When does it make sense to book 1st class?

[schoen]

We got decent (for 2014) airfare from DTW-MCO in October. The Delta app is telling me that it is $250 round trip to upgrade to 1st class.

My husband is 6'5-so we would upgrade to economy comfort for $39.99 each way. We would also both have to check at least 1 bag each way for $25.00. We do not have credit cards or status that would help us with any of these costs. So, all costs considered, with fees we will be spending an additional $130 anyway.

This seems like a no brainier to me, at that point, it would be only an additional $60 each leg to upgrade (taking into consideration unavoidable charges)

am I missing something? Is this actually a good decision?

 

[Shoshana]

Just be sure the $250 is for both tickets, not per person.

I love those upgrade to first offers!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

The only time it makes sense is when its a long haul flight from the east coast to the west.

 

[schoen]

Just be sure the $250 is for both tickets, not per person.

I love those upgrade to first offers!

It IS $250 per person, but not per leg. So, after we pay for a bag each way and economy comfort each way, it would be an additional $60 a leg-or $120 per person.

 

[DebbieB]

I would do it - it's a nice treat. When I was flying a lot for work I occasionally got upgrades, it was nice. USAirways used to allow you to upgrade for about 5,000 miles one way. When I was flying out to the west coast from Pittsburgh, it was worth it if it was available, I was racking up a lot of miles anyway. They have increased it since then.

These cheap upgrades have the elite frequent flyers on the Delta flyertalk upset. They are losing their free upgrades.

 

[DVC-Don]

The only time I've upgraded is on transatlantic flights on red eyes. We'll worth it then to sleep better as the seat flattens.

 

[Gracie09]

Dh has had luck upgrading when he checks in 24 hours in advance (this is united). He scrolls down and there usually is a message where you can upgrade to first class do X amount. Last time it was $60 or $68 a person. If you want to roll the dice it might work out that way

 

[Sandi]

We got decent (for 2014) airfare from DTW-MCO in October. The Delta app is telling me that it is $250 round trip to upgrade to 1st class.

My husband is 6'5-so we would upgrade to economy comfort for $39.99 each way. We would also both have to check at least 1 bag each way for $25.00. We do not have credit cards or status that would help us with any of these costs. So, all costs considered, with fees we will be spending an additional $130 anyway.

This seems like a no brainier to me, at that point, it would be only an additional $60 each leg to upgrade (taking into consideration unavoidable charges)

am I missing something? Is this actually a good decision?

Hey fellow Spartan Country dweller -- I think you've run the numbers in the correct manner. Personally, I would do it -- although, I might choose to put my DH in 1st class and I'd be in coach. He's tall, I'm short, don't care, and like to save money. I often will get my DH economy comfort and I'll sit elsewhere. At an increased cost of less than $100, first class is very nice for the DTW to MCO flight.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Is this actually a good decision?

1) I NEVER fly coach for anything over 1-hr (sometimes only commuter flight are possible for a short hop).
2) At 6'4", coach does work well when my knees are locked against the person in front of me.

 

[lylone]

We usually upgrade to First/Business class when there is a fee for checked bags.
If a checked bag fee is $25 and and for $10 or $20 more you get a nicer seat, free alcoholic drink and first on/first off, its a no brainer

 

[bumbershoot]

That's too high for me for a not-even-cross-country flight, but then we wouldn't be upgrading to the next level b/c we don't have the height issue.

If I WERE doing it, I would see how many free bags each could get, and if it's more than one, I'd take more. Gotta leave room for souvenirs. I would also research if there will be food there and take that into account. Drinks, etc.

Last time I was in 1st it was actually more physically uncomfortable for me, because the seats were so long from knee to rear that my feet didn't touch the floor. And the seats weren't quite wide enough to comfortably pull my legs up, and too wide for me to pull legs up and wedge myself in. They also didn't have anything vegetarian apart from salad so I got a Tapas box (worth $8), which was good but not a hot meal. I'm not going to complain about the sundae, though (United). But physically it wasn't comfy, so I'm definitely on the other side of the height issue than your DH!

 

[schoen]

Hey fellow Spartan Country dweller -- I think you've run the numbers in the correct manner. Personally, I would do it -- although, I might choose to put my DH in 1st class and I'd be in coach. He's tall, I'm short, don't care, and like to save money. I often will get my DH economy comfort and I'll sit elsewhere. At an increased cost of less than $100, first class is very nice for the DTW to MCO flight.

Go Green! We just got our tickets/parking pass for football season in the mail, so exciting!!!!! We decided to go for the upgrade! This is our only vacation this year, so we are going to splurge. I did briefly consider upgrading only DH, but lets be honest, that is no fun for me!

 

[LBIJim]

Sure, I'd go for it.

But be aware that "cheap" first class fares are really coach fares with an upgrade. Most likely it's not in fare class F, but rather in fare classes like V,Z, P, or the like. If there are flight irregularities (weather, mechanical, etc.), the fine print of the fare says the airline can rebook you in a cramped center seat in coach with no refund due.

 

[Yellowjj]

Delta first class but not truly first class fares are G, A, and P

Any other lower tier fare is followed by a UP that works out to one of the above. There are no worries when booking these unless you arrive at the gate after the flight has closed. If you are connecting and make it to the gate late, you can be downgraded back to coach if they already gave your first class seats away.

However Delta now allows Same Day Confirmed or SDC once seats are available in First Class. So just asked to be moved to the next flight if that happens, and you will still be in First Class.

But the odds are very low. So go ahead purchase and enjoy the 3 checked bags and space.

 

[LBIJim]

Delta first class but not truly first class fares are G, A, and P

Any other lower tier fare is followed by a UP that works out to one of the above. There are no worries when booking these unless you arrive at the gate after the flight has closed. If you are connecting and make it to the gate late, you can be downgraded back to coach if they already gave your first class seats away.

However Delta now allows Same Day Confirmed or SDC once seats are available in First Class. So just asked to be moved to the next flight if that happens, and you will still be in First Class.

But the odds are very low. So go ahead purchase and enjoy the 3 checked bags and space.

Yes, you will still be in FC if requested, but not necessarily on the next flight. The operative words being "once seats are available in First Class." Which may be later that day, tomorrow, or even three days from now depending on your fare class and how many other FC seats have already been booked. They're not going to kick someone out of FC on the next flight to accommodate you.

Or they might re-route you from MCO to DTW via MSP or another roundabout way, possibly with a long layover between flights.

Yes, the odds are against it. Most likely you'll be fine. But it DOES happen and anyone contemplating buying "cheap" FC class fares should be aware of the possibility.

These cheap upgrades have the elite frequent flyers on the Delta flyertalk upset. They are losing their free upgrades.

Once on a USAirways flight from DFW to PHL, I checked in at an airport kiosk a little less than an hour before my flight. The kiosk offered an FC upgrade for about $79, so I took it. After boarding, some guy gave me a real dirty "if looks could kill" glare when he passed by into coach. He probably was first on the free upgrade list and there was probably only the one FC seat available for upgrade. So he knew exactly which seat it was, and was eyeballing it for hours ahead of time.

I don't know when USAir releases the free upgrade seats, but it's possible I snagged it minutes before it would have been given to him. Hey, buddy, if you really want it, pay up like I did.

I wouldn't be surprised if he ranted on FlyerTalk later that night.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I get upgraded to first on domestic flights fairly often for free due to my UA status. I would never pay to upgrade a domestic flight; first usually just isn't anything special. Just my opinion.

 

[Yellowjj]

Yes, you will still be in FC if requested, but not necessarily on the next flight. The operative words being "once seats are available in First Class." Which may be later that day, tomorrow, or even three days from now depending on your fare class and how many other FC seats have already been booked. They're not going to kick someone out of FC on the next flight to accommodate you.

Or they might re-route you from MCO to DTW via MSP or another roundabout way, possibly with a long layover between flights.

Your partially right and wrong. Technically any first class regardless whether it is a UP fare or G,A,P is now eligible to SDC once seats are available in first. It is only economy that you must find seats in your same fare bracket.

No route is 100% paid in first. I would bet on that. The odds for them getting two seats on the next flight are pretty good especially if their heading to Orlando. Delta practically has a shuttle between Atlanta and Orlando.

I get upgraded to first on domestic flights fairly often for free due to my UA status. I would never pay to upgrade a domestic flight on United; first usually just isn't anything special. Just my opinion.

Fixed it for you.

Nobody in their right mind who isn't a hub captive would pay for a upgrade on United, barring a medical/physical need for wider seat/ more legroom.