Why Skymiles 2015 looks good to me
#17
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,079
I find most of the comments here not particularly relevant to the changes to the program. I, and all my colleagues who fly more than 75,000 or 125,000 miles per year will continue to maintain our medallion status regardless of how much we pay for our tickets. Similarly, those who earn MQMs with credit cards will continue to do so at the same rate that they use their cards. So I see no "thinning of the herd" occurring on the basis of the change in how RDMs are earned, despite however much those whose pathetic sense of elitism might depend on the idea that those who pay less for tickets are inferior. The ratio of dollars spent to RDM is indeed going up, but the primary determinants of the value of RDMs will be the availability of award seats and the redemption charts anyway, which have always been, and always will be, completely at Delta's whim.
Last edited by flyerslc; Apr 21, 2014 at 11:15 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX, SFO
Programs: Delta GM, Lifetime Marriott Platinum, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,634
I find most of the comments here not particularly relevant to the changes to the program. I, and all my colleagues who fly more than 75,000 or 125,000 miles per year will continue to maintain our medallion status regardless of how much we pay for our tickets. Similarly, those who earn MQMs with credit cards will continue to do so at the same rate that they use their cards. So I see no "thinning of the herd" occurring on the basis of the change in how RDMs are earned, despite however much those whose pathetic sense of elitism might depend on the idea that those who pay less for tickets are inferior. The ratio of dollars spent to RDM is indeed going up, but the primary determinant of the value of RDMs will be the availability of award seats and the redemption charts anyway, which have always been. and always will be, completely at Delta's whim.
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: DL DM, MM
Posts: 2,968
I find most of the comments here not particularly relevant to the changes to the program. I, and all my colleagues who fly more than 75,000 or 125,000 miles per year will continue to maintain our medallion status regardless of how much we pay for our tickets. Similarly, those who earn MQMs with credit cards will continue to do so at the same rate that they use their cards. So I see no "thinning of the herd" occurring on the basis of the change in how RDMs are earned, despite however much those whose pathetic sense of elitism might depend on the idea that those who pay less for tickets are inferior. The ratio of dollars spent to RDM is indeed going up, but the primary determinants of the value of RDMs will be the availability of award seats and the redemption charts anyway, which have always been, and always will be, completely at Delta's whim.
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Somewhere between here and there...
Programs: WWF, Appalachian Mountain Club
Posts: 11,595
OP, I don't know your situation, but for me, my employers expect I'll be booking the lowest fares. Sometimes I have no notice of when I need to travel and have to book expensive buckets if it is the lowest available at the time. If, as one poster suggested, that is "wasting" OPM, I just don't know how to argue that.
Granted, I fly a lot and am a bit sick of the FF game; worrying about upgrades and the like. I'm lucky I get to choose my own travel method ( I'm really close with my employers and they know I'm booking fares lower than they'd find for me). I've divided my loyalty to whoever can get me to where I'm going in the best, least expensive manner ( best usually winning, within reason). I'll still easily make PM on DL this year, bit I'll have to watch my spend and may need to lean on my AMEX to qualify. At least I have that out.
The new Skymiles is positioning exactly the way DL wants it to and I agree it seems a fair program. I have for years lamented the loss of easy upgrades and am already sad for the loss of the MR and easy mileage earning, but it was an unsustainable model in the long term. DL will still have a big place in my travels, but I know my place and have already adjusted how I play.
Granted, I fly a lot and am a bit sick of the FF game; worrying about upgrades and the like. I'm lucky I get to choose my own travel method ( I'm really close with my employers and they know I'm booking fares lower than they'd find for me). I've divided my loyalty to whoever can get me to where I'm going in the best, least expensive manner ( best usually winning, within reason). I'll still easily make PM on DL this year, bit I'll have to watch my spend and may need to lean on my AMEX to qualify. At least I have that out.
The new Skymiles is positioning exactly the way DL wants it to and I agree it seems a fair program. I have for years lamented the loss of easy upgrades and am already sad for the loss of the MR and easy mileage earning, but it was an unsustainable model in the long term. DL will still have a big place in my travels, but I know my place and have already adjusted how I play.
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Southern California/In the air
Programs: DL
Posts: 10,382
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
I'm with the OP! I'm thinking the program is actually pretty fair. As a hub captive I pay more for my trips no matter what. I never had time to do mileage runs, so really I just want my rewards to have some relationship to the fair paid..
The crazy structure was paying crap miles for short expensive hops and then ridiculous for overseas. Ran a trip to Cambodia this year and got my Gold status in one flight, that's silly.
When did flying long hauls work like a BOGO? I like the new program, and the idea that it might thin the herd is even better...empty seats in first/business is actually an improvement and adds value to those buckets.
I actually really like flying on Korea Air in business and it was not filled with non-revs, and medallions riding upgrades..
The crazy structure was paying crap miles for short expensive hops and then ridiculous for overseas. Ran a trip to Cambodia this year and got my Gold status in one flight, that's silly.
When did flying long hauls work like a BOGO? I like the new program, and the idea that it might thin the herd is even better...empty seats in first/business is actually an improvement and adds value to those buckets.
I actually really like flying on Korea Air in business and it was not filled with non-revs, and medallions riding upgrades..
Even accounting for a 1.5x bonus in premium, find me ANY TPAC fare with a MPM of 16,000 or higher.
(last time I checked DL TPAC fares are MPM fares except for some contract fares which are even more restrictive in routing rules.)
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
Therefore someone flying exclusively AF/KL TATL + 4 DL segments due to connections is also worse off (and DL gets revenue off KL/AF TATL)
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
I don't get it. Under the old system, you would have been FO next year with your current stats. Under the new system, you will be FO next year with your current stats. Nothing has changed for you.
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: DL FO/KM, AA PLT
Posts: 2,594
Tell me which fare has MPM of 25000 each way?
Even accounting for a 1.5x bonus in premium, find me ANY TPAC fare with a MPM of 16,000 or higher.
(last time I checked DL TPAC fares are MPM fares except for some contract fares which are even more restrictive in routing rules.)
Even accounting for a 1.5x bonus in premium, find me ANY TPAC fare with a MPM of 16,000 or higher.
(last time I checked DL TPAC fares are MPM fares except for some contract fares which are even more restrictive in routing rules.)
#26
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: HKY
Programs: DL-DM MM & RW, UAL- PS, Marriott Lifetime PLT, SPG-PLT, Hilton-Gold
Posts: 4,468
+1....how nice to read a post devoid of baseless emotion and totally rational. The new program will help some, and will not help others. I wish continued success to you and your colleagues who undoubtedly have much more class than some folks here. At the end, Karma will be there for us all, and unlike some others here, it will be your friend. Best wishes.
And we will not even go into what Karma has in store for them......
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,247
#28
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
Originally Posted by flyerslc
I find most of the comments here not particularly relevant to the changes to the program. I, and all my colleagues who fly more than 75,000 or 125,000 miles per year will continue to maintain our medallion status regardless of how much we pay for our tickets. Similarly, those who earn MQMs with credit cards will continue to do so at the same rate that they use their cards. So I see no "thinning of the herd" occurring on the basis of the change in how RDMs are earned, despite however much those whose pathetic sense of elitism might depend on the idea that those who pay less for tickets are inferior. The ratio of dollars spent to RDM is indeed going up, but the primary determinant of the value of RDMs will be the availability of award seats and the redemption charts anyway, which have always been. and always will be, completely at Delta's whim.
Originally Posted by waltinsoca
+1....how nice to read a post devoid of baseless emotion and totally rational. The new program will help some, and will not help others. I wish continued success to you and your colleagues who undoubtedly have much more class than some folks here. At the end, Karma will be there for us all, and unlike some others here, it will be your friend. Best wishes.
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LMAO...Pot. Kettle. Black.
I find most of the comments here not particularly relevant to the changes to the program. I, and all my colleagues who fly more than 75,000 or 125,000 miles per year will continue to maintain our medallion status regardless of how much we pay for our tickets. Similarly, those who earn MQMs with credit cards will continue to do so at the same rate that they use their cards. So I see no "thinning of the herd" occurring on the basis of the change in how RDMs are earned, despite however much those whose pathetic sense of elitism might depend on the idea that those who pay less for tickets are inferior. The ratio of dollars spent to RDM is indeed going up, but the primary determinant of the value of RDMs will be the availability of award seats and the redemption charts anyway, which have always been. and always will be, completely at Delta's whim.
Originally Posted by waltinsoca
+1....how nice to read a post devoid of baseless emotion and totally rational. The new program will help some, and will not help others. I wish continued success to you and your colleagues who undoubtedly have much more class than some folks here. At the end, Karma will be there for us all, and unlike some others here, it will be your friend. Best wishes.
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LMAO...Pot. Kettle. Black.
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,742
I'm with OP. ^
And for those making comments about OPM - well, when my client calls on Thursday and asks me to be there on Monday, it's not like I'm going to tell them no. They've already decided it's worth spending their money to get me there. When I go to book I spend their money like it's my own and find the cheapest logical fare being sold at that time. Four days out, "cheapest" isn't exactly going to be cheap, but I certainly don't feel like I'm wasting their money.
And for those making comments about OPM - well, when my client calls on Thursday and asks me to be there on Monday, it's not like I'm going to tell them no. They've already decided it's worth spending their money to get me there. When I go to book I spend their money like it's my own and find the cheapest logical fare being sold at that time. Four days out, "cheapest" isn't exactly going to be cheap, but I certainly don't feel like I'm wasting their money.
#30
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Atlanta
Programs: Delta Diamond; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 654