2-Months into new Skymiles Program, Depression Sets In
#16
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Sarasota, FL
Programs: Northwest Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Intercontinental Royal Ambassador, National Executive Elite
Posts: 613
Mileage earnings are way down and I for sure have not seen this increased low level award flights I heard so much about.
#18
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,195
The earnings are a small deal. Wait until you try to use the SlyMiles. That will really hurt. As of Jan 1 award pricing has gone up roughly two fold (if not more), give or take a bit, on the routes that I've look at (obviously YMMV based on your preferred routes). Now be prepared to pay as much for a one way flight as much as round trip (with a stopover) used to be before. The higher mileage levels and practical elimination of normal (level 1) and almost near elimination of level 2 awards, now some awards at level 3, and most at level 4 and level 5, will make your eyes water at how many miles it takes to redeem now for a DL flight. And the cherry on top? Additive pricing and married segment logic, which for other than simple single-flight trips can make it cost now, on the average, 3x or more as much as it cost before for the same.
#19
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, SPG Plat 100 (LT Gold), IHG Spire, Hyatt Diamond, HH Gold, National EE, Hertz Prez Circle
Posts: 473
The earnings are a small deal. Wait until you try to use the SlyMiles. That will really hurt. As of Jan 1 award pricing has gone up roughly two fold (if not more), give or take a bit, on the routes that I've look at (obviously YMMV based on your preferred routes). Now be prepared to pay as much for a one way flight as much as round trip (with a stopover) used to be before. The higher mileage levels and practical elimination of normal (level 1) and almost near elimination of level 2 awards, now some awards at level 3, and most at level 4 and level 5, will make your eyes water at how many miles it takes to redeem now for a DL flight. And the cherry on top? Additive pricing and married segment logic, which for other than simple single-flight trips can make it cost now, on the average, 3x or more as much as it cost before for the same.
#20
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: Delta Diamond 1MM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 500
The 2015 earnings rates (by status) were disclosed when revenue-based earnings were announced, now fully a year ago.
http://news.delta.com/2014-02-26-Del...mption-Options
DL had the new program/'14 program earnings comparison tool up for months, too. The OP has had plenty of time to figure out effects given his fares v. distances. If that changes the value proposition and his choice of carrier away from DL, so be it.
http://news.delta.com/2014-02-26-Del...mption-Options
DL had the new program/'14 program earnings comparison tool up for months, too. The OP has had plenty of time to figure out effects given his fares v. distances. If that changes the value proposition and his choice of carrier away from DL, so be it.
Delta loves to restate things that you've always gotten, as some kind of new benefit, masking the huge cutback in mileage distribution. I'm waiting for their new promotion of "no more peanuts - but unlimited, free in-flight trips to the bathroom!"
See also: "Up to 75000 miles per ticket!" Total BS, phrasing a new cap - limit - restriction - as some kind of "plus". So obnoxious.
But to the OP's original point...I think you'll be happier if you look at airline loyalty for the other perks, not miles & free tickets. The reason I am religiously loyal is how well I am treated during the experience, compared to the herds: free bags, faster check-in lines, liberal rules about changing my flight, economy comfort seats....every little perk makes the day of flying far more pleasant. And I'm probably happy to pay for that...via an increased price of flying, as computed in fewer rebates of (devalued) redeemable miles.
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,412
Well, ironically I've earned more miles this year in the program due to business travel over short distances. That being said, I think the silent devaluation of miles via 5 tier then "what tier" removal of calendar has made my SM worthless.
#22
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: DL exDM MM
Posts: 762
Outbound:
MQMs 1,968
MQDs $304
RDMs 1,520
Bonus RDMs 1,824
Total RDMs 3,344
Return:
MQMs 1,968
MQDs $400
RDMs 2,000
Bonus RDMs 2,400
Total RDMs 4,400
How am I worse off?
#23
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: Delta Diamond 1MM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 500
I think this is my situation. Am I missing something? Just completed my first RT of the year and see this in my SkyMiles account:
Outbound:
MQMs 1,968
MQDs $304
RDMs 1,520
Bonus RDMs 1,824
Total RDMs 3,344
Return:
MQMs 1,968
MQDs $400
RDMs 2,000
Bonus RDMs 2,400
Total RDMs 4,400
How am I worse off?
Outbound:
MQMs 1,968
MQDs $304
RDMs 1,520
Bonus RDMs 1,824
Total RDMs 3,344
Return:
MQMs 1,968
MQDs $400
RDMs 2,000
Bonus RDMs 2,400
Total RDMs 4,400
How am I worse off?
Now imagine somebody who isn't DM, or who traveled in a discounted fare class, they would be getting maybe 1/2 the miles that you did.
Which just makes the point (again, b/c so many threads here are about this topic) that – although DM's and high fares get the best treatment, EVERYBODY LOSES in this plan, either a lot or a little.
(There are also some cases where you can actually end up earning more miles than before, most notably on expensive, short haul flights. Those kinds of people will probably reply and say "I come out better!" but, obviously, Delta did not make this change to give out MORE miles, they made the change to give out LESS. In the aggregate, there are now LESS miles being awarded to the entire customer base, and at the same time, award tickets cost MORE, with the new ranges being a smokescreen.)
#24
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
Well, you spent $700 + tax (so probably $800) on a roundtrip ticket. Which is on the high range of fares. And even with that high fare and your DM status, you only earned 7744 miles, instead of 7872 miles. You earned less.
Now imagine somebody who isn't DM, or who traveled in a discounted fare class, they would be getting maybe 1/2 the miles that you did.
Which just makes the point (again, b/c so many threads here are about this topic) that although DM's and high fares get the best treatment, EVERYBODY LOSES in this plan, either a lot or a little.
(There are also some cases where you can actually end up earning more miles than before, most notably on expensive, short haul flights. Those kinds of people will probably reply and say "I come out better!" but, obviously, Delta did not make this change to give out MORE miles, they made the change to give out LESS. In the aggregate, there are now LESS miles being awarded to the entire customer base, and at the same time, award tickets cost MORE, with the new ranges being a smokescreen.)
Now imagine somebody who isn't DM, or who traveled in a discounted fare class, they would be getting maybe 1/2 the miles that you did.
Which just makes the point (again, b/c so many threads here are about this topic) that although DM's and high fares get the best treatment, EVERYBODY LOSES in this plan, either a lot or a little.
(There are also some cases where you can actually end up earning more miles than before, most notably on expensive, short haul flights. Those kinds of people will probably reply and say "I come out better!" but, obviously, Delta did not make this change to give out MORE miles, they made the change to give out LESS. In the aggregate, there are now LESS miles being awarded to the entire customer base, and at the same time, award tickets cost MORE, with the new ranges being a smokescreen.)
#25
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: DL exDM MM
Posts: 762
Well, you spent $700 + tax (so probably $800) on a roundtrip ticket. Which is on the high range of fares. And even with that high fare and your DM status, you only earned 7744 miles, instead of 7872 miles. You earned less.
Now imagine somebody who isn't DM, or who traveled in a discounted fare class, they would be getting maybe 1/2 the miles that you did.
Which just makes the point (again, b/c so many threads here are about this topic) that although DM's and high fares get the best treatment, EVERYBODY LOSES in this plan, either a lot or a little.
(There are also some cases where you can actually end up earning more miles than before, most notably on expensive, short haul flights. Those kinds of people will probably reply and say "I come out better!" but, obviously, Delta did not make this change to give out MORE miles, they made the change to give out LESS. In the aggregate, there are now LESS miles being awarded to the entire customer base, and at the same time, award tickets cost MORE, with the new ranges being a smokescreen.)
Now imagine somebody who isn't DM, or who traveled in a discounted fare class, they would be getting maybe 1/2 the miles that you did.
Which just makes the point (again, b/c so many threads here are about this topic) that although DM's and high fares get the best treatment, EVERYBODY LOSES in this plan, either a lot or a little.
(There are also some cases where you can actually end up earning more miles than before, most notably on expensive, short haul flights. Those kinds of people will probably reply and say "I come out better!" but, obviously, Delta did not make this change to give out MORE miles, they made the change to give out LESS. In the aggregate, there are now LESS miles being awarded to the entire customer base, and at the same time, award tickets cost MORE, with the new ranges being a smokescreen.)
#26
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: MCO
Programs: DL-DM/1MM, HILTON-DIA, .HYATT-DIA/GLOB , IHG-PLT,HERTZ 5*, NATIONAL ES
Posts: 8,691
I am definitely earning less on trans con and more on short hops, but I find minimum value in the RDMs due to devaluation, so I don't worry myself over it....
#27
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MCO
Programs: DL DM/MM, Marriott Plat Premier, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,081
(There are also some cases where you can actually end up earning more miles than before, most notably on expensive, short haul flights. Those kinds of people will probably reply and say "I come out better!" but, obviously, Delta did not make this change to give out MORE miles, they made the change to give out LESS. In the aggregate, there are now LESS miles being awarded to the entire customer base, and at the same time, award tickets cost MORE, with the new ranges being a smokescreen.)
#28
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: Delta Diamond 1MM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 500
But the overall cutback is obvious.
Why would you assume zero sum? their CEO has given many interviews where he said the program must have cut backs. He didn't say we need to reconsider who gets the miles. He said we need to give out less. And as you can see here, even diamonds are getting less generally speaking. There are still a few (naive? no offense) folks on here who don't get it and think they are coming out around the same as they used to, but they simply aren't, as a group.
#29
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: HKY
Programs: DL-DM MM & RW, UAL- PS, Marriott Lifetime PLT, SPG-PLT, Hilton-Gold
Posts: 4,468
#30
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: Delta Diamond 1MM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 500
I don't understand why people need so much convincing on this topic when it's so obvious (to me, at least) that every single change a corporation makes is naturally in the direction of increasing revenue and decreasing expenses or both.
Here's a quote from their VP in 2010:
The frequent flyer model of over-awarding is not sustainable and must be changed. Its either going to be redemption or accrual or both.
http://crankyflier.com/2010/09/16/th...es-discussion/
Well, they now award less, and redemptions are more expensive. It may have taken Delta 4 years to get there, but they got there.
Here's a quote from their VP in 2010:
The frequent flyer model of over-awarding is not sustainable and must be changed. Its either going to be redemption or accrual or both.
http://crankyflier.com/2010/09/16/th...es-discussion/
Well, they now award less, and redemptions are more expensive. It may have taken Delta 4 years to get there, but they got there.