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DL has announced major changes in Comfort+ which are effective with flights departing on May 16, 2016. Heavy restrictions on free C+ for all, especially top tier Medallions.
Here's a link to the FAQ's on the dl.com website which will explain a lot. Since there's a new fare class (W) and speculation that C+ seating will become a separate cabin (even on domestic), there are also questions about how this will affect pass riders which is why I'm posting this news here.
Should not affect N/Rs as the N/Rs are cleared into the best seat in the house based on class of pass and then seniority.
Thus if not cleared in the First; Delta ONE; Business cabin then Comfort comes into play and when that is filled then it is
what is left coach or whatever economy coach is or will be called in the future.
That is UNLESS Delta wants to change the N/R travel program all together to something different.
HUSH, RMA!! Right now it's a great asset to nonrevs. Unless revs purchase tkt in that fare bucket, they only have upgrade rights POS but not automatic as medallions. Fewer surprises, as I read it. Is that your take? In the meantime, expect some serious backlash from status customers.Quote:
Originally Posted by R.M.Anderson
For international flights the front cabin is pretty much void of upgrades no matter what the status - so that is good deal for the N/Rs.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrs767er
In so far as the domestic flights are concerned yes there is going to be if not already a very strong backlash - read on at LINK:
Delta Air Lines | SkyMiles - FlyerTalk Forums
This will only slightly increase the potential of N/Rs getting the middle*seat in Comfort economy cabin. Notice the * after middle*seat.
Aisles and windows are still Prime for the frequent flyers with status if they can't get the front cabin ! Still yet a solo middle seat in C+
is far better than one in the back of the bus engine room.
The full fare C+ class uses a new fare code of "W" and is the highest Coach ticket category - used to be "Y" ! And don't ask me wh*Y !
A was First Class propeller aircraft.
T was Coach on prop aircraft.
F was First Class on Jets.
Y oh why was Y selected for Coach on Jets.
Read that flyertalk forum for all the juicy scuttlebutt and barbed venom - never a dull moment !
‘Comfort+’ also meaning partitions and dedicated bins.
Delta Turns to Partitions for Feel of
I'm loving this. On JFK - LAX/SFO FY it's usually wide open because Wall Street, Rappers and Actors don't want to pay upgrade. When the partitions go up it's going to be even better.
The FT thread really hasn't had much to say about nonrevs but there are a number of interesting issues that affect nonrevs in C+ after mid-May 2016.
The first deals with pricing. The initial pricing for C+ after May 16th is substantially higher then what it's been. Will people, especially high level elites, pay the price at booking or will they play the W Upgrade lottery since none of them can select specific C+ seats at booking. I know that it's going to change my seat selection methodology. My wife and I both have Status with DL. I'm a Diamond and she's Platinum. We almost never nonrev on domestic flights since we have schedules to maintain. If our travel is personal, we use FCFL since our Medallion benefits kick in and we can get complementary upgrades, C+ seating, etc. If it's business related, we usually buy discounted First (GAP fares). We tend to book well in advance and we'll take Preferred Aisle seats, probably exit row if we don't get the C+ aisle seats.
The next deals with Revenue Mgmt and how they'll be adjusting the oversell. If, in fact, there will be no free C+ upgrades, even at the gate, it should work the same as Int'l, OPUPs for the medallions to F or C+if main cabin is oversold, then nonrev and THEN EMPTY SEATS. That works fine EXCEPT, many Medallions (including my wife and myself) don't want center C+ seating under any circumstances. If we can't get our aisle C+ seating within a couple of hours of purchasing tickets, we'll deselect C+ Upgrade Requested and will refuse any attempt to upgrade us involuntarily to a center C+ seat. There are many who feel this way and it should be good for nonrevs who may get C+ instead of a center main cabin seat. I've spoken with a couple of senior GA's who are not looking forward to the gate scene when this kicks in. Their feeling is that this plan will be modified a couple of times once it becomes reality just as happened with SDC and D1 upgrades JFK-LAX/SFO. Will there be a new section added for C+ Av/Au or will it still be part of Main Cabin? It should be good for nonrevs initially but if the revenue hit is too great, the whole plan will get reworked.
Expect a lot of kickback, just as there was with the initial JFK-LAX/SFO D1 nonrev situation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by msynyc
Thanks for the clarification. I can see clearly now the C+ seats are open(in song!!).
Song? dd--that is hysterical...