2010 Medallion Program
Jul 29, 2009 | 2:44 pm
#241
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: DL Platinum, UA Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 68
I thought that companions were upgraded iff all the medallions on that flight were upgraded as well. Did they change this?
Jul 29, 2009 | 2:48 pm
#242
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On the NW program, the companion upgraded with the platinum, jumping ahead of other medallions. With the DL program, both people upgraded at the companion's window (if the companion had status) or after the other medallions.
Jul 29, 2009 | 3:00 pm
#243
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SRQ
Posts: 2,175
One point, which was made above,I believe needs repeating. The SWU's would not be so bad if it weren't for the significant fare hike on B and M fares earlier this year. There is a huge difference between 1200-1600 TATL fares and 2100-2500 TATL fares.
Jul 29, 2009 | 3:05 pm
#244
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Jul 29, 2009 | 3:13 pm
#245
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: DL AA UA
Posts: 2,359
From my personal point of view, I think the new program is actually a good program. I like the rollover feature and I think it is very smart for Delta to create this. I also like that the left in place many of the current program features that put them at or above your competition - 500 min. miles, unlimited domestic upgrades, adding new features - future companion upgrades, SC access, elimination of fees, etc. Yes, I miss the free SC membership that was once available to Platinum’s, the original SWU that were once in place that could be used on almost any flight, and a host of other things, but I look at where I am today as a PM, and I think the new program is an improvement.
I have also carefully read through the feedback in this thread. It is very clear that the predominate message is that the #1 expectation that wasn’t fulfilled with the new program is the use of SWU for international flights at lower fares. In fact, if this request outnumbers all other feedback by almost 300%. So I think that message is clear. I would agree with this, particularly when traveling on my own dime. I would like to have a least one or two international flights that can be upgraded from a lower fare. I do think kudos should be given for the day of departure utilization of the SWU, which has long been a very “broken” issue, so I am glad to see this addressed. Now with all the said, I personally think the new program is better than where we were before the announcement. Could it provide even more benefits? Of course the answer is yes, but I know there were trade-offs, and I feel comfortable they do a good job of assessing those trade-offs putting together a good program. What if we lost some of the unlimited domestic upgrades to "fund" wider use of the SWU on lower fares?!? - I suggest that would no doubt, cause a big mutiny.
No doubt, they will be reading the feedback, and it is possible that they will re-evaluate the SWU at some point in the future and act on that feedback. I also feel confident that they did a pretty detailed analysis of what it would cost to lower the fares that the SWUs applied to, as well as trying to win that battle with Revenue Management over getting broader access the coveted International BE seats.
I really didn't expect any unrestricted SWUs at 75k because that simply isn't competitive. It would have been nice, I certainly would have used them, but it wasn't wholly realistic at that level. That is the reason there were less complaints about getting 6 PMUs that are more or less worthless to 80% of us. However, at 125k, I think reasonable people expected at least a few true SWUs as that is what is being deliverd to elites from other a/ls in some shape or another at 100k and that is what was provided in past years and this year to NW PEs who reached 120k.
If DL is going to create a super premium elite class, I think it deserves super premium benefits. I think that was delivered for the most part, with one huge and unacceptable exception.
Jul 29, 2009 | 3:14 pm
#246
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AA and UA already offer "more expansive SWUs" to those who fly 100k status miles/points, so the only thing that your suggestion would do to set apart DL in this regard is that DL would offer it at 125k status miles instead of at 100k status miles. Way to set DL apart in a negative way yet again.
Jul 29, 2009 | 3:20 pm
#247
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A majority of DL tickets sold to DL elites last year for travel last year were not eligible for companion upgrades, if I am not mistaken; the same could not be said for NW tickets sold to NW elites since all NW tickets were eligible for companion upgrades. Did LUT-fare companion upgrade ineligibility -- the ultimate downgrade of companion prioritization -- win DL a lot of fans? I have my doubts about that.
Jul 29, 2009 | 3:23 pm
#248
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ABQ
Programs: Delta Platinum, Southwest A-List
Posts: 1,451
AA and UA already offer "more expansive SWUs" to those who fly 100k status miles/points, so the only thing that your suggestion would do to set apart DL in this regard is that DL would offer it at 125k status miles instead of at 100k status miles. Way to set DL apart in a negative way yet again.
But then again, that's why I choose to fly with Delta. The main issue I currently have is the whole SWU thing.
Jul 29, 2009 | 3:40 pm
#250
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Which item in my quoted post is not true? So far you haven't pointed to a single error in my post above. You may be distanced from your mistaken claim which proclaims something that is true to be "not true", but that distancing from false claim would require you to keep in mind that it was you who focused on the SWU issue and me who followed your SWU issue to the point of talking about the SWUs.
Jul 29, 2009 | 3:56 pm
#251
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: RDU
Programs: AA GM, DL DM, DSC
Posts: 1,540
In the interest of balancing the SM Elite program cost and making the comparison to other FF programs more equal, what benefits would you be willing to give up to gain greater SWU INT'L fare flexability?
Since the heartburn appears to be over INT'L SWU and how it isn't equivalent to AA or UL, would it have been better to eliminate unlimited domestic upgrades for FO thru PM so that DM could get better INT'L SWU and make the programs truly closer?
One reason I haven't status matched on AA is the year of riding in coach it will take me to get EXP and unlimited upgrades. While I can challenge my way to Plat with a month or two in Y, and once Plat get a couple of sticker upgrades, I have to achieve EXP on BIS since a challenge does not give you the EQMs of a Plat, just the privledges. With the discount and deep discount fares my company uses, that's a lot of coach BIS on AA. For us mostly domestic flyers that's a lot of BIS - in Y, just to get back what I have now as a PM on DL.
It's different status matching when coming to DL since you can get PM right away and while sitting up front, build the MQMs required to be PM again next year.
While everyone's mileage varies, I find unlimited domestic upgrades a tremendous perk and one of the best benefits of DL's FF program, YMMV. An FO or GM who can travel off-peak/non-ATL can do quite well on DL domestic upgrades on cheap fares. The same can not be said for all of the other carriers.
Without trying to be mean, it won't hurt me if the current PM ranks stop short of DM or defect to another carrier. As a DM my domestic upgrade chances look better either way (less competition).
For the record, I like DL companion program which I think is fair. Native elite first, then if space available, companions get moved up front.
Since the heartburn appears to be over INT'L SWU and how it isn't equivalent to AA or UL, would it have been better to eliminate unlimited domestic upgrades for FO thru PM so that DM could get better INT'L SWU and make the programs truly closer?
One reason I haven't status matched on AA is the year of riding in coach it will take me to get EXP and unlimited upgrades. While I can challenge my way to Plat with a month or two in Y, and once Plat get a couple of sticker upgrades, I have to achieve EXP on BIS since a challenge does not give you the EQMs of a Plat, just the privledges. With the discount and deep discount fares my company uses, that's a lot of coach BIS on AA. For us mostly domestic flyers that's a lot of BIS - in Y, just to get back what I have now as a PM on DL.
It's different status matching when coming to DL since you can get PM right away and while sitting up front, build the MQMs required to be PM again next year.
While everyone's mileage varies, I find unlimited domestic upgrades a tremendous perk and one of the best benefits of DL's FF program, YMMV. An FO or GM who can travel off-peak/non-ATL can do quite well on DL domestic upgrades on cheap fares. The same can not be said for all of the other carriers.
Without trying to be mean, it won't hurt me if the current PM ranks stop short of DM or defect to another carrier. As a DM my domestic upgrade chances look better either way (less competition).
For the record, I like DL companion program which I think is fair. Native elite first, then if space available, companions get moved up front.
Jul 29, 2009 | 4:09 pm
#252
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Jul 29, 2009 | 4:15 pm
#253
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: RDU
Programs: AA GM, DL DM, DSC
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Jul 29, 2009 | 4:16 pm
#254
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Jul 29, 2009 | 4:24 pm
#255
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The one fact that must be front and center in this debate is that giving it away to the LUTs impacts negatively on those who customarily pay higher fares by creating an entire subset of competitors for limited availability perks such as upgrades and awards. Perhaps DL wants the high fare customers more than it wants them.