I really don't get this move from the PM side - HUGE blow which really only affects the highest of HVC's, effectively those who DL should be looking to please.

The new PM Regional Upgrades are a plus for anyone who bought sub-K fares domestically, which I would imagine is the majority of PMs (those who previously had no use for SWUs) who can now get a confirmed upgrade ahead of DMs on hard-to-get flights, say ATL-SFO. Not sure what this accomplishes for DL, other than pissing off DMs, and especially considering their new push to recognize spending - seems pretty counter-intuitive to reward flyers in low fare classes.

Clearly a minus for the few who were prepared to shell out for Y/B/M internationally (high margin leisure flyers who can get a last minute shot at business class usually for more than a Z fare would have cost in advance thanks to the certificate - this is by experience and would not have otherwise flown DL) OR those who specifically shell out extra for the same seat to buy up to K domestically on hard-to-upgrade flights specifically to trump DMs on a few rare occasions per year with the certificates (read JFK-SFO/LAX/SEA)...

With about 80% of my travel for business (all paid J/F and mostly full fare) having clocked in $38k in MQD this year (would be nearly $50k if we counted an Alitalia ticket) this is a huge disappointment. I'm not going to threaten leaving DL as a result as I have to admit I recognize the efforts over the past couple of years and must say that the hard and soft products are now far and away above the other options (AA/UA, even some European carriers like BA/VS/LH/AZ/LX...). HOWEVER, this WILL impact my DL spending very directly. DL will still get my business trips, but on a leisure trip to the west coast or Europe when it comes out of my pocket, I'll have no problem considering Jetblue's new Mint service for JFK-SFO to the extent they'll surely under-price businesselite at $4k on this route (lost K+ fare for DL), would buy the lowest business class ticket on another airline internationally (lost Y/B/M fare for DL) or would simply buy the lowest economy ticket (difference between V and K+) and confirm a new Regional Upgrade with a connection thru SLC or ATL rather than paying more for a direct flight as I do now to have a shot at the SWU waitlist. DL can therefore have the pleasure of flying a non-rev in the otherwise empty businesselite seat, and lose a bunch of goodwill from my side...

In terms of competitiveness though with other airline programs while I understand the decision to cut complimentary unlimited upgrades on JFK-SFO/LAX/SEA (though have always admired DL for giving a seat domestically when it's available to its best customers...) they are now significantly below market on the inability to at least use an earned regional upgrade instrument on these flights. Again, for me personally, I'd love to see the ability to continue upgrading on JFK-SFO with the new Regional certificates as currently possible with SWUs even if it's only on higher fare classes like K+ so PMs can at least retain the benefit to have SOME way to fly upfront a few times per year on leisure when they clearly are not shelling out the insane biz fares which never get discounted (I did note the fare over the holidays for JFK-SFO is 2x JFK-LHR). Would be a good compromise which i don't think would cost anything extra from DL (again, at least on my end it would retain the K fare rather than me flying V with a connex or on another airline)...