Originally Posted by MSPeconomist

PROS:

Very brief opportunity to spend miles on FC and biz awards on SQ

Driven to join FT in self-defense

Return of French champagne to WBC/BE

Computers with internet to use in a few lounges in addition to NRT

priority bags when they work, maybe 50%

CONS:

Connections through ATL, JFK, CDG

Terrible elite phone line, especially CVG

Making up a lie as a form of customer service to be rewarded

delta.dumb

SkyMiles

Jeff rather than Bob

Ridiculous increases in M fares for international upgrades

SkyClubs, especially the loss of real cheese, good wrapped whole crackers, and self-service bars; general petty cost cutting at the expense of good customers who have already paid for these items

Total destruction of joint venture and seamless integration with KLM, including wonderful connections through AMS

Constant ticket reissues and schedule changes resulting in anxiety about undiscovered problems

Waste of emormous amounts of my time for the privilege of spending money on DL--i.e., the telephone tag to get certain simple tasks done

Loss of the ability to reach Chisholm for problem resolution

BAD and repetitive meals in domestic FC, fewer meals, fewer hot meals, many wraps in colors not seen in nature

really good small FC and WBC desserts replaced by indifferent ice cream not of the proper temperature

the attitude that many long-term good and relatively high value customers like me are just problems to be gotten rid of as quickly as possible and hopefully replaced by many more (from where?) who just buy the cheapest ticket possible

the attitude that anything DL or from ATL is by definition far superior to any remnant of NW and the Upper Midwest

loss of CO, possibly the best airline in SkyTeam, including its hubs and lounges

loss of Priority Pass acceptance in lounges

the scam of a special "VIP" DM line that isn't

being forced to teach myself GA and TA rules and procedures in self defense (why must the client know more than customer service employees about internal policies?)

obnoxious badly-behaved non-revs in BE who think they're entitled to disturb and inconvenience customers who have paid for BE tickets (and sometimes similarly for FC)

loss of bulkhead seats or even sufficient numbers of assigned seats for elites

shenanigans and the general failure of confidence in DL following its own published rules regarding upgrades, elite handling, etc.

Loss of the NW name, logo, colors, history, tradition, attitudes toward customer service, etc. (and believing that these things should be stomped out as fast as possible)

fewer FC seats on certain aircraft

horrid 767s and MDs

more RJ flights, especially those without FC

DL connection (Comair, ASA, Compass, etc.) flights and crews rather than Mesaba and Pinnacle where RJs are absolutely necessary

loss of lounges and good (gate, counter, security) space in certain airports

diminishing of the NRT hub and devaluing of Asian-based (frequent and high-value) customers

the attitude of DL (communicated to customers by certain employees) that because it's the biggest, it can/will do whatever it wants