Originally Posted by
AKABrownBear
IMO this is very true. I don't think Delta has a very good FF program (as a DM) but I'm not going to switch from them. I've flown just about every other major airline at least once in last few years and have hated most all of them for one reason or the other. AA put me on an old plane and my seat in F, which I paid for, had a ton of issues (tray was completely broken was the one I remember the most.) UA didn't have internet - how does a major airline catering to business travelers not have internet?
And the big one - my Delta flights have rarely had huge delays and with AA and Southwest I experienced big ones. That could be a one-off experience but it was enough.
I'm like you. The SkyMiles program isn't the best when it comes to award tickets but that isn't my big priority. The major reason I stick with Delta is that when stuff goes wrong (which it does for any airline), they work harder to make it right than the other airlines IMO. They even put me up in the Hyatt at MCO one night so I wouldn't have to make the hour drive home late when a mx cancellation meant my choices were to get into MLB late afternoon the next day or reroute to MCO getting in late that night.
Meanwhile with USAir, twice my choices were 2 day waits in CLT or renting a car and driving.
As for award tickets, I've taken some great trips on multiple airlines to interesting places using miles, mostly in J and all with low availability. It just took much more effort than it would have with other programs.
TL;DR Delta's awards program isn't the best but they take care of their customers better than other airlines which makes up for it IMO