Skymiles Change Rumor?
#766
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
It really depends on what fare-based award ticket redemption means. If it's tied to the cash cost of a ticket, I don't think there's any conversion ratio that would avoid taking a TATL J from 100K current miles to a at least a couple times that in current miles converted to new currency.
After all, they have already used that dodge once to their advantage.
Those of us who have been around long enough will remember the last wholesale devaluation of mileage accounts. We were told then that "Old miles will always be old miles."
That lasted a few years, and then "always" took on a different contextual meaning.
#767
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
I started visiting FT last year and witness the majority members become manic and behave like a toxic relationship - they become more and more agitated that DL won't engage in dialog. Similar to a jilted lover or in many examples, a stalker!
Take a look at this thread, T72, etc. Insults, name calling, irrational demands, it's all there and if I worked for DL I wouldn't wanna stir the pot.
They're (Delta) gonna do what they're gonna do and at that time, I decide what I'm gonna do. Until then, I'll read, search and satisfy my curiosity but it's not gonna get under my skin until I have all of the facts.
Seriously folks, how would you like it if I came after you at your job the way you go after DL reps? Really, that's conversation in your world?
Take a look at this thread, T72, etc. Insults, name calling, irrational demands, it's all there and if I worked for DL I wouldn't wanna stir the pot.
They're (Delta) gonna do what they're gonna do and at that time, I decide what I'm gonna do. Until then, I'll read, search and satisfy my curiosity but it's not gonna get under my skin until I have all of the facts.
Seriously folks, how would you like it if I came after you at your job the way you go after DL reps? Really, that's conversation in your world?
Thank God someone else is making sense.
I can't imagine 1/2 of the people on here having any real-world business experience or dealing with customers. The level of crazy is off the charts when dealing with DL. It's a business!
#768
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: Now just a lowly DL PM/1MM. This industry needs some competition. It's just not enjoyable anymore.
Posts: 3,543
#769
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: BOSish
Programs: DL PM / MM, Nat'l EE
Posts: 449
I don't get it. If benefits are strictly proportional to dollars spent, then how does this incentivize me to spend more? I am not going to spend $500 more than I have to for a ticket in order to get $50 or $100 worth of benefits. I may do it for benefits that I value at more than $500, but then how likely is Delta going to be able to consistently offer me that level of benefits and increase their profit margin at the same time? Making a rewards program based solely on dollars spent puts pressure on the airline to deliver more value to the customer for their dollar or risk having a rewards program that truly is just an added cost that does nothing to promulgate customer loyalty.
This all comes down to understanding consumer behavior / psychology and what makes someone feel better about the entirety of the Delta flying experience to such an extent that they'll become attached to flying Delta and spend more with Delta than they would have otherwise.
This all comes down to understanding consumer behavior / psychology and what makes someone feel better about the entirety of the Delta flying experience to such an extent that they'll become attached to flying Delta and spend more with Delta than they would have otherwise.
With a revenue based program that only sees YBM customers as beneficial, none of this would likely have happened. I would likely have just chosen the cheapest price vs. sticking with one carrier for the possible benefits.
#770
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
Yep. Delta is a business alright. A business that often promulgates lies and half-truths (see above). No wonder people on here are so antsy. Delta's past actions (over and over again) made them so.
#771
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: ORD / MDW / FLL
Programs: DL DM/1MM, AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,295
Pot calling Kettle. Pot calling Kettle. Come in Kettle. I have something I need to tell you.
Not that you necessarily intended it this way, but I hope you understand this comment is a bit sexist on quite a few levels.
#772
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
So I was a lifetime FO as a 1MM (because I hit that threshold back in the 1990's). But now, as a recent 2MM, I am an "annual complementary" GM.
I have wondered... if they do away to the "annual complementary" benefits, do I revert to being a lifetime FO? Of course, by then, they will likely be requiring the FOs to serve as baggage loaders before allowing them to board.
Of course, "lifetime" has various and sometimes unusual meanings in the DL management vernacular. Flying Colonels were originally told that they would have lifetime Crown Room membership. So, when it comes to "lifetime"... YMMV.
#773
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: MCN
Posts: 179
Look, due to SOX, SEC rules, etc., a publicly-traded company like Delta is not going to announce (or even hint at) serious changes to SkyMiles that would have a material impact on their balance sheet (eg their giant liability in unredeemed SkyMiles) in a message board thread. They'll announce what they want to announce when they're ready in a press release and coordinated website roll-out, and not a millisecond before.
So feel free to speculate away, but anyone who actually knows anything isn't going to say jack, lest they get to spend some quality time in Martha Stewart's old jail cell for a while.
So feel free to speculate away, but anyone who actually knows anything isn't going to say jack, lest they get to spend some quality time in Martha Stewart's old jail cell for a while.
#774
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: Formally TPAbound/Delta Diamond 1MM/Hilton Diamond/Marriott Silver/Priority Club Gold
Posts: 270
Hmmmm....thought that was you. Absolutely hilarious comments made by someone who has a history with "The Hog Incident". No wonder the reference made to "roll in the mud".
#776
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: DL DM; DL AMEX Reserve; HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,984
#777
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,192
Look, due to SOX, SEC rules, etc., a publicly-traded company like Delta is not going to announce (or even hint at) serious changes to SkyMiles that would have a material impact on their balance sheet (eg their giant liability in unredeemed SkyMiles) in a message board thread. They'll announce what they want to announce when they're ready in a press release and coordinated website roll-out, and not a millisecond before.
So feel free to speculate away, but anyone who actually knows anything isn't going to say jack, lest they get to spend some quality time in Martha Stewart's old jail cell for a while.
So feel free to speculate away, but anyone who actually knows anything isn't going to say jack, lest they get to spend some quality time in Martha Stewart's old jail cell for a while.
We started moving customers away from UA to DL a few months ago, but with the new DL rules on reward and upgrade ticket changes and now the uncertainty of where SM is headed, we are going to start moving customers to AA, especially given their D-EQM programs where our customers can ramp up their status quickly.
I know my customers are already unhappy with this level of uncertainty and it's my responsibility to communicate this sort of information to them so informed decisions can be made about upcoming travel budgets.
When the 'revenue based' rumors hit UA, there was no comment from the company either - but all we had to work with was the unsubstantiated information from one source which the company jokingly poked at when the 2012 program was finally announced. This situation, with descriptive job orders and project names is completely different and Delta needs to be very careful here. I'm amazed how they didn't consider this information would get out and make its way over here.
#778
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YQR
Programs: Aeroplan - E75, Delta Sky Miles - Silver, HHonors - Gold, Club Carlson Silver
Posts: 561
Wowza - 2 day hiatus, and this gong show is still rolling with steam!
I am guessing that DL has figured out that they need to communicate ASAP, or maybe not... might have been in their interest NOT to put their name on some of the job postings, etc, but maybe it was their way of getting around SEC rules??? Let it out, people rebel before it actualy happens, then when it goes through everyone just lies down and takes it. May also be connected to the bigger gonger over at UA/CO right now - like how bad news from government comes out during disasters...
I am guessing that DL has figured out that they need to communicate ASAP, or maybe not... might have been in their interest NOT to put their name on some of the job postings, etc, but maybe it was their way of getting around SEC rules??? Let it out, people rebel before it actualy happens, then when it goes through everyone just lies down and takes it. May also be connected to the bigger gonger over at UA/CO right now - like how bad news from government comes out during disasters...
#779
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
...
When the 'revenue based' rumors hit UA, there was no comment from the company either - but all we had to work with was the unsubstantiated information from one source which the company jokingly poked at when the 2012 program was finally announced. This situation, with descriptive job orders and project names is completely different and Delta needs to be very careful here. I'm amazed how they didn't consider this information would get out and make its way over here.
When the 'revenue based' rumors hit UA, there was no comment from the company either - but all we had to work with was the unsubstantiated information from one source which the company jokingly poked at when the 2012 program was finally announced. This situation, with descriptive job orders and project names is completely different and Delta needs to be very careful here. I'm amazed how they didn't consider this information would get out and make its way over here.
And, more generally, DL management has not demonstrated an acute awareness that the laws of cause and effect sometimes produce negative results.
#780
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
Posts: 68,925
I just took a look at 3 itineraries, all (non-stop) TLV-JFK-TLV:
The first leaves on April 8 (it gets into JFK on Easter Monday, when many businesses are closed) and returns on April 13 (arriving in TLV on Saturday, when everything is closed). Price for M fare: $2618.60.
The second leaves on April 16 (Monday) and returns on April 22 (the following Monday). No M fares are offered. The lowest available price is C at $4809.
However, if you want to leave TLV two days later (April 18 -- Wednesday), meaning that there are only two business days left in the week, and stay until April 25 (arriving on Thursday afternoon, giving you only 1 Israeli business day), M is available at $2543.00.
In short, reasonable M fares can be had, but you have to look for the days when businessmen don't want to travel.