Save Sky Miles II ... if not now, then when?
May 3, 2013, 11:13 pm
#106
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
May 4, 2013, 12:16 am
#107
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
Save Sky Miles II ... if not now, then when?
IMO there will be no return to the better days of SM unless the economics as judged by DL require it. A campaign won't help this time. I'm not trying to "save" SM, I'm "saving" myself, by status matching to AA later this year, having already got their credit card and begun using it rather than my SM Amex. I'm not one of those "I'm never flying DL again" folks, and I don't hate DL though I am sarcastic about them because it's so easy to make fun of them. When I am flying leisure with my family we are usually in Y and if DL's price and routing fit us best we'll still fly DL. For J UGs when I am flying business I will choose to maintain my status on AA going forward because AA still has advance TPAC UG availability (except not on partner operated legs between HKG and NRT or PVG but I don't care about those) and you can UG from any Y fare (you have to co-pay so the cost ends up comparable to an M fare, but you don't co-pay until the UG clears, unlike DL where you buy a super expensive fare and then wait list). I expect AA to devalue its program after the merger with US is complete, and maybe I'll have to re-evaluate at that time, but I'm doing what makes the most sense for me right now, and everyone else should be doing what makes the most sense for them right now too.
I'll continue to participate in the DL forum though, it's much more interesting than the AA!
I'll continue to participate in the DL forum though, it's much more interesting than the AA!
May 4, 2013, 5:04 am
#108
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nashville
Programs: DL DM 3 MM AA PLAT HH Lifetime Diamond Marriott Plat AMB lifetime titanium Hertz PC
Posts: 6,187
I tend to agree everyone talks about how much better it was 5,10, 20 years ago. It is not going back to those days, they are looking at how to cut costs and or increase revenue. At the end of the day it is what it is.
May 4, 2013, 7:28 am
#109
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Wherever I happen to be....
Programs: DL EOS...
Posts: 1,111
IMO there will be no return to the better days of SM unless the economics as judged by DL require it. A campaign won't help this time. I'm not trying to "save" SM, I'm "saving" myself, by status matching to AA later this year, having already got their credit card and begun using it rather than my SM Amex. I'm not one of those "I'm never flying DL again" folks, and I don't hate DL though I am sarcastic about them because it's so easy to make fun of them. When I am flying leisure with my family we are usually in Y and if DL's price and routing fit us best we'll still fly DL. For J UGs when I am flying business I will choose to maintain my status on AA going forward because AA still has advance TPAC UG availability (except not on partner operated legs between HKG and NRT or PVG but I don't care about those) and you can UG from any Y fare (you have to co-pay so the cost ends up comparable to an M fare, but you don't co-pay until the UG clears, unlike DL where you buy a super expensive fare and then wait list). I expect AA to devalue its program after the merger with US is complete, and maybe I'll have to re-evaluate at that time, but I'm doing what makes the most sense for me right now, and everyone else should be doing what makes the most sense for them right now too.
I'll continue to participate in the DL forum though, it's much more interesting than the AA!
I'll continue to participate in the DL forum though, it's much more interesting than the AA!
Billboards are dead and a waste IMO. Social and mainstream media, maybe?
But, there's only 3 players so it's a sellers market and this buyer will patronize those that serve me best and ignore the lies and lame "promises" intended to sway my choice one way or the other.
The GAME is on and reaching target status, 'will now avoid DL so that they don't "hook me" with any rollover miles. 2nd half of the year will prove to be very interesting....
So glad I'm not hub captive!
Feb 27, 2014, 9:13 am
#112
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
Note that I was not the one who bumped this thread. 
It will be interesting to see where this thread goes over the next few days.
But, I have to say it.
What happened yesterday was more likely to occur because DL management had been enabled and emboldened by the lack of response from the FF community to the myriad benefit cuts that we allowed.
We brought this onto ourselves.
It will be interesting to see where this thread goes over the next few days.
But, I have to say it.
What happened yesterday was more likely to occur because DL management had been enabled and emboldened by the lack of response from the FF community to the myriad benefit cuts that we allowed.
We brought this onto ourselves.
Feb 27, 2014, 9:31 am
#114
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273