Delta Re-purposing 'S' class as discount Comfort+

[serfty]

In looking for some C+ purchases on Delta for travel next year, I started to see 'S' class offered as a Comfort+ option here and there.

In looking around, I found this:
Delta Comfort Plus | Delta Professional

Delta Comfort+ fares are booked in "W or S*" Class. *Delta Comfort+ fares in “S” class will be filed in markets that offer Delta Comfort+ as a fare through the month of July, for travel on/after September 4, 2019.

This has several ramifications - not so much with Skymiles as MQM earn is still 100% as is with W, but certainly with Velocity.

Hopefully, the earn tables gets updated. For example with Velocity, S on Delta currently earns as "Discount Economy" while W earns as "Premium economy".

A bit more:

Upgrade Notification

• “S” Class will be a valid class used for Delta Comfort+ as a fare and when a customer is upgraded into Delta Comfort+.
• Medallion members will be notified of their new Delta Comfort+ seat assignment via email and will have the option to change to another Delta Comfort+ seat, if available.
• For travel agency booked PNRs: When an upgrade occurs, “S” Class will be a valid class used when a customer is upgraded into Delta Comfort+ (“W or S” class is still used for paid purchases, either as a fare or an ancillary seat product).

This change also may make SDC more complicated if it becomes class based (e.g. Booked in S but only W available).

 

[FTac]

I'm relocating to the US temporarily and was hoping to take advantage of the W fare to get to platinum! Not great news...

 

[Bagpuss]

Not denying this is a bit of a disappointment, but on a Delta sold ticket, "S" is classified as Main Cabin by Velocity ....

Delta Air Lines

Earn Points with Delta Air Lines when you travel in an eligible fare class on flights with a DL flight number operated by Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection-branded carriers or Virgin Australia. You can also earn Status Credits and redeem Reward Seat. Learn more now.

experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com

 

[Saab34]

The day was going to come eventually.

Amazed it’s gone on this long.

On the flip side, we now seem to have regular DSC promotions with Virgin directly which sorts of makes up for it. I used the W fares quite a bit when Virgin never offered double credits. I’ve since not flown any W fares since as crediting here at home is just as good as DL with all these double promotions.

Although of late with DL the better runs appear to be on the new Premium Select bucket which credits even higher and is fairly cheap into Asia.

 

[FTac]

The day was going to come eventually.

Amazed it’s gone on this long.

On the flip side, we now seem to have regular DSC promotions with Virgin directly which sorts of makes up for it. I used the W fares quite a bit when Virgin never offered double credits. I’ve since not flown any W fares since as crediting here at home is just as good as DL with all these double promotions.

Although of late with DL the better runs appear to be on the new Premium Select bucket which credits even higher and is fairly cheap into Asia.

How cheap is "fairly"? I'll be looking for some good deals to replace this!

 

[Whisky Travel]

Have been booking Delta Comfort+ for many years with the fare code (W)
My latest booking on Delta.com Comfort+ showed fare class (S).
Upon checking Velocity website its states that delta fare class (S) is a discount Economy resulting in reduced points and status credits.
The cost of the ticket is more that full fare economy but you get only discount economy point and status credits.
Velocity has not been helpful to resolve my issue and saying its a Delta issue.
Delta on its website make clear that (S) is not a discounted code.

Any suggesting on how to present my case and book tickets so I get the correct points and status credits.

 

[AFF Editor]

Welcome to AFF @Whisky Travel!

I believe Velocity is currently in the process of updating its website/systems due to the recent change to S class. I have been in contact with Velocity about this and will give an update when I have more information.

 

[Whisky Travel]

Further to my search and after contacting Velocity have found the following. The price difference on delta.com between (W) & (S) is minimal to say the least. A multicity domestic US one way the difference was $20 US.
Yet status credits and velocity points difference is massive.
When booking Comfort+ seat on delta.com the fist step on the booking site is to chose the "fare class" see attached image. Select Comfort+W then continue with your city selection. If you do not do this the site will select (S) as a default. This is going to catch out many frequent flyers chasing status credits.
Thanks for the responses on this.

 

[Bagpuss]

The Delta partner page has been updated.

Delta Air Lines

Earn Points with Delta Air Lines when you travel in an eligible fare class on flights with a DL flight number operated by Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection-branded carriers or Virgin Australia. You can also earn Status Credits and redeem Reward Seat. Learn more now.

experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com

Looks like the "S" class will earn status credits as per current "W" class. However, points will be as per main cabin. (It maybe that they omitted to update the points earn.)

 

[serfty]

Big changes actually - P, A & G no longer earn as Business.

And 'S' points earning has been increased, but not to W levels.

 

[FTac]

Big changes actually - P, A & G no longer earn as Business.

And 'S' points earning has been increased, but not to W levels.

Good and bad news.

 

[Mattg]

Big changes actually - P, A & G no longer earn as Business.

And 'S' points earning has been increased, but not to W levels.

I believe that P, A & G no longer earn at Business levels because these fare classes are used for Premium Select now.

The good news is that "S" class earning has now increased to the "W" level. Velocity updated its website yesterday.

 

[serfty]

I believe that P, A & G no longer earn at Business levels because these fare classes are used for Premium Select now.

Until last week, P, A & G were listed alongside business - yes this change reflects reality but a few gained from the discrepancy - this loophole has been closed.

The good news is that "S" class earning has now increased to the "W" level. Velocity updated its website yesterday.

Interestingly, S on DL has been moved twice this week in the earning table.

It was moved from last week's ½ Velocity point per mile to Monday's, 1 Velocity point per mile and now 1¼ Velocity point per mile.

 

[AFF Editor]

I have confirmed with Velocity Frequent Flyer that, since 7 June 2019, S class on Delta earns Velocity points and status credits at the same "Premium Economy" rates as W class. The website was updated earlier this week after I got in touch. (Initially S class was incorrectly shown as earning 1 point per mile flown - the correct earn rate is 1.25.)

Delta, Velocity Frequent Flyer Update Comfort+ Fare Classes

Comfort+® is Delta's "Premium Economy" product on US domestic flights.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au