Comments on: Delta Set To Slash Business Class Perks: Premium Passengers Bracing For Coach-Level Fees

By: Andrew R

Andrew R — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 02:13:43 +0000

The only way I see this working is to sell the premium seat but without the premium food and drink in flight. It’s all about the seat.

By: Robeto

Robeto — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 23:01:08 +0000

Just flew Delta business class and was unimpressed,,once they make this change I will probably never fly Delta again except to use up my airline miles and then sayonara Delta

By: Mark O

Mark O — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 02:24:41 +0000

It seems like Delta is taking a page from AA and treating customers as a nuesense rather than someone who pays for your services. This stripping if business class perks just resorts to having a flying cattle car. Now it appears the only people who will matter are tge lucky 16 who pay crazy money to occupy a first class seat.

By: Andy 11235

Andy 11235 — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 18:56:41 +0000

Fare bundles rely on setting the prices high enough to make the whole revenue exercise worth it, but low enough to capture those that may only put a premium on one item in the bundle. Looking at AF/KLM as the likeliest model for DL, the distinction for “basic” seems to be lounge access and a 2nd checked bag. However, DL already heavily monetizes lounge access, so how much would they squeeze out with that? AF/KLM are in a very different position with their single hubs that previously gave the same lounge access to all C pax.

By: George N Romey

George N Romey — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 13:47:44 +0000

Upgrades may not go away completely but will become rarer. As far as “unbundling” business fares. Isn’t this why you pay for business? The perks?

By: FNT Delta Diamond

FNT Delta Diamond — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 12:13:08 +0000

@LarryNYC: Qatar may or may not make it work in international longhaul. How is Delta going to make it work domestically? Often, you can buy two economy main cabin seats for less than the price of first-class. And domestic first doesn’t come with lounge access.

By: LarryNYC

LarryNYC — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 03:30:25 +0000

@Gary
As Dom mentioned, QR is making it work. I know for a fact that they’ve gotten my business away from Cathay (I’m based in HK) – when Cathay charges $6k in J from HKG to LHR and QR charges $3k (albeit with a 2 hour layover in DOH), it’s a no brainer for me. The QR tix comes without lounge access, seat selection and baggage, but all of these become available for free once I add my Oneworld Emerald FFN onto the ticket. In essence, if I already get these for free, it makes sense that I’m paying for something that I already have. It also encourages customers to stay on the elite status threadmill.

By: FNT Delta Diamond

FNT Delta Diamond — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 21:25:31 +0000

Delta better tread very carefully here. They finally “got” a premium product that people are willing to buy outright. If you take away the mediocre premium elements of that product, I don’t think people will buy it. Especially domestic first-class. If I can get an aisle seat in the first row of extra-legroom or the exit row, I’m not going to buy first-class if I no longer get Sky Priority, no longer get free seat assignment, no longer get a meal, and can’t do same-day change. Arguably, the biggest plus of Delta domestic first-class is same-day change. I have to imagine it will disappear with a “basic first” airfare. Internationally with Delta business-class, same-day change doesn’t exist. I would have less of an objection with international Delta One flights eliminating a meal because the lounge food is pretty good and dinner and breakfast on a 6-hour transatlantic flight are a waste of time.

By: Dave W.

Dave W. — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 19:01:09 +0000

This does not make me happy. I fly DL J to Europe each year, and they want me to pay extra so I don’t get stuck in the “2” of a 1-2-1 seating?

By: Alan Z

Alan Z — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 18:01:43 +0000

@DWT

LH does not play that game. You can pay more for refundability or to cancel. Otherwise all biz is equal. Only difference is rollout of Alegris seating options on A350. Not sure that will work out in the end.