I guess no one told that to DL. One of their recent commercials specifically said that you should expect your airline to reward you for your loyalty. THAT is what most of us are talking about. And obviously, based on your statement, they have failed to deliver on their own promises.

This is an interesting thread...

As someone who has followed the forum for several years and posts infrequently, I've noticed a change over the past 6 months.

It's almost like the forum is going through a mid-life/quarter-life/whatever-life crisis. Now that the merger is fairly distant, there's a lack of focus - especially comparing to the UA/CO board. As a result, certain subjects like award redeption using skypesos or DM hate dude are brought up time and again.

I think the tone has become sardonic and at times elitist. It seems like more DM and PMs are posting than before. As a result, there is a certain level of disenchantment (or entitlement) with flying after logging so many miles (unless you qualified through cards or promos).

While many threads are still meaningful, there's been a shift towards singling out flyers or groups of fliers. Don't get me wrong, I found the first several threads highly amusing. But complaining because someone used the bulkhead (with limited legroom) as a foot rest is a bit disconcerting.

In the end, it's traveling. It's never going to be perfect, but you have choices. Take what you get and save your complaints for when you genuinely get screwed.

By the way, the consolidated United board is starting to look a lot like the DL board.

At the risk of proving the OP's point, these issues keep coming up because DL doesn't fix them. It's even worse. DL disguises window dressing like fixing the award calendar as fixes for the actual problem, which is their unwillingness to release award inventory, except perhaps a couple weeks ahead of time when they see a light load on a route. DL's major competitors don't have this problem.

fti... Any inveterate huckster sooner or later starts to believe his own spiel.

OP... there are certainly some folks here who "hate the airline."

There are other critics here who want to see DL become a better, more successful airline... for the benefit of both the PAX and the 95-plus % of the employees who are good, conscientious folks. Commentary from such critics generally reflects the disdain they have for the airline management, and what that management is doing to the company.

The contradictions wrapped in the love-hate relationships which exist in the DL Forum reminds me of one on my favorite Yogi Berra quotes: "Nobody goes there any more. It's too crowded"

I love this forum. You get great advice, "snarkyness" and the occasional photo of a DM Hat.

The energy from passionate, smart folks with very different views make it what it is....

Actually, I am much more polite here than in real life...wait, I thought this WAS real life:D

Like this
this
and this

Did it west you?
I note that you are PM, please note that I am better than you because of this lone fact....


Get over it already! Your obsession with NW is strange even for a Delta DM. :D

"I have a client in [jail] right now. He says the trick is: kick someone's a$$ the first day, or become someone's b***tch. Then everything will be all right." - Office Space. ;)

We all have encountered co-workers that don't think before they hit the SEND button, especially when they write emails while they are emotional. My solution to that is IGNORE. But some people in my office will escalate that situation with a more emotional reply and hit the SEND ALL button. There is a huge difference between a critique and an attack, and some people just don't know that difference.

I was a long time lurker before I created an account, and I'm hesitant to even post anything nowadays. Just recently, I had a GREAT experience with Delta that I decided that it wasn't worth it for me to post because some FTers will purposely miss the point and take it to a different level. Long story short, my medication fell out of a tear in my checked luggage and was found on the belt. A DL baggage claim CSR was kind enough to drop it off on her own time because she lived around my hotel. Who does that?! I contemplating posting this EXCELLENT experience and to ask how I can make sure that her above-and-beyond attitude is recognized. But I can hear some of the FTers already: "Why would you pack medication in your checked luggage?"

At the end, it's not because of award redemption problems, PMNW vs. PMDL, love DL, or hate DL. It's just a mecca of personalities and it's sometimes more amusing to stand back and watch. I've always wondered if someone can use this forum as a social experiment and write a paper about it...

I second that. While there are similar posts on other forums, there are other issues - UA merger, changes to SWA RR program - that also receive a lot of energy. Relatively speaking, not much change going on with Delta these days - so more opportunity for "constructive criticism".

That said, though, I too am disconcerted with the "can you believe what this idiot / kettle / gate louse did?!?" posts. Many of the supposed "violations" don't seem all that egregious to me - and even if so it should be possible to call out the behavior without vilifying the person - or an entire class of non-elite flyers.

I certainly hope you told Delta about this so she can get some internal recognition!

One big difference seems to be the fact that DL has seemingly abandoned this board in the sense that we see less and less "official" information. This creates a forum where rumor and speculation run wild.

6 months to a year ago, this board was a buzz about the DO in ATL. This brought a lot of pride to the board IMO. People were excited, communication lines were open, and the tone was pretty positive.

After the DO, this continued for a bit during the after glow....

Then we reached a phase where (as others have said) DL has rolled out programs and policies that are not elite friendly. To make matters worse, they no longer seem to communicate these points to us or anyone else for that matter.

Parts of the "Family" are feeling abandoned. Perhaps a reunion could reignite our pride and enthusiasm!:)

^. As I stated earlier, I predict its gonna get a lot worse...:)

Well, it IS the internet...

Like all forums you'll see posts from people who are truly interested in the subject to people who just like to make smarta$$ remarks (like me) to teenage loser shut-ins living in their mom's basement (see OMNI) to pompous bloviaters who just like to sound off (see my ignore list) to people who can't let go of the past (see PMNW/PMDL/Flying Colonel/FDIC/Void where prohibited...)

It's an (fairly) anonymous internet forum. It ain't rocket surgery...