I thought I'd pull this out of the DL forum and seek you guys' opinions on it as well.

Question:
would you fly DL if they chose not to impliment EUA, and you had to adhere to [something similar to] their insULT policy?

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Faire du ciel le plus bel endroit de la terre c'est impossible sans Concorde!
~ConcordeBoy

Try the Unofficial Continental Dictionary

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?

I would... I think the extra 200.00 or so is worth it to get a FC seat. Even if I had to pay for it out of my own pocket.

Simply put, Delta controls the world's largest hubbing operation at the world's busiest airport... that pretty much gives it domination of everything east of the Mississippi and south of the Potomac. Miami is of no domestic competition to it, and CLT/RDU/MEM offer viable alternatives, but lack the power to seriously threaten ATL. That is one thing that I did love about DL above other carriers.

Delta has by far the WORST Elite program for Silvers, but its Platinums are perhaps rewarded in the richest fashion of all. CO/NW Silvers also earn 25% more mileage bonus than do DL Silvers.


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Faire du ciel le plus bel endroit de la terre c'est impossible sans Concorde!
~ConcordeBoy

Try the Unofficial Continental Dictionary

DL won me over from CO back in the '94 Lite debacle. Back then, though, you had things like 1,000-mile minimums and as much as 50,000 miles in threshold bonuses. They chipped away at that, with insULT the last straw. CO got me back on comped gold status in '98. While I'll probably head to NW next year (not least over issues like CO's RJs), DL won't get me back with insULT as long as others will give everyone a chance at an upgrade regardless of fare class. Also, DL has had some really unwise cost cutting (even the Skydeli "turkey twinkie" was deemed too rich!)

I have 2 current 'hometown' airlines- DL and FL. I am doing my duty to support the local economy- by flying FL.

All other times, I try to fly the competition- be it UA or CO/NW. If we didn't have the few flights that other airlines manage to offer to ATL, DL would pump up the fares through the roof- especially with no WN competition.

I will never pay for anything more than the lowest fare available on any airline- and therefore I have never bought a domestic ticket on DL that was not in T/U/L. All of my CO/NW tickets are also on the lowest domestic and international fares.

As an Atlanta SILVER flyer on Delta I would get:
-long check-in lines
-measly 25% bonus on miles
-high fares
-NO upgrades
-convenient nonstops

As a CO/NW SILVER in ATL I get:
-short check-in lines
-50% bonus miles
-low, sometimes very low fares
-about 40-50% upgrades
-always a connection involved

What?!?! You get food on Delta?!?!