Skymiles Change Rumor?
Mar 21, 2012, 3:24 pm
#691
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: DCA, IAD, BWI
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Posts: 316
Mar 21, 2012, 3:27 pm
#692
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Twin Cities
Programs: Delta DM MM, IHG Plat, Hilton DM, Marriott SE, Emerald EE, Oakdale Gun Club, NRA & GOA Life Member
Posts: 3,870
The Loyalty Program is comprised of two projects that seek to increase revenue and customer loyalty along with
decreasing liability related to unused award miles. Coordinated communication to the general public regarding the
intentions of these changes is paramount to acceptance.
Revenue Based Mileage Accrual (RBMA) project shifts the basis for awarding miles to a revenue based accrual approach
Release 0: Support the communication/announcement of upcoming SkyMiles program changes (targeted 1Q12).
Will no longer display distance flown miles for departures after new miles accrual effective date (targeted for 3Q12)
Release 0.5: Provide Mileage Calculator to calculate approximate revenue based mileage accrual based on travel
after launch ((targeted 2Q12)
Release 1: Convert SkyMiles System from flown miles to revenue based mileage accrual (3Q12)
Release 2: Reward SkyMiles members with miles for all non-air purchases (i.e. SkyClub, Seats) (currently On Hold)
Fare Based Award Ticket Redemption (FBATR) project
Fast Track Release – Provides limited base functionality to align with the Polaris Chicago release timing
Phase I at Launch introduces Fare Based Award Redemption Model, Single Shopping Experience for Customer, New Award Inventory Controls, Cash + Miles Award Redemption Product, Award Redemption for OA, Modifications to the automated Award Refund, Redeposit, and Reissue and Exchange Process
Phase II – After Launch includes Bid for Price Award Redemption Product, Buy It Now Award Redemption Product, Volume Discount Award Redemption Product, Modifications to SkyMiles Branded Mileage Upgrade Products, and Modifications to SkyMiles System-Wide Upgrade Certificates
decreasing liability related to unused award miles. Coordinated communication to the general public regarding the
intentions of these changes is paramount to acceptance.
Revenue Based Mileage Accrual (RBMA) project shifts the basis for awarding miles to a revenue based accrual approach
Release 0: Support the communication/announcement of upcoming SkyMiles program changes (targeted 1Q12).
Will no longer display distance flown miles for departures after new miles accrual effective date (targeted for 3Q12)
Release 0.5: Provide Mileage Calculator to calculate approximate revenue based mileage accrual based on travel
after launch ((targeted 2Q12)
Release 1: Convert SkyMiles System from flown miles to revenue based mileage accrual (3Q12)
Release 2: Reward SkyMiles members with miles for all non-air purchases (i.e. SkyClub, Seats) (currently On Hold)
Fare Based Award Ticket Redemption (FBATR) project
Fast Track Release – Provides limited base functionality to align with the Polaris Chicago release timing
Phase I at Launch introduces Fare Based Award Redemption Model, Single Shopping Experience for Customer, New Award Inventory Controls, Cash + Miles Award Redemption Product, Award Redemption for OA, Modifications to the automated Award Refund, Redeposit, and Reissue and Exchange Process
Phase II – After Launch includes Bid for Price Award Redemption Product, Buy It Now Award Redemption Product, Volume Discount Award Redemption Product, Modifications to SkyMiles Branded Mileage Upgrade Products, and Modifications to SkyMiles System-Wide Upgrade Certificates
Mar 21, 2012, 3:37 pm
#693
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Planet Earth
Programs: | *G | STE | HGP ♦ | SPG Au | MR Au
Posts: 3,772
Mar 21, 2012, 3:40 pm
#694
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
...
My sense is that the best strategy here is a good offense. DL may not care about FT since we are a relatively isolated community. The do care about how they are perceived in other social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook. I say if we want to nip this in the bud now we should pluck the chickens, heat the tar and then head on over to more mainstream social media sites and have at this. I'd even consider a change.org petition drive (don't laugh, got some of the banks to back down on ATM fees).
If we're gonna talk the talk on this one we need to walk the walk.
My sense is that the best strategy here is a good offense. DL may not care about FT since we are a relatively isolated community. The do care about how they are perceived in other social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook. I say if we want to nip this in the bud now we should pluck the chickens, heat the tar and then head on over to more mainstream social media sites and have at this. I'd even consider a change.org petition drive (don't laugh, got some of the banks to back down on ATM fees).
If we're gonna talk the talk on this one we need to walk the walk.
Thank you!
The DL folks are checking in daily. Both SMI and Michelle were logged in earlier.
No doubt their monitoring restores their confidence that all that is going on here so far is talking, and no action has been catalyzed.
Your change.org petition suggestion has a lot of merit. Any mechanism with low or no start-up cost and public visibility is worth considering.
As I noted up-thread, only adverse publicity is likely to turn this around.
Mar 21, 2012, 3:43 pm
#695
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Planet Earth
Programs: | *G | STE | HGP ♦ | SPG Au | MR Au
Posts: 3,772
OMG...walk away from FT for a few days and Armageddon hits. 
My first reaction is (and was) to panic.
My second reaction was to say...let's map it out and see how I land. Problem is if I wait to map it out it may be too late.
Clearly SMI had had their lips stapled shut and every finger broken. I can't imagine what else would prompt them to ignore a firestorm that is clearly not dying down anytime soon.
My sense is that the best strategy here is a good offense. DL may not care about FT since we are a relatively isolated community. The do care about how they are perceived in other social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook. I say if we want to nip this in the bud now we should pluck the chickens, heat the tar and then head on over to more mainstream social media sites and have at this. I'd even consider a change.org petition drive (don't laugh, got some of the banks to back down on ATM fees).
If we're gonna talk the talk on this one we need to walk the walk.
My first reaction is (and was) to panic.
My second reaction was to say...let's map it out and see how I land. Problem is if I wait to map it out it may be too late.
Clearly SMI had had their lips stapled shut and every finger broken. I can't imagine what else would prompt them to ignore a firestorm that is clearly not dying down anytime soon.
My sense is that the best strategy here is a good offense. DL may not care about FT since we are a relatively isolated community. The do care about how they are perceived in other social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook. I say if we want to nip this in the bud now we should pluck the chickens, heat the tar and then head on over to more mainstream social media sites and have at this. I'd even consider a change.org petition drive (don't laugh, got some of the banks to back down on ATM fees).
If we're gonna talk the talk on this one we need to walk the walk.
In addition to doing that, I also feel that it would be wise to empty the bank and wait for the company to make their move before committing to anything. You need to know how to hit a company where it hurts.
FWIW, after this rumor started and I read confirmations from credible contributors, I am in the process of redeeming at least 1 million miles this year in an attempt to drain my mileage bank.
Mar 21, 2012, 3:43 pm
#696
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: ORD / MDW / FLL
Programs: DL DM/1MM, AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,295
^^^
Thank you!
The DL folks are checking in daily. Both SMI and Michelle were logged in earlier.
No doubt their monitoring restores their confidence that all that is going on here so far is talking, and no action has been catalyzed.
Your change.org petition suggestion has a lot of merit. Any mechanism with low or no start-up cost and public visibility is worth considering.
As I noted up-thread, only adverse publicity is likely to turn this around.
Thank you!
The DL folks are checking in daily. Both SMI and Michelle were logged in earlier.
No doubt their monitoring restores their confidence that all that is going on here so far is talking, and no action has been catalyzed.
Your change.org petition suggestion has a lot of merit. Any mechanism with low or no start-up cost and public visibility is worth considering.
As I noted up-thread, only adverse publicity is likely to turn this around.
I think this is a first...we agree!
Everyone should check out this thread on the UA board:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-movement.html
Folks over there are grabbing their pitch forks and trying to figure out how to publicize their frustrations. We SHOULD do the same.
Mar 21, 2012, 3:59 pm
#697
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
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Posts: 16,046
FAs are sexier IMO on DL.
Quite the contrary, they're adding LOWER (E-) fare buckets!
I wouldn't pay more for a ticket unless there was a defined benefit (i.e. earning more qualifying miles, earlier upgrade) that was worth the incremental cost. But right now we don't KNOW what changes are coming, or when they will be in effect. So I'm just holding off buying until I need to.
I was already frustrated with Delta's recent unannounced behind-the-scenes changes that we can all see, but they aren't acknowledging. If they have some wholesale changes coming soon that are going to be clearly spelled out, I'm eager to hear what the new rules are. They just might keep me flying Delta.
But all this hush-hush BS is getting really annoying, and certainly doesn't make me want to go out of my way to be loyal to Delta untill they tell us what the rules of their new game are!
I wouldn't pay more for a ticket unless there was a defined benefit (i.e. earning more qualifying miles, earlier upgrade) that was worth the incremental cost. But right now we don't KNOW what changes are coming, or when they will be in effect. So I'm just holding off buying until I need to.
I was already frustrated with Delta's recent unannounced behind-the-scenes changes that we can all see, but they aren't acknowledging. If they have some wholesale changes coming soon that are going to be clearly spelled out, I'm eager to hear what the new rules are. They just might keep me flying Delta.
But all this hush-hush BS is getting really annoying, and certainly doesn't make me want to go out of my way to be loyal to Delta untill they tell us what the rules of their new game are!
I agree, that they company should be more upfront.
Soon we might need to call the low fare flyers sLUT E flyers.
Mar 21, 2012, 4:00 pm
#698
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
I had confidence that you would come around sooner or later.
Everyone should check out this thread on the UA board:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-movement.html
Folks over there are grabbing their pitch forks and trying to figure out how to publicize their frustrations. We SHOULD do the same.
Any folks who had something to do with Save Sky Miles should be proud to see these posts in the UA thread:
In a response to a post that Smisek should be run off:
Leading to this response:
And there is this one:
And, can you imagine, at least one of our loyal DL management supporters is also over there deriding the folks who are trying to make a difference.
Everyone should check out this thread on the UA board:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-movement.html
Folks over there are grabbing their pitch forks and trying to figure out how to publicize their frustrations. We SHOULD do the same.
In a response to a post that Smisek should be run off:
Leading to this response:
And there is this one:
And, can you imagine, at least one of our loyal DL management supporters is also over there deriding the folks who are trying to make a difference.
Mar 21, 2012, 4:07 pm
#699
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
But you can't search for a specific fare bucket and have flexible dates (though once, miraculously, this did work for me, I even made a thread about it). If DL will try to make people buy higher fare buckets by giving out less than 100% MQM for lower fares, they'd better get those two options working together!
Mar 21, 2012, 4:10 pm
#700
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
But you can't search for a specific fare bucket and have flexible dates (though once, miraculously, this did work for me, I even made a thread about it). If DL will try to make people buy higher fare buckets by giving out less than 100% MQM for lower fares, they'd better get those two options working together!
Mar 21, 2012, 4:13 pm
#701
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,552
I don't see anything here that would necessarily change MQM earnings. With the way Delta has been trying to give away status lately, I don't see them messing with the status portion of their loyalty program. Now, I can see them doing something with RDMs. RDMs are a liability to them so I can understand them wanting to reduce the amount that are being held either through increase award amounts or decreased mileage earnings.
Mar 21, 2012, 4:16 pm
#702
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: PVD, BDL
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 478
Sometime last month toward the end of one particular week came the thread "DL announment coming up this monday". Anyone remember this one. Look at all the nonsense speculation it contained. Of course anyone who jumped on the conspiracy bandwagon was on a fools errand. The announcement was basically nothing. Do we ever learn?
Mar 21, 2012, 4:20 pm
#703
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: 16,275
Sometime last month toward the end of one particular week came the thread "DL announment coming up this monday". Anyone remember this one. Look at all the nonsense speculation it contained. Of course anyone who jumped on the conspiracy bandwagon was on a fools errand. The announcement was basically nothing. Do we ever learn?
Last edited by javabytes; Mar 21, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Mar 21, 2012, 4:33 pm
#704
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Thailand
Programs: DLPlat;AA,BA,US
Posts: 510
facebook has a Save SkyMiles site...
Searched facebook, found this site:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/search/re...10856793053045
http://www.facebook.com/#!/search/re...eskymiles.com/
Maybe a starter? @:-)
tj
http://www.facebook.com/#!/search/re...10856793053045
http://www.facebook.com/#!/search/re...eskymiles.com/
Maybe a starter? @:-)
tj
Mar 21, 2012, 4:44 pm
#705
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: DM
Posts: 1,067
^^^
Thank you!
The DL folks are checking in daily. Both SMI and Michelle were logged in earlier.
No doubt their monitoring restores their confidence that all that is going on here so far is talking, and no action has been catalyzed.
Your change.org petition suggestion has a lot of merit. Any mechanism with low or no start-up cost and public visibility is worth considering.
As I noted up-thread, only adverse publicity is likely to turn this around.
Thank you!
The DL folks are checking in daily. Both SMI and Michelle were logged in earlier.
No doubt their monitoring restores their confidence that all that is going on here so far is talking, and no action has been catalyzed.
Your change.org petition suggestion has a lot of merit. Any mechanism with low or no start-up cost and public visibility is worth considering.
As I noted up-thread, only adverse publicity is likely to turn this around.
The best defense is hysteria.
50 more pages coming right up.