2014 SkyMiles Program Changes
Dec 16, 2013, 5:19 pm
#766
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 2
Longtime lurker, first-time poster.
I've been following this thread with great interest — I fly TCON ~once a month (LAX-JFK), int'l ~4 times a year (mostly for business), and a few other domestic flights here and there.
Anyway. I emailed DL to let them know about my extreme disappointment with the discontinuation of the TCON upgrades and I thought you all would be interested in the reply I got today.
… which basically confirms everything people have been speculating in this thread. I guess it will remain to be seen what happens to the empty BE seats from now on...
I've been following this thread with great interest — I fly TCON ~once a month (LAX-JFK), int'l ~4 times a year (mostly for business), and a few other domestic flights here and there.
Anyway. I emailed DL to let them know about my extreme disappointment with the discontinuation of the TCON upgrades and I thought you all would be interested in the reply I got today.
Thank you for contacting us through delta.com.
I am sorry to hear that you are disappointed in the changes to the
upgrades coming in 2014. Our goal is to provide a superior BusinessElite
product to our passengers, and because of this investment we have made
on the transcontinental flights {which include BusinessElite flat-bed
seats with Westin Heavenly In-Flight Bedding, and premium dining}, it is
important that we protect the value of these seats by discontinuing
complimentary upgrades.
I want to reassure you we take customer feedback very seriously and your
comments are not falling on deaf ears. I have forwarded your comments
to our SkyMiles Elite Leadership Team for internal review. I know there
is nothing I can say to erase your disappointment with these changes,
but please know my apologies are most sincere.
I hope with all the hours you have invested in Delta Air Lines as a
Platinum Medallion, you will protect that investment, and continue
flying with us.
Sincerely,
[redacted]
Medallion Desk
I am sorry to hear that you are disappointed in the changes to the
upgrades coming in 2014. Our goal is to provide a superior BusinessElite
product to our passengers, and because of this investment we have made
on the transcontinental flights {which include BusinessElite flat-bed
seats with Westin Heavenly In-Flight Bedding, and premium dining}, it is
important that we protect the value of these seats by discontinuing
complimentary upgrades.
I want to reassure you we take customer feedback very seriously and your
comments are not falling on deaf ears. I have forwarded your comments
to our SkyMiles Elite Leadership Team for internal review. I know there
is nothing I can say to erase your disappointment with these changes,
but please know my apologies are most sincere.
I hope with all the hours you have invested in Delta Air Lines as a
Platinum Medallion, you will protect that investment, and continue
flying with us.
Sincerely,
[redacted]
Medallion Desk
Dec 16, 2013, 5:51 pm
#768
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
No, AA has a single daily domestic 737 flying JFK-SEA. Delta's product, frequency, and capacity are in a completely different league.
Although AA does allow sticker (complimentary for EXP) upgrades on LAX/SFO-JFK, which do have their premium product (though not flat beds until the A321s start going into service, which is soon now). Dunno what UA does.
They are.
Although AA does allow sticker (complimentary for EXP) upgrades on LAX/SFO-JFK, which do have their premium product (though not flat beds until the A321s start going into service, which is soon now). Dunno what UA does.
I thought DL was the only carrier flying JFK-SEA or even NYC-SEA with a true premium product (ie not domestic First)
Dec 16, 2013, 5:59 pm
#769
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BDL/HPN/JFK/FLL
Programs: DL Diamond Ham Sandwich
Posts: 1,051
Of what relevance is that? The only thing that matters now is how Delta's Y product compares to the other carriers premium product.
Dec 16, 2013, 6:52 pm
#770
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 75k
Posts: 922
Dec 16, 2013, 7:03 pm
#771
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SMF
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt D
Posts: 416
Hey I just noticed:
SWU
2. Expiration Date: Certificate expires twelve months from date of issue. Certificate may not be extended, reissued or returned for credit under any circumstances.
GU
2. Expiration Date: Certificate expires twelve months from date of issue; all travel must be complete prior to certificate expiration date. Certificate may not be extended, reissued or returned for credit under any circumstances.
RU
2. Expiration Date: Certificate expires twelve months from date of issue; all travel must be complete prior to certificate expiration date. Certificate may not be extended, reissued or returned for credit under any circumstances.
If you select the RUs or GUs better use them sooner than later because they expire earlier than the SWUs do.
SWU
2. Expiration Date: Certificate expires twelve months from date of issue. Certificate may not be extended, reissued or returned for credit under any circumstances.
GU
2. Expiration Date: Certificate expires twelve months from date of issue; all travel must be complete prior to certificate expiration date. Certificate may not be extended, reissued or returned for credit under any circumstances.
RU
2. Expiration Date: Certificate expires twelve months from date of issue; all travel must be complete prior to certificate expiration date. Certificate may not be extended, reissued or returned for credit under any circumstances.
If you select the RUs or GUs better use them sooner than later because they expire earlier than the SWUs do.
Dec 16, 2013, 7:42 pm
#772
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA- 1K, DL-DM, AA-G, BON-T
Posts: 336
Just selected SWUs and used two to upgrade a W fare on AF to business class for Octoberfest 2014. Paid $400 over the coach fare for W fare. Found O class availability using Expertflyer. Quite easy. Will definitely miss the SWUs. I see no real reason to be Diamond and these new changes (no transcon upgrades) make me even less likely to want it. I wish 4 SWU with current restrictions dom and int would still be a plat choice (and used on transcons K+ fares). Regional upgrades for those who are pure domestic and not in NYC, SWUs as an expensive middle ground but can be used dom or int and then global upgrades only for diamonds. That would be a great compromise in my mind.
One other suggestion - AA gives you more upgrade certs as you travel. Perhaps offer two transcon certs for every 4 paid business transcon roundtrips? For those of us who's work will pay for business, not having any real way to upgrade on one personal trip is tough (as a PM or below).
One other suggestion - AA gives you more upgrade certs as you travel. Perhaps offer two transcon certs for every 4 paid business transcon roundtrips? For those of us who's work will pay for business, not having any real way to upgrade on one personal trip is tough (as a PM or below).
Dec 16, 2013, 7:47 pm
#773
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: LAS
Programs: PA FT, TW Gold, NW/CO PE, VK Eagleflyer
Posts: 7,173
Dec 16, 2013, 7:54 pm
#774
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: KANSAS CITY
Programs: DL DM, MARRIOTT AMBASSADOR LIFETIME TITANIUM
Posts: 453
San Diego also has a cluster of high income people.
You might be correct about the distribution of the FF population in general and high income individuals, but FFers in different locations are more or less likely to fly DL depending on where they live. For instance, DL doesn't have a hub or much nonstop service from the Bay Area, so high income FFers aren't very likely to use DL as their primary or even secondary program. The same is true for the LA area, although less so since DL has more service at LAX than SFO. Similarly, in NYC, DL is increasing its presence, presumably with more (high income) FFers, but many of them focus on AA/US or UA/CO, especially if EWR is more convenient for them (which would include all of the Jersey suburbs as well as at least parts of lower Manhattan).
By contrast, DL FFers are more likely to be concentrated, relative to the population of FFers in general, around DL's hubs and focus cities, such as ATL, SLC, MSP, DTW, CVG, SEA, MEM, IND, BOS, RDU, TPA, PDX, etc.
For discretionary spending on premium cabin air travel, what probably matters is not absolute per capita or family income but some measure of discretionary income after taxes relative to the local cost of living. These adjustments would knock down "income" data for California and New York substantially.
You might be correct about the distribution of the FF population in general and high income individuals, but FFers in different locations are more or less likely to fly DL depending on where they live. For instance, DL doesn't have a hub or much nonstop service from the Bay Area, so high income FFers aren't very likely to use DL as their primary or even secondary program. The same is true for the LA area, although less so since DL has more service at LAX than SFO. Similarly, in NYC, DL is increasing its presence, presumably with more (high income) FFers, but many of them focus on AA/US or UA/CO, especially if EWR is more convenient for them (which would include all of the Jersey suburbs as well as at least parts of lower Manhattan).
By contrast, DL FFers are more likely to be concentrated, relative to the population of FFers in general, around DL's hubs and focus cities, such as ATL, SLC, MSP, DTW, CVG, SEA, MEM, IND, BOS, RDU, TPA, PDX, etc.
For discretionary spending on premium cabin air travel, what probably matters is not absolute per capita or family income but some measure of discretionary income after taxes relative to the local cost of living. These adjustments would knock down "income" data for California and New York substantially.
Dec 16, 2013, 8:12 pm
#775
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
Dec 16, 2013, 8:50 pm
#776
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,165
GU
2. Expiration Date: Certificate expires twelve months from date of issue; all travel must be complete prior to certificate expiration date. Certificate may not be extended, reissued or returned for credit under any circumstances.
RU
2. Expiration Date: Certificate expires twelve months from date of issue; all travel must be complete prior to certificate expiration date. Certificate may not be extended, reissued or returned for credit under any circumstances.
If you select the RUs or GUs better use them sooner than later because they expire earlier than the SWUs do.
2. Expiration Date: Certificate expires twelve months from date of issue; all travel must be complete prior to certificate expiration date. Certificate may not be extended, reissued or returned for credit under any circumstances.
RU
2. Expiration Date: Certificate expires twelve months from date of issue; all travel must be complete prior to certificate expiration date. Certificate may not be extended, reissued or returned for credit under any circumstances.
If you select the RUs or GUs better use them sooner than later because they expire earlier than the SWUs do.
Dec 16, 2013, 9:00 pm
#777
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: BOS/MHT (Lakes Region)
Programs: DL PM(sigh)/2.3MM & a bunch of other programs...
Posts: 692
Once, just once, I'd like to see a post from DL about a program change that adds something without taking something else away. And the more I read about these changes, the more it looks like a net loss for all of us.
Dec 16, 2013, 9:42 pm
#778
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SMF
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt D
Posts: 416
The expanded fare classes on the RUs and GUs are great; but considering that you can't use EF for award searches any longer you will need to give yourself more time to find a flight with availability (with delta online phone support). It will be best to redeem the certs close to use.
Dec 16, 2013, 9:59 pm
#779
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: 16,264