Originally Posted by
mnbp
Good call, thank you. Even the lowest fares still seem out of reach.
Originally Posted by
HongKonger
Then you're going to be disappointed. Status with DL or any airline generally doesn't get you a more luxurious travel experience. There are perks that come with the highest status, yes, but in general if you want what most people would consider a luxurious travel experience, the way to get this is by paying for it, i.e. paying for business class tickets, accessing actually good lounges like Amex lounges by paying for them or by flying foreign carriers that have good first class lounges, paying for priority travel services available at some airports, etc.
I think my attitude can help a lot to squash any disappointment but time will tell. Right now I fly coach, have no lounge access, and get no benefits from my travel. The simple fact is I can't afford to pay for 1st class so to even have the remote potential of being upgraded here or there is valuable and would increase my overall travel experience. I'm going with the "I'll believe it when I see it" mentality and am not kidding myself on thinking FO or even Gold is going to change much. But maybe it does one time. That's one time it never would have happened and in the meantime I'm banking points like a madman to finally able to book what I want on some dream trips.