Delta Business class to USA in December.... half the cost of everyone else!

[flycop]

Hi all,

I'm travelling to the USA in December for the usual christmas family gathering and have been checking out the airfares.

I've noticed that Delta are currently offering business class for $4400 return from Sydney. Most of the other carriers are almost twice this cost.

Is this the start of the airfare war over the peak season? Why would Delta offer such a low airfare considering QF is wanting $5000 for premium economy over the same period?

I'll be booking this one quick smart.

 

[joeymelb]

I wouldn't complain about the price! Those BusinessElite seats look exactly (almost) like Herring Bone J seats like CX. For transpacific flight, they will be EXCELLENT!!!

I am very tempted to book one myself to LAX for $4,433 ex MEL inc all taxes and charges. Compare that with $12,000 ex MEL on SQ or AirNZ, wow, what a great value.

Just a pity that Delta is on Skyteam.... but, I can be bribed!

 

[samh004]

Very good, just a shame you can’t yet earn status with Velocity through flying Delta. Also, how much is a V Australia premium ticket on the same route? Competition between partners?

 

[Dave Noble]

the usual christmas family gathering and have been checking out the airfares.

I've noticed that Delta are currently offering business class for $4400 return from Sydney. Most of the other carriers are almost twice this cost.

Hey; don't complain ... just book it and get a great fare

Dave

 

[UP4014]

Good pick up, good price, I might have to go as well!

 

[Spizz]

This is the best price I have seen for a business class fare direct to L.A. from Sydney,Melbourne. For travel between Jun10-Mar12 (though it seems to go up to March 26th).

Info here-

Delta Airlines to Los AngelesBusiness Class Fares to LA from Australia Jun 10-Mar 11

I was pretty impressed. United have some fare for the same time period but that are around the mid $5k mark which is still good, but this deal has them beat IMO.

 

[auriga]

That's pretty good!

Interesting to note that the reverse trip, ie, from LAX to SYD, return in business class is about the same price, but is applicable to all the airlines, incl Qantas, V Australia, United, Delta. They still get a better deal over there!

 

[Dave Noble]

That's pretty good!

Interesting to note that the reverse trip, ie, from LAX to SYD, return in business class is about the same price, but is applicable to all the airlines, incl Qantas, V Australia, United, Delta. They still get a better deal over there!

To be fair, the exchange rate to USD is very good at the monent so does make the ex US fares look cheaper than they might otherwise

 

[Logan^]

Could be very handy, I am heading to Vegas in Feb 20, so this could be very handy for me. Just need to get some information on the dates of when its happening.

Thanks

 

[Mrmaxwell]

MEL/SYD $4399
however
HBA $5299
ADL $5299
PER $6399

Those are some expensive domestic transfer prices :shock:

 

[Carfield]

Delta is a pretty good carrier and the SYD flights use the new Boeing 777-200LRs.
I find Delta to be better than United in terms of seats, F/As (a little bit better), and meals! Of course, QF and VA will be better, but at least better than UA!

As long as you keep your expectation reasonable, you will find the flight to be pleasant. Delta has international immigration and custom facilities at its own terminal (Terminal Five) in LAX, which makes things a bit easier, instead of the crowded scene in Tom Bradley International Terminal!

Carfield

 

[Dave Noble]

Delta is a pretty good carrier and the SYD flights use the new Boeing 777-200LRs.
I find Delta to be better than United in terms of seats, F/As (a little bit better), and meals! Of course, QF and VA will be better, but at least better than UA!

Carfield

Although meal offerings are poor on UA, I would say that the main part (imo) , the seating, is better on UA than on the QF 747s. fully flat horizontal beds vs QF slopebeds

Dave

 

[pauly7]

This is the best price I have seen for a business class fare direct to L.A. from Sydney,Melbourne. MO.

Yes and there is a reason, of course.....

Delta is really struggling to fill the pointy end of the plane.... Their load factors I believe are overall quite good but they discounted heavily to forward fill them and are now finding the yields aren't as great as they first thought.... SUPRISE!!... same issue Virgin had - but Virgin had the flexibility to cancel alot of their services and re-deploy aircraft to other routes to try and pull in some cash.

Who knows we may see them pull out and just codeshare with Virgin in the future.....

 

[docjames]

:shock:

Who knows we may see them pull out and just codeshare with Virgin in the future.....

That's a big call at this stage....

 

[Dee Thom]

My big question to all Airlines (QF excluded) is why don't some of them change their flts to go direct to SFO, I personally would rather arrive and depart from that Port!!!

Also what will the addition of Continental to the UA stable mean to the Pacific Route. :?:

Cheers Dee

 

[docjames]

My big question to all Airlines (QF excluded) is why don't some of them change their flts to go direct to SFO, I personally would rather arrive and depart from that Port!!!

Also what will the addition of Continental to the UA stable mean to the Pacific Route. :?:

Cheers Dee

Apart from UA, most of the others have better onward connections (and thus also feeders into the return flights) at LAX. Specifically I'm thinking QF/AA and DL.

 

[747Fan]

MEL/SYD $4399
however
HBA $5299
ADL $5299
PER $6399

Those are some expensive domestic transfer prices :shock:

Yes, indeed, those domestic transfers raise the price. I have RDU-LAX-SYD-MEL business class ticket on Delta in July for abt 5K but had to take the sole SYD-MEL codeshare flight they have each day with VirginBlue and make sure the Virgin Flight was designated as a DL flight. As soon as it's designated virgin blue (or one chose another Virgin flight) the price went thru the roof (almost $1200 to connect SYD-MEL-SYD). DL told me that Virgin does not give them a good price on non-codeshares and you essentially pay the full premium economy fare on Virgin segments since it's a business class ticket. A bit of a rip paying business since Virgin doesn't even have business class.

 

[futaris]

Back again for travel in August. 4096 AUD Mon-Thu, 4596 AUD Fri-Sun.

 

[kamchatsky]

Got this email from Delta this morning:

Dear Mr Edison,


Enjoy excellent value if you book early!

We offer you the opportunity to experience Delta's award-winning Business Elite® service. Make the trip on our spacious Boeing 777-200LR and enjoy the 180-degree flat bed seats, state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system and a five-course menu by celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein.

Fly from Sydney to Los Angeles for as low as AU$ 4,096*. Special fares to New York, Seattle, Salt Lake City and other select U.S. cities are also available.

Roundtrip travel from Sydney to BusinessElite fares* from (AUD$)
Mon - Thu Fri - Sun
Los Angeles 4,096 4,596
San Francisco 5,208 5,708
Seattle 5,508 6,008
Las Vegas, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Phoenix 5,677 6,177
New York City ( JFK, EWR) 5,704 6,204
*Fares are in Australian Dollars and do not include fuel surcharges, Passenger Facility Charges, or any applicable taxes.

To book, visit delta.com, contact Delta reservations toll-free 1800 144 917 or your travel agency.


Terms and Conditions


Fares do not include fuel surcharges, Passenger Facility Charges, or any applicable taxes and are subject to change without prior notice.
Valid for roundtrip, trans-Pacific flights on Delta Air Lines from Sydney connecting to above select U.S. cities. Transpacific travel must be via DL16/DL17 only.
This offer is available for E-Tickets only.
Tickets must be purchased 50 days before departure.
Booking Class: I Class, if I class is not inventoried within Area 1, book F or A class.
Fare Basis Code:
IXLEIS50: Departures permitted Monday through Thursday on each Transpacific sector
IWLEIS50: Departures permitted Friday through Sunday on each Transpacific sector
Ticketing must be completed within 3 days after reservations are made or at least 50 days before departure whichever is earlier.
You must return within 1 year. There is no minimum stay requirement.
No stopover is permitted.
Flight/Date change prior to or after departure is permitted for an AU$250 change fee and any additional fare, provided the new itinerary meets all the provisions of this promotion. Origin/Destination may not be changed once ticketed.
There is no discount for Children, but Infant under 2 years without a seat pays 10% of the adult fare, infant under 2 years occupying a seat pays child fare.
Ticket is non-refundable in case of cancel/no-show.
These special fares cannot be used with Electronic Credit Voucher (ECV),
Travel Credit Voucher (TCV), Travel Discount Coupon (TDC), upgrade certificate, SkyMiles award travel, companion pass or any other discount coupon, nor can it be combined with any other SkyMiles promotions.
The number of seats available for use with this offer may be limited and such seats are subject to availability.
These fares are eligible for SkyMiles miles. You must be a SkyMiles member to earn flight miles for your travel.
Additional restrictions may apply.
The lowest fare available will be displayed on the selected flight/date for your itinerary. If this special fare is not listed on the departure flight/date you selected, please choose alternate travel dates or fare categories.
Delta Air Lines has the final authority on the interpretation of these rules.

© 2010 Delta Air Lines, Inc. All rights reserved.
Delta Blvd. P.O. Box 20706 • Atlanta, GA 30320-6001

 

[UP4014]

Delta is a pretty good carrier and the SYD flights use the new Boeing 777-200LRs.
I find Delta to be better than United in terms of seats, F/As (a little bit better), and meals! Of course, QF and VA will be better, but at least better than UA!

While everyone likes to bag out UA, I've never had an issue over many UA flights over many years, everything worked, the food was fine, the price was good and flight was enjoyable. I'll continue to fly UA by choice.

Matt