Skymiles Change Rumor?
#841
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: 21,624
*The lowest fares do provide a very slightly better redemption value in a fare-based programs, because the taxes, which are mostly avoided when you redeem an award, are a higher percentage of the cash ticket price.
#842
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Wherever I happen to be....
Programs: DL EOS...
Posts: 1,111
Something's afoot, dunno what, when or where but when I do, that'll be the moment I can actually do something about it...
#843
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: DL DM; DL AMEX Reserve; HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,984
The problem is many of us have hundreds of thousands or millions of miles in our accounts that could become functionally useless in an instant. We would prefer some transparency to know how to best proceed, but that is not in the best interest of DL's bottom line (as the AMEX gift card redemption mileage increase can attest)
#844
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CONUS
Posts: 474
What makes it difficult is the inability to control the message. You don't want a social media presence in which you are being slammed. Afterall, it is a marketing tool. I know where I work, we didn't have the resources to monitor our social media 24/7, so we eliminated the ability to blindly post to our Facebook - for two reasons 1) we didn't want a negative message to hold for any length of time 2) we didn't want uncompensated marketing messages. I am sure Dl doesn't have the human resources to sit and monitor FT when they have their own social media outlets. With the hostility that has been readily displayed on here, I can understand their unwillingness to even embark on communication.
Delta's presence on Twitter has proven very beneficial to the company - and customers. Nasty postings are quickly responded to and, more importantly, Delta Twitter representatives take control of the situation. There have been a few articles praising Delta's social media presence and game plan on Twitter.
No one's saying the SkyMiles folks need to equal Delta's twitter team but their near silence and lack of proactive communication only hurts the program and the airline.
#845
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: LAS
Programs: PA FT, TW Gold, NW/CO PE, VK Eagleflyer
Posts: 7,173
#846
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
Fares paid versus miles flown creates an inherent conflict of interest for anyone who flies on the client's dime.
#847
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: DL DM; DL AMEX Reserve; HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,984
The problem is many of us have hundreds of thousands or millions of miles in our accounts that could become functionally useless in an instant. We would prefer some transparency to know how to best proceed, but that is not in the best interest of DL's bottom line (as the AMEX gift card redemption mileage increase can attest)
#848
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: HSV
Programs: HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 880
Wow. Just got back from the United board. There are some epic threads going on over there right now.
A lot of those folks are really unhappy with the new, improved UA.
SO... with United looking like a dumpster fire, maybe DL thinks the timing is perfect to spring this change on the SM program?
"Where are they gonna go? US?" is probably what a lot of the DL executives are thinking.
(Sorry if someone already posted this earlier in the thread.)
A lot of those folks are really unhappy with the new, improved UA.
SO... with United looking like a dumpster fire, maybe DL thinks the timing is perfect to spring this change on the SM program?
"Where are they gonna go? US?" is probably what a lot of the DL executives are thinking.
(Sorry if someone already posted this earlier in the thread.)
#849
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,397
I like how the A.net thread has died while this one burns on, though nothing has come out from DL on this.
#850
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: 16,277
#852
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: HSV
Programs: HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 880
Some of us, myself included, would probably still be discussing the WorldPerks program. Or we would be dreading the upcoming NW-UA merger
#853
#854
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
#855
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