How much of Delta's recent financial success is due to how generous they were a few years ago with doling out miles as well as ease of redemption?

How much lag time is there between eras of generosity and financial gains?

Is Delta hurting themselves longterm with how stingy and opaque theyve become, or is the US such an oligopoly that it doesn't matter?

I had a work partner recently ask me if I'm still a medallion after he saw my Kryptonium credentials and I said not worth it anymore are you? And he said hell no. And this was someone that was applying like crazy to Amex and transferring at 50% bonuses and getting status because of me a few years ago... as well as 100k cap1 etc.

So I know everyone agrees (except DM's that pay a crapload for short flights and like current system) that everything has gotten worse, but my question is whether the pendulum will actually turn because of the lagging nature of goodwill, reputation and perception of value, or if DL has it all figured out

DL has the basics down. Low cancelations and high on-time arrivals. It knows what to fly, when to fly ot, and fills it up for the most part. It's customer service is also good, especially in IROPS. Finally it's profitable. Thus there's no reason for DL to change. Does it suck we don't get as many freebies? Of course, but those days are gone at all three majors. Bulk of customers want rock bottom cheap tickets and care for nothing else. Bottom line the airline's have moved their programs to be more in line with what you give to them. It's how it really should have been. However that's not how it was setup. Instead someone providing very little could reap huge rewards.

Regardless if we like it or not, it's here to stay.

Curious how you "know" that since it's actually false.

Some things have gotten worse, some things have gotten better. A carrier-agnostic non-status passenger might actually say things have gotten a lot better.

And as flyerCO points out, you can't really argue with DL's completion and on-time numbers, which are far closer to the core of their service than their consumer marketing program.

i have been wondering the same thing as the OP. Has delta made a profit and gotten itself out of bankruptsy because of all the positive things that were mentioned after the OP AND their FF program? They keep on getting on-time flights and the flights are full. They are messing with their FF program a lot. Will it be, in the long run, a winning strategy? Time will tell if the changes are penny wise and pound foolish. Lord knows that airlines would never do that again...��