AA_EXP09

That would be a bigger prize for bubbashow

mother-

What a masturbatory post!

It's nothing like any of those things. Nobody says don't reward the real high end! The answer is a special 5th tier, Porsche rides in ATL, that sort of thing. The problem here is that they plan on punishing everyone- HVCs are only better proportional to the rest. Even your $100k/yr DM flying on expensive fares gets no more reward out of this- they simply stay where they are on the one hand (DM) and lose on the other (redemption).

Additionally the RBTA is more like telling everyone you're only shipping them 1/8 as many units as they paid for.

PS So long as they only listen to the few people that account for that top fraction of a percent of their revenue they're missing the entire point. Kettles won't care, but the other 99% of Medallions really will, and they can ill afford to lose large numbers of us.

srm2710

Personally I wouldnt mind if they went to a rev based system all my tickets are last minute "bend over" fares...but charged to the end client.
Its all speculation at the moment lets see what happens. this thread is entertaining though

StayingHomeIsBetter

It is interesting to see how many folks are just focusing on Part A, the revenue-based qualification.

Are you equally sanguine about the prospects of having to shell out 2x or 3x what is currently required for award ticket redemptions?

waltinsocal

+1...finally after 929 posts, a post with logic and common sense which I am sure will be ignored by the whiners. And as far as upgrades go, people complain about lack of upgrades, but offer no solution. What do you expect DL to do, increase capacity again so as to provide folks here with more upgrades? That is not going to happen. Gone are the (ridiculous) days of flying half-full planes on too many routes. I am surprised that lasted as long as it did. It is unlikely capacity will grow, and the constantly packed planes, along with the numbers of Medallions out there, will continue to shrink the number of available upgrades. That is a fact of life, and is not confined to DL by the way. Folks it is 2012 not 1992.

mnredfox

Silence continues...

blug

Yes, my biggest worry is that DL may value SkyMiles at 1cpm and ask for 500k miles for a BE award ticket. And then DL brags like this: "we are the only US major airline that offers complete fairness and transparency to use miles -- the amount of miles is simply proportional to the ticket price!"

dcline414

Not sure if I qualify as a whiner, but I don't mind being vocal on the thread.

I am 100% confident I will be no worse off under a revenue-based program. I qualified for GM based on segments and paid over $275 per segment. I am not an HVC, as I do not fly international, multi-stop, or even transcontinental flights.

I don't mind not being solicited for input, and I don't expect special treatment or freebies from Delta. I know enough "true" DMs and HVC customers to understand why it would be completely irrational for Delta to call me up and ask what I think.

I have less than a 5% upgrade rate, have never been picked up in a Porsche, and had to pay for my SC membership. All expected and fair treatment of a lowly GM.

All I would like from Delta is the courtesy of knowing what their new rules are so that I can make informed decisions about future travel. The only reason I can think of that an official announcement about the alleged changes has not been made yet is that the details of the new program WOULD make profitable customers like me go elsewhere.

I was planning to attempt a move to UA before this rumor surfaced, as I feel that Delta is not being honest with their customers. I am intrigued by the rumored changes, as they seem like they could be fair and beneficial to me personally. But the way Delta is NOT handling this situation does not inspire confidence, or promote loyalty.

Just tell us what the changes are... I highly doubt that they are as bad for most people as the secrecy makes them seem. And those who might be hurt the most probably know that they have been lucky to get such great recognition for such little spend, and had to be glad that the party lasted as long as it has for them.

You made the rules Delta. If they don't work for you anymore, please change them... But please tell us what the new rules are so that we can plan accordingly. Otherwise a rational business traveler will begin to research other airlines, and just might find one they prefer, whether the rumors prove to be true or not!

stylo4444

Hmmm...I don't know if people are upset because of a lack of upgrades or it being harder to get upgrades. I think it's about the overall program, I know some people that have been a part of the SM program for many many years...and over time it seems as if things are getting harder overall. Maybe that's expected, I honestly do not know...I've been a part of SM since 2006 and over the last two years finally starting doing enough travel to hit FO and then GM within a few months. I do fine on my UG out of MCO, and if I can't get an UG...well i can't get an UG. Obviously there's a reason for it and its safe to assume it's because there are others ahead of me.

I think what people are upset about is the overall direction the program is heading in. UG is really only one part of the equation here. The way I look at it, it's not getting any cheaper to fly. The highest revenue customers ($100k a year and above let's say), how much of the SM customer base is this? 1%? 5%? 10%? A majority of us are not a part of that yet a good number have been loyal members for many years. So if the program is choosing to really reward those 5% or 10% of customers, and the rest are stuck at a level which does not reward their loyalty because hey guess what...you can't afford to spend as much as our top tier customers...what type of a signal does that really send?

Not only that, but it's always been incredibly difficult to book award travel with DL...and if the suggestion/rumor is that it will be even harder to let's say earn miles or the value of miles is going to decrease...is that really adding value to the program?

When you're in that top tier group that can spend a ton, and is not a majority of customers...it's easy to sit back and say oh well that's fine, DL can do whatever. But how about the rest? I think the rest have every right to express their displeasure...we care about the program and are concerned about the direction it is rumored to be heading in.

dcline414

Actually, my only concern is elite qualification requirements and benefits. For me personally, the hassle of using miles is more trouble than it is worth.

I would MUCH rather enjoy better elite perks (that I know cost Delta money to provide) than to collect miles that might be useful on future travel.

It would be nice to at least have the option of sacrificing RDMs in exchange for upgrades or MQMs if a pleasant travel experience while working is worth more than free leisure travel.

Dovster

I would not mind at all if DL awarded SkyMiles as follows:

1 SkyMile for every $10 spent for general members.
1.1 SkyMiles for every $10 spent for Silver Medallions.
1.25 SkyMiles for every $10 spent for Gold Medallions.
1.5 SkyMiles for every $10 spent for Platinum Medallions.
2 SkyMiles for every $10 spent for Diamond Medallions.

The kicker, however, would have to be that they can be spent on any Delta flight and on any fare which is for sale for that flight. Moreover, a flight for which these SkyMiles are used would earn the same number of MQMs as they would if cash had been spent.

stylo4444

Good post and well said.

The way this is being handled does not inspire much confidence. It would be nice to get a clear answer soon, some of us worked hard, traveled a lot, and even spent a good bit of our own money to be a part of the program and achieve Elite status. If the program is heading in a direction which is going to affect many of us...please let us know so we can think about whether we need to look at another direction.

I'd hate to look at another airline at MCO...AA is only great the top level, and I don't like the UA hubs at all. DL is good for me at the mid-level at MCO...ATL is only an hour flight away, and I like the overall product. As much as I'd like to remain a life-time member, if things go in a direction which affects me and I know I can get more out of another program and be happy...well, I won't hesitate to make that jump.

NWA012

Don't forget the 5th tier, Diamond Chairman.

MSPeconomist

So a TPAC M RT would earn about 1000 miles for a DM?????

TheMadBrewer

They don't even need to mention the rumor, all the need to say is "status earned in 2012 under the current rules will be honored in 2013"

I won't be happy if the program changes along the lines of the "rumor" but if they announce sometime this year what the earning and redemption rules will be next year, then I can make a rational decision.

Because they seem unwilling to say even thet -- and given their past track record -- I fear they are going to make drastic changes mid-year.