sekiya

DL has just updated the schedule to shanghai from DTW/SEA with ICN stop through October. Both routes operate 2X weekly. The process took longer than usual though. Case dismissed.

xliioper

The "process" during Covid has often involved updating schedules on international routes only a few weeks before the start of the month. At this point, one can't be entirely certain about anything loaded for September and beyond. While they have now pushed the current 2x weekly summer schedule on these routes through October 29th, they have only opened J/P/Y buckets on flights (and a number of summer flights only having J or no bucket inventory). I could understand some limiting of bucket inventory, but this seems very excessive unless they really don't care that much about booking pax and these flights are primarily about cargo. With the LAX-SYD flights, they've at least been opening up bucket inventory more broadly a few weeks before the flights.

The schedule currently has DTW-PVG, LAX-PVG, and SEA-PVG loaded as daily flights starting October 30th without the ICN stops, but bucket inventory on these flights is currently zero'd out in all classes so they cannot be purchased.

MSPeconomist

DL might be risk averse about the potential cost of rebooking passengers and figure that they can still make a profit on full fare tickets.

DiamondSM

Not sure at 3K for a main cabin ticket (usa-PVG) Delta will keep their customers...

flyerCO

This is the point, by only offering full Y fares they don't have to worry about rebooking tons of passengers. Once DL knows for sure what it's doing, then lower fares will be offered.

sekiya

3k USD one way to China is normal at this moment and in the foreseeable future. UA/AA and Chinese carriers offer the same or even higher prices.