View Poll Results: What Do You Think About the Policy Change for Award Re-Deposits and Re-Issues?
I am in favor of it.
111
13.39%
I am opposed to it and intend to be loyal to a different airline frequent flier loyalty program.
413
49.82%
I am opposed to it but will remain loyal to the Delta SkyMiles frequent flier loyalty program.
198
23.88%
I am not affected by it, am neutral about it, do not know, have no opinion or do not care.
107
12.91%
Voters: 829. You may not vote on this poll
Updated: Award Redeposit and Reissue Rule Change
Aug 9, 2011, 8:33 am
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
Aug 9, 2011, 8:33 am
#62
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Likely being followed...
Programs: DYKWIA Extraordinaire. TrollSlayer Mega Diamond. [insert esoteric sounding status level(s) here]
Posts: 5,240
What would have made sense, to not .... your best customers over, was to allow changes... ONLY to the routing while keeping the Origin / Destination / Dates the same.
That would have helped alleviate the fraud y'all are suggesting is happening.
That would have helped alleviate the fraud y'all are suggesting is happening.
Last edited by Vuelos; Aug 9, 2011 at 8:42 am
Aug 9, 2011, 8:33 am
#63
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Programs: AA Plat, UA Silver, DL Silver, Marriott Titanium, etc.
Posts: 4,210
That's not as bad news if that's what it turns out to be, but it is still definitely still a negative change.
Aug 9, 2011, 8:36 am
#64
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 1,155
This change is huge. 
Every time Delta invents a nasty rule for skymiles, they say it is good for their customers -- whereas it is clear to me that they want to try everything possible to limit their members from using skymiles.
Every time Delta invents a nasty rule for skymiles, they say it is good for their customers -- whereas it is clear to me that they want to try everything possible to limit their members from using skymiles.
Aug 9, 2011, 8:36 am
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
I...know of at least two instances coming up where I booked award travel BECAUSE I won't know until the day before if I am going to be able to make the trip. I didn't want to purchase a last minute ticket, but I already found low availability I don't want to lose. Bad move, Delta.
Now I better understand their reasoning when people do en masse like you do. But there must be a better way - allow changes but not redeposits. Or something.
Aug 9, 2011, 8:37 am
#66
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Likely being followed...
Programs: DYKWIA Extraordinaire. TrollSlayer Mega Diamond. [insert esoteric sounding status level(s) here]
Posts: 5,240
I understand why it was done... Someone just needs to advocate for the customers who travel internationally a lot. For example going FL --> Europe 1 month ago..
AF seats opened at 4, 3 and 1 days... under the new policy I'd be screwed for teh opening within 1 day... but fine with 3 & 4 days.
AF seats opened at 4, 3 and 1 days... under the new policy I'd be screwed for teh opening within 1 day... but fine with 3 & 4 days.
Aug 9, 2011, 8:38 am
#67
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: TPA or In Flight
Programs: DL PM, 1MM
Posts: 671
Delta flies about 4000 flights a day or 1.5 million flights a year. They claim that 1,000,000 award seats are going out empty do to last minute changes!
They are claiming that 2 out of every 3 flights are being abused like this!
I for one find this hard to believe. I think their statistics are messed up...but then they did get the data from their IT department who is responsible for the unusable award booking system...do I see a pattern?
-=tg=-
They are claiming that 2 out of every 3 flights are being abused like this!
I for one find this hard to believe. I think their statistics are messed up...but then they did get the data from their IT department who is responsible for the unusable award booking system...do I see a pattern?
-=tg=-
Aug 9, 2011, 8:38 am
#68
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Likely being followed...
Programs: DYKWIA Extraordinaire. TrollSlayer Mega Diamond. [insert esoteric sounding status level(s) here]
Posts: 5,240
Agreed on both parts... DM desk clarified my questions and read the policy and that's how it's written.
Aug 9, 2011, 8:39 am
#69
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Likely being followed...
Programs: DYKWIA Extraordinaire. TrollSlayer Mega Diamond. [insert esoteric sounding status level(s) here]
Posts: 5,240
Aug 9, 2011, 8:40 am
#70
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Posts: 1,002
This change has a dramatic negative influence on many of Delta's loyal customers. It is a change that isn't taken lightly. While I understand how award seats went unused, I was in favor of the cancel before departure in order to get a refund. 3 days out is a long time and this is just another negative impact created to devalue the Skymiles Medallion Program as well as Skymiles in general.
Aug 9, 2011, 8:40 am
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
Programs: United1K, AA ExPlAAt, DL MM/Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 13,316
I understand why it was done... Someone just needs to advocate for the customers who travel internationally a lot. For example going FL --> Europe 1 month ago..
AF seats opened at 4, 3 and 1 days... under the new policy I'd be screwed for teh opening within 1 day... but fine with 3 & 4 days.
AF seats opened at 4, 3 and 1 days... under the new policy I'd be screwed for teh opening within 1 day... but fine with 3 & 4 days.
Aug 9, 2011, 8:41 am
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
Aug 9, 2011, 8:41 am
#73
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Likely being followed...
Programs: DYKWIA Extraordinaire. TrollSlayer Mega Diamond. [insert esoteric sounding status level(s) here]
Posts: 5,240
Delta flies about 4000 flights a day or 1.5 million flights a year. They claim that 1,000,000 award seats are going out empty do to last minute changes!
They are claiming that 2 out of every 3 flights are being abused like this!
I for one find this hard to believe. I think their statistics are messed up...but then they did get the data from their IT department who is responsible for the unusable award booking system...do I see a pattern?
-=tg=-
They are claiming that 2 out of every 3 flights are being abused like this!
I for one find this hard to believe. I think their statistics are messed up...but then they did get the data from their IT department who is responsible for the unusable award booking system...do I see a pattern?
-=tg=-
Essentially instead of looking at the cancel/no show rate, they were simply looking at unused award seats.
Aug 9, 2011, 8:42 am
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
Programs: United1K, AA ExPlAAt, DL MM/Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 13,316
Ok thanks, now at least I get the problem though I am never a part of the problem but will now pay the price in the form of many more miles...
Aug 9, 2011, 8:42 am
#75
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 677
At least you are honest - this is exactly the type of behavior that DL is trying to curb. When I book award tickets, I use them. I don't "hedge my bets" like you (and probably thousands of others) do.
Now I better understand their reasoning when people do en masse like you do. But there must be a better way - allow changes but not redeposits. Or something.
Now I better understand their reasoning when people do en masse like you do. But there must be a better way - allow changes but not redeposits. Or something.
In the other scenario, tell me what you would do: My wife is due 4 days after a trip that I really need to make (but obviously would not trump being there for the birth of my baby). She has gone early the last times (enough so that it would give me enough clearance to go). Do you know what a last minute ticket to Israel costs? I have every intention of using my award ticket unless the baby is not born yet.