Skymiles Change Rumor?
Jun 5, 2012, 12:28 pm
#2386
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,625
True. It's very definitely not DL-specific. I don't understand why airline execs are so enamored with revenue-based loyalty programs, but they are. Whatever they're smoking, they're passing it around!
Jun 5, 2012, 12:34 pm
#2387
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Therre's a new thread in the AF forum about changes in their redemption rates for intraEU flights. The idea basically is that fees are being lowered (no YQ) and low coach is available for generally approximately the same number of miles as before. Then there are two more levels of coach ward tickets based on inventory. The big change seems to be that business class award tickets will now, at low level, cost three times (versus two times before today) as much as low coach, and go up to as much as six times as low coach, although this seems to be speculation. Hence, a low business class award ticket within Europe will cost close to as many miles as a business class TATL low award ticket.
Jun 5, 2012, 2:47 pm
#2388
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Hertz Plat
Posts: 1,224
This week I heard directly from a Delta Exec that there is going to be a level above DM based on revenue. This was part of a conversation about my roll over making it possible to not fly Delta for three years and maintaining DM status and how this diminishes program benefit for their best customers.
).
Jun 5, 2012, 3:06 pm
#2389
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
This week I heard directly from a Delta Exec that there is going to be a level above DM based on revenue. This was part of a conversation about my roll over making it possible to not fly Delta for three years and maintaining DM status and how this diminishes program benefit for their best customers.
Some other notes.
Many Delta employees have read this thread can not comment because they aren't close to what the new program will look like yet, that any detail they offer could be changed. They regularly sketch program ideas as part of workgroups, some tame, some radical changes. It's not unusual or unique to Delta and doesn't indicate changes.
Lower Tiers will still be mileage based and RDM earned will be based on the same.
While GS and CK may offer different, but not necessarily better benefits for HVC than DM, Delta realizes that perception is reality and people like to be a part of something exclusive. This will allow them to attract more HVC.
New level will have upgrade priority over DM.
Some other notes.
Many Delta employees have read this thread can not comment because they aren't close to what the new program will look like yet, that any detail they offer could be changed. They regularly sketch program ideas as part of workgroups, some tame, some radical changes. It's not unusual or unique to Delta and doesn't indicate changes.
Lower Tiers will still be mileage based and RDM earned will be based on the same.
While GS and CK may offer different, but not necessarily better benefits for HVC than DM, Delta realizes that perception is reality and people like to be a part of something exclusive. This will allow them to attract more HVC.
New level will have upgrade priority over DM.
Jun 5, 2012, 3:35 pm
#2390
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,278
Jun 5, 2012, 4:16 pm
#2391
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: Fallen DL DM (PM) 2MM
Posts: 4,783
I'd say we know three things:
1) Delta has been conducting surveys about possible Skymiles changes. (I was one of the people surveyed.);
2) Delta issued a help wanted notice and the job description in that notice seemed to indicate that the successful candidate(s) would be involved in changing Skymiles;
3) No substantive changes have happened thus far this year. (I don't consider the rollout of EC to domestic flights to be substantive.)
1) Delta has been conducting surveys about possible Skymiles changes. (I was one of the people surveyed.);
2) Delta issued a help wanted notice and the job description in that notice seemed to indicate that the successful candidate(s) would be involved in changing Skymiles;
3) No substantive changes have happened thus far this year. (I don't consider the rollout of EC to domestic flights to be substantive.)
FWIW
Jun 5, 2012, 4:19 pm
#2392
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: Fallen DL DM (PM) 2MM
Posts: 4,783
Jun 5, 2012, 4:39 pm
#2393
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
10 minutes BEFORE? 
Based on how they normally implement changes, here's how it will actually go:
Based on how they normally implement changes, here's how it will actually go:
- IT will load the updates without telling customers or employees
- There will be a million confused/upset/threatening FT posts the next day
- We'll finally come to some sort of understanding about what changes were made and how badly we get screwed over
- SMI will do a hit and run confirming everything we already figured out and telling us that it actually makes things better (then never answer specific questions that come up afterwards)*
- We will inform the front line employees about the changes
- A week or two later they will get a memo announcing the changes
Jun 5, 2012, 5:05 pm
#2394
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: DM
Posts: 1,067
While I feel the items you mentioned are more than likely ideas that made it out of a idea session, Delta already has revenue based mileage accrual. The Delta AMEX is one of them.
Jun 5, 2012, 5:28 pm
#2395
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,278
). But I'm still leery because of its evil twin fare based award travel redemption...
Jun 5, 2012, 9:14 pm
#2396
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
I suppose it is a possibility that air travel remains mileage based wile DL introduces new ways of earning miles that are revenue-based (such as SkyClub membership purchases... x miles per $. Preferred seat fees. Or maybe even bag fees. Might convince people to hate bag fees less, which would be marketing genius. They could even offer mileage booster on bag fees. Pay us $35 instead of $25 for your checked bag and we'll give you 1,000 extra miles. ). But I'm still leery because of its evil twin fare based award travel redemption...
). But I'm still leery because of its evil twin fare based award travel redemption...
Jun 5, 2012, 11:59 pm
#2397
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Beverly Hills, CA
Programs: DL DM & 2MM, UA-PE, AA
Posts: 1,074
This week I heard directly from a Delta Exec that there is going to be a level above DM based on revenue. ...
Lower Tiers will still be mileage based and RDM earned will be based on the same.
While GS and CK may offer different, but not necessarily better benefits for HVC than DM, Delta realizes that perception is reality and people like to be a part of something exclusive. This will allow them to attract more HVC.
New level will have upgrade priority over DM.
Lower Tiers will still be mileage based and RDM earned will be based on the same.
While GS and CK may offer different, but not necessarily better benefits for HVC than DM, Delta realizes that perception is reality and people like to be a part of something exclusive. This will allow them to attract more HVC.
New level will have upgrade priority over DM.
Jun 6, 2012, 7:18 am
#2398
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,860
How dare a DM ride in coach with a lowly PM upgraded to First Class. Imagine the utter horror of riding in the seat which was paid for. 
The coporate contracts are the primary battleground, along with the handful of high spend customers that control their travel. The rest of the elites are merely fungible self loading cargo, and each airline tailors its program to retain its share of those. Then you fill in the remaining seats with the general public, whom at the end of the day provides the entirety of the airline's net profit via bag and other fees.
David
Jun 6, 2012, 7:21 am
#2399
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mesilla, NM
Programs: DL DM 4.7 MM MQM Marriott Ambassador Lifetime Titanium AA CK
Posts: 2,714
The rest of the elites are merely fungible self loading cargo, and each airline tailors its program to retain its share of those. Then you fill in the remaining seats with the general public, whom at the end of the day provides the entirety of the airline's net profit via bag and other fees.
David
David
Jun 9, 2012, 8:16 pm
#2400
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Capping off the max. value customers get out of the DL "loyalty" program miles at around 1 cent per mile is not going to make the DL "loyalty" program more attractive.