For their top tier (EP), AA is more generous with upgrades than Delta is with diamonds.

AA gives unlimited upgrades to EP and currently their EP's can upgrade on a cheap international fare with their SWU's.

And if their EP's don't upgrade on a long route like JFK/LAX they receive a free drink and sandwich.

I would love for Delta to have an upgrade program for diamonds similar to AA's policy for EP's.

Do that, make Diamond 150K miles and 15000 spend with no waiver, and you've got something. Eliminate silver altogether.

AA only requires 100K for EP so Delta has higher requirements for diamond than AA does for top tiers. I would love to see Delta follow AA's lead and stop allowing lounge admittances on an Am Ex swipe, at least in the hub clubs.

I would like to see Delta eliminate the waiver for the 12,500 MQD's for Diamond like United did for their highest tier and if they eliminated Am Ex MQM's spend and the 50 and 100% bonus on A, P and F fares, most diamonds would have $12,500 in spend anyway.

Seeing how tightly Am Ex is with Delta, I don't think the shareholders of Delta or accountants on Virginia Avenue would like to see the lost revenue from Am Ex

They would get more revenue from me. I know I am the exception on FT, but I have to believe there are others like me. Often when I pay for F, I fly AA. The product is light years more-solid than DL domestically. I blame that entirely on inflated elite ranks and everybody getting it for free. It doesn't take a lot of F fares to make up for a few lost X fares.

Light years? AA has better catering and an inch or two of additional legroom.

....um....what are the biggies you are paying for with F? I would venture to guess an inch or two of additional legroom and catering. Unless you are not paying for F on DL.

I know it is fun and it inflates the egos of silvers to get an "F" on their boarding pass, but you can put "F" on a piece of Sh*# and still not change the fact it is a piece of feces.

What I don't understand is many people comment on this site about wanting less flyers with status including diamond. Why? If you have such high status or spend, wouldn't you receive the upgrade? I want customers to be able to have status with current program. No need to change. If a customer wants better chances, they buy a higher priced ticket for the specific flights. What is wrong with that system. So many brag on this site about how they want others not to have status. Does not make sense.

When everybody is elite, nobody is elite. Simple as that. It's about MUCH-more than the upgrade. I really couldn't care less about the upgrade. When I need F, I buy F.

Have you ever sat and watched a check in counter, and the endless line of trash.....sorry....let me tone it down for 2014.... that walks up asking for their "free upgrade"? Have you ever stood in an endless line of "elites"? Have you ever tried to book an economy comfort seat a week out? There are benefits to making the pool of "elite" customers more realistic. Some of us that have a decent spend would like the bottom third or so cut out.

Buy a more expensive ticket and you won't have to deal with us "trash". Go to the sky club and wait until right before flight then you won't have to see the line. Buy first class and then you don't have to wait in long line. Delta is already doing things to lighten the load. Not my job to judge others and how they received diamond. I am proud of the people that spend $12.5 and obtain diamond vs. the bragger saying how much they spend. I rather retire with more money in the bank. My company spends a lot with Delta and I deserve status just as much as you do. Companies buying first class tickets for their employees are the ones that layoff or go out of business often. Nothing personal and you have your opinion just as much as I have mine.

Bring it on with other Diamonds. I buy a more expensive ticket, I get the upgrade.

No judgement here. You are entitled to your opinion. You at least GET IT a lot more than most on here. It is the overly-entitled non-contributors that chap me. Flying back and forth from Sri Lanka on a mistake fare and then demanding perks from DL because (in one's opinion), he is one of Delta's "Most valuable" customers is laughable. Read the stories of greed and gluttony on here and you might understand that your feelings and mine aren't that far off. Again, my problem isn't with the upgrade. When I need F, I buy it. Some gamers on here freak out when they don't get it, even when they don't deserve it. However, when elite ranks are flooded, gamers take away from those that deserve perks.

^ Although there are some people on FT who think AMEX holders in the Skyclub are as rare as the Sumatran Rhinoceros.

Of course meal service and additional space are key first class features (though I would argue that the extra seat width is more significant than the pitch). I just find your assertion that AA's offering is "light years more-solid" than DL's hyperbolic.

I was there pretty often (and in the NW clubs before that) before I made DM. For that matter, I'm still there, but they don't swipe my Amex card any more.

Sure, upgrade people who pay an additional $50 for F, and not people (perhaps me) who buy less-convenient connections on Delta rather than (e.g.) Jet Blue non-stops for less money, in order to retain status on Delta. Sure, I'm not paying cash for one particular upgrade. But loss of my business would cost Delta more than the FCM value of one upgrade (especially when they're being stupid and FCM results in negative revenue).

But some of us understand that customer loyalty is valuable and must be purchased by the airline providing something in return.

....but MOST on here don't understand with 3 airlines in the US, and loads factors higher than ever that the airline truly has to provide much less. A year down the road when US/AA sort out their mess, all FF will be similar. Then what? To where will you run? You will pay for the service you desire. The halcyon days are over. My first FF experience was UA. I played the game when I was in high school 10,000 miles for an upgrade anywhere in the US and you got a mileage bonus to boot, plus a certificate for a hotel and a rental car. Those days are gone. The free upgrade for everyone is rather quickly drawing to a close. They also fail to consider that a Kettle paying fees is more-valuable than a low-end elite sucking benefits and riding fee free.