How do have a "more profitable segment of customers" when you have no profits in the first place? Their business plan is non-functional.

So the charlatan's are fleecing the sheeple?

Just out of curiosity, and not trying be argumentative, if you are EXP why would you pay for an "M" fare with DL? I think there is a chance, not as much so now, that you will not clear and from my research "M" on DL is WAY higher than upgradeable fare with EXP SWU.

Also, if you are willing to pay for "M" with DL why not buy discounted business class with AA, maybe the same price or a tad higher, and use SWU to bump yourself to FC?

I'd respond to you the same way if I was on the AA board.

With ANY airline I would not assume they would do anything until I see it in writing; even then I'd still not believe it until I see it.

ALL airlines will be dishonest with any of us; just DL does the best job at that.

I think we've achieved synthesis.

I'm glad you acknowledge there is something where DL is the best in class.

IMHO...and maybe its just a parsing of words...but, my read of the above quote is this: "still require" implies no change to current program; "will become" implies a forthcoming change to the current program.

As was pointed out earlier, DoD upgrades can still happen today; but, only if/when Z inventory is still available (which is really quite rare). If this remains the case, then essentially the program is unchanged; and thus, not worth touting as RealDLInsider did in his OP.

Deleted.

Because if I want to travel from JFK to ATH or NCE or IST or AGP or AMM or CAI or TLV or PSA or KBP or PRG or BUD or SVO or VLC or TXL or DUB or MAN or SNN or AMS or DKR or ACC, I can't do so on AA without a change of planes usually in LHR, and then have to fly in steerage after that. I have been an AA EXP for years already and there are certainly great things about that - but there aren't half as many destinations in either Europe or Asia that I can use those EVIPs on all the way through to my destination.

As for upgrade availability, outside of JFK-LHR, AA has been getting stingier with releasing of "C" upgrade inventory on other TATL flights (particularly the 767s, and now the 75L flights will be even worse given there are only 15 seats available).

Deeply discounted Business on AA ("I" inventory) is not 'bump-able' to First using either eVIPs or miles/co-pay, I believe. The next level up of AA Business fares are usually more than a "tad higher" than the DL M fare.

Different programs have different assets. I just bought an M fare to BKK. AA does not fly to BKK, so I could not use one of their eVIPs to fly to BKK at any price. I could have used the eVIP to NRT, but I was not going to spend 6 hours in coach each way (equal to some TATL trips) NRT-BKK. Also, the price difference for using AA eVIPs verses DL's PMUs is not necessarily that different, depending on destination. The advantages of AA's SWUs has been overrated in many threads. Some here would have you believe that the AA eVIPs are the second comming of Christ.

I'm flying to GRU next week on AA in F using miles, as the lowest upgradable economy fare on AA was over $2K, and there were no discounted business class seats.

Each program has plusses and minuses. The grass is really not any greener on the other side of the fence (except over the septic tank).

Thanks so much for your feedback on our 2010 Medallion program. We continue to read your responses and while we can�t respond to each individual question or comment, we do want to address your major concerns � and clear up any confusion about the issues generating the most feedback. SkyMilesInsider will periodically address some of your most frequent postings and provide additional clarity on an �as needed� basis giving you quicker, informative responses to major topics. So here goes:

� New Day-of-departure SWU: Platinum and Diamond members will be able to choose from a variety of �Choice Benefits.� Included in these options are new Systemwide Upgrade Certificates (SWU). Basically, the new SWU is the same as our current PMU � except you can now use the SWU at the gate if a seat is available on the day of your departure. Platinums who select the SWU benefit will receive four certificates, and Diamonds will receive six. Some of you have asked why Platinums will receive fewer certificates in 2010 than in 2009. While you won�t receive as many certificates as before, we think they should be more usable and rewarding because we�ve added the ability to use SWUs on the day of departure.

� Delta Sky Club & Diamond Medallion: Okay, here�s the deal with Delta Sky Club membership. As you know, Diamond Medallion members will receive a complimentary membership. If you�re a Diamond Medallion and you�re already a Delta Sky Club member, we won�t refund your membership fee, but we will add any remaining months of your membership to the end of your complimentary membership, which will last as long as you�re a Diamond Medallion. And if you�re already a lifetime Delta Sky Club member, your membership status will remain the same.

� Choice Benefits: You guys are wondering how many choice benefits you�ll get to select if you hit Platinum and Diamond in the same year. The answer? Three. You�ll choose one benefit when you reach Platinum and two when you hit Diamond. If you�re already a Diamond and you re-qualify for Diamond status, you�ll choose two benefits when you hit 125,000 miles.

We�ll continue to monitor this forum and address any major questions that come up. Again, thanks for your interest in our new Medallion program benefits.

On that, my friend, we can all agree.

BTW DLfan, I agree with you and the "Z" requirement will be omitted. Call me the doubting Thomas and it would be nice to have it confirmed.

This also begs one of my questions, who in the right mind would buy an upgradable fare and not know their PMU would work, for those people in my opinion should be going to a rubber room.

With AA and their co-pay, you pay if the upgrade goes through, period.

I wold hate to see 10 seats in BE available the day before a flight, feel confident I will see my extra money go to use and than find out the flight before mine was canceled and I do not get the upgrade.

That is wonderful news, very welcome, and somewhat overdue. Two big ^^ to SkyMilesInsider.

You first state that both are profitable (some moreso, some less), then your conclusion is "overall losses." Doesn't add up. More profits + less profits does not = overall losses.

The airlines have customers who allow them to lose a lot or to lose a little. So maybe the "more profitable" really are those who help the airline lose the least? Doesn't sound like profits to me. Only the airlines and the government could run such operations!!

Thanks SkyMilesInsider. Two questions that haven't really been addressed:

-do you still need Z inventory to use the day of departure SWU's?

-why does DL feel that DM's won't "abuse" the "unlimited free changes" on award tickets that they claimed PM's did? Granted, there will be fewer DM's than PM's but the same people who were PM's will gain DM status, thus the same problems.

I tend to disagree with you that more PM's will use the SWU's now that they include day of departure. Most PM's would not even buy an M fare unless they were guaranteed the upgrade (i.e. there was space available for the upgrade at the time of ticketing).