This is entirely consistent with previous SM changes of this type.

2009: elimination of award change fee waiver for PM (no DMs then):

Originally Posted by RealDLInsider:

"Unfortunately, almost 10% of ticketed award seats by Platinum Medallions are no-shows on flights, and then after the seat goes out unused, we are giving customers their miles back without charge. On top of this, Platinums are taking and canceling award seats at alarming rates far greater than other Medallions, which is likely driven by this waiver policy."

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...n-benefit.html

Who believes this number? Or the new one?
And what next for SM, and when? Tomorrow? Next week?

Newsflash: very obviously, today's change was under discussion for some time since the email announcement was already prepped, locked and loaded.

Perhaps the reason they dumped it on us today was because of the stock market crash yesterday. As good a time as any to get the dirty deed done with minimal comparative impact on the folios of execs.... @:-)

Much worse things are coming for DL SM and they could be released very shortly under these circumstances. Read the commentary from recent DL SM focus group participants. Since I've been banned from the DL forum I can't access it while logged in. Forgive the Google cache thread URL, you can find it by searching FT.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...www.google.com

In light of this and potential future developments, think of those $$$ you're about to direct to DL in the expectation of some SM value. Think carefully about it.