Too Many Elites...
Jun 3, 2015, 7:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: DL DM/MM
Posts: 2,274
Too Many Elites...
As much as we FTers talk about the inflated ranks of elite pax and the trimming of benefits across all tiers, especially in the lower ones (i.e., FO and GM), I don't think this issue has resonated with the public at large. At least today's NY Times spotlights this issue, particularly on DL: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/07/up...abt=0002&abg=0
Last edited by UVAhoo06; Jun 3, 2015 at 9:53 pm
Jun 3, 2015, 7:11 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Atlanta
Programs: DL 2MM/GM, AA Gold, Marriott Life Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 8
I completely agree
...in fact, see my post http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...u-realize.html I sent almost simultaneously to your post.
Jun 3, 2015, 7:19 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Eliminate MQMs from credit card spend and signup bonuses. That would most likely solve the problem right there. Or as a compromise, eliminate the 25K MQD waiver.
I'm sorry, but you should not be able to get status without flying a single BIS mile. The point of elite status is to reward and encourage loyalty. Giving it away to people who don't fly enough to earn it defeats the purpose, IMO.
Note: I am biased, since I've earned every single one of my 27K MQMs this year from BIS miles.
I'm sorry, but you should not be able to get status without flying a single BIS mile. The point of elite status is to reward and encourage loyalty. Giving it away to people who don't fly enough to earn it defeats the purpose, IMO.
Note: I am biased, since I've earned every single one of my 27K MQMs this year from BIS miles.
Last edited by KDCAflyer; Jun 3, 2015 at 7:27 pm
Jun 3, 2015, 7:43 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,667
Eliminate MQMs from credit card spend and signup bonuses. That would most likely solve the problem right there. Or as a compromise, eliminate the 25K MQD waiver.
I'm sorry, but you should not be able to get status without flying a single BIS mile. The point of elite status is to reward and encourage loyalty. Giving it away to people who don't fly enough to earn it defeats the purpose, IMO.
Note: I am biased, since I've earned every single one of my 27K MQMs this year from BIS miles.
I'm sorry, but you should not be able to get status without flying a single BIS mile. The point of elite status is to reward and encourage loyalty. Giving it away to people who don't fly enough to earn it defeats the purpose, IMO.
Note: I am biased, since I've earned every single one of my 27K MQMs this year from BIS miles.
So, I'm glad the waiver is there. The MQMs I get from the credit card are nice too, but I still fly about 80K BIS miles/year.
Jun 3, 2015, 8:16 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: NYC, DAB
Posts: 254
Whenever threads relating to thinning the medallion ranks come up, they usually end up with various posters advocating that DL thin the ranks, but always in ways that benefit themselves. Namely, people usually want DL to raise the qualification levels to whatever they fly/spend per year, or eliminate ways to qualify for status through other means, such as Amex waiver, segments, etc.
In fact...
Eliminate MQMs from credit card spend and signup bonuses. That would most likely solve the problem right there. Or as a compromise, eliminate the 25K MQD waiver.
I'm sorry, but you should not be able to get status without flying a single BIS mile. The point of elite status is to reward and encourage loyalty. Giving it away to people who don't fly enough to earn it defeats the purpose, IMO.
Note: I am biased, since I've earned every single one of my 27K MQMs this year from BIS miles.
Already beat me to it.
In fact...
Originally Posted by WWads
Eliminate MQMs from credit card spend and signup bonuses. That would most likely solve the problem right there. Or as a compromise, eliminate the 25K MQD waiver.
I'm sorry, but you should not be able to get status without flying a single BIS mile. The point of elite status is to reward and encourage loyalty. Giving it away to people who don't fly enough to earn it defeats the purpose, IMO.
Note: I am biased, since I've earned every single one of my 27K MQMs this year from BIS miles.
Jun 3, 2015, 8:27 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: delta dm
Posts: 1,677
I agree with the premise....but the counter argument is how much did american express/delta make in credit card revenue off the business owners like me that spent 100,000 plus on the credit card plus traveled with delta....they want those HVC
Jun 3, 2015, 8:29 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: DL, Hilton, National
Posts: 841
I take no issue with those who earn all their MQMs from Amex boosts. If they rarely fly, they rarely affect me or my upgrade.
FCM is a far bigger enemy to our upgrades than infrequent travelers who are likely taking leisure routes/schedules.
FCM is a far bigger enemy to our upgrades than infrequent travelers who are likely taking leisure routes/schedules.
Jun 3, 2015, 8:30 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: delta dm
Posts: 1,677
Jun 3, 2015, 8:59 pm
#9
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
I believe many of Delta's most valuable customers are those who fly the least.
Jun 3, 2015, 11:09 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Reno, NV
Programs: NFY, AA EXP, Marriott TE
Posts: 517
Actually I found the article to be quite true.
A hard, cold look at the landscape - so different from 15 years ago - will lead you to a different economic model from "elite"...
By shopping the big three, I fly F on every flight. If I kept ALL my business to DL, I'd be a DM-but why on earth would I spend 40% more?
All the best, James
A hard, cold look at the landscape - so different from 15 years ago - will lead you to a different economic model from "elite"...
By shopping the big three, I fly F on every flight. If I kept ALL my business to DL, I'd be a DM-but why on earth would I spend 40% more?
All the best, James
Jun 4, 2015, 6:59 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,371
I'd suggest that some who do this are after more than acquiring and/or retaining elite status ... regardless of the perceptions that many here in the DL FT community have of redeemable miles (changes and limitations wrt earning, lack of transparency wrt award levels/availability, restrictions wrt partners, etc), some folks are actually accumulating RDMs with the intent to use them
Jun 4, 2015, 7:06 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, HHonors Gold; SPG Gold
Posts: 254
The article, unlike many FF related articles seemed spot on to me. I was DL Silver for 6 years; a significant uptick in work travel got me to platinum for this year and the differences in everything, from upgrades to how i'm treated is mind blowing.
Makes it even harder to know I'm more than likely going back to silver next year. Oh well.
Makes it even harder to know I'm more than likely going back to silver next year. Oh well.
Jun 4, 2015, 7:06 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: MBS
Programs: Delta DM 1 MM HH Gold Marriott Gold IHG Spire
Posts: 183
clearly, that's what's most important to YOU, so by all means please keep doing that
I'd suggest that some who do this are after more than acquiring and/or retaining elite status ... regardless of the perceptions that many here in the DL FT community have of redeemable miles (changes and limitations wrt earning, lack of transparency wrt award levels/availability, restrictions wrt partners, etc), some folks are actually accumulating RDMs with the intent to use them
I'd suggest that some who do this are after more than acquiring and/or retaining elite status ... regardless of the perceptions that many here in the DL FT community have of redeemable miles (changes and limitations wrt earning, lack of transparency wrt award levels/availability, restrictions wrt partners, etc), some folks are actually accumulating RDMs with the intent to use them
Jun 4, 2015, 7:07 am
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
CC's are a huge revenue-generator for DL. Stiffing the card-holders is plain and simple bad business.
What people derisively refer to as FCM, e.g. "selling tickets as a for-profit business" is what DL is supposed to be doing.
All threads such as this prove is that the marketing guys at DL are correct. A shiny plastic card will get people to pay more for no particular tangible benefit.
It's not DL's fault that the sheeples follow. It's the sheeples for continuing to play along.
What people derisively refer to as FCM, e.g. "selling tickets as a for-profit business" is what DL is supposed to be doing.
All threads such as this prove is that the marketing guys at DL are correct. A shiny plastic card will get people to pay more for no particular tangible benefit.
It's not DL's fault that the sheeples follow. It's the sheeples for continuing to play along.