<FT-DL RANT AHOY: Move on if not interested.:D>

As some of you herein might have seen or might guess, the SWU announcement has created the normal whining over on the ST USA Forum about "DL does not listen when it comes to SWUs, we need to keep pressure on DL because if we do then it will change" type posts. Every time that line of argument gets started over there I respond with the same premise. DL monitors FT; DL knows exactly how FT'ers feel about SWUs, and DL does not care.

Corporate culture and statistical analysis counsels DL not to do anything "revenue negative". That is how DL rolls. The only way DL changes this policy is when someone in a position of authority has interpreted empirical data to suggest that the lack of SWUs is ultimately negatively impacting the bottom line. That is the crux of the problem. DL's corporate culture does not take kindly to that type of interpretation. DL does not appear to be a place where one thinks "outside of the box"

Accordingly, I think DL' reps should read our thread. All answers are contained in teh only true B:rolleyes:x for sure.

SQ also announced it was ending their partnership with DL.

Yes, indeed it did. With no disrepect to our dear Professor and as DL PM myself (albeit not much longer and still really an NW PE at heart), about the only thing DL gets right on the FFP side is plentiful domestic upgrades but sitting in F on a MD-88 from CLT to ATL is not the biggest thrill in the world for sure.

I must admit, when I first read "big dig" I thought it was a reference to CO Insider's joke about channa....

The DL folks are not happy, but really, that's not surprising.

The reality is, everyone airline, at some point, has gotten into the position of being the biggest and thus thinking they are the best. This always ends up hurting them.

Look at UA and AA, at some point in recent times, they were both at the top and now they aren't. At this point, I think DL is doing a fine job of following in Pan Am's footsteps and we all know where that ended up.

I'll bring the popcorn!

Are you referencing the DART TOSS method of route selection? :D

Popcorn table 2 please as well!:-:

Well, I also think one of UA's biggest mistakes was trying to be the one stop shop for all things travel. How many different companies did they pull under their umbrella?

Was looking at options to get to EZE and saw that I could add some interesting lines, IAH-CUN-PTY-EZE-IAH. The price is outrageous but what is even more intriguing is that PTY-EZE is a 7 hour and 10 minute flight on a 738 :eek:

It is interesting isn't it? The splatter gun method that DL uses with routes and its draconian approach to the FFP equation. It is an odd application of the "more is more" principle if you ask me, but hey, I am just a simple country lawyer in a sleepy southern town.:)

Champagne to table 3 please.

Very true and I do find it interesting to watch their moves from a business perspective. Then again, if I had all of those aircraft I too would be pulling routes out of my rear to keep them airborne. Parked planes make no revenue!

I have contemplated doing PTY-EZE a few times, and once I was actually booked on EZE-PTY on Dec 25th a few years ago and when we arrived at EZE they told me my flight was delayed due to crew rest and I would miss the PTY-NYC connection and have a forced overnight en La Ciudad de Paname. The problem was I was booked on EWR-HKG on Dec 26th so the CM agent at EZE was able to get us on DL flight EZE-ATL-LGA.

I still don't know how I feel about doing that flight.

Seems pretty :rolleyes: to me.

CO supposedly behaves the same way. In fact, when asked why only 4 SWUs CO Insider explicitly said to control costs. I have to wonder if CO really felt that not offering SWUs was a revenue negative event or if they just are trying to normalize the UA relationship and each side is making small steps in the direction of the other (e.g. EUAs).