PMU Value for International Routes
Apr 30, 2009, 4:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Up in the Air
Programs: DL MM; UA MM/1K
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PMU Value for International Routes
I was trying to book a Z class round trip from PHX to TLV at the end of June.
I was dissapointed to find out than the M fare for a round trip was $3115.40 (the amount charged to my credit card including taxes surcharges and other components of the air fare).
I was even more dissapointed to find out that the I class air fare for the same dates was $3308.40.
I other words - for this route the value of my PMUs is $97.
A quick search for similar destimations reveald $2,600 in M Vs $5,600 in I for AMM and $2,600 in M Vs $4,900 in I for IST.
Is TLV the international route where PMUs are worth the least?
For which destinations do PMUs have the highest values?
DLP
I was dissapointed to find out than the M fare for a round trip was $3115.40 (the amount charged to my credit card including taxes surcharges and other components of the air fare).
I was even more dissapointed to find out that the I class air fare for the same dates was $3308.40.
I other words - for this route the value of my PMUs is $97.
A quick search for similar destimations reveald $2,600 in M Vs $5,600 in I for AMM and $2,600 in M Vs $4,900 in I for IST.
Is TLV the international route where PMUs are worth the least?
For which destinations do PMUs have the highest values?
DLP
Last edited by DLPhoenix; Apr 30, 2009 at 4:55 pm Reason: Spelling
Apr 30, 2009, 5:52 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,630
I was trying to book a Z class round trip from PHX to TLV at the end of June.
I was dissapointed to find out than the M fare for a round trip was $3115.40 (the amount charged to my credit card including taxes surcharges and other components of the air fare).
I was even more dissapointed to find out that the I class air fare for the same dates was $3308.40.
I other words - for this route the value of my PMUs is $97.
A quick search for similar destimations reveald $2,600 in M Vs $5,600 in I for AMM and $2,600 in M Vs $4,900 in I for IST.
Is TLV the international route where PMUs are worth the least?
For which destinations do PMUs have the highest values?
DLP
I was dissapointed to find out than the M fare for a round trip was $3115.40 (the amount charged to my credit card including taxes surcharges and other components of the air fare).
I was even more dissapointed to find out that the I class air fare for the same dates was $3308.40.
I other words - for this route the value of my PMUs is $97.
A quick search for similar destimations reveald $2,600 in M Vs $5,600 in I for AMM and $2,600 in M Vs $4,900 in I for IST.
Is TLV the international route where PMUs are worth the least?
For which destinations do PMUs have the highest values?
DLP
Not sure DL does their fare structure based on PMU use.
Fares are usually based on matching competition.
So CO or El Al or ?? must have an I that DL matches.
I think there are more flights from US to TLV then AMM, so more competition.
Apr 30, 2009, 6:17 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SFO
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Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/Palm-D062; Blazer/4.5) 16;320x320)
pmu has much better value on tpac routes. it will be much more useful once it can be used on nw flights. a tpac m fare is usually as low as $1800.
pmu has much better value on tpac routes. it will be much more useful once it can be used on nw flights. a tpac m fare is usually as low as $1800.
Apr 30, 2009, 6:33 pm
#4
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I was not looking for explanations (I am old enough to understand that airline logic has different rules) I am trying to learn which routes would serve me better for mileage runs and which routes I should try to avoid.
Thanks,
Which is better (lower M fare)- ATL-ICN or ATL-NRT?
DLP
Apr 30, 2009, 7:43 pm
#5
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I fares can have much more restrictive purchase rules than an M + PMU combination, so the comparison isn't very telling.
May 1, 2009, 12:11 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,960
How true. I've seen I fares with 50-day advance purchase/7-day minimum stay requirements, while M fares for the same route had 3-day advance purchase/Saturday night requirements.
May 1, 2009, 1:32 am
#8
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IMHO the risk associated with a Z class ticket (If you missed a connection and you hold an I ticket DL will reruote you in BE, if you have a Z class ticket you have a good chance of completing your travel in coach) justifies a discount of more than $200.
DLP
May 1, 2009, 7:38 pm
#9
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The cash savings with the PMUs on international flights truly is rather modest. The most that you can save on a Transat this year (so far) is about $500.
Actually IMO the best value that you can find for them is to use them to lock in First on a transcon on the ex-TWAs where the Platinum upgrade is relatively unlikely and the fare difference one way is usually between $500 and $800
Actually IMO the best value that you can find for them is to use them to lock in First on a transcon on the ex-TWAs where the Platinum upgrade is relatively unlikely and the fare difference one way is usually between $500 and $800
May 1, 2009, 7:57 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
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Posts: 7,899
I can't force myself to buy an M fare to Europe. Usually, I can find a KLUT for a little over $1,000, or less. M fares are in the $2,000 neighbourhood. True a BE class ticket is probably around $5,000 and PMU's allow me to save $3,000 (comparing to a "genuine" BE ticket), but I still think some more legroom for a few hours and a $40 meal are not worth the extra $1,000 (comparing to a discount coach). I mean I could wait to get back home and go to the French Laundry for that much money. Twice.
The only situation in which I can see PMU's are useful on TATL is when buying a ticket at the last moment, or when somebody else is paying for it.
May 1, 2009, 8:06 pm
#11
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I want the front cabin on any long flight and will fly BE every time I go international. But the only really super value gained from using a PMU internationally is when you are on an itinerary that does not qualify for an I fare.
I know one business flyer around here whose company buys him a fare with no Saturday stay and he regularly upgrades them with the PMUs. But he is upgrading them in a situation where he would usually need to pay upward of $6000 for that itinerary in J class.
I know one business flyer around here whose company buys him a fare with no Saturday stay and he regularly upgrades them with the PMUs. But he is upgrading them in a situation where he would usually need to pay upward of $6000 for that itinerary in J class.
May 2, 2009, 1:54 am
#12
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DL phoenix, three years or ten years, DL or whatever airline, Z (or equiv) there are always Z seasts that open up on flights unless they are extremely heavily booked.
May 2, 2009, 5:32 pm
#13
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My strategy was always to book M even if Z inventory was 0 knowing that DL holds a few BE seats until the last minute and that there is a high likelyhood that I would be upgraded at the gate.
That changed in 2007 when:
In march an airplane left PRG with empty seats in BE and me seating in coach on an M fare with a PMU in my wallet.
In June an airplane left ATL with me in a similar state and the two last BE seats occupied by Non-revs.
Since then I will not pay for the M fare unless Z is available at the time of booking.
DLP
May 2, 2009, 5:35 pm
#14
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May 2, 2009, 5:54 pm
#15
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IMO too!
I can't force myself to buy an M fare to Europe. Usually, I can find a KLUT for a little over $1,000, or less. M fares are in the $2,000 neighbourhood. True a BE class ticket is probably around $5,000 and PMU's allow me to save $3,000 (comparing to a "genuine" BE ticket), but I still think some more legroom for a few hours and a $40 meal are not worth the extra $1,000 (comparing to a discount coach). I mean I could wait to get back home and go to the French Laundry for that much money. Twice.
The only situation in which I can see PMU's are useful on TATL is when buying a ticket at the last moment, or when somebody else is paying for it.
I can't force myself to buy an M fare to Europe. Usually, I can find a KLUT for a little over $1,000, or less. M fares are in the $2,000 neighbourhood. True a BE class ticket is probably around $5,000 and PMU's allow me to save $3,000 (comparing to a "genuine" BE ticket), but I still think some more legroom for a few hours and a $40 meal are not worth the extra $1,000 (comparing to a discount coach). I mean I could wait to get back home and go to the French Laundry for that much money. Twice.
The only situation in which I can see PMU's are useful on TATL is when buying a ticket at the last moment, or when somebody else is paying for it.
I preceive PMUs as BE discount vouchers and under normal circmstances their value is more than $1,000 (M fare + PMU are more than $2,000 cheaper than the lowest available BE fare).
BTW I did not pay the $3K+ for the M fare on PHX->TLV (an extra day of unpaid leave costs less than the extra $2,000), but I will pay up to $1K.
DLP