Do upgrade prices drop as flight gets closer
Nov 7, 2019, 3:43 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 15
Do upgrade prices drop as flight gets closer
I have a round trip flight LAX-Shanghai in about 6 weeks and the upgrade cost to Delta One is about 1k on the outbound and 3k on the return. Do these prices tend to change as the date of departure gets closer? The outbound upgrade might be worth the price but wondering if it could go down further. Looks like a fair number of seats are still open.
Thanks
Thanks
Nov 7, 2019, 3:45 pm
#2
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: 100,369
They change, but they could move up or down. It depends on whether DL thinks they can sell the remaining D1 seats on the flight.
Nov 7, 2019, 3:50 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: BZN
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 69
Data point: I've had a flight booked since August. I've watch the F cabin go $164, to $261, back to $164, to $468, and now back to $164. There have been 11 open seats the entire time. I think Delta uses the search history as a guide on pricing as well.
Nov 8, 2019, 11:07 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York
Programs: SPG LT Gold, DL PM 1MM
Posts: 692
By upgrades this far out you probably are just rebooking into a higher cabin and fare class, e.g. you are in "L" now and they quote you the price to go into "Z". The return trip doesn't have "Z" available but only "I" so it is more expensive.
Most accurate way you can find is to look up fares via expertflyer and you'll probably find that the $1000 = Z one way fare - one way for your already paid ticket -> the $1000 won't likely drop further.
If the $1000 upgrade is from your economy into e.g., "I" then it may be that if "Z" becomes available it does drop.
They also change fares within one letter class over time but not by a huge order of magnitude.
Most accurate way you can find is to look up fares via expertflyer and you'll probably find that the $1000 = Z one way fare - one way for your already paid ticket -> the $1000 won't likely drop further.
If the $1000 upgrade is from your economy into e.g., "I" then it may be that if "Z" becomes available it does drop.
They also change fares within one letter class over time but not by a huge order of magnitude.