<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ptcflyer:
Note to Flyertalkers:
Relax and take a few breaths here. Keep in mind how airlines talk with one another. One airline floats a fare increase. If all of the majors go along, the increase sticks. If they do not go along, the proposing airline withdrawals the increase. Rather than picking up the phone executive to executive and saying "raise your fares, I'll raise mine"... they just float the idea in the fare system. The others get the message and either agree or disagree.
The same is true with these frequent flyer programs. USAir proved this earlier this year. Delta is "floating" an idea. They obviously are complementing elements of the AA/UA programs. They are, however, trying to take it a step further to reduce the costs and benefits to flyers. .....
They have provided a basic frequent flyer methodology, but will adjust the specifics based on their competitors' feedback -- not the feedback from us "flyertalkers". Our feedback can only be given with our spending patterns...which will be determined by the competitors' responses.
.....
However, my gut tells me that during the next 60 days, we will have further changing dynamics. The long-term trends, however, will never be encouraging.
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Fares and FF programs are two different animals, with fares being extremely fluid, and changes introduced (and withdrawn) multiple times per year. The USAir changes were rescinded ONLY because of the outcry and publicity that IMMEDIATELY followed the proposals. After the reactions, it would have been suicidal for any other AL to match. The reaction to the DL changes does not match the USAir reaction (so far).
I do agree that DL is floating some stuff here that could be changed, but if WE don't raise our concerns, they may not change, even if the others don't match.
Unfortunately, I agree with your summary statement, and also think that we're seeing a trend here that is not going to be in the FFs favor.