Agree, that's why I said a few will be effected either way. I was hoping for higher MQD threshold but we are moving in the right direction.

Many more business will allow purchase of business class fares than domestic first, so I doubt you'll see any vast improvement in Delta's domestic front cabin (JFK-LAX/SFO being the exception).

The main reason DL has FC is for people flying BE and needing a connection. Take out the FC cabin and you can fit more seats, as well as get rid of meals. On a typical route how many full fare domestic F seats do you think they sell in a day? The A/P seats are just the Y version of T -- we've got an empty seat, we might as well try and get some money for it.

Of course without a FC cabin the J passenger may end up in a middle seat on the domestic leg for their $5K+ ticket. And would quickly fly somebody else.

Um.. I said I have $100,000 not 1M.

Yes I do get some unpublished benefits. When an SWU on M looks dicey I have been ticketed into J over the phone. Plenty of Porsche treatment ( not sure if this is random), and some other stuff.

That spend used to be 100% DL now 60/40 with AA.

And as a fellow 2MM'er there's a GM "floor" without a ducat spent or flight flown.

Let's pray that goes away in the next round.

True word LT. Not sure what GM will look like going forward a few years when I retire. I will probably hit 3MM not sure about 4. I don't think 3MM gets anything more but that could change too.

I went back and looked at the numbers again. I thank you for pointing out an error in my calculation that led me to overstate the extent of poverty in MEM.

It looks like they are running at 90% of the median for the US. I think we can agree that my term should be rephrased as "below average income" to escape any pejorative usage of the word "poor".

Fullerton, Ca isnt poor, and has an airport. It doesnt mean DL should build a hub. I am sure some decisions are difficult, but definitely make sense. MEM is one of those.

Program changes - what did I miss?
 

Saw the very end of a news story this weekend (local TV news) mentioning "changes" announced in Delta SkyMiles program. Mentioned were that miles could (would?) be based on dollars spent, not miles flown, and that "some members may be kicked out of the program altogether."

Came here expecting massive discussion, but a quick spin through the forum didn't really turn up anything. My current status is a few hundred thousand miles parked, but I don't fly any more, so I just keep them "alive" through periodic activity. Are my miles in jeopardy?

So what happens when DL starts offering double MQD promos either directly or via one of its partners? Will you guys blame the people taking advantage of such a deal or redirect your anger at DL? As I stated before, the new MQD requirement will only work if and only if AA and UA decide to match.

For the last time, this has absolutely nothing to do with "thinning the herd" though I suspect that DL has factored some elite loss. Rather it is an attempt by DL to force who they think are captive elites to spend more to keep status. Those of you on corporate travel accounts are cheering loudly and good for you, but be careful what you wish for.

My fear is that DL may view elites like me who are beefing up their status in 2013 to switch to another airline as vindication of the MQD req. Unless of course they come to their senses and drop this requirement or make more modifications to it. If DL wanted to reward HVCs they can simply do so, there are many ways that can be accomplished. UA for example has the global services tier

Why should comparatively inactive 3MM'ers be gifted status and take benefits away from those still hitting MQD thresholds?

Completely agree. If you start looking down on others, watch out. Pride comes before a fall. Actually, Proverbs uses the word destruction, but I didn't want to get all preachy. :D

not in jeopardy

[elite] miles and "kicked out of the [elite] program"

top sticky - 1,423 replies in 5 days

You missed the giant sticky thread at the top of the board.

For someone who is so concerned about doing what is right for business you show a very worrying lack of concern about your customers. If all you see your passengers are as a bunch of unwashed cattle and all you see as a benefit to an F class seat is being able to look down on them, maybe you are the reason why the F class cabin is so unprofitable in the first place.

F class has nothing to do about exclusivity, or meals (on those rare flights they even have them) or where on the plane you are. It is about plain and simple comfort, both in the wider seat and not getting rude stares and snide remarks when you are stuck three across.

Instead of trying to make F more and more elite and exclusive, make it more available and achievable. Many people would gladly pay some amount more for that extra comfort. If you are that concerned with not having an exclusive experience then again, you need to find something other than a mega carrier. This exclusiveness deal is only making the vast majority of passengers not only much less willing to spend any more money then necessary on their tickets, but also resentful of the fact that their fares are balancing out the exclusivity of other fliers.

If you have an exclusively Y class cabin, you are now competing with other Y class carriers, i.e. Southwest and JetBlue. Now, compare Delta's Y service to B6's. They don't compete. That is why their heavy FF program is so important to the company - the ability to get access to upgrades is really the only reason many frequent flyers choose Delta over the other airlines. Now they are removing that as a lure - so why should those customers who don't have a shot now of getting any FF benefits bother with Delta at all. You said that Delta's F class does not earn them money, if that is the case then they can't loose the y class passengers who are bringing in revenue. Just because you can't measure a potential loss doesn't mean that it is not there.

If you are as knowledgeable on FFP or financials as you are on IATA fare construction as it relates to RGN and other fares, this becomes very very frightening.

Of course, SQ had a choice with the RGN tickets. They evaluated it, and decided to honor the tickets, even though they were not even on their stock. LX and IB decided to go a different path. Each airline is now dealing with the consequences (good and bad) of their choices.

Why would you possibly say that SQ had no choice in this matter??? Baffling.