SDC rules change April 16; Increased restrictions incl same fare bucket availability
Apr 8, 2013, 6:18 pm
#616
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 173
The crazy stupid part is that the rules become overly complicated that not even a good GA will be able to sort it out. The other crazy stupid is - you NEVER get back an empty seat once it leaves the gate. I would think that most SDCs are from later to earlier flights, not the other way around. Wouldn't it be to your advantage, Delta, to take excess capacity and slide it forward throughout the day?
Interesting enough the last time I did a same day confirmed (the other week) was on a flight from JFK-DCA (on a later flight). The flight had full availability 9s in all buckets but for some reason when I went to check in the agent said I was "standby" for the flight which confused me because I was also 1 for 1 on the upgrade list. He said they have you on standby for coach and for first class. He fixed it and assigned me a seat and by the time I got to the Sky Club my upgrade already cleared.
Apr 8, 2013, 6:19 pm
#617
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
Bubba, I actually agree with much of what you say, whether I'm an HVC or not (and believe me, I'm not). But to compare DL making a day-of decision to divert for safety (due to weather or whatever) to DL changing the rules for SDC is insane. If DL wants to change the rules for SDC, they have that right and from a business sense, I don't necessarily disagree with some of the changes. But DL does owe more advance notice to customers who bought a ticket with certain understandings and expectations, and that's not in any way comparable to a weather delay.
Apr 8, 2013, 6:23 pm
#618
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: DL FO/KM, AA PLT
Posts: 2,594
I couldn't agree more, but I wasn't the poster that questioned. Read back in the thread. NY FLA said he wouldn't pay for SDC unless an airline paid for delays and diversions. I was just curious as to why due to the reasons you outlined above. It is always done for safety. FLYDELTAJETS - YOU AND I COULDN'T BE MORE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THIS. Read the thread and you will see his statement. I was just seeking clarification due to the reasons you stated.
Apr 9, 2013, 8:04 am
#619
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Posts: 9,988
I was self-employed for 12 years. At that point, I was definitely a LVC because travel costs came directly off of my bottom line. As I have posted in threads from years ago, I was airline agnostic because the rewards of low-tier elite just did not have anything in it that I couldn't live without.
Before then, I was a college student. During that phase of my life/career I was such a cheapskate that I am sure the airlines (and Amtrak) would have refused to sell me tickets if they had then had the granularity of data to be able to tell who I was. Case in point: the time I flew SLC-SYD on a ticket with a net cost to me of $259, which earned me double frequent flyer miles and mid-level elite status (the bonus miles counted towards elite tier qualification).
For the last eight years, I have been a corporate cog. Initially, I continued to be airline agnostic, selecting whatever flights had the schedule I needed at a price that was consistent with our corporate travel policies. But then, Delta pulled a lever that made me give all my business to them so that I could become "elite." They made the best coach seats "preferred." And so I am now "loyal" to Delta.
Being able to pre-select my own seat is a carrot that I value. That is why I have never given Southwest my LUV and again won't on my flight next week to Manchester, NH, even though Southwest had the better schedule and (slightly) lower fares than did DL.
The point of this screed is to recognize that things change (including myself).
Before then, I was a college student. During that phase of my life/career I was such a cheapskate that I am sure the airlines (and Amtrak) would have refused to sell me tickets if they had then had the granularity of data to be able to tell who I was. Case in point: the time I flew SLC-SYD on a ticket with a net cost to me of $259, which earned me double frequent flyer miles and mid-level elite status (the bonus miles counted towards elite tier qualification).
For the last eight years, I have been a corporate cog. Initially, I continued to be airline agnostic, selecting whatever flights had the schedule I needed at a price that was consistent with our corporate travel policies. But then, Delta pulled a lever that made me give all my business to them so that I could become "elite." They made the best coach seats "preferred." And so I am now "loyal" to Delta.
Being able to pre-select my own seat is a carrot that I value. That is why I have never given Southwest my LUV and again won't on my flight next week to Manchester, NH, even though Southwest had the better schedule and (slightly) lower fares than did DL.
The point of this screed is to recognize that things change (including myself).
Last edited by Canarsie; Apr 9, 2013 at 9:16 pm Reason: Removed personal reference to a fellow FlyerTalk member.
Apr 9, 2013, 1:50 pm
#620
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM, AA EXP, various hotel
Posts: 2,227
Ok, so this is supposed to go into effect one week from today and there's still no announcement. This is pretty unbelievable...
Apr 9, 2013, 2:25 pm
#621
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: Now just a lowly DL PM/1MM. This industry needs some competition. It's just not enjoyable anymore.
Posts: 3,543
Apr 9, 2013, 7:38 pm
#622
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: Delta Gold
Posts: 622
There are plenty of mid value customers who might not be visible on Delta's frequent flyer programs. I approve travel for about $15,000 a year for my staff and $20,000 a year for my family. These proposed changes devalue Delta greatly for me, even out of MSP. Particularly given the in affordability of redeeming miles from Europe to the US.
Apr 9, 2013, 8:24 pm
#623
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: National Capitol Region
Programs: Delta Dirt Medallion,AA,USairways, WN Rapid Rewards, National Emerald Club
Posts: 3,912
If Delta creates an elite program that is truly elite how will they get buy in from the masses? How will it sell billions of miles to American Express for billions of dollars?
Apr 9, 2013, 8:27 pm
#624
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
Apr 9, 2013, 8:36 pm
#625
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
But, your point is well taken. SM relies on a lot of LVC believing they have skin in the game.
The more they realize that for them SM is a house of cards, the less incentive they have to stop and listen to the credit card hawkers on the airline concourses.
Why do you suppose that AMEX no longer advertises that their sign up bonus is "enough for one free ticket"?
Or, was that change in advertising made in anticipation of FUBAR roll out?
Apr 9, 2013, 8:39 pm
#626
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
But, your point is well taken. SM relies on a lot of LVC believing they have skin in the game.
The more they realize that for them SM is a house of cards, the less incentive they have to stop and listen to the credit card hawkers on the airline concourses.
Why do you suppose that AMEX no longer advertises that their sign up bonus is "enough for one free ticket"?
Or, was that change in advertising made in anticipation of FUBAR roll out?
Apr 9, 2013, 9:14 pm
#627
Moderator: Hilton Honors forums
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Marietta, Georgia, United States
Posts: 24,996
Thread Alert
This discussion — which may be opened again once clean-up has been done — is now closed due to all of this vitriol over a policy change which has yet to be officially announced.
Regards,
Canarsie
Co-Moderator, Delta SkyMiles forum
Regards,
Canarsie
Co-Moderator, Delta SkyMiles forum
