Thanks Jeff, IMHO you guys have done a terrific job improving the program. I will almost reach 200K MQMs this year and appreciate the opportunity to roll-over the extra MQMs. I fly mostly international so I appreciate the option to obtain up to 10 SWU certificates. I also like the added bonus miles that go with DM. I think 125K was the ideal threshold for qualification and last but not least I appreciate the opportunity to be at the top end of the list for domestics upgrades. And thanks for the complementary SkyClub access.
Delta First

C'mon...were you really expecting the "new" SWUs to actually add real value? Day of departure usage is a benefit, but they know that the vast majority go unused which is why they're willing to give them out. It costs them nothing and they can claim to have a "benefit" out there for their customers, even if they are essentially vaporware.

For the folks who have their travel paid for but are still buying coach seats for the international segments the SWUs have some value - they are probably buying Y/B/M anyways and now they can upgrade much more frequently. But for people who buy lower fares or are on their own dime it is much less valuable.

There are certainly changes to the program. Some aren't so bad. But the love being showered on the new program seems somewhat strange to me. Then again, I pay for my own travel so I must not really be worthy of DL's love.

It isn't about switching to another carrier or not. It is about calling DL out on what they've actually done. They have removed benefits over time and now put some of them back. At a much higher qualification level. I suppose it is easy to be sated by such moves if you don't remember getting burned the first time around.

"Calling them out"? "Getting burned?
The only constant in life is change. Do you feel "burned" because they don't give out free 750ml bottles of booze in coach? I remember when they did that. And I flew a 747 TATL with a piano bar and live entertainment up front. So what? Gas used to be a quarter, and they checked your oil, too. And bread was nickel. Time to move on!

I fly on my own dime, and run my own businesses. And things change every year, just as the economy and population and technology do.

All you are "entitled" to is a seat on the plane. Be happy for all the extra stuff offered. :)

It simply means that your lounge benefits extend into the after life :D

With the new SWU automated system, is there going to be a way to check whether the SWU can be used on a Y/B/M fare before buying it? Or will we have continue using software such as expertflyer to figure that out? Knowing availability in advance would be a big plus.

This can be read two ways and I think we need some clarification. Can the SWU's be used only on the day of departure or will be come usuable on the day of departure in addition to clearing earlier if the appropriate fare bucket opens up.

If it is the latter, I think it would have been smarter for DL to let people of lower fare classes use them on a space avaialbe basis instead of sending out empty seats in BE -- sort of like way NW did with the "Phantom Upgrade." (Which if you DLers don't know, would upgrade up to 5 Plats on any paid fare, if there was space available.) But limits, prioritize any way you want, but get some good will by letting us occasionally ride up front.

If it is the former, DL has removed what little value the PMU/PEU/SWU has for me, as I would never by a Y/B/M fare unless I could upgrade (assuming the situation didn't demand it, i.e last minute walkup purchase).

+1. Otherwise one is better off buying an I/S/D fare.

Some PMs will clear UG before some DMs
 

One less reason to go for DM status, particularly if you buy high fare classes: According to my reading, at the 5-day window a PM holding a higher ticketing class will clear before a DM with a lower ticketing class. For the first time, the Medallion UG lottery will favor a lower medallion level over a higher one in the UG priority queue.

Did you try doing the pay with miles option? I was also outraged at the high cost of redeeming miles but when I looked at the pay with miles option, I was able to get a "free" ticket for 25,000 miles vs 37,500.

For DL flyers, the biggest change I see is the simple addition of a 4th tier.

It likely is not worth doing mileage runs to achieve 125K EQMs versus 75K, but if you do fly the 125K for business/personal reasons - then for domestic upgrades - a Diamond on a cheap fare will trump a DL Plat on a high fare for the upgrade.

Maybe not. If as posted, a DM on any fare does not trump a PM on a high fare - then absolutely no reason to go for DM status. In fact if you fly that much - you might be better moving to UA or AA. On CO instant upgradeable fares like Y and B and M for Plat clear at ticket time.

Do you also get upset when you go to the store and the price of milk has changed? I don't. What I paid yesterday doesn't matter. What I pay today is what matters. If I paid $2 yesterday and it is $4 today, my options are: 1) not buy milk, 2) go to a different store, or 3) complain about how it used to cost $2. Option 1 is an option only if you don't like or need milk. Option 2 only works if the other store offers something different. Option 3 doesn't really accomplish anything.

It is pretty much always about switching to another carrier, or to stop flying. Worrying about how things were in the "good ol' days" doesn't really inform your purchasing habits.

To that end, I think the changes are largely positive. I think that Silver through Plat are very competitive and that this round of changes are net positives for all except for a few Plats that hit 75k exactly and use all 6 PMUs. Sure, not every wish has been granted, but this isn't about DL playing Santa, it is about them offering something that is competitive, and they have done that for Silver through Plat.

As to the Diamond... I must admit to scratching my head on the SWU thing. This sticks out like a sore thumb. Yeah, the other benefits are nice, but I just think they really dropped the ball on this. Put me in the camp that considers this the make or break benefit and it's omission makes it not worth reaching for Diamond over Plat.

Jeff - if you are interested in revisiting the Diamond SWU issue, I think you could make a lot of people very happy (whether it makes financial sense, I don't know).

Don't full fare FO and GM currently clear ahead of discount economy PM?

When I saw the email I immediately started considering if I wanted to do a MR to get Diamond this year, as I am fairly close at 95k, but don't have many big trips planned the rest of the year. However, as I started going over the "benefits", I decided that while nice, there's nothing there that I can't live without. The domestic upgrade priority, extra miles, and SkyClub membership are the only benefits I would actually see with my flying patern. I have no interest in spending on an M fare for the SWUs for most trips, and that would have been a huge motivator to go out and find 35k more MQM for me. Instead, the rollover MQM means I am more excited that I don't have to worry about getting Plat next year since I'll probably be rolling over 30-45k of MQM.

Nice attempt Delta, but all your big opportunity was following NW's lead on the SWU's, and you blew it. You're still going to see 80% non-usage and dissatisfied survey results for that feature, because you're making it too expensive to use for many people.

You obviously have a slobbering love affair with DL and nothing is going to change that.

Fortunately the US is a capitalistic society and yes, some will leave DL so you might get easier upgrades. I would like to see if DL said, "sorry, no upgrades, no frequent flyer miles, no lounge access, nothing" would you still feel the same way "I'm just entitled to a seat on the plane." I doubt it.