G'day Mate... We're Going to Sydney
Aug 27, 2009, 8:44 pm
#211
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,516
Aug 27, 2009, 10:08 pm
#212
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ABQ
Programs: Delta Platinum, Southwest A-List
Posts: 1,426
Are you elite with NW? I was told by DL recently about the "we can only look at three dates for award travel" cr@p and someone else on another thread mentioned the same thing. I hope they don't limit elites/medallions in the same way as the general public (I am a nobody with DL right now).
Yes, this airline is unfortunately doomed. An article in the local paper today speculated about which airline might be next to head into/back into bankruptcy. This time, whichever airline it might be probably won't come out - wages, contracts, etc. have all been slashed in the last go-around, so that can't be an issue to help almost any airline that goes back into bankruptcy. Only time will tell.
Yes, this airline is unfortunately doomed. An article in the local paper today speculated about which airline might be next to head into/back into bankruptcy. This time, whichever airline it might be probably won't come out - wages, contracts, etc. have all been slashed in the last go-around, so that can't be an issue to help almost any airline that goes back into bankruptcy. Only time will tell.
Aug 28, 2009, 12:22 am
#213
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DfwRes
Programs: S3
Posts: 425
Although some revenue is better than zero revenue, OTOH no airline wants to canabalize it's J Traffic by being too predicatable with it's upgrade availability
So, then I asked the agent to try to find some availability with mileage upgrade in November and I was told there's a policy they're only supposed to look plus or minus 2 weeks from your dates you gave them... She looked a month for me and found nothing. Told me if I wanted more I'd have to call back.
Mileage upgrades will continue to be an important stimulant on this young and prestigous route. let DL determine the mix it needs to achieve sustainable yields.
Aug 28, 2009, 8:48 am
#214
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: YYZ
Programs: NW/DL GE, CO GE
Posts: 286
Thanks for the report! Did you just do LAX-SYD or did you come from somewhere else? I'm coming from the East Coast, so I'd be flying all day to get to LAX... and then, well, fly all night to get to SYD. Seems like that might be a stretch even in Business... lol
When you got to SYD... were you dead tired and just wanna go to bed? Or were you rested enough to make a day of activities?
It does suck they've got the M fares too high and no Z availability. Way too stingy.
When you got to SYD... were you dead tired and just wanna go to bed? Or were you rested enough to make a day of activities?
It does suck they've got the M fares too high and no Z availability. Way too stingy.
Sep 7, 2009, 1:32 pm
#215
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Syracuse, NY
Programs: DL Diamond 1+MM / HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 384
FYI... If you're looking to go soon and you can make a decision quickly, there appears to be some Z availability on the LAX-SYD route this month and returning next month. I finally broke down and got an ExpertFlyer account, and got an email alert they made some Z availability the other day.
I ended up buying 9/16-10/4. One ticket in complete miles and one with M Fare + 50K mile upgrade.
Before my booking 9/16 was Z9 and 10/4 was Z6. Now they're Z7 Z4. I see some availability before 9/16, and there was some past 10/5.
So, if you don't mind the high M fare, you might want to take a look at it. On 9/16, the outbound still had 27 seats available in Business, so I think they're opening these Z fares in a last ditch effort to get revenue passengers to book the flights.
The part that sucks is, of course, I had to pay the $75 administrative fee on the ticket I bought completely in miles because I'm booking inside 21 days. That sucks. They collect yet another fee because they didn't have Z availability for M fare upgrade. Delta still doesn't rub me the right way.
Also: I had to book the M fare + 50K Mile upgrade via Delta. I tried several NW agents and they said there was Z0 on 9/16 and Z6 on the return. I told them I was in a travel agent system and see Z9, on 9/16. They both told me they were looking at both a DL system and a NW system and saw Z0. When I called Delta, they had Z9 Z6 just as ExpertFlyer said. When I was done, Z7 Z4.
Departure is in 9 days, I better get packing.
I ended up buying 9/16-10/4. One ticket in complete miles and one with M Fare + 50K mile upgrade.
Before my booking 9/16 was Z9 and 10/4 was Z6. Now they're Z7 Z4. I see some availability before 9/16, and there was some past 10/5.
So, if you don't mind the high M fare, you might want to take a look at it. On 9/16, the outbound still had 27 seats available in Business, so I think they're opening these Z fares in a last ditch effort to get revenue passengers to book the flights.
The part that sucks is, of course, I had to pay the $75 administrative fee on the ticket I bought completely in miles because I'm booking inside 21 days. That sucks. They collect yet another fee because they didn't have Z availability for M fare upgrade. Delta still doesn't rub me the right way.
Also: I had to book the M fare + 50K Mile upgrade via Delta. I tried several NW agents and they said there was Z0 on 9/16 and Z6 on the return. I told them I was in a travel agent system and see Z9, on 9/16. They both told me they were looking at both a DL system and a NW system and saw Z0. When I called Delta, they had Z9 Z6 just as ExpertFlyer said. When I was done, Z7 Z4.
Departure is in 9 days, I better get packing.
Sep 7, 2009, 3:51 pm
#216
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United 1K, Marriott: Titanium
Posts: 227
Just returned back from SYD yesterday in BE (Thank you 1 mile promo!). Had to keep changing my departure date from SYD as I got stuck in NZ. The SYD - LAX leg had a handful of empty seats.
I think the frustration many are encountering is just because Delta waits so long to release the Z inventory (despite there being 30+ open in BE). If you call and check about flights leaving in the next few days they are almost always available. However, when you ask a few weeks out there is nothing. Wait a week or so and call back about those same days and you will find availability. So while this is a new destination for Delta there always seem to be a lot of open seats in BE so I don't think getting an upgrade is very hard. Has anyone not gotten this upgrade yet? Just ask to be put on the wait list and you will likely clear a few days before departure.
Although it would be nice for Delta to release the Z inventory earlier so people can have the assurance they are in BE at the time of booking. This seems pretty similar to how United handles this as well.
I think the frustration many are encountering is just because Delta waits so long to release the Z inventory (despite there being 30+ open in BE). If you call and check about flights leaving in the next few days they are almost always available. However, when you ask a few weeks out there is nothing. Wait a week or so and call back about those same days and you will find availability. So while this is a new destination for Delta there always seem to be a lot of open seats in BE so I don't think getting an upgrade is very hard. Has anyone not gotten this upgrade yet? Just ask to be put on the wait list and you will likely clear a few days before departure.
Although it would be nice for Delta to release the Z inventory earlier so people can have the assurance they are in BE at the time of booking. This seems pretty similar to how United handles this as well.