Most of my peers who fly 1 to 2 trips per week, while aware of the recent changes, simply are not that interested in the specifics of the Medallion program. They care about the following, (in no order). - On time arrivals and departures. - Non-stop service to any and all required destinations. - Ability to upgrade. - Ability to avoid the long security lines. - Ability to board the plane with the first 10% of passengers. - Ability to avoid waiting in the check-in line at the airport.

Delta has undoubtedly reduced the amount of freebies that one could find within the old FF programs, but those freebies were truly secondary priorities to many of the other millions of flyers. My first priority is to get from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time and with the least amount of confusion. First Class upgrades, Bonus Miles, yeh, they are important, but they simply don't trump this travelers desire to get home before my children are in bed or the ability to not spend the day in airports based on someone else's hub system. If I moved to Chicago, American and United would get my business, for the very same reason. If I am taking my family to the ocean for summer vacation, Delta receives my business only because of the 6 reward tickets I can exchange. I use to fly out of Dayton OH to get the extra hops and miles, as those Comair flights always use to then connect to Cincinnati. After a year of this, I decided that being PM, or any Medallion level, wasn't worth the additional 2 to 4 hours each way (multiply that times 52 weeks) to justify the benefits or reduced cost. My time and convenience are priceless and of supreme value.

I respect that the FF programs too many of my peers on this board are a hobby of sorts. I would contend that Delta recognizes that as well and thus they take many of the comments here with a grain of salt. In the end, Delta and I have the same goal: Maximizing productivity and income.