Centurion

Most OPM flyers now have special rates. In particular JFK to LHR all the big NYC firms have special rates. In the past that would leave the movie studios who have special desks and special rates. So what remains? The conference speaker consultant whose contract just says reimbursement for air. I think that is a small pool of customers.

travel.flier

i'm sure they feel threatened that you are going to united who has the same program next year, but a much worse airline overall.

i flew my first paid delta flight this year and was extremely impressed compared to united.

VegasJosh

As a business owner I am always threatened when a customer leaves for any reason. I know I am only 20,000 or 25,000 in revenue but its not nothing. Maybe I am naive to all this but most service companies seem to care when you leave, ever try dropping your XM radio or canceling with Verizon. I know Delta is a very large airline but all their seats are filled by people, and if I have this thought so do others. I also said I would look at an Asian carrier like Singapore or Cathay amongst others.......

bennos

It's hard to imagine someone buying M+ fares out of their own pocket (and therefore spending similar amounts to someone buying J using OPM contract rates) is not someone DL wants as a customer.

iwascool

My paltry $22,000 MQD plus $1,400 in change fees are also going to AA on Jan 4.

No illusions that AA is any better, but the AA/US Air combo will cut my segments from 192 to ~115.

My loyalty is now only tied to what is convenient for me. Delta may be impressed with my 52% upgrade rate but I am not. Bottom line is I won't be in steerage any more than I am now and will spend much less time traveling

tkelsay

I don't think they were being condescending, though I do think this line is not helpful to their overall message and does seem quite out of place:

"I am glad to see that your flight history with us shows that you were able to travel in the First and Business class cabins on 75% of your flights even though only 13% of your tickets were booked in those cabins."

I understand your frustration. I think it's fair to say they will not be making any adjustments for yourself or others with the new program. It's unfortunate that AA/US had the merger or else AA would be a sure thing for a lot of travelers right now, but I'm not sure how things will pan out over there for the next year or so.

VegasJosh

I hope/think that Delta has vastly miscalculated that amount of 5k-25k customers they might lose in this. I know we are small compared to large accounts and such but I once learned that lots of small bottles from the mini bar equal 1 large bottle.

I am in the Casino business and although very large players represent most of my profit, it is all the smaller slot players and such that form the foundation of my company.

DL2SXM

To the OP, you do realize that AA will soon follow in the foot steps of DL and UA? plus don't forget that B6 has been doing this for quite some time.

dd1612

The OP should realize that posting the email exchange here as it appears Delta does not care, and neither do most FT posters.
Many of us are going to use Delta, because we have to for various reasons.
So whatever the FF Program turns out to be in 2015 and in the future, it makes little sense getting worked up about it.
As a consumer one does have a choice of various airlines and travel methods.
Please use what suits you best!

VegasJosh

As I have done more research in regards to picking a new program I am becoming more aware of this trend. After looking I might go with something like Kris Flyer or Asia Miles for the time being. If all else fails I will just book whatever is most convenient for myself and not have any loyalty to a brand. If they feel that losing customer loyalty is the best business model so be it I guess.

I guess the analogy that applies in my business is a few years ago most casino moved away from staying on soft 17 ( ace + 6) and hit it instead giving themselves better odds. Harrahs started this trend and most fallowed except MGM properties. In the end they lost more business then changing the odds had helped. Although they keep trying to stick with this model some are switching back in the vain attempt to recapture there old customers that are now loyal to another brand (MGM).

I hope that when faced with reality of losing one of the hardest things to gain in the business world (brand loyalty) they decide maybe it was not such a great idea.

CJKatl

It's business. We are fungible to DL, and DL is fungible to us. Most of us will move to what's best for us at a given time. There's no sour grapes. There's no emotional involvement. There's no falling for "loyalty" meaning something because it's part of the marketing program fluff.

OP, be glad that DL won't be suckering you into paying more to fly in their tube with false promises. You are the one coming out ahead by exercising your independence. While you cannot change the past, you need to realize all DL did was pull off the mask, allowing you to see that you have been the victim of a marketing scam for years.

Just like a roofer courting the elderly or someone hacking into a FB account and pleading for money to be sent to a foreign city where it is claimed the true account holder has had a wallet stolen, DL played on your trust by pretending to be something other than a business partner with a marketing plan. As you move forward, treat your involvement in "loyalty" programs with the awareness that these are marketing programs run by savvy deep pocketed corporations. You need to vigilant. Keep evaluating which program is best for you at the given time and do what is best for you.

Who cares if DL loses business, other that DL's shareholders, management and employees? You owe DL nothing. You owe nobody any apologies for doing what is best for you.

dd1612

Brand Loyalty helps a business in hard times.
Today and for the foreseeable future, with reduced number of large entities ie 3 legacy carriers, capacity cuts, increasing population that travels/ flies for pleasure besides the hardcore business travelers, increasing globalization of business and business practices, thereby needing to travel extensively on business, there are only likely to be "Good Times" for the air travel industry.

The need for a FF Program has diminished quite a bit.

Started with Pan Am in 1989, then got moved over to Delta's program.
From early 90's have been a member of KrisFlyer (SQ) & Enrich (MH), Flying Returns (IA,AI's Maharajah Club) in the mid-late 90's, all had extremely restrictive practices.
Started with NWA's WorldPerks FF Program in '96- had always been PM with NWA, till the merger with DL.
Less said about Kingfisher's & Jet Airways' FF programs the better.

All FF Programs suck in various ways ... one has to make the best of what one can!

CJKatl: you say it very well!

MLCJ

While I understand Delta's move, I agree with the OP's question, which I have yet to receive a good explanation of, is why if spend is so important, why cap miles at 75,000? I just flew an $11,000 BE flight last minute to Prague, and while I will receive more miles next year for the trip, why shouldn't it be 100,000+?

dd1612

Here is one obvious reason:

Because Delta owns, runs/ operates it's Frequent Flyer program. Delta makes the rules ... you as a traveler do not!

They cap what one can earn because their "analytical models" recommend that above that level it maybe a losing proposition for Delta. Maybe there is a price elasticity that will break above that level.

In a business, don't we analyze every aspect of a decision that we are going to make?
As a Business Advisor, there have been too many times I have advised against a business taking a particular action, even at a detriment to my own earnings.
Always remember the 80:20 rule. Forget the outliers!

nichelle

^^^ I couldn't have said this any better.