The Official Medallion Qualification Update Thread
Jan 21, 2013, 12:37 pm
#1381
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 83
I don't feel duped. I know exactly what I am getting for the money I pay.
Jan 21, 2013, 12:39 pm
#1382
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: PDX
Posts: 2,284
Now discounting F in further markets, while the possibility of exposing DL to lower revenue levels, is given as an example of how the F cabin could see improved service levels.
That isn't fully adding up. Alaska has used a version of FCM widespread throughout their network. But AS has one of the stingiest seating and service levels in the F cabin of the major airlines. FCM hasn't improved the F experience on AS to any measurable degree.
Jan 21, 2013, 12:55 pm
#1383
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,860
For two years, I've posted many, many times about the inequitable treatment given segments qualifiers. It just didn't make sense that DL would be giving more preferential treatment to less profitable customers. With the move to a minimum spend requirement, it seems DL agreed that there was a problem there. This new requirement will not impact segments qualifiers, as most, if not all, of us spend at least $100/segment.
If you were being given additional segment credit for your spend or for spend at certain fare levels, this would be a win for segment qualifiers.
Instead, segment qualifiers are in the position of cheering that others are losing. Take out the phony elites, as others have said. The danger here is that the definition of phony elites is subject to further redefinition in the future. Anybody taking bets on what happens to spending thresholds for the 2015 qualification year?
David
Jan 21, 2013, 1:14 pm
#1385
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,860
Yes. Memphis is poor and small and poorly situated relative to other potential hubs. DL made the only rational choice and Memphis's civic leaders did their constituents a disservice by pretending that their position as a hub was sustainable. If Memphis wants a hub, they need leaders willing to stimulate the local economy and encourage population growth.
Median household income is higher than Miami-Ft. Lauderdale and, well, lots of places.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highes..._United_States
MEM is a great airport, and FedEx pays most of the cost to run the place. It was a great hub prior until "capacity discipline" spelled its doom.
You might keep that in mind next time in ATL when your flight is number 178 in line to take off, or after you have parked for 30 minutes waiting for a gate to open up.
I don't know what constitutes defense or praise, but revenue based redemptions are coming.
The whole idea of award travel is predicated on taking seats the airline would fail to save anyways and making them available as a reward. Between capacity cuts, rising yields, and pricing the premium cabins to actually sell (FCM) there simply aren't very many empty seats today. While exploiting the difference in the pricing of premium cabins in miles vs. dollars has been great for many of us, those days are coming to an end.
The whole idea of award travel is predicated on taking seats the airline would fail to save anyways and making them available as a reward. Between capacity cuts, rising yields, and pricing the premium cabins to actually sell (FCM) there simply aren't very many empty seats today. While exploiting the difference in the pricing of premium cabins in miles vs. dollars has been great for many of us, those days are coming to an end.
David
Last edited by DiverDave; Jan 21, 2013 at 1:32 pm
Jan 21, 2013, 1:15 pm
#1386
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
as for loss leader fares I don't deny they need to exist however I don't believe people need to become elite from them
Jan 21, 2013, 1:23 pm
#1387
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
I am thrilled with my business class experience on Delta. are there better front cabins out there? sure but it's infinitely better than domestic first....in no small part due to the fact they limit who can get up there. They are upgrading the right people and creating a premium revenue driver. I believe and I could be wrong that if first class domestic revenues improve the experience will improve as well. Currently you have a greyhound quality cabin full of Greyhound quality people all of which are enchanted by the F printed on their boarding pass which they normally couldn't afford and are clueless to the fact there is nothing first class about the experience
Jan 21, 2013, 1:34 pm
#1388
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,195
Jan 21, 2013, 1:38 pm
#1389
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
I personally hope they are removing the LUT fares from 100 percent qualification. that would really send some of you for a loop. Lol
Jan 21, 2013, 1:45 pm
#1390
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
Except it is - objectively, it is poor.
Who said Miami was rich? What it is, though, is almost 4 times larger than Memphis.
What is this, Field of Dreams? PIT is a great airport too, but nobody is knocking down the doors to turn it back into a hub.
Median household income is higher than Miami-Ft. Lauderdale and, well, lots of places.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highes..._United_States
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highes..._United_States
What is this, Field of Dreams? PIT is a great airport too, but nobody is knocking down the doors to turn it back into a hub.
Jan 21, 2013, 1:45 pm
#1391
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: PDX
Posts: 2,284
DL will only improve domestic First if they have to for competitive reasons.
Jan 21, 2013, 1:50 pm
#1392
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
There's as much of a chance of DL improving domestic First Class through a combination of expanded sales of FCM plus less competition for F within elite levels, as there is of Carol Merrill appearing at your front door wearing nothing other than a fur coat by Dicker & Dicker of Beverly Hills.
DL will only improve domestic First if they have to for competitive reasons.
DL will only improve domestic First if they have to for competitive reasons.
Jan 21, 2013, 2:02 pm
#1394
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
I am thrilled with my business class experience on Delta. are there better front cabins out there? sure but it's infinitely better than domestic first....in no small part due to the fact they limit who can get up there. They are upgrading the right people and creating a premium revenue driver. I believe and I could be wrong that if first class domestic revenues improve the experience will improve as well. Currently you have a greyhound quality cabin full of Greyhound quality people all of which are enchanted by the F printed on their boarding pass which they normally couldn't afford and are clueless to the fact there is nothing first class about the experience
Jan 21, 2013, 2:07 pm
#1395
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292