How Does Delta's New FF "Enhancement" Affect Alaska?
Mar 4, 2014, 8:53 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,029
How Does Delta's New FF "Enhancement" Affect Alaska?
I have been watching the bloodbath over on the Delta forum for the last week (and enjoying it a lot). So far in only a week there are many thousands of post with an overwhelming number of negative reactions to Delta's new "enhancements". There are also a number of SkyMiles members that 'claim' they will be jumping ship to other carriers. Most of them are looking at AA but AS has been mentioned as well. I know that for many people, AS more limited network makes it a no go if you are already a SkyMiles member. I am wondering if we will see a large and significant number of status matches and if so how will it affect AS and its FF base?
Mar 4, 2014, 9:14 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,599
Too soon to know long term material effect.
SEA based flyers have a much easier choice. Others don't if they rely on DL to get them where they are going, because the AS/DL partnership future is a great unknown.
Status matches only affect "us" if the new elite actually are ahead of us in the pecking order on the particular flights we may be on.
SEA based flyers have a much easier choice. Others don't if they rely on DL to get them where they are going, because the AS/DL partnership future is a great unknown.
Status matches only affect "us" if the new elite actually are ahead of us in the pecking order on the particular flights we may be on.
Mar 4, 2014, 10:31 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
What (potential) AS members need to see to make a decision is news of how the partnership itself plays out for 2015. There have been anecdotal rumors (and LOTS of guesswork) that by then AS members will be lucky to get credit for DL miles at all, let alone EQM's, preferred seating, etc.
Mar 4, 2014, 12:06 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,378
I don't think it will, generally. Save for SEA, there is very little overlap between DL and AS's network. Hard to see how an ATL/JFK/DTW/MSP/SLC based DL elite is going to be competing with me for upgrades.
Mar 4, 2014, 3:32 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Traveling some where hopefully
Programs: AS, AA Gold, and Hilton
Posts: 1,954
I think you're right. I think it will mean a few more AS customers but I think AA and UA will see the most new customers. I'm in the Midwest but think AS is the best airlines out there.
Mar 4, 2014, 3:37 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: GEG
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime SkyClub, AS MVP
Posts: 2,408
Delta's "enhancements" make me think twice about booking them for trips that will be later in the year for fear that I won't get AS mileage for those DL flights.
Instead, I'm looking more at AA flights than I would have in the past.
Instead, I'm looking more at AA flights than I would have in the past.
Mar 4, 2014, 3:56 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LON
Programs: AS MVPG, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver
Posts: 1,350
AS must have had an inkling that changes were coming to SkyPesos.
This massive change might just keep AS from offering some ridiculous DEQM promotion for the rest of the year since many could jump ship in 2015 anyways.
This massive change might just keep AS from offering some ridiculous DEQM promotion for the rest of the year since many could jump ship in 2015 anyways.
Mar 4, 2014, 4:57 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Snohomish, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,793
I'm curious to see how this shakes out as I'm probably one of the few who will actually benefit from the change. I ran the numbers and since my Delta flights are always full-fare J to Europe I wind up with more miles than before... if I credit to Delta. Which I don't.
The questions for me are: what will the mile per dollar earning rate be on DL for an MVPG, and how do those miles convert back to AS miles?
Neil
The questions for me are: what will the mile per dollar earning rate be on DL for an MVPG, and how do those miles convert back to AS miles?
Neil
Mar 4, 2014, 5:37 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,029
Yes and it is not a good sign that DL wont release their "new" awards charts until fall. This perhaps does not bode well for the mileage conversion.
Mar 10, 2014, 12:55 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: COS
Programs: DL Gold, HH Gold, MR Gold
Posts: 162
To me the changes are pushing me out the Delta door after many, many years with them. That AS has recently begun offering service from my home airport COS only makes my choice easier. I've flown AS many times before when I was traveling to PDX and ANC more often and wished they'd come back to COS. Now that they have, and are partnering with AA I plan to switch to AS for Western US travel and AA traveling East. From what I gather of my fellow Delta medallion coworkers they will do likewise.
Mar 11, 2014, 3:15 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Austin TX USA
Programs: UA life 1K, 2MM; AA Life Pt 3mm; DL nada now!; AS nada now; BA, FD, CX, LH, DD, Amex Pt, Diners
Posts: 950
Totally and absolutely 100% with you
Not that DL care of course. Till they next do Chapter 11. Which they will, as all these airlines except AS play this game on their shareholders, vendors and bankers - but hopefully not on their mileage members!
Mar 12, 2014, 12:25 am
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
To me the changes are pushing me out the Delta door after many, many years with them. That AS has recently begun offering service from my home airport COS only makes my choice easier. I've flown AS many times before when I was traveling to PDX and ANC more often and wished they'd come back to COS. Now that they have, and are partnering with AA I plan to switch to AS for Western US travel and AA traveling East. From what I gather of my fellow Delta medallion coworkers they will do likewise.
Mar 12, 2014, 12:26 am
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Mar 24, 2014, 7:33 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
I though the following quote in one of the latest news releases was interesting:
With Mileage Plan, there is no minimum spend requirement to achieve elite status, and customers enjoy generous availability on award redemptions, one-way travel awards, and combination miles-and-money award redemptions.
Mar 24, 2014, 8:23 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,627
i just hope AS/DL partnership holds on until end of year so that i can credit all those December 26th specials to AS without issue 
