Air France (AF) ends upgradeable seats from Premium W
Sep 17, 2012, 7:13 am
#91
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New York, western US
Programs: DM/3MM
Posts: 4,246
What this really highlights is that the SWUs, given to DL's most highly valued clients, are basically worthless. At the fares that DL requires for TATL upgrade, I can often buy a J ticket directly on another carrier. Aside from upgrade priority on US domestic flights, the SWUs were really, for me personally, the only other valuable Diamond benefit. (For those who point out club access, I'd rather pay for club access and have better upgrade benefits.)
Sep 17, 2012, 9:46 am
#92
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: DL DM; SPG Gold
Posts: 1,733
Below is the response from DL to an email I sent them to:
1. express discontent in the discontinuation of the W to O upgrade program
2. complain about the lack of communication from DL on this
3. indicate that delta.com still lists W to O upgrade program as a benefit, at least for SWU use.
In my email, I asked for commercial gesture for flyers who already hold a W reservation and are trying to upgrade (such as re-booking on DL metal with possibility to apply a SWU).
No luck of course. I find their last sentence interesting : "I hope with all the hours you have invested in Delta Air Lines, you will continue to protect that investment and fly with us. "
I have to say, for the first time, I am actually considering leaving Skymiles for AA and OW...
Dear Dr. vgb2001,
RE: Case Number 7096254
Thank you for your additional comments concerning our recent exchange of
e-mails.
While we would like to offer special consideration due to the policy
change on upgrades with Air France, we are unable to honor the similar
requests that we receive from others in equally deserving situations. We
follow a consistent policy to ensure that we are fair to everyone who
travels with us. Accordingly, we must respectfully decline your request
to be upgraded on a Delta operated flight to Paris this week using
SkyMiles or SystemWide Upgrade Certificates. Our delta.com team is in
the process of getting our website updated.
I hope with all the hours you have invested in Delta Air Lines, you will
continue to protect that investment and fly with us.
Sincerely,
Alex Taylor
Medallion Desk
www.delta.com
1. express discontent in the discontinuation of the W to O upgrade program
2. complain about the lack of communication from DL on this
3. indicate that delta.com still lists W to O upgrade program as a benefit, at least for SWU use.
In my email, I asked for commercial gesture for flyers who already hold a W reservation and are trying to upgrade (such as re-booking on DL metal with possibility to apply a SWU).
No luck of course. I find their last sentence interesting : "I hope with all the hours you have invested in Delta Air Lines, you will continue to protect that investment and fly with us. "
I have to say, for the first time, I am actually considering leaving Skymiles for AA and OW...
Dear Dr. vgb2001,
RE: Case Number 7096254
Thank you for your additional comments concerning our recent exchange of
e-mails.
While we would like to offer special consideration due to the policy
change on upgrades with Air France, we are unable to honor the similar
requests that we receive from others in equally deserving situations. We
follow a consistent policy to ensure that we are fair to everyone who
travels with us. Accordingly, we must respectfully decline your request
to be upgraded on a Delta operated flight to Paris this week using
SkyMiles or SystemWide Upgrade Certificates. Our delta.com team is in
the process of getting our website updated.
I hope with all the hours you have invested in Delta Air Lines, you will
continue to protect that investment and fly with us.
Sincerely,
Alex Taylor
Medallion Desk
www.delta.com
for getting rid of SWUs on KLM metal too. was planning on using that to KUL later.
Sep 17, 2012, 10:21 am
#96
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: OKC
Programs: DL DM/2.768MM, Global Entry, Titanium_Marriott, GHertz
Posts: 6,752
Sep 17, 2012, 11:03 am
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,206
Because upgrades on KLM from M or U also book into O inventory.
As for RTW, that requires the low award levels, which would also use O on AF... so it looks like that will be extremely hard to find as well.
As for RTW, that requires the low award levels, which would also use O on AF... so it looks like that will be extremely hard to find as well.
Sep 17, 2012, 12:05 pm
#98
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: JFK
Programs: Delta GM, ST E+, SPG Gold
Posts: 141
Has this policy been adopted "officially" by Delta/AF? If so, how EXTREMELY disappointing.
I've been a loyal GM for the past three years. 2012 will mark the first time I become a PM. Since I frequently fly to Europe, I prefer AF/KL. I was looking forward to using SWU's...and now....this.
Is there any incentive to remain in the Skymiles program? Why not switch to AA, UA or one of the MANY Star Alliance partners?
I've been a loyal GM for the past three years. 2012 will mark the first time I become a PM. Since I frequently fly to Europe, I prefer AF/KL. I was looking forward to using SWU's...and now....this.
Is there any incentive to remain in the Skymiles program? Why not switch to AA, UA or one of the MANY Star Alliance partners?
Last edited by upgradeluvr; Sep 17, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Sep 17, 2012, 12:13 pm
#99
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: DL DM PM
Posts: 2,034
Below is the response from DL to an email I sent them to:
1. express discontent in the discontinuation of the W to O upgrade program
2. complain about the lack of communication from DL on this
3. indicate that delta.com still lists W to O upgrade program as a benefit, at least for SWU use.
In my email, I asked for commercial gesture for flyers who already hold a W reservation and are trying to upgrade (such as re-booking on DL metal with possibility to apply a SWU).
No luck of course. I find their last sentence interesting : "I hope with all the hours you have invested in Delta Air Lines, you will continue to protect that investment and fly with us. "
I have to say, for the first time, I am actually considering leaving Skymiles for AA and OW...
Dear Dr. vgb2001,
RE: Case Number 7096254
Thank you for your additional comments concerning our recent exchange of
e-mails.
While we would like to offer special consideration due to the policy
change on upgrades with Air France, we are unable to honor the similar
requests that we receive from others in equally deserving situations. We
follow a consistent policy to ensure that we are fair to everyone who
travels with us. Accordingly, we must respectfully decline your request
to be upgraded on a Delta operated flight to Paris this week using
SkyMiles or SystemWide Upgrade Certificates. Our delta.com team is in
the process of getting our website updated.
I hope with all the hours you have invested in Delta Air Lines, you will
continue to protect that investment and fly with us.
Sincerely,
Alex Taylor
Medallion Desk
www.delta.com
1. express discontent in the discontinuation of the W to O upgrade program
2. complain about the lack of communication from DL on this
3. indicate that delta.com still lists W to O upgrade program as a benefit, at least for SWU use.
In my email, I asked for commercial gesture for flyers who already hold a W reservation and are trying to upgrade (such as re-booking on DL metal with possibility to apply a SWU).
No luck of course. I find their last sentence interesting : "I hope with all the hours you have invested in Delta Air Lines, you will continue to protect that investment and fly with us. "
I have to say, for the first time, I am actually considering leaving Skymiles for AA and OW...
Dear Dr. vgb2001,
RE: Case Number 7096254
Thank you for your additional comments concerning our recent exchange of
e-mails.
While we would like to offer special consideration due to the policy
change on upgrades with Air France, we are unable to honor the similar
requests that we receive from others in equally deserving situations. We
follow a consistent policy to ensure that we are fair to everyone who
travels with us. Accordingly, we must respectfully decline your request
to be upgraded on a Delta operated flight to Paris this week using
SkyMiles or SystemWide Upgrade Certificates. Our delta.com team is in
the process of getting our website updated.
I hope with all the hours you have invested in Delta Air Lines, you will
continue to protect that investment and fly with us.
Sincerely,
Alex Taylor
Medallion Desk
www.delta.com
Sep 17, 2012, 12:36 pm
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,206
Well, it seems if you fly intl and want to use upgrade instruments on any of those flights, then no. If you fly solely domestic on high fare tickets, then yes as you still may be able to get upgrades... however that is getting fewer and farther between with FCM in maximum force.
Sep 17, 2012, 12:39 pm
#101
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: DL DM; SPG Gold
Posts: 1,733
A memo was sent last week. So it's official. However, as of this morning, delta.com had not been updated and no email was sent to skymiles users to warn them of the change. For all we know, people might still be buying W on Delta or Air France with the goal to upgrade to O.
Sep 17, 2012, 1:15 pm
#102
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Rotterdam, NL
Programs: Flying Blue (AF/KL)
Posts: 4,711
To a certain extent I can see it from the AF/FB point of view. We had a benefit that FB's own elites didn't have (the ability to upgrade from a DL W fare.) But if the changes end up being more extensive/restrictive than that, then AF/KL becomes a less valuable partner for DL flyers.
Which benefits do FB members get travelling on Delta?
The only thing I can think of is that they are eligible for upgrades too but as their priority seems to be low it would appear that they are not upgraded frequently.
On the FB board it is frequently discussed that it is quite difficult to get awards on Delta. Based on that, I can understand that FB has reduced availability for SM members (based on the idea why should we make availability for SM members while Delta does not make availability for FB members).
Gajan
Sep 17, 2012, 1:29 pm
#103
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New York, western US
Programs: DM/3MM
Posts: 4,246
I can understand your point, but will answer with a question:
Which benefits do FB members get travelling on Delta?
The only thing I can think of is that they are eligible for upgrades too but as their priority seems to be low it would appear that they are not upgraded frequently.
On the FB board it is frequently discussed that it is quite difficult to get awards on Delta. Based on that, I can understand that FB has reduced availability for SM members (based on the idea why should we make availability for SM members while Delta does not make availability for FB members).
Gajan
Which benefits do FB members get travelling on Delta?
The only thing I can think of is that they are eligible for upgrades too but as their priority seems to be low it would appear that they are not upgraded frequently.
On the FB board it is frequently discussed that it is quite difficult to get awards on Delta. Based on that, I can understand that FB has reduced availability for SM members (based on the idea why should we make availability for SM members while Delta does not make availability for FB members).
Gajan
What I was trying to point out was the larger issue in that aside from upgrade priority on domestic/N America flights, there really aren't much in the way of tangible benefits (for me) for being Diamond on Delta, and the SWUs had real value. The SWUs used to have true value (which is why their distribution was limited), then after Delta raised their TATL M fares much higher, they didn't. (Jeff Robertson on this board (prior to the AF benefit) said that 85% or so of SWUs, issued only to Platinums and Diamonds, expired unused.) The AF usage made them valuable once more. No, not so much.
Sep 17, 2012, 1:54 pm
#104
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: LAS
Programs: PA FT, TW Gold, NW/CO PE, VK Eagleflyer
Posts: 7,173
IOn the FB board it is frequently discussed that it is quite difficult to get awards on Delta. Based on that, I can understand that FB has reduced availability for SM members (based on the idea why should we make availability for SM members while Delta does not make availability for FB members).
Sep 17, 2012, 2:05 pm
#105
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: FRA
Programs: FB Plat & DL KM, Le Club Plat, GHA Plat, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,591
I can understand your point, but will answer with a question:
Which benefits do FB members get travelling on Delta?
The only thing I can think of is that they are eligible for upgrades too but as their priority seems to be low it would appear that they are not upgraded frequently.
On the FB board it is frequently discussed that it is quite difficult to get awards on Delta. Based on that, I can understand that FB has reduced availability for SM members (based on the idea why should we make availability for SM members while Delta does not make availability for FB members).
Gajan
Which benefits do FB members get travelling on Delta?
The only thing I can think of is that they are eligible for upgrades too but as their priority seems to be low it would appear that they are not upgraded frequently.
On the FB board it is frequently discussed that it is quite difficult to get awards on Delta. Based on that, I can understand that FB has reduced availability for SM members (based on the idea why should we make availability for SM members while Delta does not make availability for FB members).
Gajan