Sky Pesos Joke of the Industry
Oct 13, 2014, 8:19 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: Hilton Diamond DL Platinum UA 1K, DL Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 500
Why don't you enlighten me about DL search skills. I 'd love to hear how any more flexible I can be then 45 days in Low Season.
Sure I got problems with UA also but their search engine and availability of low award seats is light years ahead of DL. I never have a problem using my miles at a fair rate with UA almost impossible with DL.
When you earn a lot of miles like I do and you are spending your own money and not Corporate money, I expect to get value for my money. I don't expect the rules to change every year which happens in no other business like it does in USA FF programs.
Sure I got problems with UA also but their search engine and availability of low award seats is light years ahead of DL. I never have a problem using my miles at a fair rate with UA almost impossible with DL.
When you earn a lot of miles like I do and you are spending your own money and not Corporate money, I expect to get value for my money. I don't expect the rules to change every year which happens in no other business like it does in USA FF programs.
Oct 13, 2014, 8:35 am
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Look up - On a ✈ DELTA ✈ jet NOW!
Programs: Blogger & Delta Diamond Medallion Million Miler
Posts: 4,174
Oct 13, 2014, 8:40 am
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
They are such a joke.
Last week I looked for economy tickets(for friends)to Rio or Buenos Aires . Complete flexibility in July and August (not exactly high season) and there were no saver awards on any routing or any day . Oh the useless chart showed limited availability but when you clicked on it to buy it came up Standard Award.
Today I went in for myself looking for tickets in April to either Amsterdam or Paris (again not exactly high season)
Not as much flexibility but I doubt it would make a difference , nothing available.
I t used to be you could find seats on KLM or AF but DL burned those bridges and no longer do they offer anywhere close to the seats they once did.
Useless Program and Useless Management
Got one more TPAC flight to make in Business with their lazy FA's ( sorry for the few good one) and then I will try to find some vale for my 350,000 miles and then never again unless they are the only airline flying will they get dollar from me.
Oh and by the way I found Saver awards in 5 minutes for both those routings on UA. Not a big fan of UA but at this moment their Award Program is 100x better then DL.
Last week I looked for economy tickets(for friends)to Rio or Buenos Aires . Complete flexibility in July and August (not exactly high season) and there were no saver awards on any routing or any day . Oh the useless chart showed limited availability but when you clicked on it to buy it came up Standard Award.
Today I went in for myself looking for tickets in April to either Amsterdam or Paris (again not exactly high season)
Not as much flexibility but I doubt it would make a difference , nothing available.
I t used to be you could find seats on KLM or AF but DL burned those bridges and no longer do they offer anywhere close to the seats they once did.
Useless Program and Useless Management
Got one more TPAC flight to make in Business with their lazy FA's ( sorry for the few good one) and then I will try to find some vale for my 350,000 miles and then never again unless they are the only airline flying will they get dollar from me.
Oh and by the way I found Saver awards in 5 minutes for both those routings on UA. Not a big fan of UA but at this moment their Award Program is 100x better then DL.
Oct 13, 2014, 8:47 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
I redeem a lot of Skymiles each year for both domestic and international flights. Extremely rarely do I have to pay more than the low/saver rate.
Oct 13, 2014, 8:59 am
#20
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: 16,273
Oct 13, 2014, 9:28 am
#23
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: Delta SkyMiles PM, Starwood SPG Platinum, Hilton HH Honors, UA MP Silver, EK Skywards Silver
Posts: 652
While many people complain about award ticket redemption on DL, I'd like to think that everyone understands that award tickets are just one part of the SkyMiles program. And low mileage redemption has been an issue at DL for as long as I can remember, it's not exactly the strength of the program. Supposedly there are to be some improvements with this, but if it doesn't happen...I would not be surprised. I wouldn't be upset either, just because it has never been their strong side. After years of redeeming low/mid and mid tier award tickets, I've been able to simply adjust my redemption strategy and gear it more towards expecting low/mid levels. Any less than that, and I'm pleasantly surprised...
I prefer to focus on the other benefits of the program rather than just award redemption (which is still a big part of the program sure). And while other programs do offer a lot more availability for low mileage award tickets, I think DL has other areas where it excels that keeps frequent fliers fairly satisfied (medallion benefits, IRROPs handling, on-board service, hubs, routes, convenience factor, etc.). And yes, before anyone says it...I understand that medallion benefits have changed quite a bit over the last two years, but with all the gloom and doom that was reported at the time some of the current changes were announced, it has not impacted me too much.
So the point is, if you are choosing DL SkyMiles frequent flyer program just for the purpose of low award ticket redemption, you're better off with another program. It's just not the strong point of the program itself, and with the earning changes next year...many will believe it's not going to get much better, despite the documentation of improvements in redemption ability and increased availability of low mileage tickets. But if you are looking at other factors, then I believe DL does a good job.
I prefer to focus on the other benefits of the program rather than just award redemption (which is still a big part of the program sure). And while other programs do offer a lot more availability for low mileage award tickets, I think DL has other areas where it excels that keeps frequent fliers fairly satisfied (medallion benefits, IRROPs handling, on-board service, hubs, routes, convenience factor, etc.). And yes, before anyone says it...I understand that medallion benefits have changed quite a bit over the last two years, but with all the gloom and doom that was reported at the time some of the current changes were announced, it has not impacted me too much.
So the point is, if you are choosing DL SkyMiles frequent flyer program just for the purpose of low award ticket redemption, you're better off with another program. It's just not the strong point of the program itself, and with the earning changes next year...many will believe it's not going to get much better, despite the documentation of improvements in redemption ability and increased availability of low mileage tickets. But if you are looking at other factors, then I believe DL does a good job.
Oct 13, 2014, 9:52 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,392
Maybe LH- oh, wait, they devalued recently too.
Maybe AF/KL- oh, wait, they devalued too.
Perhaps BA- oh, wait, they changed their program rules when they went to Avios too.
If you're serious here:
I'd recommend sticking to it, and expecting that ANY program will devalue in the future (not just the USA-based ones), and primarily expecting your value to come from the flights you pay for, and only secondarily from FF redemptions.
Oct 13, 2014, 10:06 am
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: Hilton Diamond DL Platinum UA 1K, DL Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 500
That Stickie Post was a great thread 5 years ago, now it is useless. DL does not want to pay AF and KLM so those seats are just not available even in economy. Seats that used to be available for TPAC flights were on KE no longer available and you can be sure there is nothing available on DL metal for TPAC.
I agree that awards are just part of the program and if you fly lots of DOMESTIC Flights then the upgrades you may get are valuable . Other then that I see nothing of much value.
I realize I am speaking from the point of view where 90% of my flights are overseas. There are no upgrades no matter who you are so I understand someone who flies Coast to Coast every week cares about that . I could care less.
I pay for all my tickets and 90% are Business Tickets so the program offers me nothing except miles. I get all the other benefits in the price of my ticket.
And yes I have complained about both UA and DL. They both have mediocre food and mediocre service. DL has staggered seating overseas but IMHO UA has more comfortable seats except for the problem of aisle access.
UA's selection of entertainment is light years ahead of DL even on Domestic flights where the TV selections are triple the size of DL.
All that being said I have never had a problem getting what I wanted for an Award and it rarely takes me more then 5 minutes of my very valuable time.
Next year I will split my business between Asiana and EVA . I already know the service will be far superior , the food probably better and the airplanes newer. Asiana A380 will offer a product far superior to anything DL or UA has.
And the Asiana FF program on the surface at least seems far superior to UA or DL
1k with UA many times 2 million miler with DL and Gold or higher ever year but they have both driven me away and this post is more for the type of traveller I am to say Good Bye to companies who devalue your membership every year and look for International airlines.
And you Domestic members who are happy with your benefits and the worst Award Program in the USA and maybe the World. Good Luck
I agree that awards are just part of the program and if you fly lots of DOMESTIC Flights then the upgrades you may get are valuable . Other then that I see nothing of much value.
I realize I am speaking from the point of view where 90% of my flights are overseas. There are no upgrades no matter who you are so I understand someone who flies Coast to Coast every week cares about that . I could care less.
I pay for all my tickets and 90% are Business Tickets so the program offers me nothing except miles. I get all the other benefits in the price of my ticket.
And yes I have complained about both UA and DL. They both have mediocre food and mediocre service. DL has staggered seating overseas but IMHO UA has more comfortable seats except for the problem of aisle access.
UA's selection of entertainment is light years ahead of DL even on Domestic flights where the TV selections are triple the size of DL.
All that being said I have never had a problem getting what I wanted for an Award and it rarely takes me more then 5 minutes of my very valuable time.
Next year I will split my business between Asiana and EVA . I already know the service will be far superior , the food probably better and the airplanes newer. Asiana A380 will offer a product far superior to anything DL or UA has.
And the Asiana FF program on the surface at least seems far superior to UA or DL
1k with UA many times 2 million miler with DL and Gold or higher ever year but they have both driven me away and this post is more for the type of traveller I am to say Good Bye to companies who devalue your membership every year and look for International airlines.
And you Domestic members who are happy with your benefits and the worst Award Program in the USA and maybe the World. Good Luck
Oct 13, 2014, 10:17 am
#27
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,614
That Stickie Post was a great thread 5 years ago, now it is useless. DL does not want to pay AF and KLM so those seats are just not available even in economy. Seats that used to be available for TPAC flights were on KE no longer available and you can be sure there is nothing available on DL metal for TPAC.
I agree that awards are just part of the program and if you fly lots of DOMESTIC Flights then the upgrades you may get are valuable . Other then that I see nothing of much value.
I realize I am speaking from the point of view where 90% of my flights are overseas. There are no upgrades no matter who you are so I understand someone who flies Coast to Coast every week cares about that . I could care less.
I pay for all my tickets and 90% are Business Tickets so the program offers me nothing except miles. I get all the other benefits in the price of my ticket.
And yes I have complained about both UA and DL. They both have mediocre food and mediocre service. DL has staggered seating overseas but IMHO UA has more comfortable seats except for the problem of aisle access.
UA's selection of entertainment is light years ahead of DL even on Domestic flights where the TV selections are triple the size of DL.
All that being said I have never had a problem getting what I wanted for an Award and it rarely takes me more then 5 minutes of my very valuable time.
Next year I will split my business between Asiana and EVA . I already know the service will be far superior , the food probably better and the airplanes newer. Asiana A380 will offer a product far superior to anything DL or UA has.
And the Asiana FF program on the surface at least seems far superior to UA or DL
1k with UA many times 2 million miler with DL and Gold or higher ever year but they have both driven me away and this post is more for the type of traveller I am to say Good Bye to companies who devalue your membership every year and look for International airlines.
And you Domestic members who are happy with your benefits and the worst Award Program in the USA and maybe the World. Good Luck
I agree that awards are just part of the program and if you fly lots of DOMESTIC Flights then the upgrades you may get are valuable . Other then that I see nothing of much value.
I realize I am speaking from the point of view where 90% of my flights are overseas. There are no upgrades no matter who you are so I understand someone who flies Coast to Coast every week cares about that . I could care less.
I pay for all my tickets and 90% are Business Tickets so the program offers me nothing except miles. I get all the other benefits in the price of my ticket.
And yes I have complained about both UA and DL. They both have mediocre food and mediocre service. DL has staggered seating overseas but IMHO UA has more comfortable seats except for the problem of aisle access.
UA's selection of entertainment is light years ahead of DL even on Domestic flights where the TV selections are triple the size of DL.
All that being said I have never had a problem getting what I wanted for an Award and it rarely takes me more then 5 minutes of my very valuable time.
Next year I will split my business between Asiana and EVA . I already know the service will be far superior , the food probably better and the airplanes newer. Asiana A380 will offer a product far superior to anything DL or UA has.
And the Asiana FF program on the surface at least seems far superior to UA or DL
1k with UA many times 2 million miler with DL and Gold or higher ever year but they have both driven me away and this post is more for the type of traveller I am to say Good Bye to companies who devalue your membership every year and look for International airlines.
And you Domestic members who are happy with your benefits and the worst Award Program in the USA and maybe the World. Good Luck
Oct 13, 2014, 10:44 am
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
Sounds like you are just a very glass-half-empty kind of person. I disagree with your conclusion though. I booked J flights to Europe recently using AZ and KL. Found the flights on delta.com but ended up having to call since I couldn't book it online. But there are definitely award seats available if you care to take the time to look, which obviously you don't - which is also OK. Just don't keep b!tching about it.