Website "best fare" BAIT AND SWITCH
 

On February 25, and again today March 2, I attempted to purchase a business fare. MSY-MNL

February 25:

On the website, the lowest fare originally quoted was c. $4275. It was good, until the confirmation screen, at which point, suddenly the fare doubled.

Today I tried this again, with different departure and arrival dates. The result was the same.

March 3:

On the Delta.com website, the lowest fare originally quoted was $4372.20. It was good, until the confirmation screen, at which point, suddenly the fare doubled, to $$8682.70.

"The fare quoted earlier of $4,444.70 (USD) has changed. The new fare for this itinerary is $8,682.70 (USD). To continue your purchase click Continue. Otherwise click Start Over to return to the Reservations input screen and select different dates and times."

I tried this again, with different departure and arrival dates. The result was the same.

I ended up successfully booking the trip at UNDER the original Delta fare, on Continental Airlines.

THis apparent "BAIT AND SWITCH" scheme applied to two other itineraries I recently attempted to book on Delta.com.

I am a DIAMOND MEDALLION, TWO MILLION MILER flier on Delta, and I am disgusted with these recent results. I am quickly becoming a loyal Continental Airlines Elite customer, because Continental appreciates my business more than Delta.

Delta deserves to be OUT of business, in my opinion.

You should consider sending this to the DOT. I strongly suspect you won't be the first, and there are a number of these complaints on these boards. I strongly suspect that Delta are doing what Delta do best.... rip off customers. I have also heard that Continental may offer you the same status in their FF programme..

Continental was matching frequent flyer miles from other carriers, but I am not sure if that program is still in effect. It will not hurt to call, and talk to them about it. If they can gain you as a frequent flyer, from Delta, it seems they may be willing to work with you somehow.

Fares do change all of the time, and it has happened before that there may be one ticket left at a specific price, and someone else has gone through the purchasing process to get that ticket, just seconds ahead of you, leaving that fare no longer available for purchase, as you attempt to buy it. HOWEVER, it shouldn't happen like it did to you, numerous times, even with changing dates. It does sound like something fishy is going on there, or they just have a huge issue with their computer program/website, that needs to be fixed. I would report this to Delta, as well as the BBB, and the DOT. If they are practicing this as part of their business, it needs to stop. If it is some kind of error in their system, they need to have it fixed.

Airfares on all airlines sites even priceline and such are subject to seat availability. When you are talking about millions of travelers its very likely that a seat you are looking at one moment won't be available in 10 secs.

We should report Wall Street to BBB for having stock prices jump around so much, lol.

Comparing Delta and the sharks on Wall Street is a pretty good analogy Idaho. We seem to be in agreement. Let's hope the same kind of touch regulation planned for Wall Street will also be applied to the airlines.

I am so glad you live nowhere near the United States thats an awesome thing for me to hold on to while I read each of your dumb replies to my posts.:D

My dumb replies...as compared to your highly intellectual standard, which includes abuse, criticism of my spelling and a total inability to debate. Such fun...

Yes because debating will solve all these customers issues. All I am saying is there are some customers who have been wronged and in other cases some of these complaints are severaly exaggerated and they are dead wrong. You seem to think that if they complain about anything they are automatically right and Delta (or any other airline) are big meanies.

You don't debate you are just completely one sided and are impossible to reason with.

A perfect self-description from what I've seen of your posts.

If you are having to "hold on to" the fact that I live in the UK in order to feel ok, I suspect that in addition to being a pisspoor advocate for your pro-airline views, you are somewhat fragile mentally. I am not sure you are strong enough to cope with these discussions.

Here is a link I hope you will find helpful:

http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.go...5/Default.aspx