Why Skymiles 2015 looks good to me
Apr 22, 2014, 12:28 pm
#46
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In any case, the MR forum here is full of all kinds of wacko routings to get extra MQM. Put together a US-Asia trip going TATL with a couple stopovers and a COS bonus, and it isn't out of the realm of possibility to make GM in one trip (plus, that poster may have come in with rollover miles, etc.)
The extreme example aside, though, the core argument remains valid. In the current, distance-based RDM system, it becomes quite easy to accrue tons of RDMs with very little spend, which can then be used to redeem for very expensive flights.
I don't blame anyone for doing this, but by aliging RDMs to spend, DL is moving to a model that is by no means perfect, but does do a better job at rewarding the people that spend lots of money to travel short distances, rather than vice versa.
Apr 22, 2014, 1:05 pm
#47
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Apr 22, 2014, 1:17 pm
#48
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While I agree with what you say is almost certainly correct it creates a problem. I keep hearing about profitability of legacy airlines come from people who sit up front on business fares. Now of course WN et all show that profitability can come from a different business model. If we did not have employers (HVCs) the airline industry (probably worldwide) would be totally different and all these threads about loyalty programs/FF programs would be moot anyway.
Apr 22, 2014, 1:24 pm
#49
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OPM aside, it's a bit ridiculous that some of us have to pay these fares. Competition around me makes it pretty affordable most of the time - even ATL is reasonable.
I think that even if I bought all FCM fares in 2015, I'd do worse than I do now. That's just the nature of the market I guess.
I think that even if I bought all FCM fares in 2015, I'd do worse than I do now. That's just the nature of the market I guess.
If you live in a competitive market and have other options the message from Delta is go ahead and take those other options. Seems like a poor long term strategy to me. They can't sustain a full service airline if all they want to do is fly hub to hub.
Apr 22, 2014, 1:35 pm
#50
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"A" ticket on my most common route, if I took it next week Monday-Friday
Cost: $1032 (915 MQDs)
MQM Miles: ~4100
RQM (as a Gold): ~10400 miles
Under 2015 rules:
RQM: 7320 miles (915 MQDs x 8 for Gold)
An "A" ticket for a flight less than a week away and the decrease in earn is just over 25%
Cost: $1032 (915 MQDs)
MQM Miles: ~4100
RQM (as a Gold): ~10400 miles
Under 2015 rules:
RQM: 7320 miles (915 MQDs x 8 for Gold)
An "A" ticket for a flight less than a week away and the decrease in earn is just over 25%
Apr 22, 2014, 1:44 pm
#51
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"A" ticket on my most common route, if I took it next week Monday-Friday
Cost: $1032 (915 MQDs)
MQM Miles: ~4100
RQM (as a Gold): ~10400 miles
Under 2015 rules:
RQM: 7320 miles (915 MQDs x 8 for Gold)
An "A" ticket for a flight less than a week away and the decrease in earn is just over 25%
Cost: $1032 (915 MQDs)
MQM Miles: ~4100
RQM (as a Gold): ~10400 miles
Under 2015 rules:
RQM: 7320 miles (915 MQDs x 8 for Gold)
An "A" ticket for a flight less than a week away and the decrease in earn is just over 25%
Apr 22, 2014, 1:46 pm
#52
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I plugged in the same itinerary but leaving from MSP rather than connecting from my regional airport to MSP. An "A" ticket goes to $1600 (1450 MQD) by removing the XXX-MSP leg, so under the 2015 system would go from being worth about 8,000 miles to being worth 11,600.
So if you're a hub captive, congrats, more miles.
If you are not a hub captive and have other choices? Far fewer miles. Even on short notice high far tickets.
I understand that some people will gain from this. But that doesn't mean that everyone who loses is flying on cheapo tickets and trying to game the system.
So if you're a hub captive, congrats, more miles.
If you are not a hub captive and have other choices? Far fewer miles. Even on short notice high far tickets.
I understand that some people will gain from this. But that doesn't mean that everyone who loses is flying on cheapo tickets and trying to game the system.
Apr 22, 2014, 2:11 pm
#54
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I generally feel the same way as the OP, except that being DM in Seattle meant good upgrades to JFK and back but now those are gone. That was the main reason I switched to DL from AS.
I don't understand the hate though. Dude (or his company - it's irrelevant) spent a lot of money on his tickets. Who cares?
I don't understand the hate though. Dude (or his company - it's irrelevant) spent a lot of money on his tickets. Who cares?
Apr 22, 2014, 2:12 pm
#55
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Apr 22, 2014, 2:14 pm
#56
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Apr 22, 2014, 2:15 pm
#57
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I'd hope he wouldn't game the system by buying a discount fare since those would result in less profit to Delta
Apr 22, 2014, 2:21 pm
#59
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True, but even a DM loses out on that example, which is actual numbers I pulled from Delta's website for non hypothetical flights with an "A" fare Monday-Friday next week.
A DM would currently earn about 11,250 miles under current rules with an "A" far on that route (4,100 miles base, 2,050 class of service, 5,100 miles DM bonus)
A DM would earn 10,065 miles under 2015 rules (915 MQDsx11), a decrease of about 10%
A DM would currently earn about 11,250 miles under current rules with an "A" far on that route (4,100 miles base, 2,050 class of service, 5,100 miles DM bonus)
A DM would earn 10,065 miles under 2015 rules (915 MQDsx11), a decrease of about 10%
Apr 22, 2014, 2:32 pm
#60
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However, the same hub captive DM would earn more due to the $1,600 "A" fare (1,450 MQDs) I got by removing the XXX-MSP leg of the flight. The hub captive would earn 15,950 miles under the 2015 system. An increase of 83% from what they'd earn in 2015
So just like the GM, the hub captive DM, who has higher ticket prices for the exact same fare class, gains from the 2015 system. The guy who lives a couple hundred miles away in a competitive market loses despite buying discounted first or full economy fares.
So just like the GM, the hub captive DM, who has higher ticket prices for the exact same fare class, gains from the 2015 system. The guy who lives a couple hundred miles away in a competitive market loses despite buying discounted first or full economy fares.