Skymiles Change Rumor?
Mar 19, 2012, 3:45 pm
#107
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
Then shouldn't better rewards go to those that are more-profitable? Honestly...most of you claim to be business people. This is common sense.
Mar 19, 2012, 3:47 pm
#108
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
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Mar 19, 2012, 3:48 pm
#109
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
Mar 19, 2012, 3:48 pm
#110
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Canada
Programs: AS, DL, UA, Hyatt, SPG
Posts: 2,574
One random thought...
DL seems to like being in the business of selling miles - whether direct to consumers or to CCs or third party etc. At $800+ for 25,000 miles, I think you'd have to be out of your mind, but we digress.
How will DL reconcile that if miles are going to have a "per cent" cost in terms of redemption?
DL seems to like being in the business of selling miles - whether direct to consumers or to CCs or third party etc. At $800+ for 25,000 miles, I think you'd have to be out of your mind, but we digress.
How will DL reconcile that if miles are going to have a "per cent" cost in terms of redemption?
Mar 19, 2012, 3:50 pm
#111
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: DPS/DXB
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, BA Silver, A3 Gold, EK Gold, HH Gold, Sixt Dmd
Posts: 259
How much more can they devaluate Skypesos? Mile-for-mile it's already by far the least valuable relative to all the other major US airlines..
Mar 19, 2012, 3:50 pm
#112
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,490
I am particularly interested in how this will affect mileage earning on the AMEX side, and whether this will make the credit card side more or less appealing to customers
Mar 19, 2012, 3:50 pm
#113
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
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Which is precisely why SM is a FREQUENT FLYER program and not a high value customer program. In effect, to make the system revenue driven, it is no longer a frequent flyer program and is now a pay-to-play program. But, people sign up for FF programs, they don't sign up for pay-to-play programs unless they've got serious bucks to spend on plane tix which is the precise market, in many ways, that DL Private Jets cater to. As a result of this type of change, my guess is that we will see a reduction in the number of new SM members with this type of program as well. What's the benefit to the average joe flyer who takes 1-2 trips per year and hopes that with non-expiring SMs that over time, he'll be able to trade those SMs in for an award trip? Now you've discouraged that person from signing up and paying for a ticket that costs hundreds more than the low cost carrier where he also gets free bags(cough, WN). This could be deadly just here in ATL alone with WN moving in and trying to make a name for themselves.
Mar 19, 2012, 3:56 pm
#114
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
Mar 19, 2012, 3:56 pm
#115
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
Now you've discouraged that person from signing up and paying for a ticket that costs hundreds more than the low cost carrier where he also gets free bags(cough, WN). This could be deadly just here in ATL alone with WN moving in and trying to make a name for themselves.
Which happens to be THE airline that started with the revenue-based FF system.
Which happens to be THE airline that started with the revenue-based FF system.
Mar 19, 2012, 3:56 pm
#116
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Canada
Programs: AS, DL, UA, Hyatt, SPG
Posts: 2,574
Second, I have a problem with redemption even moreso than earning. If it means that the number of miles goes up into the several hundred thousands or even the millions to redeem for Intl TPAC/TATL J-Class as a result of redemptions being based on a per cent value against full J fares, then I'd say yes - there would be a problem here for many of us with such a fare-based system. In real terms, it could mean massive devaluing of skymiles - for which many people have been earning and saving for many years - by incredible factors. And presumably despite "paying" for that J fare with hundreds of thousands (millions?) of miles, one would not enjoy the flexibility that comes with buying a J fare in cash. @:-)
Mar 19, 2012, 3:58 pm
#117
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
I have NO IDEA how I would shake out in the new system (if it indeed comes about). However, I can see DL wanting to dump a bunch of LUT elites on whom they are wasting perks. If they can give those that are truly contributing high profit margins and monitize the rest, they might be much-better off than giving a year's worth of upgrades to someone that found a mistake fare to SIN and flew it 5 times.
Mar 19, 2012, 4:00 pm
#118
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: DL 4MM; DM
Posts: 1,397
Since I have leeway to book UP fares and full F, the 'acknowledgement' really doesn't mean much to me. But, I am aware, I am an outlier to this equation. I have been continuing to earn miles on DL because I am very close to 4MM. Presuming they don't take away the 'yearly complimentary PM status' that goes with it, that could be at least somewhat useful were I to decide to leave my current situation. I have been sorely tempted to try another airline at times. Especially since in a number of cases I have paid a premium to fly DL for those miles. Since I will have DM for 2013 locked in next month, this might be the perfect time to try a challenge/match with another airline--depending on what else they do to the program at DL (ie perhaps kill rollover, make miles more worthless etc.). Or not. Time will tell.
Mar 19, 2012, 4:01 pm
#119
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 380
I've been expecting this day for a while. Can't really blame Delta. If this is implemented, I am done with SM. Yes, I am a low-value, low-profit margin customer. But the fact is that those high-value customers will not fly weekends and holidays in seats left empty by me. Anyway, take a look at the discussion about Mileage Plus from last year, it's the same story all over.
Mar 19, 2012, 4:01 pm
#120
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Join Date: Oct 2011
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I like the system as it is, as it takes us to maximize earning opportunity.