CJKatl

Myopic? Many of us are going to earn significantly more miles under the new plan. You seem to gloss over that. A segments qualifying DM who flew 140+ MQS but only 100k MQM earned 225k RDM under the old plan, but will earn 330k RDM under the new plan with the same flying and spending.

So much for "everyone just took in the shorts..."

What DL did was lower the RDM earned for less revenue and increase the RDM for more revenue. This was positive for many of us.

GUWonder

It's a fraction of a small minority that are going to earn more miles from flights under the 2015 program than if still under the 2014 program next year.

The vast super-majority of DL SkyMiles customers will earn fewer miles from flights under the 2015 program rules than the current rules.

The award prices noted on the chart haven't yet shot up through the roof, but the award prices will still shoot up big time with the 5 category pricing, much like what happened when 3 category pricing for each class of service got implemented by DL.

DL's change to 3 categories for award pricing was a fleecing mechanism, and this change to 5 categories is going to be another déjà vu moment.

DL's attacking the vast majority of its SkyMiles customers on the earning and redemption side of the program in 2015.

DL's not making these changes to make the program more rewarding to more of its current customers -- DL's making these changes to make the program more profitable in the more immediate term for DL management by doing so at the expense of DL SkyMiles customers in the main.

GUWonder

So DL wants to reward game-players, particularly the credit card-churners who specialize in manufactured spend.

After all, Amex is one of DL's biggest customers -- if not its biggest private sector customer.

A kind of move that satisfies DL and Amex more than the historical status quo.

troyintn

It all comes down to management and redemption. I can have a chart that sows it is next to nothing, but if the bucket does not exist who cares how many miles it costs.

GUWonder

Indeed. The real impact of these changes will not be noticed by consumers in the main for quite some time. The impact of the 3-tier to 5-tier redemption program transition will go over largely like it did with DL's transition from a 2-tier redemption program to a 3-tier redemption program: most consumers won't know what hit them until it's too late and most of them will be worse off for the transition.

AF-KL customers who redeem AF-KL miles for DL awards are going to get pinched too, as the award availability at the lowest level drops off even more, as happened before with DL's 2-tier to 3-tier redemption transition.

History has a nasty habit of being repeated.

mojo2121

The point that doesn't appear to be talked about much here is while the new levels "aren't bad" considering its now much harder it will become to earn miles for the vast majority of fliers this basically is yet another devaluation because the saver mileage levels are exactly the same as they were before. Also, I have seen plenty of 32,500 or 50,000 mile coach awards under the current system so I don't understand how they can call these middle points "new". In my eyes the net effect here is this is really still just all bad news.

AdamDunn32

The vast majority of people that post on FT earn less RDM on the 2015 program. Everyone forgets that this community represent folks that are trying to maximize their points. There are plenty of folks that will earn better but have other things to do than post on FT.

Unless you have access to SkyMiles data, I'm not sure how you can claim "The vast super-majority of DL SkyMiles customers will earn fewer miles from flights under the 2015 program rules than the current rules."

GUWonder

I'm quite well aware of what FT "represents" and does not "represent".

The vast super-majority of DL SkyMiles customers are not frequent flyers and almost certainly fly less and spend less on travel than most actively posting FTers in the DL forum.

My direct access to DL internal data used to be extremely good. Not everything has changed that much.

HatAndJacket

At this point, I don't bother even reading what Delta actually says anymore... I've just been conditioned by them to feel anger when they announce something... they made an announcement? OUTRAGE!!!! ANGER!!! ARGHH!!! THEY'RE RIPPING US OFF AGAIN (somehow)!!!!!!

GUWonder

If the reading upsets you, wait until the 5-tier fleecing program is live and you are booking under that DL regime.

Plenty of DL customers -- including some on FT -- believed the 2-tier to 3-tier redemption chart transition would be an improvement for them and many others; however, it did what it was meant to do: for most DL customers trying to redeem miles the additional tier pricing implementation made things far worse (and further "broke" the "broken" award calendar).

Viva SkyPesos.

waltinsocal

The usual DL hub-captives here who are the apologists for DL will of course try to spin anything that DL does in a positive light. That is because they are stuck with DL and have no choice. Fortunately, there are some of us here who do have choices, and who don't have to take the usual DL lies, omissions and deceptions like the captives do. We can make rational choices about our future carriers with objective data not spewed out by the DL spin machine. Those want to, or who have to drink the DL Kool Aid are welcome to, or perhaps have to , continue drinking it. Fortunately I, and many others here, are not among them. And as for those who say all other carriers will follow, you don't know that do you? Perhaps you are hoping they do so you will better about the fact you are trapped.

MSPeconomist

I'm not sure I'd characterize it as "the vast majority." I haven't attempted to count, but I've noticed a lot of new and/or infrequent posters who say that they will earn more RDMs under the new rules, in addition to some of the vocal frequent posters on this and other topics. Of course it depends greatly on one's own travel patterns, but it's not just the ones who qualify for status on high-fare short segments who will benefit from the 2015 changes to RDM earning. Beyond that, one might or might not view the new system as more fair.

technole

I get offended every time when someone says SkyPesos. I am a Spanish speaker and travel to MEX regularly. Plus considering Grupo Aeroméxico and Delta just recently opened TechOps Mexico yesterday. Show a little respect, and grow up.

GUWonder

Some get offended for no good reason, even as trying to give offense to other. And others not.

I'm a Spanish speaker and travel to MEX and other parts of Latin America regularly.

DL SkyPesos it is -- in honor of Argentina nowadays. Viva SkyPesos. The real pain from SkyPesos will be felt starting in 2015 when the 5-tier redemption fleecing mechanism gets fully implemented and goes live.

mnredfox

But wait, JR promised the # of lows would not decrease.

That term "shells" describes DL's play very well.

Did you forget the days of intra Asia J for 35K?

+1. When it comes down to it, the higher levels, lack of flexibility options, horrible website, broken award calendar, inability to search partners, and uninformed agents makes the DL cost much higher.