Didn't DL management note somewhere that something like a huge proportion of Platinum systemwide upgrades are useless for flights? For Diamonds, how much better will the utilization rate of DL's systemwide upgrades end up being compared to what they are for the overall pool of today's 75k+ MQM customers? Probably somewhat better but I wouldn't be surprised if a huge proportion of those 125k+ MQM customers' systemwide upgrades end up having zero utilization too.

I don't see anything in this announcement that makes me want to go for Diamond status in 2010 as I get better returns on my travel money by crediting that volume of flights and way more to programs besides one under the control of DL management. But then again I am not a captive of Delta Airlines and the DL loyalty program(s). For those who are largely captives of DL such that they would be doing 125k+ status miles of DL travel and/or status-related purchases anyway and also have a way of getting their employer to pony up on an expensive fare to gamble on an expensive fare in hopes of an upgrade, the increased number of systemwide upgrades (and day of departure upgrade possibility) will be an improvement, but those are mostly just the last remaining dinosaur customers. That is the game DL is counting on here to fill their plates.