Medallion Status and Skysaver Awards
Jan 29, 2007, 1:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta DM, SPG Platinum
Posts: 38
Medallion Status and Skysaver Awards
I know that using your medallion status gives greater award seat availability, but I have a couple questions.
1) Does greater award seat availability mean that there are more award seats in general, or does that mean more Skysaver awards for medallion members?
2) Does award seat availability and Skysaver award availability increase with medallion status (Silver, Gold, Platinum)? i.e. is it the case that two medallion members searching for seats at the same time may show different availabilities depending upon their medallion status?
3) If the answer to both questions above is yes, then how do they determine how many award seats to make available for platinums vs. silvers?
I've done some searching but I can't find these specific topics being discussed. I too have noticed less skysaver award availability as of late...
1) Does greater award seat availability mean that there are more award seats in general, or does that mean more Skysaver awards for medallion members?
2) Does award seat availability and Skysaver award availability increase with medallion status (Silver, Gold, Platinum)? i.e. is it the case that two medallion members searching for seats at the same time may show different availabilities depending upon their medallion status?
3) If the answer to both questions above is yes, then how do they determine how many award seats to make available for platinums vs. silvers?
I've done some searching but I can't find these specific topics being discussed. I too have noticed less skysaver award availability as of late...
Jan 29, 2007, 1:34 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: LH HON, DL FO/MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Accor Lifetime Platinum, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 6,174
1) More Skysaver seats are available for Medallion members.
2) It does increase with Medallion status, yes.
3) That's up to Delta Revenue Management.They analyze all flights on a constant basis and determine how many seats they make available in which booking classes, and to which extent any given flight is authorized to be overbooked.
2) It does increase with Medallion status, yes.
3) That's up to Delta Revenue Management.They analyze all flights on a constant basis and determine how many seats they make available in which booking classes, and to which extent any given flight is authorized to be overbooked.
Jan 29, 2007, 1:38 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
There are additional seats for medallions; and higher tier medallions do get some additional seats compared to lower tier medallions
However, as a PM I've not once knowingly benefitted from the so-called "extra" award space for Medallions at any point in the past three years.
Everytime I've needed it for my key routes, I've found no difference from a "General Member" of SkyMiles. And for other routes, I've barely noticed the difference.
However, as a PM I've not once knowingly benefitted from the so-called "extra" award space for Medallions at any point in the past three years.
Everytime I've needed it for my key routes, I've found no difference from a "General Member" of SkyMiles. And for other routes, I've barely noticed the difference.
Jan 29, 2007, 1:49 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: RDU, Delta GM/1MM, Hilton Diamond (for now), Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 3,443
I notice the difference all the time booking domestic award tickets.
Unfortunatley they aren't increased for Biz/First reward tickets. That's all I book pretty much.
Unfortunatley they aren't increased for Biz/First reward tickets. That's all I book pretty much.
Jan 29, 2007, 3:27 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,497
I've noticed it a few times...I'll forget to check the box that says "I'm travelling on this itinerary" and get nothing; realizing my mistake, I fix it and get a few options. All my miles have been for domestic Y.
Jan 29, 2007, 5:43 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: Marriott Platinum Delta Platinum AA Platinum
Posts: 578
I notice it very frequently when travelling to the Caribbean...it makes a huge difference as a Platinum.
Jan 29, 2007, 6:31 pm
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
.... if only it worked so well for BOM and EZE.
Jan 30, 2007, 12:09 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: DL GM SkyClub; Starwood Gold, Hertz Gold, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 1,685
The biggest benefit is priority waitlist!
SR
SR
Jan 30, 2007, 6:30 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: RDU, Delta GM/1MM, Hilton Diamond (for now), Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 3,443
How often does priority waitlist clear?
I'm on it for direct ATL-CDG and MUC-ATL flights for an award ticket I booked 3 months out that I'm currently routed ATL-CPH-CDG-MUC <break> DUS-ATL. I'm hoping it clears and I end up with ATL-CDG-MUC-ATL. Should I call at any point before the flight if I see a large number of J seats open and can anyone manually push it through?
I'm on it for direct ATL-CDG and MUC-ATL flights for an award ticket I booked 3 months out that I'm currently routed ATL-CPH-CDG-MUC <break> DUS-ATL. I'm hoping it clears and I end up with ATL-CDG-MUC-ATL. Should I call at any point before the flight if I see a large number of J seats open and can anyone manually push it through?
Jan 30, 2007, 6:56 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: LH HON, DL FO/MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Accor Lifetime Platinum, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 6,174
Munich is very tough for BusinessElite upgrades, let alone BusinessElite award seats as this route is performing very well in the front cabin.
While it might clear, it does not always happen as BusinessElite does sell out very frequently. I've seen that flight leave with only 2 or 3 pax in Z class, the remainder in J/D/I....
The flight has been upgraded to a 767-400ER from March 13th onwards, which will add seats as compared to the 767-300ER.
Whether revenue management will give away more seats in O class remains to be seen - I highly doubt it because as I said earlier, odds are not too shabby that they can actually sell them.
While it might clear, it does not always happen as BusinessElite does sell out very frequently. I've seen that flight leave with only 2 or 3 pax in Z class, the remainder in J/D/I....
The flight has been upgraded to a 767-400ER from March 13th onwards, which will add seats as compared to the 767-300ER.
Whether revenue management will give away more seats in O class remains to be seen - I highly doubt it because as I said earlier, odds are not too shabby that they can actually sell them.
Jan 30, 2007, 6:42 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: MCO
Posts: 3,030
Deleted
Last edited by vinnmann; Jul 30, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Mar 7, 2007, 7:30 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: DL DM/2MM; SPG PLAT/Ambassador
Posts: 483
There is a distinct advantage for each higher Medallion status when booking coach awards. F & J awards are the same for all members. maybe this is something DL should look at. After all, if someone is Plat, that member probably has the miles in his account to want to book F/J awards. It would not be a hard decision from me: "Yes, Mr. Vinnmann, there are no Skysaver coach awards for the flights you want, but, only because you are Platinum, we can book you in BE for 10k less than the skychoice coach award.
The reason I went looking for this thread is because I've read conflicting reports on this issue - whether or not there is additional skysaver availability for medallions in F and J. Didn't Jeff raise this in one of his latest posts?
Where could we find a definitive answer?
Mar 7, 2007, 7:59 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Somewhere in the sky or a Marriott
Programs: 7mm DM, FC, Marriott PM (lifetime), HH Diamond
Posts: 749
Munich is very tough for BusinessElite upgrades, let alone BusinessElite award seats as this route is performing very well in the front cabin.
While it might clear, it does not always happen as BusinessElite does sell out very frequently. I've seen that flight leave with only 2 or 3 pax in Z class, the remainder in J/D/I....
The flight has been upgraded to a 767-400ER from March 13th onwards, which will add seats as compared to the 767-300ER.
Whether revenue management will give away more seats in O class remains to be seen - I highly doubt it because as I said earlier, odds are not too shabby that they can actually sell them.
While it might clear, it does not always happen as BusinessElite does sell out very frequently. I've seen that flight leave with only 2 or 3 pax in Z class, the remainder in J/D/I....
The flight has been upgraded to a 767-400ER from March 13th onwards, which will add seats as compared to the 767-300ER.
Whether revenue management will give away more seats in O class remains to be seen - I highly doubt it because as I said earlier, odds are not too shabby that they can actually sell them.
BTW was oroiginally flexible about dates from 1st of Dec to a few days before Christmas, but once I was able to get outbound made the return a little less flexible, but there is nothing available SS back until the end of January.
I really hate to burn 500,000 miles for 2 tickets.
Mar 7, 2007, 10:36 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: CDG / ORY
Programs: DL DM & 2MM
Posts: 316
More anecdotal evidence: I was looking at some dates for JFK-SVO last week and was showing SkySaver availability when logged in as myself (with the "I'm traveling" box ticked), but the same flights showed as SkyChoice when logged in through my wife's account (she's FO).
My question is: how does the system keep track of the varied availability? Surely there is not a discrete fare bucket for each level of elite status? It would be nice to know how I could get an accurate check of availability through expertflyer.com (though the new award search system makes this less important, I admit).
My question is: how does the system keep track of the varied availability? Surely there is not a discrete fare bucket for each level of elite status? It would be nice to know how I could get an accurate check of availability through expertflyer.com (though the new award search system makes this less important, I admit).
Mar 8, 2007, 6:06 am
#15
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: DL DM/2MM; SPG PLAT/Ambassador
Posts: 483
Are we sure about this? If so, what is the source?
The reason I went looking for this thread is because I've read conflicting reports on this issue - whether or not there is additional skysaver availability for medallions in F and J. Didn't Jeff raise this in one of his latest posts?
Where could we find a definitive answer?
The reason I went looking for this thread is because I've read conflicting reports on this issue - whether or not there is additional skysaver availability for medallions in F and J. Didn't Jeff raise this in one of his latest posts?
Where could we find a definitive answer?
Can anyone confirm that Medallions are not given greater access to BE SkySavers?