Originally Posted by cmd320

Yes. If medallion qualification became entirely revenue based, anyone who purchased a single intercon BE ticket would be GM+ instantly. It would be far too easy to qualify and the number of medallions would climb exponentially.

Originally Posted by flyerslc

But would that be a problem for DL? Unless that person flew more, he/she wouldn't even have enough RDM for a low award (which they can also decrease by tightening the award calendar, which I am also sure is coming, when they finally release it). I don't see anyone wanting or getting anything out of status unless they fly a lot. I also think the number of medallions would actually decrease from the scads of people who accrue non-BIS miles.

Originally Posted by javabytes

My bet for this year is:

1) Devaluations to earning rates for lower fare classes
2) Elimination of upgrades on lower fare classes (I'm on the fence about this one... If they push FCM and realign the Medallion ranks to what they believe are HVCs, I could see this not happening)
3) Reduction of Medallion bonuses for GM and PM to 50% and 75%, respectively

I also wouldn't be surprised to see further devaluations to the award charts.

I don't think DL will make the jump to revenue-based mileage accrual and redemption, at least not until UA or AA do.

Originally Posted by ILovetheReds

Someone in my wife's office heard they heard from a "good source" Delta was going to limit rollover MQM's to 10,000 a year and no longer give Gold's Skypriority.

Originally Posted by jsmith50

I guess it's in DL's purvey to kick GMs out of SP but seeing as how the criteria are on par with other Sky Team members this would seem a bit harsh.

Originally Posted by jsmith50

I guess it's in DL's purvey to kick GMs out of SP but seeing as how the criteria are on par with other Sky Team members this would seem a bit harsh.

Originally Posted by KOTAR1988

My neighbor(s) work for DL. One works for the SM Customer Service program directly. He/she is emphatic that there will be eventually 3 tiers, NO Roll Over mileage(I could see a maximum 10,000 to prevent heart attacks), and re-instituting the expiration date. He/she continually harps that every week there briefed on how many SM are on the "liability" sheets. I have over 2 million SkyPesos and frankly, I am getting worried that some brain child would essentially eliminate the SM program within 6 months. I guess its time to liquidate.

Originally Posted by KOTAR1988

FWIW, today several of my coworkers and I went to "XYZABC" in a city near Virginia Ave. We sat at what I call the "40 man" table(exaggerating a bit). The place is ALWAYS loaded with Delta employees and before I even sat down, one of my coworkers "asked"(quite loudly) what the "latest" was on the SkyMiles program. Take it with a grain of salt but two individuals obliged and actually sat with us after their other guests left. Their responses were NOT foreign as they have already been mentioned here on this forum.
1)Reduce(Max Carry Over 5,000/10,000 SkyMiles???)/Eliminate Rollover Miles - They said this has the greatest chance of passing DEPENDING on how "thin" the ranks get.
2)Reduce/Eliminate "Unlimited" Upgrades(This was mentioned about 1.5 years ago on FT)(They claim that DL posted that # of FC seats YTD is down 16%
3)Tie RDM to price/fare class
4)Increase "MQD's"/"MQM's" amounts(again depending on how "thin" the ranks get....Either removing "MQS's" all together or changing their #'s to earn status
5)PM's possibly loosing Choice benefit

Lastly, DL's "books" are still showing HUGE liabilities with people HOARDING SkyMiles, so they said DL is considering having "Weekend Getaways" for REDUCED amounts.........so that's a POSITIVE!

Originally Posted by KOTAR1988

NO Roll Over mileage

Originally Posted by cmd320

Pretty sure the last thing Delta cares about at this point is SkyTeam. Not saying that attitude is good, but I could definitely see DL changing SP access for Gold without consulting anyone in the alliance.

Originally Posted by KOTAR1988

My neighbor(s) work for DL. One works for the SM Customer Service program directly. He/she is emphatic that there will be eventually 3 tiers, NO Roll Over mileage(I could see a maximum 10,000 to prevent heart attacks), and re-instituting the expiration date. He/she continually harps that every week there briefed on how many SM are on the "liability" sheets. I have over 2 million SkyPesos and frankly, I am getting worried that some brain child would essentially eliminate the SM program within 6 months. I guess its time to liquidate.

Originally Posted by HongKonger

Of course this is going to happen.

Originally Posted by KOTAR1988

My neighbor(s) work for DL. One works for the SM Customer Service program directly. He/she is emphatic that there will be eventually 3 tiers, NO Roll Over mileage(I could see a maximum 10,000 to prevent heart attacks), and re-instituting the expiration date. He/she continually harps that every week there briefed on how many SM are on the "liability" sheets. I have over 2 million SkyPesos and frankly, I am getting worried that some brain child would essentially eliminate the SM program within 6 months. I guess its time to liquidate.

Originally Posted by jsmith50

My DL contact says that he believes that roll over mileage will likely go away in the next several years. He says he does NOT believe that they will go back to expiration dates but I have heard him talk quite openly about the SM on the balance sheets. He doesn't work in SM customer service but does work in upper management at Virginia Avenue and in a position where he would be aware of DL's plans in this area.

I have 5 million SMs and am trying diligently to liquidate them because I fully expect the devaluation to continue regardless of what happens with the earning model.

Originally Posted by TrojanTraveler

I also have many millions in SMs. I'm not "hoarding" them, but it's just too hard to use them, e.g. I don't have the time to get on the phone and go through many combinations to get a reasonable itin at a reasonable redemption rate. Interesting that they talk about SM on the balance sheet...if they really wanted to help reduce them, they should have spent more time years ago fixing the award tool.