Originally Posted by
bubbashow
I believe that DL is concentrating on the low-margin client more than the HVC. They are taking low-margin "Medallions" who in the past have been reaping benefits and taking those benefits away. Those people will be paying fees (which if you look at the balance sheets are the way DL is making the money - hell they are more of an ancillary fee company than an airline). DL is DEFINITELY interested in the common passenger....I think they are trying to put more folks in that role.
Then it sounds like Delta is having an identity crisis. Do they want to be a full service airline or do they want to be a ULCC? If Delta is trying to extract as many fees as possible from passengers then soon there will be nothing separating Delta from Spirit other than TATL/TPAC flights. Why not throw someone who blindly books Delta for every flight (I only go to delta.com) a few benefits? I don't even have a problem with MQD's. It's the MQM's that make no sense now. If I pay delta $7,500 in 2014 but only fly 55,000 MQM's why should I only get gold status. Wouldn't that make me more profitable than a platinum who did 75,000 MQM's and the $7,500 MQD?