Lowest Delta Fare Class does not earn MQMs? Yes It Does, Says Delta Air Lines
May 16, 2011, 2:32 pm
#121
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Perhaps, but I think the point is, if all the LUT passengers, or a good number of them, went to other carriers, DL would not thrive w/o them.
May 16, 2011, 2:36 pm
#122
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May 16, 2011, 2:41 pm
#123
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I'm a DM/MM and a regular road warrior who works for a living and I think this is a really bad idea.
I used to have to justify K fares when sLUT were 50% MQM (thanks Leo). Now, it looks like I'm going to have to justify T+ when E are available. There is no way I am traveling away from my family on business 80%+ of the time without the rewards inherent in a frequent flier program. I'll find another airline or stop traveling first.
I used to have to justify K fares when sLUT were 50% MQM (thanks Leo). Now, it looks like I'm going to have to justify T+ when E are available. There is no way I am traveling away from my family on business 80%+ of the time without the rewards inherent in a frequent flier program. I'll find another airline or stop traveling first.
May 16, 2011, 2:44 pm
#124
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If I just catered to my customers who pay top dollar, I would go out of business. I need the discount customer to maintain a certain level of service, output, staffing level. I treat the consistant discount customer with the same care as a high spending customer. Both help me turn a profit.
May 16, 2011, 2:46 pm
#125
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I think you're blending together several issues here that are not necessarily the same...
Do you believe that government employees are not earning DL money? This has nothing to do with MQM inflation -- I agree that rollover has caused inflated medallion ranks (though I believe much of that is at lower levels)and that SkyClubs are overcrowded, but that's due to DL's program benefits, not due to all flights earning miles/MQMs.
The problem with your assessment is that DL wouldn't just be thinning it's medallion ranks, but also its customer base in general. If DL no longer offers MQMs/RDMs on its lowest fare classes, don't think that those who need to book the lowest fares will just keep flying DL.
Do you believe that government employees are not earning DL money? This has nothing to do with MQM inflation -- I agree that rollover has caused inflated medallion ranks (though I believe much of that is at lower levels)and that SkyClubs are overcrowded, but that's due to DL's program benefits, not due to all flights earning miles/MQMs.
The problem with your assessment is that DL wouldn't just be thinning it's medallion ranks, but also its customer base in general. If DL no longer offers MQMs/RDMs on its lowest fare classes, don't think that those who need to book the lowest fares will just keep flying DL.
May 16, 2011, 3:01 pm
#126
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I've got tickets already bought that will earn me the 50k I need to keep Gold for next year. Until there's some sort of official word from Delta on this, I'll be using different carriers for new business.
As a corporate traveller who also depends on personal travel out of my pocket to make my status each year, this is a big deal to me.
The silence from Delta bothers me.
p.s. and my ASA flight is 2 hours delayed due to maint
As a corporate traveller who also depends on personal travel out of my pocket to make my status each year, this is a big deal to me.
The silence from Delta bothers me.
p.s. and my ASA flight is 2 hours delayed due to maint
May 16, 2011, 3:02 pm
#127
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I am not excited about the prospects of E but this is hardly a new way for airlines to operate. Many carriers don't offer mileage earning on their lowest fares (NZ, EK, AF etc).
This is just another step in the a la carte pricing models airlines are moving towards. They are now putting a price on mileage and mileage earnings. What would be nice is if Delta offered a way to "buy up" to the mileage earning class without the change fee. That way corporate folks booking the E could still get miles by paying out of pocket for the difference without the change fee.
This is just another step in the a la carte pricing models airlines are moving towards. They are now putting a price on mileage and mileage earnings. What would be nice is if Delta offered a way to "buy up" to the mileage earning class without the change fee. That way corporate folks booking the E could still get miles by paying out of pocket for the difference without the change fee.
May 16, 2011, 3:06 pm
#128
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May 16, 2011, 3:08 pm
#129
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Fine. But you will never fill up an airplane that way. That means reduced flights per day, less choice and service to about every destination. The truth is they are both needed to make the whole airline work.
If I just catered to my customers who pay top dollar, I would go out of business. I need the discount customer to maintain a certain level of service, output, staffing level. I treat the consistant discount customer with the same care as a high spending customer. Both help me turn a profit.
If I just catered to my customers who pay top dollar, I would go out of business. I need the discount customer to maintain a certain level of service, output, staffing level. I treat the consistant discount customer with the same care as a high spending customer. Both help me turn a profit.
May 16, 2011, 3:55 pm
#130
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May 16, 2011, 4:06 pm
#131
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It's always nice when elite benefits are taken away...
And for those of us who don't get out of our respective precious metal encrusted bubbles, we could be talking about what the United/Continental folks are...
Heard new rumor yesterdasy sfo re udu
Personally, I hope this is just delta.com stupidity, and not delta stupidity.
And for those of us who don't get out of our respective precious metal encrusted bubbles, we could be talking about what the United/Continental folks are...
Heard new rumor yesterdasy sfo re udu
Personally, I hope this is just delta.com stupidity, and not delta stupidity.
May 16, 2011, 4:18 pm
#132
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When will DL ever learn. DL has to know that if it online, we will find it. Heck, we have even found stuff we weren't supposed to find. As always, it would have been so simple to make an announcement about E fares. Yes, DL can do what it wants, but what is so difficult about meaningful communication. I hope that if Jeff or whoever did this is bad, that after their time is up on earth, their sentence is to read FlyerTalk 24 hours a day for a thousand years. Amazing.
May 16, 2011, 4:48 pm
#133
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You guys do realize that there are a lot of people who would, should E fares become a regular occurrence, be forced to book them or fly another carrier, right? Are you saying that DL should just kiss all of those flyers (namely government and university employees) goodbye?!
I'm offering 3:1 odds that E will earn just like LUT and that it will be announced when the fares are aligned in a couple weeks. Send me a PM if you've got a serious offer.
May 16, 2011, 4:53 pm
#134
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There's a pretty good chance that they won't go anywhere because they cannot go anywhere. When you have a relatively captive audience there isn't much motivation to cater to them. If you've got a corporate contract with DL then that's who you fly. The idea that the employer should be subsidizing your personal travel habits is a laughable one to me. If they give you the flexibility then great. If you take it as an entitlement or abuse it then shame on you.
I'm offering 3:1 odds that E will earn just like LUT and that it will be announced when the fares are aligned in a couple weeks. Send me a PM if you've got a serious offer.
I'm offering 3:1 odds that E will earn just like LUT and that it will be announced when the fares are aligned in a couple weeks. Send me a PM if you've got a serious offer.