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-   Delta Air Lines | SkyMiles (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta-air-lines-skymiles-665/)
-   -   DL response to CO changes? (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta-air-lines-skymiles/1025264-dl-response-co-changes.html)

NW.BTR.Than.The.Rest Dec 9, 2009 8:57 pm

DL Diamone 2010, CO Plat 2010, CO 100K 2011 - here I come
 
These systemwide upgrades are why I loved the last year of NW WP so much and DL took them away, EVEN for 125K Diamond tier. CO will be seeing a lot of me next year. This will certainly sway my business to CO.

Thanks CO for coming up with a truly valuable perk. Even though there are capacity controls, I use these for personal, i.e., vacation travel when not flying on the company dime. Plus, I love CO BE service.

Welcome me back!

DP-340 Dec 9, 2009 9:36 pm


Originally Posted by itsaboutthejourney (Post 12958680)
Somewhere along the line, someone at DL determined (wrongly) that FlyerTalker = L/U/T elites and communication with them is a lower priority, meanwhile CO is communicating regularly and from what I can tell cultivating high-value and low fare customers here on FT at the same time... possibly even upselling the low's to high.

I agree, and as a consequence, the tone is radically different here. I have been reading regularly the CO and AA FT boards for the last 6 weeks and it is clear that there isn't the level of unhappiness and/or negativity that is present here.

FlytheTail Dec 9, 2009 9:40 pm

Platinum status match?
 
I don't think anyone has speculated yet about what will happen with status matches from DL to CO, specifically if they will provide high DL fliers (150K+) with the SWUs. I know they'll match platinum, but I wonder if any of the new 100K benefits will come with. I'm skeptical.

Renard Dec 9, 2009 9:54 pm


Originally Posted by thesaints (Post 12950625)
Why should they respond ?
SkyMiles is already best-in-class !

It's getting tougher to see how SM stacks up against the competition. Their big enhancement was that the platinum of a few years ago gets a new name.. diamond... and costs 50K more EQM :(

MikeMpls Dec 9, 2009 10:44 pm

Here is the email going out overnight (probably recv'd late evening by most in the U.S.):

Dear MikeMpls,

We are pleased to announce these upcoming OnePass Elite benefits effective for earning Jan. 1, 2010:

System-wide Upgrades
Platinum Elite members who earn at least 100,000 Elite Qualification Miles (EQMs) or 120 Elite Qualification Points (EQPs) will earn four, one-way electronic System-wide Upgrade certificates. These certificates can be used in conjunction with any published fare on Continental, Continental Micronesia or Copa Airlines flights and are not subject to additional fees.

Learn more about System-wide Upgrades.

New Elite level — OnePass Presidential Platinum Elite
Presidential Platinum is a new invitation-only Elite tier designed to reward Continental’s top Platinum Elite members with some exciting new benefits. Members who achieve this level will be given all the benefits of a Platinum Elite member, plus top priority in Elite Upgrade recognition and flight standby, a dedicated VIP phone line and an annual fee waiver on the Continental Airlines Presidential PlusSM World MasterCard® card subject to credit approval. The Presidential Plus card is available to members residing in the mainland U.S. and Alaska.

Learn more about Presidential Platinum Elite status.

We look forward to rewarding our Elite members with these new benefits, which will be available for redemption and fulfillment mid-year 2010.

Sincerely,


Mark Bergsrud
Sr. Vice President, Marketing Programs and Distribution

*$30,000 is the inaugural spend threshold for 2010. In subsequent years, this threshold may change in order to preserve the exclusivity of this program.
I'd assumed from the discussions (not enough time to follow closely right now) that the SWU's were part of the new $30K spend tier, but they are strictly mileage-based, and might actually be within reach for me in some years. ^

The last year has seen the best-in-class dismantling of SkyMiles & especially WorldPerks, while it appears CO has been taking notes, planning & comping elites. The timing is perfect, since most folks will not have purchased a lot of 2010 travel yet.

Advantage Continental, and check!

If history repeats itself, we'll have an announcement from Leo Oscar in about a year regarding how all is well and how Delta's [dwindling] population of road warriors enjoyes paying a premium to patronize the world's premium international airline. In about 2012 Oscar & Jeff will line up at the enemployment office. Who is selected as the new CEO won't matter much in the greater scheme of things, and a new beancounter from Rev. Mgmt. will be placed in charge of SkyMiles as the cycle is repeated.

Enjoy!

psychtobe Dec 9, 2009 10:49 pm


Originally Posted by HeathrowGuy (Post 12958116)
For CO Platinums, it's unlimited award changes period -- whether to routing, carriers, origin/destination, redeposit, etc. None of the "rationing" mumbo-jumbo like Delta Platinums go through (and I have both statuses through 02/2011, so I'm not speaking from ignorance). And CO/UA still have 2 award tiers in their FFPs - no 3 tier tax-code like mumbo-jumbo.


true, the way NW/DL used to be. But I was speaking as a 25k-50k flyer; or even as a non-elite - changes to dates alone are free, which for a leisure traveler is an enormous advantage of CO/UA over DL.

PaulMSN Dec 9, 2009 11:22 pm

I'll make Plat on DL this weekend, and the first thing I'll do when my status is changed is try for a match from CO. I don't know what I'll do in 2010 (I wasn't planning on flying much on DL this year, but couldn't resist the bargain prices to Europe), but I'm prepared to try CO as an alternative.

It's too bad that DL bought NW, because right now it sure looks like they might drive the combined airline into the ground. That wasn't quite as likely for an independent NW, in my opinion.

PaulMSN Dec 9, 2009 11:46 pm

dupe.

DP-340 Dec 10, 2009 8:37 am

There is an interesting article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34347871...siness_travel/. Two quotes that I found particularly interesting are:

1) "I'm not expecting strong economic growth in 2010, and likewise I'm not expecting a rebound in business travel in 2010," says Gary Kelly, CEO Southwest.

2) "A top American Airlines executive says the carrier is seeing a pickup in both leisure and premium travel, at least on international routes."

It appears to me that AA's DEQM promotion seems to have had some of the desired effects, and that the competition for the business/premium travel is going to be fierce. Hence I am not surprised at CO recent moves...

omadave Dec 10, 2009 8:42 am

Tipping Point
 
I had been sitting on fence the last few months trying to decide whether I should stick it out with Delta for one more year and see if things would improve or jump ship to UA or CO. I have to say that these enhancements (actual, real enhancements :p) from CO have pushed me over the edge.

I called the OnePass number yesterday at 4pm to setup a new OnePass account and requested a status match from NW/DL Platinum. I emailed a PDF copy of my statement last night and woke up this morning as a newly minted OnePass Platinum Member. It couldn't be any easier!

On top of that the general rep from OnePass (not an elite line) was much more friendly and helpful than what I have been receiving from the "new Delta" lately. She was more than happy to help setup my new account and get the process going for the status match. <24 hours turnaround isn't bad!

Although I will miss NW greatly, most everything I enjoyed about that airline is gone already. Now I just have to figure out how to burn the last 550k left in my account. What is that now, one biz ticket to europe in Feb? ;)

Good luck to everyone that is still here, I honestly hope that things improve in 2010. If not, maybe I will see you in IAH & EWR next year!

Cheers,

omadave

mike_plat Dec 10, 2009 10:28 am


Originally Posted by omadave (Post 12961080)
Good luck to everyone that is still here, I honestly hope that things improve in 2010. If not, maybe I will see you in IAH & EWR next year!

Cheers,

omadave


If I were you, I wouldn't be so giddy about connecting in EWR when you don't have to!

PMMMDL Dec 10, 2009 10:39 am


Originally Posted by mike_plat (Post 12961702)
If I were you, I wouldn't be so giddy about connecting in EWR when you don't have to!

^


2+ hour erj flights to connect in EWR or IAH are the main reasons I don't enroll in CO's program.

I may have to reconsider UA after their recent changes though.

I will only fly enough to keep top tier in 2 programs in the future. I will keep AA for the RTW trips, but I will have to decide for domestic USA and international RTs for next year.

Lots of frequent flyer program detail changes among the competition.

omadave Dec 10, 2009 10:53 am


Originally Posted by mike_plat (Post 12961702)
If I were you, I wouldn't be so giddy about connecting in EWR when you don't have to!

Good point. Truth is I will probably spend more time in CLE and ORD (thanks *) due to connections from YYZ. Not that either is much better than EWR. At 6'3" the thought of F or E+ on UA is still much better than the barbie jets that DL now flies exclusively out of YYZ (gone are all the mainline and CR9's that NW used to fly).

The reality is I will miss connecting thru DTW and MSP but I can no longer handle the "best in class" enhancements that DL keeps piling on, they are just too much for me to handle!

Himmelhund Dec 10, 2009 1:01 pm


Originally Posted by omadave (Post 12961080)
I had been sitting on fence the last few months trying to decide whether I should stick it out with Delta for one more year and see if things would improve or jump ship to UA or CO. I have to say that these enhancements (actual, real enhancements :p) from CO have pushed me over the edge.

I called the OnePass number yesterday at 4pm to setup a new OnePass account and requested a status match from NW/DL Platinum. I emailed a PDF copy of my statement last night and woke up this morning as a newly minted OnePass Platinum Member. It couldn't be any easier!

On top of that the general rep from OnePass (not an elite line) was much more friendly and helpful than what I have been receiving from the "new Delta" lately. She was more than happy to help setup my new account and get the process going for the status match. <24 hours turnaround isn't bad!

Although I will miss NW greatly, most everything I enjoyed about that airline is gone already. Now I just have to figure out how to burn the last 550k left in my account. What is that now, one biz ticket to europe in Feb? ;)

Good luck to everyone that is still here, I honestly hope that things improve in 2010. If not, maybe I will see you in IAH & EWR next year!

Cheers,

omadave

I just sent my info to CO for a status match last night. I assume/hope it will go through and I will basically jump ship if it does, for the same reason stated above. EWR is a pain in the -ss, but one can get around it a bit ---although tough out of DTW, no doubt.

kcnwgold Dec 10, 2009 4:11 pm

Sent my status match request to CO last night about 10PM. By 10AM this morning I received an email congratulating me on my Platinum status with Continental! Very easy! Looking forward to the Continental experience!


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