zman

U may be right from a marketing stand point, but from a revenue stand point it may have helped.

Many people stoped or reduced flying DL later in the year. Once they hit 75k they starting flying other carriers to get alternate status as there was little reason to keep getting DL miles. The rollover and Diamond was put in place to stop the Q4 revenue bleed from the top customers. DL could care less how many Elites they have. The DL cost is almost zero. They do not care if 10 vs 20 people are on some upgrade list.
The Rollover and Diamond are all about protecting revenue.

HWGeeks

you guys worry too much, most people won't see any benefit from roll over but once every 2 to 5 years IMO.

tgtg

I fly 60k-70k every year. Solidly gold. But I do this in 20-30 round trips with (oh so many) DL induced travel interruptions. I spend about 50K a year on DL for myself and another 50K for Mr. tgtg. We never make Plat, we never get good A/C and we rarely get a meal and have a mediocre upgrade success rate.

I hear of so many PM (my pardon to those who are true road warriors with 100K+ BIS miles) that fly a few overseas routes, maybe spend $3-5k...then complain there are too many PMs!

When I'm flying 1000 miles RT on a $1500 ticket, it sucks compared to the 10,000 miles RT on a $625 ticket (JFK-IST).

So, actually, keep miles-based, keep segment-based, but please add a dollars-based!

-=tg=-

avidflyer

Isn't EP 100% revenue based? I think it is to get in anyway then there are mileage targets to stay EP. So the revenue based staus does exist for DL today.

fti

So tell me how having PM's bailing on DL at the end of 2009 (to avoid reaching DM) and flying other airlines is helping to protect revenue? I guess it is both a marketing and a revenue blunder then.

zman

Because under the old rules they would have bailed at 75k, instead of ~120k.
What DL marketing messed up is on the puny Diamond beneits.

fti

I would say that the biggest regret the airlines have when they instituted their FF programs in the 1980's was that they did not make them purely revenue-based. That is one reason why they instituted MQM/EQM. It is one small way to differentiate between those who pay higher fares (i.e. bonus MQM's for premium cabins, etc). Certainly not perfect, but too late to change the programs entirely (not to mention the fact that the sale of FF miles is more conducive to the original FF model).

Evan!

Did Delta announce rollover segments? I was under the impression that MQMs rolled over but not segments. Confused.

fti

I don't buy your theory. Those who were somewhat over 75K MQM's wouldn't be trying to get to DM anyway. Those somewhere in the middle of the 75K to 125K range would most likely have just stayed with DL for the benefits (bailing to another airline to get silver status if even that would not be a huge incentive). That leaves those close to DM who would either strive to get to DM (additional revenue for DL), or bail on them to avoid getting to DM (a loss of revenue).

Beckles

How does rollover encourage someone to fly another airline once they reach DM?

Bran28

Why would that be the best thing they could do? Are you serious? Maybe its the best thing for a Gold/Plat flyer that one time loses an upgrade because someone reached Gold/Plat by paying $450 for a Reserve Card..... I can give you "$1 billion reasons" why Delta cant/wont/shouldn't get rid of non-flight MQM promos....Companies all over the place are trying to find new ways to make money. By partnering with Amex I know they recieved much needed capital and they also made some money from me, that they otherwise would not have made...... "Today" where most consumers bottom line is price, there is nothing wrong with trying to make money doing other things (thus keeping flight price as low as possible). Partnerships are one way to do that. I dont think Delta should be faulted for trying to find other means to boost their bottom line. They get rid of the MQM's for the Delta Reserve Card....I lose the Delta reserve card.

avidflyer

Many people do NOT want to get to DM for many good reasons (the program is not enticing enough) so they are (and have stated here on FT by TONS of travellers) "holding short" and flying other airlines to avoid DM.

I believe if DL would have handed out just 1 SWU that could be used from any fare nearly 100% of those holding short would have crossed the line.

RichMSN

Don't worry. I'll fall to GM next year after flying 125K BIS last year. One less to compete. I don't miss the additional travel either. I'll fly coach more and enjoy being at home while the DMs travel. This game isn't as fun as it used to be.

mooper

Love it

People don't get that absolute inflation doesn't matter - *relative* inflation does. If non-BIS fliers are given more opportunities to earn MQMs versus pure-BIS fliers, then there certainly could be a basis for concern by BIS fliers that they will have more competition, as they will be at a competitive disadvantage *relative* to non-BISers. (Keep in mind, however, that non-BIS MQMs may be more profitable for Delta, and the higher profits they make the better the service and stability for all customers.) If a double-MQM promo is announced for a particular month, those who fly more in that month than others will also benefit on a *relative* basis. However, if *all* MQMs are inflated through a means that doesn't provide a particular relative advantage, it is a wash. The bottom line is that, for self-interest concerns, a flier might prefer to see MQM opportunities that give them a *relative* advantage, but absolute MQM inflation is not itself a concern.

DP-340

1. I don't think that it will be as high as 90%. Many PMs fly about 100k/year and will yoyo between PM and DM. IMHO between 1/5 and 1/3 will go back and forth.
2. I hope not, that would be a real mess.