The Bubble Boy (or Girl)
Aug 11, 2017, 5:27 am
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
Programs: Delta SkySponge ExtraAbsorbent, SPG Gold
Posts: 29,988
The policy of upgrading a companion over the next medallion is asinine. The old way worked just fine. That companion did not earn that upgrade position. Two for the price of one is a bad policy when Delta is trying to squeeze out every dime in extra revenue. It's one of the reasons I just started outright buying F tickets. The only advantage I utilize out of being gold is the priority phone line and it can still take a while at times. I only fly international once in a blue moon so the skyteam benefits don't really matter much. I don't try for medallion status anymore, I still manage to earn it but it isn't a goal anymore.
Aug 11, 2017, 6:26 am
#17
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
MCO-NYC isn't so short, especially if it's a dinner flight.
Aug 11, 2017, 6:33 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,630
Aug 11, 2017, 10:43 am
#19
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Plat-ist, Bonvoyyyyyyed, Hilton $15 Daily F&B Receiver, Food Lion MVP
Posts: 1,203
The policy of upgrading a companion over the next medallion is asinine. The old way worked just fine. That companion did not earn that upgrade position. Two for the price of one is a bad policy when Delta is trying to squeeze out every dime in extra revenue. It's one of the reasons I just started outright buying F tickets. The only advantage I utilize out of being gold is the priority phone line and it can still take a while at times. I only fly international once in a blue moon so the skyteam benefits don't really matter much. I don't try for medallion status anymore, I still manage to earn it but it isn't a goal anymore.
Aug 11, 2017, 10:55 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Aug 11, 2017, 10:57 am
#21
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Twin Cities
Programs: Delta DM MM, IHG Plat, Hilton DM, Marriott SE, Emerald EE, Oakdale Gun Club, NRA & GOA Life Member
Posts: 3,870
I'm on the same boat. I have all my RUCs expiring this fall because I only had a chance to use two of them and the flight got cancelled and rebooked on an Intl' nonstop.
I have a few segments in the US later this year, although very short ones (ATL-MCO, MCO-NYC, NYC-BUF, NYC-BOS) so I might just try to burn the RUCs instead of relying on complimentary upgrades. For next year's choice, I will select something else, although it will be very hard to decide since I cannot get GE, can't think of anyone who will use the Silver Medallion benefit, and 20K miles won't even get me a greyhound ticket from New York to Philly.
I have a few segments in the US later this year, although very short ones (ATL-MCO, MCO-NYC, NYC-BUF, NYC-BOS) so I might just try to burn the RUCs instead of relying on complimentary upgrades. For next year's choice, I will select something else, although it will be very hard to decide since I cannot get GE, can't think of anyone who will use the Silver Medallion benefit, and 20K miles won't even get me a greyhound ticket from New York to Philly.
Aug 11, 2017, 11:18 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MEM
Programs: DL DM, Hilton Gold, Marriott/SPG Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 424
No idea how true this is, but I have a coworker based in TYS who mentioned she somehow learned that TYS was the 2nd largest population of DMs in the system. Not sure how that would be measured (surely it's as a proportion of pax volume or something), and she tends to sometimes exaggerate, but perhaps there's something in the water up in TN.
Aug 13, 2017, 8:07 pm
#23
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MEM
Programs: DL DM, Marriott/Starwood Plat
Posts: 441
I live in MEM and fly every week, definitely some long upgrade lists and sometimes I don't make it.
I have silver on united through Marriott, and booked a ticket to ORD for Mon so I can go direct. This is the first time I've flown on United in a couple of years. I got upgraded at the 24 hour window as a silver flying on Monday morning spoke to hub.
That's weird to me given the DL upgrade situation out of MEM. United just must not have that many elites in MEM.
I have silver on united through Marriott, and booked a ticket to ORD for Mon so I can go direct. This is the first time I've flown on United in a couple of years. I got upgraded at the 24 hour window as a silver flying on Monday morning spoke to hub.
That's weird to me given the DL upgrade situation out of MEM. United just must not have that many elites in MEM.