Skymiles Change Rumor?
May 18, 2012, 5:23 pm
#2221
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rockin' the Bakken
Programs: Several
Posts: 978
May 18, 2012, 6:29 pm
#2222
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,953
Ran into delta execs
What were you driving? 
May 18, 2012, 6:40 pm
#2223
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta GM, Marriott Platinum, Hertz 5*
Posts: 2,530
May 18, 2012, 7:17 pm
#2224
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,423
Is this the same guy who said the award calendar would get fixed in the coming year?
May 18, 2012, 7:29 pm
#2225
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 19
A few days ago I was on the phone with the Diamond Desk, and mentioned the rumors. He did say that a completely new reservation system was supposed to be delivered to them this Fall.
I bet it's coming, and when it does I'll completely walk away from Delta. What they don't understand is that if they do a program like Southwests', people will just start buying the cheapest flights, and 95% of the time Delta is not the cheapest.
The future of airline travel will be purely price based, with Delta and the other legacy carriers taking a hit. If I was at Southwest I'd be excited for the changes... I think their business will boom soon.
I bet it's coming, and when it does I'll completely walk away from Delta. What they don't understand is that if they do a program like Southwests', people will just start buying the cheapest flights, and 95% of the time Delta is not the cheapest.
The future of airline travel will be purely price based, with Delta and the other legacy carriers taking a hit. If I was at Southwest I'd be excited for the changes... I think their business will boom soon.
May 18, 2012, 7:29 pm
#2226
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: So Fla & NYC
Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA MM, BV LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 23,766
Theirs is, or should be, increasing the number on the bottom line and they have come to the conclusion that the current system fosters too many low value Medallions occupying, in this environment, too many seats at low fares.
This is the reality, this is IMO the way it will go with every airline company and we will just need to learn how to deal with it.
May 18, 2012, 7:50 pm
#2228
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: OMA / MUC
Programs: Former NW PE, now DL DM
Posts: 1,006
May 18, 2012, 7:51 pm
#2229
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rockin' the Bakken
Programs: Several
Posts: 978
May 18, 2012, 7:59 pm
#2230
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 19
True, to a point. But I predict an even bigger increase in this. Basically all personal travel will go to pure price. ex. If I was flying DEN-PVG and UA was 150 bucks cheaper, I'd choose them and not care about miles because thay are worthless. In the current setup, I'd choose DL and pay a little more to get the miles.
May 18, 2012, 8:13 pm
#2231
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta GM, Marriott Platinum, Hertz 5*
Posts: 2,530
May 18, 2012, 8:19 pm
#2232
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: OMA / MUC
Programs: Former NW PE, now DL DM
Posts: 1,006
May 18, 2012, 8:21 pm
#2233
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,497
I ran into Jeff Robertson today.
Alas, the topic of conversation was him asking about where I took all the pictures that are in my cubicle and how he thought they were great shots (as well as him saying I should head down to CPT).
Alas, the topic of conversation was him asking about where I took all the pictures that are in my cubicle and how he thought they were great shots (as well as him saying I should head down to CPT).
May 18, 2012, 8:26 pm
#2234
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: The District
Programs: DL,AA SPG Plat
Posts: 352
As another poster said airlines will be shooting themselves in the foot if they implament a revenue based system. I understand that the airlines want to reward their best customers ie high spenders. However, they are forgetting the lower spenders who help fill up the seats and are brand loyal because of the FFP. I am not a huge spender burning haven't flown a non ST airline in years. That's because I dont mind the skymiles program and have had good redemptions. But if the miles weren't a factor I would have flown the cheapest and the most convenient. The airlines are forgetting that there are people like me who are nearly blindly loyal however that can change very quickly.
May 18, 2012, 9:16 pm
#2235
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: IND
Programs: DL Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 96
As another poster said airlines will be shooting themselves in the foot if they implament a revenue based system. I understand that the airlines want to reward their best customers ie high spenders. However, they are forgetting the lower spenders who help fill up the seats and are brand loyal because of the FFP. I am not a huge spender burning haven't flown a non ST airline in years. That's because I dont mind the skymiles program and have had good redemptions. But if the miles weren't a factor I would have flown the cheapest and the most convenient. The airlines are forgetting that there are people like me who are nearly blindly loyal however that can change very quickly.