New "Sky Priority" Benefits for High-Revenue Elites to be Announced Spring 2010
Mar 27, 2010, 9:20 am
#361
Join Date: May 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: DL ♦M MM|HH♦|Marr Slvr|CO UA AA US|Pri Cub Plat|SPG|Avis 1st|Htz 5*
Posts: 5,044
Those benefits are now (possibly) open to non-medallions*. I've been PM/DM for many years. I can't remember the last time I bought a coach Y fare on any airline so *correct me if I am wrong in the scenario below or add to it if I forgot something.
Jane Doe has NO MEDALLION STATUS AT ALL with Delta. Jane buys a pricey coach Y fare ticket. Her boarding pass has a middle-seat coach seat assignment somewhere around where zone 3 boards.
Before SkyPriority
- Does Jane get to select an exit row or other "choice" seat in advance? No
- Does Jane get to use the elite line at the counter for check-in? No
- Does Jane get to check a bag for free? No
- Does Jane get a priority tag on her bag? No
- Does Jane get to use the elite security line? No
- Does Jane get to visit the SkyClub for free? No
- Does Jane get a shot at a domestic FC upgrade at the gate? No
- Does Jane get to board with zone 1 or 2? No
- Does Jane get to use Breezeway if her zone has already been called? No
- Does Jane get "concierge" service from Delta? No
(*perhaps) After SkyPriority
- yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes
DMs get all of the stuff Jane does not get even when buying a T fare. Personally I think it's great that high revenue, coach customers are going to be treated with "priority" service even if it is their first time ever flying Delta.
but let's not overstate the perks. DMs do not get FIRST shot at upgrades. A Silver Medallion on a Y fare will trump a Diamond on a M fare for that last seat in FC at the gate. Not complaining just clarifying.
Last edited by Evan!; Mar 27, 2010 at 9:21 am Reason: typo
Mar 27, 2010, 9:29 am
#362
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Atlanta
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Marriott Silver, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 3,656
Before SkyPriority
- Does Jane get to select an exit row or other "choice" seat in advance? No
- Does Jane get to use the elite line at the counter for check-in? No
- Does Jane get to check a bag for free? No
- Does Jane get a priority tag on her bag? No
- Does Jane get to use the elite security line? No
- Does Jane get to visit the SkyClub for free? No
- Does Jane get a shot at a domestic FC upgrade at the gate? No
- Does Jane get to board with zone 1 or 2? No
- Does Jane get to use Breezeway if her zone has already been called? No
- Does Jane get "concierge" service from Delta? No
(*perhaps) After SkyPriority
- yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes
- Does Jane get to select an exit row or other "choice" seat in advance? No
- Does Jane get to use the elite line at the counter for check-in? No
- Does Jane get to check a bag for free? No
- Does Jane get a priority tag on her bag? No
- Does Jane get to use the elite security line? No
- Does Jane get to visit the SkyClub for free? No
- Does Jane get a shot at a domestic FC upgrade at the gate? No
- Does Jane get to board with zone 1 or 2? No
- Does Jane get to use Breezeway if her zone has already been called? No
- Does Jane get "concierge" service from Delta? No
(*perhaps) After SkyPriority
- yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes
To say that DMs do not get first shot at upgrades is not true.
Mar 27, 2010, 9:32 am
#363
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
Wrong. Only First Class, Business Class, UGS, and 1Ks have access to the Red Carpet lane on UA flights. Premier Executives board from the regular economy lane but prior to Premier, Premier Associate, and General Members. That sounds similar to what will be happening to SM members in the near future.
Mar 27, 2010, 9:34 am
#364
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
What will happen to passengers who have bulkhead seats right behind first class? Currently, they board with first class passengers and are in Zone 1, ahead of all other elites. That's why I always pick a bulkhead seat.
Mar 27, 2010, 9:40 am
#366
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: TPA DL GM/ 2.8 MM
Posts: 1,132
... Only First Class, Business Class, UGS, and 1Ks have access to the Red Carpet lane on UA flights. Premier Executives board from the regular economy lane but prior to Premier, Premier Associate, and General Members. That sounds similar to what will be happening to SM members in the near future.
Mar 27, 2010, 9:47 am
#367
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
Mar 27, 2010, 9:59 am
#369
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: UA, DL, LH, Marriott, Amex
Posts: 554
If I were SkyMilesInsider, snarks like this would cause me to throw up my hands and say "why bother." SMI has two choices:
1. SMI continues to post on this forum.
2. SMI stops posting on this forum.
Only SMI decides, but my guess the general tone of the reactions to his posts will be a factor.
1. SMI continues to post on this forum.
2. SMI stops posting on this forum.
Only SMI decides, but my guess the general tone of the reactions to his posts will be a factor.
I wasn't here for the PM/DM issues, though, so I'm happy to see how everything shakes out and go from there. I can always go back to *A, they'll match anybody these days, and if my travel rate stays where it is now (likely), PM even isn't too far fetched this year.
The reason I made my move to DL after the merger was, however, largely because I felt that FO's were treated fairly well and could get upgrades if they played their cards right. That's very hard to do on CO out of Houston, from what I've seen.
Mar 27, 2010, 10:04 am
#370
Join Date: May 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: DL ♦M MM|HH♦|Marr Slvr|CO UA AA US|Pri Cub Plat|SPG|Avis 1st|Htz 5*
Posts: 5,044
Please elaborate. How is this not true? Has something recently changed? AFAIK a Silver, Gold, or Platinum on a Y fare will have rank above a DM on any other coach fare for gate upgrades. That means that DMs do not have first shot at upgrades.
Come on z, were the rolling eyes really necessary? I used the words "perhaps" and "possibly" in my obviously speculative scenario.
Come on z, were the rolling eyes really necessary? I used the words "perhaps" and "possibly" in my obviously speculative scenario.
Mar 27, 2010, 10:07 am
#371
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Atlanta
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Marriott Silver, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 3,656
Please elaborate. How is this not true? Has something recently changed? AFAIK a Silver, Gold, or Platinum on a Y fare will have rank above a DM on any other coach fare for gate upgrades. That means that DMs do not have first shot at upgrades.
Come on z, were the rolling eyes really necessary? I used the words "perhaps" and "possibly" in my obviously speculative scenario.
Come on z, were the rolling eyes really necessary? I used the words "perhaps" and "possibly" in my obviously speculative scenario.
Yes speculation is exactly what this board needs.
Mar 27, 2010, 10:25 am
#372
Join Date: May 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: DL ♦M MM|HH♦|Marr Slvr|CO UA AA US|Pri Cub Plat|SPG|Avis 1st|Htz 5*
Posts: 5,044
My original comment about this concerned gate upgrades. With the exception of the first item on the Jane scenario list and concierge service, everything I speculated about with regard to SkyPriority concerned the airport experience.
Mar 27, 2010, 10:50 am
#373
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: BOS/SRQ/LAX
Programs: Delta DM/2MM, BONVoY LT Titanium, Hilton Diamond, National Exec Elite
Posts: 30
That is not exactly true! Yes, when you stay at a Courtyard, you get one night's room credit, just as you do when you stay at a JW Marriott. However, you also get points credit for how much money was spent on the room, which means there is more recognition for the higher price paid for the room at the JW Marriott. There are also additional factors too.
From the initial info about SkyPriority, DMs saw that they are already getting most of these benefits. IOW, "What have you done for me lately?!" Many saw the DM benefit of free SC access as worthless because they already had a membership or hold an Amex card that gives them SC access prior to DM being rolled out.
Those benefits are now (possibly) open to non-medallions*. I've been PM/DM for many years. I can't remember the last time I bought a coach Y fare on any airline so *correct me if I am wrong in the scenario below or add to it if I forgot something.
Jane Doe has NO MEDALLION STATUS AT ALL with Delta. Jane buys a pricey coach Y fare ticket. Her boarding pass has a middle-seat coach seat assignment somewhere around where zone 3 boards.
Before SkyPriority
- Does Jane get to select an exit row or other "choice" seat in advance? No
- Does Jane get to use the elite line at the counter for check-in? No
- Does Jane get to check a bag for free? No
- Does Jane get a priority tag on her bag? No
- Does Jane get to use the elite security line? No
- Does Jane get to visit the SkyClub for free? No
- Does Jane get a shot at a domestic FC upgrade at the gate? No
- Does Jane get to board with zone 1 or 2? No
- Does Jane get to use Breezeway if her zone has already been called? No
- Does Jane get "concierge" service from Delta? No
(*perhaps) After SkyPriority
- yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes
DMs get all of the stuff Jane does not get even when buying a T fare. Personally I think it's great that high revenue, coach customers are going to be treated with "priority" service even if it is their first time ever flying Delta.
I get your point but let's not overstate the perks. DMs do not get FIRST shot at upgrades. A Silver Medallion on a Y fare will trump a Diamond on a M fare for that last seat in FC at the gate. Not complaining just clarifying.
Those benefits are now (possibly) open to non-medallions*. I've been PM/DM for many years. I can't remember the last time I bought a coach Y fare on any airline so *correct me if I am wrong in the scenario below or add to it if I forgot something.
Jane Doe has NO MEDALLION STATUS AT ALL with Delta. Jane buys a pricey coach Y fare ticket. Her boarding pass has a middle-seat coach seat assignment somewhere around where zone 3 boards.
Before SkyPriority
- Does Jane get to select an exit row or other "choice" seat in advance? No
- Does Jane get to use the elite line at the counter for check-in? No
- Does Jane get to check a bag for free? No
- Does Jane get a priority tag on her bag? No
- Does Jane get to use the elite security line? No
- Does Jane get to visit the SkyClub for free? No
- Does Jane get a shot at a domestic FC upgrade at the gate? No
- Does Jane get to board with zone 1 or 2? No
- Does Jane get to use Breezeway if her zone has already been called? No
- Does Jane get "concierge" service from Delta? No
(*perhaps) After SkyPriority
- yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes
DMs get all of the stuff Jane does not get even when buying a T fare. Personally I think it's great that high revenue, coach customers are going to be treated with "priority" service even if it is their first time ever flying Delta.
I get your point
but let's not overstate the perks. DMs do not get FIRST shot at upgrades. A Silver Medallion on a Y fare will trump a Diamond on a M fare for that last seat in FC at the gate. Not complaining just clarifying.Last edited by thezipper; Mar 29, 2010 at 10:53 am Reason: multiple posts by OP
Mar 27, 2010, 11:45 am
#375
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
Yes. That'
s an excellent point. Take a example of BE vesrus international coach on a 747. With a pitch of 60cm in business versus 30 in coach and 7 breast versus 10 abreast on 747 or 6 breast versus 8 abreast on a 332, a business class customer is taking up 2.7 to 2,9 times the floor space of an economy class passenger. If you include the cost of providing business class service to this, such as more crew per person, better food, COS bonus, free access to lounge, it's not difficult to see that a larger spend does not necessarily mean proportionately larger profit.
s an excellent point. Take a example of BE vesrus international coach on a 747. With a pitch of 60cm in business versus 30 in coach and 7 breast versus 10 abreast on 747 or 6 breast versus 8 abreast on a 332, a business class customer is taking up 2.7 to 2,9 times the floor space of an economy class passenger. If you include the cost of providing business class service to this, such as more crew per person, better food, COS bonus, free access to lounge, it's not difficult to see that a larger spend does not necessarily mean proportionately larger profit.
Have to remember that any additional seat sold goes pretty much straight to the bottom line as the marginal cost of selling one more seat is very low.