I've never quite understood DL.
One of the primary advantages to status on CO/NW is the EUA.
For UA/AA/DL is the upgrade certs, and DL of course has insULT.
If you're going to relegated to coach, as an Elite, you're better off on UA for E+ or AA for MRTC. The reason a lot of Elites stay with CO/NW is the EUA. Even at a Silver level, I'll fly in CO's E- 40% of the time to get F 60% of the time.
So what's DL's niche? Is it their stronghold on ATL that's keeping them alive? Aside from AirTran and markets in which the two compete, flying into ATL tends to be expensive because of no WN presence.
Thoughts?