MikeyZBT

Just an observation, but are there any other ATL-based travelers that are jealous/sad when reading about all the others that can legitimately look at other airlines for loyalty, when, frankly, we're just screwed because of Delta's dominance in this market?

sydneyracquelle

I am ATL-based and have moved more and more of my nonstop travel of 2.5 hours or less to SW with no regrets. I still avoid AA and UA. We are in the same boat as those in DTW/SLC/MSP.

ty97

It it undoubtedly easier for some of us, especially those of us in NYC. However, it's not like you don't have other options in ATL. You take the convenience of all the non-stops (understandably) for sticking with DL. But you don't have to stick with DL.

ATOBTTR

I've never understood why "hub captives" say they don't have options when they in fact do. If you look at a list of ATL's nonstop service, you'll see that with the exception of Riverside/Ontario, CA, you have to go pretty far down the list of "largest cities/metro areas in the US" before you come across a city that only has DL nonstop service and no other nonstop options (Sacramento, at #28 on the list of largest metro areas) and then the next several cities on the list after Sacramento have at least one other nonstop option until you get to Norfolk, VA (which even has "seasonal" WN service). But even for those cities not served nonstop by another carrier, "hub captives" often still have the option of choosing to fly another carrier and connect.

kale73

My most frequent destination is MSY and the nearest 'major' airport to my domicile is ABQ (59th busiest in the U.S.: woo hoo!)

No airline (not even WN) operates nonstop service from ABQ-MSY. I have to connect no matter which airline I choose to fly. I could drive an additional hour and book a non-stop on AA or WN out of PHX, but is that really worth it?

Repooc17

Here is the root of the problem - to think other airlines, any airline, would actually be loyal to you, the passenger/consumer.

Jump to another airline, spend a lot of money, cling for rare upgrades at hubs, said airline raise requirements, and cry about it on FT.

Grass is not greener on the other side.

jrl767

you’re the only one who can make that determination, because it’s based on your value propositions — what’s your time worth? do you put the same value on your time when you’re in your car en route to or from the airport as you do waiting at a connecting airport? how do you use the benefits of airline status? would that matter if you had status on a different airline? in a different alliance? how do your personal and business spend habits line up with a particular airline’s credit card partner options?

Orange County Commuter

Nope, When I didn't live in a hub city I had to connect a lot. I value non stops more than the things others are whining about.

FlyingBeanCounter

This is a defacto price increase for the status conscious. Want status? Spend more.

What if you don't have status? Is that DM boarding group really worth that much? Personally I will just (continue to) buy the class of service I want and not worry about the fact that I might have scored an upgrade. My status is a happy coincidence. Yes, on occasion I would steer a trip to one airline or another but now I don't have too.

Airlines are moving to rewarding the current big spenders right now and status will slowly disappear. The people who spend 6k but go through hoops to fly DL just are not that profitable.

sfozrhfco

Flying other airlines also provides an incentive for competitors to grow as well. Blindly giving money to DL is a personal choice.

Adelphos

I live in the NYC area and will likely continue to fly Delta. For domestic travel, the Delta terminals (LGA + JFK) are the most comfortable, offer the most routes and most favorable schedule. I do fly AA and B6 from time to time and will continue to do so. I generally avoid connecting unless necessary, and will continue to do so (i.e. I won't start connecting on AA, or especially UA out of LGA, just to avoid Delta).

MikeyZBT

I guess my biggest problem with this is that WN/Southwest is only a good idea for people who pretty much only travel domestically. They have no international partners, all coach, etc.

I just wish we had a situation like LA or NYC where I could change my purchase pattern from Delta to American or United and earn the miles that I like to use on international travel, just with a different alliance.

exwannabe

It is not a matter of blind loyalty for many of us.

Even when I was *G from flying BR on my TPAC flights for about 10 years I still flew DL exclusively on my domestic flights because the schedules are so much better out of ATL. And in IROPS so many more recovery choices.

As of today my last 3 long haul flights have been on SQ. Would be nice to have a loyality program I can combine with this, but not possible for me out of ATL. Not saying anything negative about UA, just they do not have the flights that would work for me.

I do not feel bad about this though. There are only a few cities that have it better. Most or worse in that they do not have the excellent flight availability provided by being based in ATL.

DLATL777

Agreed. Peoples obsession with status is terrifying. Casinos figured that out years ago-rewarding casino status based on run through/but in reality their losses. People love the way perks and benefits make them feel so much that in the casino world, they will lose MORE money just to have the privledge of attaining a higher status at the end of the year that, guess what, makes them come play at the casino more and thus give more money away. Ingenious right? Yup. Crazy? No crazier than people doing mileage run, wasting money to sit on aircraft to gain status to then spend more money to sit on aircrafts.

As I shared in other threads, Im happy to see gamers no longer be able to benefit. Stop doing mileage runs. Go home. Spend time with your friends and family.

HaleiwaFlyer

I think a credit card that can transfer points to other airlines is the way to go for most of the posters here. Stay with DL for the convenient flight schedule and transfer your CC points for award flights outside of the DL ecosystem.

With spend based airline programs, there is no longer any loyalty program present.