PM w/Amex Reserve vs. DM
Jul 24, 2019, 6:42 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hotlanta.
Programs: I've gone underground!
Posts: 4,604
I see people say this all the time, and I don't understand it.
Do people really believe that there is a significant constituency of people who both fly Delta enough to earn PM or DM status... and also believe that the *only* way that an FO could be sitting in First would be if they were upgraded (presumably ahead of said PM/DM)? These people fly 75k+ miles per year and haven't figured out that Delta will sell a First Class ticket to anyone willing to part with the money? Even FOs, and {gasp} people who aren't even Sky Miles members?
I'm not buying it.
Do people really believe that there is a significant constituency of people who both fly Delta enough to earn PM or DM status... and also believe that the *only* way that an FO could be sitting in First would be if they were upgraded (presumably ahead of said PM/DM)? These people fly 75k+ miles per year and haven't figured out that Delta will sell a First Class ticket to anyone willing to part with the money? Even FOs, and {gasp} people who aren't even Sky Miles members?
I'm not buying it.
I thought about putting my silver tags on my bags but then decided I didn’t want to deal with idiots telling me to get out of the DM/F boarding line.
Jul 24, 2019, 8:26 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
Programs: DL PM & 2MM™, Lifetime HHonors Diamond
Posts: 20,889
It’s heavily route and time-dependent and I suspect a big part of the upgrade loss is concentrated on hub routes. I fly LAX-DTW a fair bit and my upgrade rate there is atrocious, but it’s probably at 90% on CRJ-with-first-class flights and 75% on non-hub routes. *shrug*
(That’s all referring to first class, of course; it’s rare I don’t get Comfort+.)
Jul 24, 2019, 8:40 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
Jul 24, 2019, 9:28 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 277
When I fly more regionally (even LAX-SEA) my odds are much, much better. But that doesn’t help much given the low number of trips and is a lot lower value when I’m just hopping up to the Bay. Whereas those Diamonds who fly mostly point to point on smaller cities I’m sure have a great time.
So just because Delta rewards your travel habits with first-class upgrades doesn’t mean other elites see the same benefit in any measurable way. Be kind and don’t assume they’re whining.
(I’m not whining either — I really appreciate the consistent Comfort+ and exit rows and spend a lot more time on international flights where those benefits, lounge access, and GUCs dramatically improve life! Plus I just throw an RUC at every transcon and enjoy when they go through.
)
Jul 25, 2019, 10:54 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: SFO/SJC/OAK/STS
Programs: Alaska MVPG, Delta PM, AA EXP, Wannabe SkyWest 1K
Posts: 644
Appreciate all the responses. Based off of what I'm read, going to stay back at PM. DM is better because it is doesn't convince me much, and getting upgraded SJC-LAX or SJC-SEA doesn't help much when I'm flying JetSuiteX, WN, AS, for most of my West Coast routes in order to get BUR, BFI, or alternate airports. AS also has painfully cheap paid F SJC-BUR.
Gotta trip coming up on UA SFO-BNA, and paid F direct was cheaper than DL via SLC.
I really like DL, no question they're the best of the big 3, the credit card MQMs are amazing, and the VS partnership is super helpful for LHR. But not enough to inconvenience myself to get to the next level.
Gotta trip coming up on UA SFO-BNA, and paid F direct was cheaper than DL via SLC.
I really like DL, no question they're the best of the big 3, the credit card MQMs are amazing, and the VS partnership is super helpful for LHR. But not enough to inconvenience myself to get to the next level.