Sky Club beverage changes confirmed by DL
May 13, 2013, 9:01 am
#256
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The credit thing at first was not too bad, but somewhere along the way, something shifted and all of a sudden, a lot more people started sowing up. Then the NW thing happened and more people started showing up and it was different from what they were used to, so it was a double whammy for them.
Looking back, the beginning of the end was renaming it Sky Club. This rebranding, if you will, gives you a window into their thought process. When the Luxury Bar came in, I, and many also knew it was over... From the standpoint as a customer retention tool. It is now a pseudo profit center that caters really more to the moderate flyer than a guy or gal who flies through a hub city 2 or 3 times a week. It is silly to boast on the www how much one spends flying Delta's big jets, but I am comfortable in stating that I cover my price of entry.
Like a lot of the other bad decisions made by Delta over the years, I will most likely still be around when the kids who made them have moved on to their next exciting opportunity.... Or, perhaps, eventually I won't. Until then, I will be at One Flew South drinking a good gin martini, chatting with whoever is sitting around me and having no fear of some ....... with his blue tooth ear piece shouting about how important his big deal is/was/will be after standing in line for 3 minutes while a patient Delta employee explains to Marge from Zanesville that the Delta Credit card she just got does not get her in the "Club" for "free"....
May 13, 2013, 1:15 pm
#257
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,092
Looking back, the beginning of the end was renaming it Sky Club. This rebranding, if you will, gives you a window into their thought process. When the Luxury Bar came in, I, and many also knew it was over... From the standpoint as a customer retention tool. It is now a pseudo profit center that caters really more to the moderate flyer than a guy or gal who flies through a hub city 2 or 3 times a week. It is silly to boast on the www how much one spends flying Delta's big jets, but I am comfortable in stating that I cover my price of entry.
If I remember correctly, the rename was announced in Spring 2009. The end of the BE lounges was sometime in late 2009, and they started rolling out the new clubs (design we have today) in maybe late 2010. I was first in the new style club in 2011, but that had to do in part with the fact that I only fly through a few airports. From the point at which they started redoing the clubs to what they are now, the whole product was downhill.
May 13, 2013, 2:10 pm
#258
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MLB, MCO
Programs: Delta Plat, IHG Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,315
I personally do not complain about AMEX holders utilizing the resource available to them. I will point out that for many years, the Crown Room was a customer retention tool. It allowed Delta to give its core customers place to wait in a bit more comfort, have a cocktail, make a phone call, and have access to top tier agents for flying issues. It made making Platinum, the top tier then, very valuable to customer like me.
The credit thing at first was not too bad, but somewhere along the way, something shifted and all of a sudden, a lot more people started sowing up. Then the NW thing happened and more people started showing up and it was different from what they were used to, so it was a double whammy for them.
Looking back, the beginning of the end was renaming it Sky Club. This rebranding, if you will, gives you a window into their thought process. When the Luxury Bar came in, I, and many also knew it was over... From the standpoint as a customer retention tool. It is now a pseudo profit center that caters really more to the moderate flyer than a guy or gal who flies through a hub city 2 or 3 times a week. It is silly to boast on the www how much one spends flying Delta's big jets, but I am comfortable in stating that I cover my price of entry.
Like a lot of the other bad decisions made by Delta over the years, I will most likely still be around when the kids who made them have moved on to their next exciting opportunity.... Or, perhaps, eventually I won't. Until then, I will be at One Flew South drinking a good gin martini, chatting with whoever is sitting around me and having no fear of some ....... with his blue tooth ear piece shouting about how important his big deal is/was/will be after standing in line for 3 minutes while a patient Delta employee explains to Marge from Zanesville that the Delta Credit card she just got does not get her in the "Club" for "free"....
The credit thing at first was not too bad, but somewhere along the way, something shifted and all of a sudden, a lot more people started sowing up. Then the NW thing happened and more people started showing up and it was different from what they were used to, so it was a double whammy for them.
Looking back, the beginning of the end was renaming it Sky Club. This rebranding, if you will, gives you a window into their thought process. When the Luxury Bar came in, I, and many also knew it was over... From the standpoint as a customer retention tool. It is now a pseudo profit center that caters really more to the moderate flyer than a guy or gal who flies through a hub city 2 or 3 times a week. It is silly to boast on the www how much one spends flying Delta's big jets, but I am comfortable in stating that I cover my price of entry.
Like a lot of the other bad decisions made by Delta over the years, I will most likely still be around when the kids who made them have moved on to their next exciting opportunity.... Or, perhaps, eventually I won't. Until then, I will be at One Flew South drinking a good gin martini, chatting with whoever is sitting around me and having no fear of some ....... with his blue tooth ear piece shouting about how important his big deal is/was/will be after standing in line for 3 minutes while a patient Delta employee explains to Marge from Zanesville that the Delta Credit card she just got does not get her in the "Club" for "free"....
I have noticed the increase in crowds over the past few years. It was a lot easier to get a seat in an ATL club in the past. And now they're cheapening the booze which clearly sucks. But at the same time, the facilities are in much better shape than they were when I first joined (choice of decor aside), a number of new locations have opened, and the wifi speeds have gotten much better to the point where I can actually use the free wifi reliably now.
But like I said, I was just being facetious with my comment about DMs being freeloaders. What fun would the Delta forum be without a little bit of good natured trolling?
May 13, 2013, 2:52 pm
#259
Join Date: Jul 2011
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May 13, 2013, 7:30 pm
#260
Join Date: May 2012
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May 13, 2013, 8:00 pm
#261
Join Date: May 2009
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Almost all the discussion in this thread has been about liquor, but my concern is more along the beer selection lines. If the fine local beers in SEA and SLC become monetized, I'll... well, I've got no leverage, since I get my membership for free. I guess I'll have to write an angry letter, though. Sigh 
Seriously, is there anything Delta is actually making better this year? Anything at all?
Seriously, is there anything Delta is actually making better this year? Anything at all?
May 13, 2013, 8:03 pm
#262
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Almost all the discussion in this thread has been about liquor, but my concern is more along the beer selection lines. If the fine local beers in SEA and SLC become monetized, I'll... well, I've got no leverage, since I get my membership for free. I guess I'll have to write an angry letter, though. Sigh
Seriously, is there anything Delta is actually making better this year? Anything at all?
Seriously, is there anything Delta is actually making better this year? Anything at all?
May 13, 2013, 8:06 pm
#263
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: KANSAS CITY
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Almost all the discussion in this thread has been about liquor, but my concern is more along the beer selection lines. If the fine local beers in SEA and SLC become monetized, I'll... well, I've got no leverage, since I get my membership for free. I guess I'll have to write an angry letter, though. Sigh
Seriously, is there anything Delta is actually making better this year? Anything at all?
Seriously, is there anything Delta is actually making better this year? Anything at all?
May 13, 2013, 8:28 pm
#264
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CONUS
Posts: 474
Delta is cannibalizing their SkyClubs. Plain and simple. It's just another division within Delta that Richard has charged with improving their margins - just like SkyMiles. As an investor, it's a great goal; as a fare paying passenger, it's a terrible decision.
To the point the previous poster made about Delta being aware that its club product is vastly falling behind third parties -- I encourage anyone flying in/out of LAS with access to the American Express club to use it -- you will be blown away. It makes Delta's product look like a Target cafe.
To the point the previous poster made about Delta being aware that its club product is vastly falling behind third parties -- I encourage anyone flying in/out of LAS with access to the American Express club to use it -- you will be blown away. It makes Delta's product look like a Target cafe.
May 13, 2013, 8:34 pm
#265
Join Date: May 2009
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Ah, but you forget - target cafes have food in normal adult serving sizes.
That said - I'm displeased with the latest news about the clubs, but still prefer it to the US Air clubs (wine and beer - typically bud or bud light only). I would honestly even consider paying for some of the luxury bar offerings if they were not such a ripoff. If you want to upcharge for use of premiums, then do so- but don't expect us to pay full bar prices for poorly mixed cocktails and like it.
That said - I'm displeased with the latest news about the clubs, but still prefer it to the US Air clubs (wine and beer - typically bud or bud light only). I would honestly even consider paying for some of the luxury bar offerings if they were not such a ripoff. If you want to upcharge for use of premiums, then do so- but don't expect us to pay full bar prices for poorly mixed cocktails and like it.
May 13, 2013, 8:41 pm
#266
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Delta is cannibalizing their SkyClubs. Plain and simple. It's just another division within Delta that Richard has charged with improving their margins - just like SkyMiles. As an investor, it's a great goal; as a fare paying passenger, it's a terrible decision.
To the point the previous poster made about Delta being aware that its club product is vastly falling behind third parties -- I encourage anyone flying in/out of LAS with access to the American Express club to use it -- you will be blown away. It makes Delta's product look like a Target cafe.
To the point the previous poster made about Delta being aware that its club product is vastly falling behind third parties -- I encourage anyone flying in/out of LAS with access to the American Express club to use it -- you will be blown away. It makes Delta's product look like a Target cafe.
I did win $25 on the penny slots at the airport though which made not having a lounge somewhat tolerable.
May 13, 2013, 9:21 pm
#267
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http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ounge-las.html
May 13, 2013, 10:07 pm
#268
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May 13, 2013, 10:13 pm
#269
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May 13, 2013, 10:35 pm
#270
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