Strange Booking Experience with Delta Today/Web Browser

I have been pondering a possible trip for late fall/early winter and living where I live, the options are AA or Delta. I go by price and schedule and determine who to use based on that. It is possible to drive 90 min. to 2+ hours to other airports but parking typically eats up any savings since I can get by without leaving a car in DAY. Throw in a hotel on either or both ends of a trip and it usually costs more.

I have been watching fares on Delta (AA has a crappy schedule) for a month or so and have seen a $50-$100 variation per ticket over that time. Usually higher on the weekend, then it drops back, they play the game of "only 4 seats available at this price", etc. When I checked very early (5:15am) this morning, the fare had dropped from the previous day so I decided I would book when I got back from running my dog. 45 minutes (6:00am) later I log into my Delta account and see a fare $50 per ticket higher. This was using Chrome. I was rather shocked and decided to go back and check using Edge and not log in. Edge is where I saw the better price just 45 minutes prior.

Once I got on Edge, the Delta site showed the lower price and tickets available. I started the purchase process but did not log into my account until it got to the point of actually paying. The price stayed the same and I completed the purchase at the lower price.

Now, I have both Chrome and Edge open and I am NOW seeing a $91 per ticket difference. Same flights, same dates, only difference is the web browser I am using.

I know all about clearing cookies, history, etc. but I have never experienced a price difference of any product dependent on the chosen web browser. It might pay others to check pricing using different web browsers when booking for SXM or other trips.

On another note, for this itinerary, Delta is $70 more per ticket (round trip) for Main cabin fare (assigned seating) versus Basic fare. Didn't this difference used to be something like $20 or so per ticket? I don't ever recall seeing a spread like this between Basic and Main cabin fares.

To add a little more confusion to this, I called Delta, had the 2 hour wait for a call back and got a very nice agent who did call back. I asked her about this, she pulled the flights up and saw even a different price than what I was seeing. Not sure if they are in the process of changing fares, there is a major glitch in their pricing or what but it would make no sense the agent would not see one of the fares I was seeing. The fare she quoted me was $593/Basic and $663/Main.

Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to the airlines but that really is bizarre. 😊😊

I just tried two different browsers, both Edge and Chrome. Going to Athens, Greece in October. I got the same price on both. I then went on my mobile phone thinking ok, lets see what happens when you have a different IP address and again, I got the same price. I think the algorithm was just a little quirky with you.

Totally bizarre, regarding the web browsers, and kind of scary. Regarding the seat assignments, I would bet it's due to Corona, as no one wants to get stuck in a middle seat these days.

Delta has blocked all middle seats from assignments. You can not choose a middle seat in their seating charts. They are also only selling First Class at 50% of capacity and economy at 60%. On planes without a middle seat, they will block random window and aisle seats so there is separation on the plane. The difference between Basic Economy and Main Economy is basic economy has no advance seat assignment, no baggage allowance, and they board last, so overhead bin space might be limited, but in the current situation, I doubt that is a problem. Basic Economy also not does not qualify for upgrades for medallion members.

I just closed both browsers, reopened them and still see the difference in fare. Very bizarre.

Carol, Delta is not booking middle seats through the end of June, is also reducing other classes. I am almost wondering if paying the extra $70/pp is even worth it for an assigned seat at this time, but the current seating guidelines only go through the end of June from how it appears.

From Delta:

Giving you more space onboard with new seating policies. Limiting the number of people you pass on the way to your seat and providing you with additional space is a priority. For these reasons, we recently started back-to-front boarding, capped seating at 50 percent in First Class and 60 percent in Main Cabin, and created new seating policies that keep middle seats blocked. On planes without middle seats, we are blocking select aisle and window seats to give you even more peace of mind during your travels. And as you deplane, please take time to create distance for those ahead of you to exit.

I don't see how blocking a middle seat is going to make much difference. The window passenger still has to negotiate past the aisle seat. But having a vacant middle seat does give you more space to put carry on things.

Delta WILL book middle seats IF it is a family member beside another. At least in my case it appears they did and I spoke with a Delta supervisor this morning, assuming the information they relayed was accurate.

Under the revised Delta boarding, it appears they are boarding back to front, except for 1st class which will board first. In this case, seats in the rear may have the best selection of overhead space.

"seats in the rear may have the best selection of overhead space."
Those passengers can just take the first open bin in front then proceed to back of the plane. I've seen that happen many times and it burns the heck out of me. Flight attendants take a blind eye and ignore it.

Correct, and if they are boarding first, many will do just that. This might spark some changes with overhead bin use and a more watchful eye.

Delta Flight Attendants do a great job of enforcing the airline's policy in situations like this.

I will assume that priority boarding will still exist for extra room and airline branded credit cards that previously had this perk

From Delta:
Adjustments to the boarding process to encourage more space for safer travel. As of April 10, all flights follow a back-to-front boarding process to reduce the instances of customers needing to pass by one another to reach their seat. The measures will be in place through June 30 and may be adjusted or extended depending on COVID-19 developments.

Pre-boarding, as always, includes those who need extra time and assistance. During the main boarding process, customers will be invited to board by rows, starting from the rear of the aircraft, forward.

Customers are encouraged to help create more space for each other by waiting for their row to be called. Those seated in Delta One or First Class, as well as Diamond Medallion Members, remain welcome to board at any point during the boarding process, while respecting the need to provide space to all customers who are boarding.

The new process builds on the metered, or spaced, boarding that began in early April, and boards fewer customers at a time to allow for more distance between them.  

DELTA BOARDING POLICY

I again will assume the above refers to general boarding which makes sense.....and...

Scubaman--that is one of my FAVORITE pet peeves. Moron people who are seated in row 20, who put their carry-on bags in row 10...

And now, about 14 hours later, both browsers are showing the same fare and it is the lower fare that I initially saw and different from what the agent quoted me.

Well, technically, if the fare is lower within 24 hours, you can cancel without penalty and re-book.

If it’s significantly lower, I’d follow Carol’s lead - cancel and rebook at the better fare. But I think I’d do it over the phone with a CSR to be certain it’s done correctly.

When I am checking air fares, I ALWAYS do it via "incognito" window (which is what Chrome calls it; likely something different in other browsers) until I am ready to book. That way, they don't know I'm a returning viewer and don't track what they told me before.

Yes, have done that as well. It is somewhat concerning as to how much tracking is going on.

I am in at the best fare I have seen from my area for years. We might cross paths in Nov. again, at least lets hope we have that opportunity.

We are booked for two weeks in November after having to cancel out last 2 trips. Hopefully the downward trend continues, Mike.

That's a great idea...never considered trying that

What would be the policy on the cancellation of your ticket in Nov if there is a 2 week quarantine and although the airline was flying you chose not to make the trip with that government stipulation.
Not saying it will happen but certainly could be a possibility.

It's my understanding that most tickets that are being issued now, you can cancel and get a CREDIT (but not a refund, if the flight is still going).

What I am not sure is will they honor the price of your Nov ticket going forward when you decide to use your credit or will the credit apply to the price of the ticket when you rebook.
Just wondering if I give them my money to hold till Nov what my options and risks are in I do not choose to fly then.
Just do not trust the airlines in this time when they are using attractive fares to shoulder up their cash flow.
Hoping my credit would not apply to a new booking I would have to make thereafter at a higher price.
Actually went on website and found after Sept 30 they can charge a higher fare for a canceled flight that you rebook.
There is always a loophole for the airlines .

It has always been a credit against the flight you actually end up re-booking, if you take a credit. Meaning if the price of the flight goes UP from the price you paid for the original ticket, they will charge you the difference. I really don't have a problem with that, if I took a credit. Of course, if I have a choice in the matter, I would NEVER take a credit now, I would always get a refund. So, if the flight is cancelled by the airline, you get a refund. If the flight ends up going and you decide not to go, you can get a credit against the new fare, whatever it happens to be. If the fare goes up, you pay more.

To my understanding, any ticket booked with Delta prior to May 31 is able to be changed or cancelled without a fee or penalty but the credit will be in the form of an e-credit, good for 2 years from the booking date. There is also some language pertaining to travel prior to Sept. 30 and the supervisor I spoke to said things would be updated at some point for travel after Sept. 30. This is all new for the airlines as well. The quarantine thing would be a deal breaker for most people unless they are very long term visitors.

As per Delta policy, if THEY cancel the flight or change the flight time or connection by MORE than 90 minutes, it is a refund (if so desired) back to the original form of payment.


DELTA CHANGE POLICY

Just think I will hold off giving money to an airline in exchange for a ticket in Nov that I may or may not be able to use.
The way the world is changing today 2 weeks is a long way out to make plans.
They may dangle a less expensive ticket to get your cash but there is always the possibility of bankruptcy for any airline.
The worst is yet to come in that industry.

Somewhat of a concern, but I will take the chance and figure a voucher for future use is better than nothing. At this point, the airlines will survive in some fashion. It is not a life changing amount of money in the grand scheme of things.

Clifftops==for sure, there could well be lots of bankruptcies for airlines, and a lot of other companies. But as JD said, for most people, it's not a life changing amount of money to buy a plane ticket now. If so, no way people should buy right now.

Just as an aside here - I logged on to Jet Blue this afternoon to check on the status of my Fall flight from SXM to JFK and to make certain there were no changes. The only change I found was it had gone up $10.00 each way or a couple hundred points depended on what you were thinking of buying. I chuckled to myself since there are all of four people booked and holding seats so far. I’m sure that raising the rates will encourage more purchasers.