whatever...
 

this will work only if UA and AA follow suit, otherwise DL might see an exodus of leisure travelers and midlevel medallions who remained loyal due to acheiving a higher status. I am in such a group as my work travel isnt enough to push me over the new GM thresholds, but my leisure travel does. The question for me now is: Do I spend the extra bucks with DL or a competitor?

An airline needs loyal travelers at all levels, they also need folks who will buy seats in rows 40-44. There just arent many of you that spend 15-20K annually to fill a 300+ seat plane, and besides most of you are on a company travel expense budget, so please spare us your condescending tone unless you are self-employed. Its ironic that most of you on an MR site pontificating about MDQs---some of you here are embellishing the truth about your travel spending amounts.

MRers do serve a purpose--especially during an international fare war. If DL decides to go after TK, MRers are usually there to fill seats I doubt most leisure travelers will do unless its neccessary. Now due to my status, I will usually fly DL on my international flights, not so before

A couple of years ago, I met a few FTers on a double MQM promo from RDU to BOS, some were doing it twice--the entire F cabin was full with MRers.

That said, I will wait until 2014 and reassess my status with DL.

A lot of folks here are giving DL management a figurative pat on the back and credit for solving a big problem.

However, aren't these the same management folks who created the problem in the first place, by implementing proposals that no doubt were based upon spreadsheets and scenarios analyzed six ways to Sunday? :D

What is different this time? Are they using a new crop of MBAs that are three years out of business school rather than merely two? :D:D

An AAirline already reacted: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...ng-dm-exp.html

The effects from these changes on me will be limited to the loss of MQMs on Skyteam partner flights, which won't be a great deal per year and isn't a deal breaker for me, although I can see where it would hurt some. So, I really have no dog in this hunt. I would love for the SWUs to be more valuable, and if DL is really going to lower M fares, then that would be helpful to me. However, I seriously doubt that will happen. I think if it were going to happen, DL would have made the announcement all at one time, but I hope I am wrong. I also want to applaud the announcement of the changes well in advance. While I still dislike the dearth of engagement between DL reps and FTers here, I do understand that is a decision that has been made.

Although just a guess, I don't think AA and UA are going to go the qualifying spend route. Yes, UA floated it last year and CO had it on their top tier for a few months, but I just don't see them scurrying to follow when there is little upside. Yes, I'm sure there are some elites that DL would love to lose, but just as Best Buy eased back on their Angels and Demons strategies, I think this may be too far of a pendulum swing.

If DL had never let the masses in to the secret club, then I don't think this would be nearly as bad a situation as it is currently. However, as reported in this thread, some are going to take it as DL showing them the door. No matter who made this decision, MBA or not, I think it is rarely smart to lose customers. While I don't agree with all of his positions, even Professor Seldon recommends first trying to turn your Demons into Angels. As others have stated, I just think there was a better way to thin the higher ranks while still allowing the sLUT elites a modicum of respect and at least allowing them to keep some type of status.

As many others have stated, what happened to Loyalty being a two way street? Delta had so many marketing campaigns around loyalty and now they go ahead and act in direct contradiction to that. I think that gives people a legitimate reason to gripe about this change. Many of the lower level elites were loyal and paid slightly more for their flights because they could get the medallion benefits.

Delta has every right to change the structure of their program, and it's nice of them to actually announce this far enough in advance so people can plan accordingly. But they better quit all the BS about loyalty and Delta being loyal to it's frequent fliers.

The poster that said this is no longer a "frequent flyer" program is exactly correct. This now is a "how much profit are you giving us" program. I understand, they are a business and they need profit, but at least be honest about what it is.

Reality
 

Some of you will hate this, but the reality is those of us that fly DL exclusively will suffer no consequences of any seriousness from this. But I suspect it will lower the ranks of Diamonds and Plats from those people who fly business three times a year TPAC or TATL on ST partners. Frankly, since I'm giving DL my money and you're giving it to AF/KE or someone else, yeah, maybe that upgrade to F domestically should be mine and not yours.

I quit reading after several pages of the thread so maybe people figred this out, but the MQD introduction means no "lifetime Diamonds" (or thereabouts) unless they actually either spend money with DL during the prvious year, or use their Amex card...

How has DL not been honest?

Exactly. What those arguing that this will "thin the herd" (which is a pretty obnoxious phrase, btw) are missing is that Delta could -- today -- stop elite inflation by no longer offering MQMs for sale retroactive to 2012 for the 2013 year. But they aren't.

This is about DL driving more revenue from elites who will have to buy more expensive fares to maintain their status, by dropping some low level elites who will buy a la carte services to replace what they would have gotten for free (similar to FO losing second bag free), and by driving more purchases to DL metal by devaluing partner MQMs and making those purchase ineligible for MQD.

LMFAO. It wont make ANY difference. DL has already told the low rev elites to step up to the plate or leave. lol.....I wont pay, but look at this clear message of how angry I am.

I hope I can buy JR a beer someday and thank him personally for this.

Uh oh....look out Atlanta. Y'all generate 35+ billion in revenue.....now you have two empty seats to fill ORDDTW! FALLING STOCK PRICE ALERT!!!

Then why not apply the new spending requirement to the DM level and create the new exclusive tier?

Your point regarding "giving money to AF/KE" is silly, that is what an alliance is for and if available, we will use it. If DL doesnt like or want AF/KE codeshares, they can remove themselves from the alliance. I am sure you wont complain if a low tier biz award allowed you to travel in the front cabin using AF or KE

The problem is that there are too many people at the top level for the infrastructure. There's not enough upgrade seats, lounge space etc. to cope with us. Adding another tier would be one way to solve it. This is the other. But the net result to the majority of current top tier FF members is the same.

is there a FT poll on Skymiles members who will stay, leave, or are unsure?

Because everybody shouldn't be elite. DL HAS talked to their high spenders...in droves. They have surveyed the cream at the top. THEY HAVE SPOKEN and DL has listened.

Honestly, if you are not meeting the spending thresholds, or not spending on Amex, YOU ARE BRINGING NOTHING TO THE TABLE THAT A KETTLE DOESN'T....and look at all of those delicious fees they are paying.

Create a thousand polls, DL did their research and won't listen to a scientifically inaccurate creation of people who are unwilling to pay.

exactly- as someone previously posted, it wont be long until DL offers MQDs for purchase. Some of you have complained about the long priority line due to the inflation of lower tier elites. DL is selling priority boarding for 9 bucks and other "extras". This is all about $, they have smartly announced it early, giving themselves plenty of time to reverse course should it adversely impact the bottom line