Priority Security Access
 

There appears to be a small disconnect between what Jeff says and what the chart shows on the SkyMiles website for security access. He indicates that priority security access will still be available for all levels of elite status, but the chart shows that this benefit is not available for Silver Elite. Typo?

If that had been the case the past few years, instead of throwing out my PMU's I would have bought up one or two of my TATL's each year from LUT to HKQ, increasing DL's revenue.

With the current system, I'll keep buying LUT's.

Not totally thrilled but trying to warm up.

For me there are several things I am happy and grateful for including not changing some of the program features we currently enjoy. I don't take it for granted that things will always stay the same.

Jeff, I think you are going to get big ^ for the MQM rollover feature - especially from those who sometimes just barely make their level. Great idea if you ask me, especially when you toss out an MQM bonus here and there.

Using SWU/PMU on day of departure (obviously in addition to using them in advance if inventory is available - duh) has been a huge issue. This will cure the fuming M+ fare purchaser with PMU in hand seeing empty BE seats. HUGE PLUS. Does this feature also apply to using miles instead of PMUs?

The "day of departure international upgrade" change makes perfect sense especially when combined with retaining the fare class for using the PMUs. Anyone who is in the know (FTer's) or has been burned once, knows better than to buy M+ and hoping for Z to open. This change significantly removes that risk especially if you use something like Expert Flyer to track inventory. As such, Delta will benefit from more PMs and DMs willing to roll the dice with M+ fares. In an economic environment where no doubt M is the new J, removing mental barriers from customers holding PMUs and willing to buy M is the name of the game. Frankly, I can't imagine Delta wanting to lower the fare class level (even though I wish they did). Then to make things even more interesting, they are tossing out more PMUs to DMs.

About the only thing that doesn't make sense is lowering the number of certs handed out to PMs. In reading Jeff's email, DMs get 4 and as one of two bonus options, can pick another 6, still having one choice left (i.e. GM gift to friend). Why not give PMs 4 with an option for another 4 as our loan choice. No offense, but since FT seems to be a pretty good sampling of PMs, it doesn't sound like a whole bunch of us are out buying J. More PMUs might = more M+ fares. This change would enhance what we have vs. taking something we have away.

Lastly, I am still miffed about the award redeposit fees for PMs after 2. When booking more than 4 persons on an award, you end up taking more than one PNR and even one change burns this up quickly. I was hoping this obvious money grab might change as it was a major reason to make PM. I doubt I will ever fly enough to make DM. PM for me is hard enough. Don't gouge me when I use my miles for non-business - family travel. It shows poor taste.

Not impressed
 

I'm at 150k this year, and I'm going to start looking elsewhere today. The lack of lower cost fare classes being eligible for the PMU was the kicker.

It really depends on what's important to the individual flyer. Yes,with SWUs, it's not competitive but e.g., one doesn't get unlimited complimentary domestic upgrades at the 5 day window on AA until the 100K, whereas that's attainable at 75K for DL; one would never be able to get complimentary lounge membership (AC or RCC) at either UA or AA at any level. One gets top Alliance elite status at AA only after 100K vs 75K at DL vs 50K at UA....and the list goes on....

Originally Posted by RealDLInsider View Post
"Further to this, since 80% of Platinum Medallions today do not use the systemwide certificates that we send out, 4 out of 5 customers will actually opt to choose other benefits"

Have ever asked yourself why 80% of your top tier customers NOT using one of the main benefits given to them? When the Skymiles programm started a PM ( at 100k MQM's then ) got 6 of them and another pair for every addidional 20k MQM's flown with the same Y/B/M requirement as of today, and we could use them 15 mins to departure at the gate when seats were available. Then the DoD usage was taken away, the additional earning possibilities were taken away and later the "M" fares were jacked up dramaticaly to a point were i can buy a confirmed bussines class seat on LH/LX/IB or therelike for TATL travel oOR buy an "M" fare at DL and gamble. To fix that "broken" system you either should have lowered the "M" fares or the booking class requirements to include H/K/Q. THAT would have fixed that broken system and viola, 80% of your PW's would actually using their PMU'S!
And DM's should recieve Super SWU's, good on any published fare ( yes, even L ). That would be a real benefit!

Look back at the rest of my post - I am pretty bullish on FO through PM and think that the roll-over EQMs, in particular, make this a very appealing round of changes for those earning less than 100k.

I just feel that, at 125k, DM should go beyond 1K and EXP. If it were at 100k, then I would be more comfortable saying that a CRC membership was a fair trade for more restricted PMUs. But at 125k, I feel that the trade-off is a bit much.

Most of you probably already qualify for the 4th tier. The 4th Tier is really just the 3rd tier with some added benefits and more miles are required to qualify.

Some of you are saying they devalued the PM Tier, well that was a fudgen givevn from day one when the 4th tier was rumored. What did you expect?

Delta already offered more to their Elites than any other airline, they had to cut somewhere to give more to the new tier.

I posted on the Delta Blog that I thought the new tier was a slap in the face to PMs but after reading what you had what others offered and the way you guys whine. I'm sadden that they didn't take away more of your benefits.

+1
Or... make M fares more competitive. I fly to Europe in the winter. M fares are usually over $2,000 more than the coach fares I usually purchase. That makes no sense. I could go to another airline and purchase a business class seat for less than the $2,700 the DL M fare cost.

Therefore, Jeff, please either consider having people use 2x's the SWUs for mid level coach fares or let's make M fares more demand driven. i.e. I don't see why they are the same price year round!

False.

I've now slept on the details of the new program, and I'm still trying to figure out who this is "best in class" for. Suppose you fly 125K+ a year, as many of us do. Which program is best?

Well, if you fly international on your own budget (or with a company that demands low-fare buckets), it's certainly not Delta. AA/UA win in a landslide here. DL clearly doesn't want to cater to this market or they would have revisited the PMU fare classes.

If you fly mostly domestic, it seems like AA's EXP is a more compelling program, as it also gives unlimited domestic upgrades *and* useable SWUs, although with a copay on low fares.

So, seems to me like Delta was trying to design a "best of class" product for the international business traveller flying on someone else's dime, or a domestic flier for whom AA's route structure doesn't work well. For that, I'd say they've done well.

Looks to me like the most valuable benefits of DM are the VIP phone line (assuming it lives up to its name) and the unlimited award changes (which have been an absolute necessity if one wants to book international premium cabin rewards at the lowest level in the past couple of years, in my experience).

For me, it's clear they haven't done enough for me to give up 1K. I'll continue to requal on UA for my SWUs, and then give DL the slop, which is likely PM some years, GM others. The roll-over really helps here, though. Unfortunately, I can't help feeling this is the SkyMiles equivalent of the California state budget fix: turn this year's unrealized value into next year's promises. :)

I am also confused about this point and agree with TheMadBrewer. Will it still be the Z bucket for either upgrade with SWU or miles? And will we be able to confirm Z at time of ticketing as we do today, with the choice of SWUs or miles drawn being deferred up until day of departure?

I will only buy YBM when I can confirm the Z upgrade in advance. Will this only be possible in future with miles, or will it also be possible with SWUs?

Susan

The latter would apply to me and while I thought about switching to AA and CO, when I run the itin's I can avoid RJs and have more appealing travel times on DL from my home airport.

So... Diamond works for me, and I like the rollover idea. Since I have little INT'L and am running 95% on upgrades this year, DM could work well for me next year. Compared to many here I am just a moderate traveller so I can understand why it might not look great to others.

Since I am doing pretty well scoring upgrades on discount and deep discount fares currently I only use my PMUs when I book a companion in F on points and want to ensure I am sitting with them, which isn't too often.

While I know there could have been SWU improvements, I also recognize that few airlines are doing great in the current economy and appreciate the efforts to roll-out/restore benefits while balancing the cost to do so.

My Plan
 

Currently at 70,000 MQM. Will hit 75K by the end of August. I was probably going to hit about 95K for the year, so I'll probably end up doing a small MR to get me to 100,000 MQM for 2009. That was I can choose from the Threshold bonus list, and start 2010 with 25K miles. Diamond doesn't do anything for me to get me to find another 25,000 MQM this year.

They will continue to offer advanced upgrade if there is Z inventory however, now DL PM/DM with request for PMU upgrade will be ahead of NRSA for day of departure upgrades.