Surprisingly Good Silver Medallion Experience
Jan 2, 2019, 12:26 pm
#31
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: BNA
Programs: DL GM, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,027
In all seriousness though, I get what you are saying.
Jan 2, 2019, 3:08 pm
#32
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSN
Programs: Delta DM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,987
1. Delta is good at being on-time. Out of all of the flights I've taken with Delta this year, 100% have been on-time or early. To put this into perspective, the one trip I took with United as a Premier Silver (TVC-ORD-ZRH-ORD-TVC) resulted in me paying out of pocket for an overnight stay and getting a $50 voucher for the inconvenience.
Jan 2, 2019, 3:35 pm
#33
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Tahoe
Programs: Delta DM for now
Posts: 474
I'll agree with your other points but not this one. Although I know the statistics prove me wrong. But my statistics are contradictory to overall operations. I had 71 segments last year and spent the night in the wrong city 3 times. My > 30 minute delay % is over 25. IDK if I juts have bad karma, or the numbers lie, or I fly routes that run late, but I'm late a lot.
Jan 2, 2019, 4:21 pm
#34
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,885
I am PM by way of an affiliate (I am Aeromexico Platinum), and my Delta experience has been pleasantly surprising. I did two trips from NY on Delta. One to Charlotte, upgraded (with wife) to business both ways. Flying to ORD got offered earlier flight, which was great as my original itinerary got delayed shortly after. And the few times I have interacted with agents at the counter (they provide supplemental check-in assistance to AeroMexico when things go wrong) they were fantastic, and thanked me for being platinum - something that Aeromexico never does).
That being said, my only odd experience was being #6 on upgrade list for ORD-LGA a day before the flight, then finding myself bumped down to #15 by the time the flight was boarding. Are there really that many Diamond levels on that route? Or was I being bumped in favor of "true" Delta PM passengers? Either way, I am generally pleased by the way they treat their "step-children"
That being said, my only odd experience was being #6 on upgrade list for ORD-LGA a day before the flight, then finding myself bumped down to #15 by the time the flight was boarding. Are there really that many Diamond levels on that route? Or was I being bumped in favor of "true" Delta PM passengers? Either way, I am generally pleased by the way they treat their "step-children"
Jan 2, 2019, 4:26 pm
#35
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,885
Huh...I have always received a lime in my gin & tonic when in C+. 98% of the time, they have a plastic cup full of them, and the 2% they don't, the FA knows its on the other Y cart or they just go retrieve one from F because its closer. The only time I don't receive a lime is when I am sitting in F on a regional carrier and I don't receive one "because I didn't ask for one."
Jan 3, 2019, 12:09 am
#36
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SJC, SFO
Programs: Delta DM, IHG Spire, Hertz PC, H.com Gold^3, lowly something on others...
Posts: 1,260
As a DM, I generally never been thanked by DL FA, unless it's the regular FA on certain frequent routes. However, both Korean Air and China Airlines have done an amazing job. Every flight - their purser would come and thank me and a few apparently recognizes me and knows what I like to drink....On China Airlines, the purser would bring over a little extras that regular pax do not like, like slippers, left over amenity kits...
Oddly, my mother, a non-status DL member get thanked by DL, because I book her ticket using my miles...
My stats are not good enough. I caught every major Delta meltdown, including having to slept at LAX when that computer issues happened, twice... More interestingly on another issue, they rerouted me, due to IROP, to MSP to fly to HND, but first by sending me on a red-eye to ATL, in middle seat, then to MSP instead of direct, and wont' give me the MQM for the extra detour through mothership
Oddly, my mother, a non-status DL member get thanked by DL, because I book her ticket using my miles...
My stats are not good enough. I caught every major Delta meltdown, including having to slept at LAX when that computer issues happened, twice... More interestingly on another issue, they rerouted me, due to IROP, to MSP to fly to HND, but first by sending me on a red-eye to ATL, in middle seat, then to MSP instead of direct, and wont' give me the MQM for the extra detour through mothership
Last edited by wlau; Jan 3, 2019 at 12:18 am
Jan 3, 2019, 7:26 am
#37
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Programs: DL DM, Bonvoy LTT, HH Diam, UA Silver, USAF million miler ;)
Posts: 1,596
A couple of scrambles, but not a single forced overnight stay in several years for this DM. In fact, I can only recall one (ATL) in over a million miles, excluding the April weather meltdown at JFK a couple of years ago. Status rarely recognized but for a seat up front and delivery to Point B who cares. UG running 90%+ with pretty decent use of RUCs for TCON. My sole gripe with DL's FF program is the disappearance of reasonable J award fares to Europe (I did snag FCO for 150K last week on sale) and low awards in general. I seem to get a batch of late arrivals then months of smooth sailing. I'm sticking with them.
Jan 8, 2019, 10:39 am
#38
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Gold, Marriott Platinum, Former Amtrak Select, Former Hilton Gold
Posts: 422
I'm guessing it probably had more to do with the fact I paid an exorbitant amount of money buying a fully flexible ticket at the last-minute
Jan 8, 2019, 11:59 am
#39
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
I was traveling with a non-status producer in F from DTW-LAX. A flight attendant came up to our row, and greeted him (by name) and said "this thing (pointed to her tablet) told me I need to acknowledge you and thank you for flying Delta." Ahhh...the warm, fuzzy feelings. No acknowledgement for the Diamond sitting right next to him =-).
Jan 8, 2019, 4:51 pm
#41
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSN
Programs: Delta DM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,987
I honestly think I'd rather wear comfortable clothing in W than a suit in F.
Jan 8, 2019, 6:02 pm
#42
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Delta
Posts: 61
I recently attained Southwest Alist status, was approved for Delta Silver matching in about a week and a flight that was paid for by points and cash was upgraded to Comfort Plus for both me and my companion on a round trip (upgraded both ways for both people and seats together) to Hawaii from LAX for New Years. Not too shabby of an experience so far. FYI she needed to have a SkyMiles account, but didn't require status for this to work. They even let me move to two other open seats for a little more privacy on the return trip.
Jan 14, 2019, 10:04 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Gold, Marriott Platinum, Former Amtrak Select, Former Hilton Gold
Posts: 422
Jan 14, 2019, 7:30 pm
#44
Join Date: May 2015
Location: NYC/Paris
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 111
Huh...I have always received a lime in my gin & tonic when in C+. 98% of the time, they have a plastic cup full of them, and the 2% they don't, the FA knows its on the other Y cart or they just go retrieve one from F because its closer. The only time I don't receive a lime is when I am sitting in F on a regional carrier and I don't receive one "because I didn't ask for one."
Jan 17, 2019, 9:03 am
#45
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York
Programs: SPG LT Gold, DL PM 1MM
Posts: 692
It's interesting (and human) how the recognition has variability. Sometimes the GA says "thank you for being a GM/PM/DM" to the guy in front of me when boarding, but nothing to me (I only care bc of consistency), sometimes pursers/FA greet you, sometimes they don't, and sometimes they come showering you with love for "being so loyal and our nicest flier on board today". I enjoy it but sometimes it gets embarrassing. In the end, I think it's a human touch and I appreciate it.