I just booked an awards seat and upgraded to C+ mid-purchase; the resulting fare classes were SN going to EU, SW coming back, both C+
award. Thanks for any edification you can provide.
Nov 6, 2019, 6:28 pm
#24
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S generally should be award (and instrument supported upgrade, if applicable) inventory for C+ seats. The second letter designates what fare level in miles was applied (with SY presumably being instrument supported upgrades, but I don't think it's currently possible to use miles or a cert to "upgrade" to C+ from a coach fare paid in money). SU would indicate a free elite "upgrade" from coach to C+.
If you look at your ticket receipt carefully, you should see different numbers of miles being charged for your outbound and return portions of the RT award ticket even though it's the same city pair. This is what the SN versus SW means, with possibly different fare rules covering aspects such as advanced purchase requirements as well as inventory controls. Chances are that if you had instead purchased a RT ticket with money on the same day for exactly the same flights, you would have seen different fare classes and/or different fare rules for the outbound and return parts.
If you look at your ticket receipt carefully, you should see different numbers of miles being charged for your outbound and return portions of the RT award ticket even though it's the same city pair. This is what the SN versus SW means, with possibly different fare rules covering aspects such as advanced purchase requirements as well as inventory controls. Chances are that if you had instead purchased a RT ticket with money on the same day for exactly the same flights, you would have seen different fare classes and/or different fare rules for the outbound and return parts.