DAYflier

A lot of us are flying out of cities without a huge amount of mainline service. In DAY for example, the only "full service" airlines offering any appreciable level of mainline service are DL and AA and in both cases, only to ATL and DFW, respectively. Thus, because the primary benefit of elite status for me are UGs, it doesn't make much sense for me to blow off DL and start flying CO.

In other words, yes, I'd love to switch to CO. But I don't want to have to duck under propeller blades every time I fly to do it.

5khours

I switched from DL to UA while UA still had flights into AZO. Since they've canceled AZO, I've got a guy who will drives me back and forth to GRR. If I was mostly domestic, I'd probably be back on DL, but UA is so much better on INTL, I put up with the extra 30 minutes on the drive to the airport.

5khours

I would venture to say that the only international frequent flyers who are still on DL are ones who are based in or travel to a DL captive hub. Anyone else who does it on a regular basis would have to be dumb, stupid, ignorant, or a DL employee.

mdb

Bailed for trips to Asia.

Waiting for 2011 to bail for europe. Don't do alot of domestic travel....

UA is my best option since they have a nice link with LH....

ONTRandy

Switched to UA in Feb and have 16k BIS on them since. I miss WiFi, but overall I am happy there. I still have a couple of NW SWUs to use, so I imagine I will take a couple of DL trips before August.

I still read the DL forum for a couple of reasons: 1) the same reason I used to read the US forum; 2) Always curious to see if DL will un-do some of the things that encouraged me to leave. DL has taken an approach to customer loyalty that makes as much sense as a two story outhouse, with the customers using the bottom floor. Maybe, as they hear the "whooshing" sounds of money leaving their bank account, they will re-think.

luv2ctheworld

I appreciate the responses... however, I haven't really seen anyone ACTUALLY INFORM (via email, letter, etc.) Delta Skymiles about their cutback or dropping of flights with them. Besides not flying them, is anyone actually telling them?

I wonder what the reaction would be from Skymiles if you write a letter/email detailing the lost revenue due to their decisions. And I mean a genuine letter, with your SM number and actual comparison of previous DL activity to now.

I thought about that, but then there would be an issue with cross-posting... and I prefer to follow proper FT etiquette Besides, as others have mentioned, those former DL flyers probably drop by once in awhile to realize what they're missing or get a good laugh

kugelfischer

Requested and received CO match to plat in December. I've gone from 100 percent NW/DL travel to 95 percent CO and 5 percent DL. My upgrade percentage hasn't suffered and my non-elite companions are being upgraded about two-thirds of the time.

Burned my last 200K SkyMiles with upcoming BE seats to Europe. I guess I should be thrilled to find two seats at the low level, but the destination, CPH, was my 25th or so choice. And if it's impossible to use my miles at the low level to fly where I want to go, especially given my complete flexibility on travel dates, I have no use for the program or the airline.

BearX220

Former NW Plat. I began plotting my exit about 18 months ago, because I did not believe that "best-in-class" rhetoric for a second. Never considered the DL Amex; stashed my FlexPerks Visa from US Bank in my sock drawer. I burned about 500k WP miles on Australia and domestic awards, and 95k SkyMiles on low-tier F and Y awards I was lucky to nab before nwa.com closed. I wouldn't have a prayer of locating them via delta.com now. 1,006 SM miles left on account.

I'm now CO Gold. No revenue flying with DL since mid-'09.

Flying profile '08: 70% NW, 15% CO, 15% AS.

Flying profile '10 (projected): 60% CO/UA, 25% AS, 15% WN.

All my darkest, most pessimistic predictions about the merger, posted in the NW forum in '08-'09, have come to pass. Thanks so much to fellow FTers for the burn-baby-burn strategies; I credit FT for my clean exit. Thank goodness I got out of this debacle without leaving a big stash of now-useless SkyMiles on account. I will be done flying DL award trips in June. After that, if I ever have to set foot on DL metal again, I'll credit my new AS Mileage Plan account.

DL's FF policy has led me to totally revamp my flying strategy.

worldexpress

Exactly.

5khours

Since I got a letter from Jeff today congratulating me on 2MM (6 months late). I actually sent him a very genuine and nice reply earlier today explaining why I don't fly DL anymore. I'll let you know if I hear back from him.

hazelrah

Awaiting requested comp on UA to premier executive. Once I get UA status DL will be a back-up.

remyontheroad

Well, then help me out here...

I've been itching to change to something better for a long time, but can't seem to justify it.

Look at my locations (over there <----) and tell me where you would go.

Add to it that I like to do welfare stopovers (under 24hours) in transit cities when I can and would much prefer them to be at AMS or CDG than FRA or LON.

Seriously... LH 74s? CO 75s? I hate the DL 763s in back, but the 764s are coming to IST so that'll be good and KL's 77s are very solid.

I do maybe 1-2 domestic trips a year and can generally redeem at least 2 BE TATLs without much problem.

I do about one TATL/month and I'd love to find better a better option, but every time I sit down to look at it, I don't see a good alternative.

Which of your kind terms apply to me?

Feather Man

I did not status match to CO. Instead, I earned PE in 2009. But I also earned enough to keep PM on DL. (Could have gone for DM, but wanted to wait and see if the benefits were worth it.

So yes, I still fly DL. But most of my premium int'l business has gone to CO. And sometime in August, I will make a decision...whether to go for DM, or go for 100,000+ on CO. CO will be offering a SWU that is good on most fares for Int'l travel. Unless DL does something to improve the PMU, and also fix the gd award calendar, my flying on DL will be decreasing every day.

And don't buy the "hub captive" bs for a minute. EVERYONE has a choice, even ATL people. You just have to decide if the sacrifice is worth it. For me, it was.

renhelm

I am a Delta Platinum Member (have been NW Platinum for 10 years) and I am not happy with Delta, especially on international flights. Flying a Delta 767-300ER in Business Class for 10 hours is as good as Lufthansa in Coach.

My home airport is Portland, OR. I mostly fly to China, Europe and eastern USA.

I have booked some of my international flights on other Sky Team Airlines. Going to Dubai on Aeroflot and Air Europa within Europe. I also try to book Delta tickets with flights operated by KLM.

I flew Continental quite often when they were in Sky Team and I liked the airline. I am going to wait until 2011 to jump ship if Delta wont improve.

Here is a little hint to the Delta moderators: Don't get upset about the complaining of customers. Its best you improve the Airline....

ONTRandy

yes, i wrote and told them. Before I did the UA challenge.

As to the poster who said "everyone has a choice," +1. Unless your corporate travel department mandates DL, you have a choice. I do ONT-SLC. DL has a non-stop, UA requires 1 stop. I still choose UA because I know that, at the end of the day, I will get greater benefits (award) and I am sending my money to a company that has, albeit recently, decided that the best way to win business is to make customers happy.