When is Delta.com a big fat downgrade?
Good morning class. Today’s lesson is one that I learned the hard way. It’s as much a cautionary tale as it is a lesson – one that will save you a lot of pain if you heed its dark teachings.
Grim start, huh? Let’s talk about one of my least favorite subjects: Delta Air Lines.
Delta Dawn, what’s that flower you have on?
Could it be a faded rose from days gone by?
Delta Dawn, Tanya Tucker 1972
The tune Delta sings is often off-key to my ears. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know many of you have given your heart away to the airline. But I say this because it offers virtually no incentive to collect its SkyMiles. It’s infuriating. I hope you’re not valuing your SkyMiles at more than a penny each. That said, I know that Delta travelers love Delta, because it is a good airline.
Ok, if all you do is fly from Atlanta to Savannah, then no problem, give Delta your heart.
But I’m not being loyal to any airline because that’s when airlines win and you lose. I’ve talked about being a “loyalty-free agent” for three decades. Here are some of those reports, and the arguments still stand: read about it here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
I know, you probably think I’m a Delta basher, but that’s not true. I’m just being realistic. If you want to fly Delta, upfront, you’re going to pay through the nose with miles, and often with cash, too.
So, class, this month I’m going to talk about how Delta people blindly head to Delta.com to search for flights, when in reality, it’s the last website where you should start your search.
Let’s look at why this is the case. The following are three examples of how Delta.com will cost you more for less. Or from another perspective, you’ll see how you can get free upgrades if you don’t book on Delta.com. You could call this idea a “website upgrade.” Let’s go.
Dudded by Delta Example #1
Business Class to Venice on British Airways
for less than the price of Premium Economy on Delta
You could fly Delta from Pittsburgh to Venice and pay $5,214 in Premium Economy. A much better idea is to search on Google Flights, Expedia, or some other online travel agency and find that British Airways in Business Class runs around $3,775. See the dates in the table below. Honestly, class, if you tell people this stuff, they usually don’t believe you. My advice is to keep it to yourselves and just post your travel pics to Instagram. Take a look at these numbers…
[table_opt id="6849" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]
Dudded by Delta Example #2
Business Class to Rome on United
for less than the price of Premium Economy on Delta
Feel like some pasta and chianti from the source? You can go from St. Louis to Rome with one stop traveling in April, May, and June in Premium Economy for $4,896 on Delta. However, if you search on Google Flights, Expedia, or some other online travel agency, you’ll find that United Airlines in Business Class goes for $3,304 on that same route. Sorprendente!
[table_opt id="6850" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]
Dudded by Delta Example #3
First Class to London on British Airways
for little more than the price of Business on Delta
For Atlanta-London nonstop through mid-November, Delta’s Business Class fares fluctuate between $4,409 to $5,509. However, if you search on Google Flights, Expedia, or some other online travel agency, you’ll find that British Airways offers Atlanta-London in First Class for around $5,501. In other words, there are more dates available where you can get First Class on British Airways for little more than you can get Business Class on Delta. Score: BA 1, Delta 0.
[table_opt id="6851" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]
So, the moral of the story? The last thing you want to do is start your search on Delta.com and perhaps the last thing you want to do in the end, too.
See you up front.