TMOTEE

Thanks for all the input everyone.

RobertS975

Actually, something in the way of a big stink should be made about this. If an individual PM were to fly 80,000 base miles
this year and thereby be demoted to GM, he/she would have had about 60-80 MSUs in his account for next year instead of 8!

CoMooter

DL policies and 'big stinks' go together like a pig and mud...

andymo99

RobertS, to be reasonable, DL would be entitled to subtract out all the MSUs that would have been burned by upgrade flying while PM. I am sure that for nearly all of us, this would leave us with less than 60-80 MSUs and more than 8 MSUs. I could do the math for myself, but I'm on the road and sans data.

[This message has been edited by andymo99 (edited 10-26-2002).]

CKDGM

Last year, GM. This year, PM. Next year, GM unless something really bizarre happens.

Two months before the end of my PM time, 90+ SMUs will expire. There is no way I've used that many this year--so if I were getting credited with what I'm earning, I'd be doing fine. Sigh.

andymo99

Here's the data for me:

Base miles YTD: a hair under 150K.
=>MSUs I woulda earned at 8 per 10K = 112.

MSUs I woulda burned had they taken some out each time I was upgraded = ~73 (I note that this is approximate due to a variety of factors, but is reasonably close nonetheless).

Net MSUs that I would have gained = 29. (This surplus is easily explained by insULT fares, Shuttle flights, DLX, Connection, and especially the double base promotions that caused accelerated accumulation of MSUs).

So my first reaction is that, if I was dropped to GM from PM and only given 8 MSUs to start my account, I would be cheated from 21 MSUs. BUT, we also have to remember that if I was beinng dropped from PM to GM, then I would not have 150K base miles YTD... I would have at most 99,999 base miles YTD, or a decrease of 33%. To be fair, we should decrease my surplus by 1/3, to 20. Now, I am only being "cheated" out of 12 MSUs upon my PM-->GM demotion.

Hey, this is only one guy's stats, but I think it illustrates that the injustice is not quite as great as has been claimed.

[This message has been edited by andymo99 (edited 10-26-2002).]

CKDGM

andymo, your surplus calculation ignores the fact that you're usually using the SMUs you earned last year. Remember, I have 90+ that expire 2002-12-31, so the ones I'd be earning this year are unlikely to ever be touched by travel this year.

andymo99

Ah, good point. I overlooked that entirely. I have 69 set to expire from last year. AND, I stopped earning them last year in July when I hit PM. Excellent catch, CKDGM.

RobertS975

Andy, I was a GM for several years, and upgraded almost every time I was eligible. I NEVER ran out of MSUs for that year, and always started the new year with a boatload of MSUs. There are more and more opportunities on DL to earn base miles (and therefore MSUs) but are not candidates to use MSUs, like the shuttle, DL Express and the DL connection, not to mention trips taken on LUser fares as well as international trips. So all things considered, the PM to GM MSU problem is a basic flaw in DL's SkyMiles system, and every PM should bring this up to them. One never knows when the PM to GM demotion will be YOU... change in business environment, illness etc.



[This message has been edited by RobertS975 (edited 10-27-2002).]

goldmedallionflyer

But maybe this is not a flaw, but instead a clever marketing tool implemented by DL. I'm sure there are more than a couple PM's who have flown a few extra R/Ts to maintain status and not fall back into the abyss.

GMF

andymo99

RobertS, intereting arguments, and overall, I agree that PMs dropping to GM should get more than 8 MSUs.

However, as you describe it, given double base miles, Connection, Shuttle, Express, international, etc... The whole argument is irrelevant because even starting with 8, you accrue faster than redeem. We hear of few (if any) people on this board who start with 8 MSUs and have to buy more.

LexPassenger

Platinum Medallion is definitely NOT worth it.

Being able to confirm first class when you buy tickets is a pain in the nether regions -- especially when two of you are flying together. Why, you have to either book two different PNRs or call SMS! Such an inconvenience.

Plus those flight attendants always pestering you if you want a drink or your coat hung!

Do you know how much of a drag it is climbing all those stairs to the CRCs? Then there's the indignity of having to show ID to get in! (I know I could wait for the elevator, but I'm impatient, you know.)

And I was horrified to discover SNA does not have a Crown Room at all! Delta thinks it is a real airline? Not!

Better to stay away from that worthless Platinum status. (Sorry, gotta go now, making a mileage run soon....)




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Fly So Free

IMHO, No it is not worth it!

The ability to upgrade at the time of ticket purchase can be frustrating at times.
For example, DL 1171 SDF-ATL for this Sunday. A 727 aircraft with 12 First Class seats, 9 of those seats are open yet a PM trying to upgrade that flight as of today will see the word "WAITLIST".....

RobertS975

I suspect that very few MSUs are actually purchased. After all, the upgradeable fares are often twice as much as the least expensive fares, and to pay about $40 per MSU on top of the higher K/Q fare is bordering on the absurd.

CoMooter

Confirming those F tickets are a pain on the wallet those 'nether regions' rest on while seated.