Originally Posted by
IAH-OIL-TRASH
I'm pretty sure Bastion/DL recognizes the problem w/ current high-value DM customers having to compete w/ near-expiration-date DMs for the prizes. I think any revision will still try to reward current HVFs and start weaning others. They can roll back the Club visit cuts a bit and still accomplish the goal of reducing the crowds there, but I think DL will still want to have fewer upper-tier elites competing for the best benefits.
Problem is that Delta is in bed with AmEx, and publicly has revealed how valuable the AmEx remuneration is towards the P&L statement. Delta has created this big problem and there is no easy way out as either way a demographic is going to be upset and loudly complain. If Delta just focused on its core business of flying planes instead of being the Delta Bank of American Express, it wouldn't be in this predicament.
Did AA admit 2 weeks after the loyalty point program announcement last year "No question, we probably went too far"? This is a very greedy and
narcissistic CEO, as this was a very
aggressive strategy bet that blow-up. I'm sure that the Alaska and JetBlue status match was a wake up call as I believe this Atlanta Rotary Club forum occurred after JetBlue's announcement. AmEx had enough data after 14 days to go back to Delta that credit card cancellation rates were up significantly compared to the historically rate.