I'm pleased with the changes. I may even consider giving DL back my US business. I'd do it immediately if DL changed its awful international upgrade policies. Otherwise, the SkyMiles program is looking much better (for me) than it did the last 2 years.

Hold on, this is earthshattering. Spiff, I think, was as anti-Delta as anyone who had left. Now, he may be considering domestic travel on DL again.

Homey don't play 50% MQMs. :D

Having been on my fair share of private a/c let me tell you that many are not a pleasure to fly on. Yes, if you are going to some remote site somewhere or a place that is rarely or inconveniently served, even the worst tin can is great, however the cabins of many are not very large or comfortable.

As for the programme, great, wonderful all the things they have done, they better let the new "perks" for bigger mileage fliers "leak" soon, or some of us will be getting angry as the "Walmart" crowd joins us.

Something seems funny to me about an opinion piece that says things like:


"...I have argued for some time that the only way the major airlines can differentiate themselves from the crowded skies of economy carriers is by offering added value to the right customers.

Instead, Delta is reversing course and devaluing its product by awarding unprofitable, deeply-discounted fare-paying customers with mile-for-mile Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQM's). This dilutes the program and fails to appreciate the value of their top-level elite members....

...The already overcrowded so-called "private lounges" will convey a Wal-Mart experience versus a luxurious Neiman Marcus atmosphere.

..Why reward those who bring you the least value? Sure the new SkyMiles will benefit the occasional bargain-hunting customer with a few extra elite qualifying miles. Big deal. They fly once or twice a year and accumulate only a few thousands miles - hardly enough to achieve even the minimum level of elite status..."



But the bio line of the author who is raking DL over the goals for catering to cheap skates says:



"Joel Widzer is author of "The Penny Pincher's Passport to Luxury Travel," a guidebook on traveling in high style at budget-friendly prices"


Are the author's "budget friendly prices" in line with any airline offering a loyalty program as he suggests--let alone support airline profitability....?

..

He's awfully hard on us "cheapskates".

My tactic for years has been to concentrate my business travel on one airline (where I can do it without ripping off my company) and add a couple of personal transatlantic trips. I've been Elite (mostly low-level) since 1999. My decisions on personal travel include my husband's flight and (sometimes) our son's flight. To me, Elite is worth reaching because in general airline travel has deteriorated to pretty awful levels. Elite status brings a little decency back, even if all it means is that I get to use the short lines and board "at your leisure". I left CO after their 50% EQM "enhancement" and took AA's Platinum challenge. Next year AA will be my airline of choice for the second year. (Yes, I know this is the DL Board but the issue affects us all.)

I agree that the comments on airline lounges is silly. In some places it's hard to find a seat at 5 PM on Friday.

I know they all want the Road Warriors who fly Business and/or pay walkup fares. But filling the rest of the seats in the plane brings in cash, too. Maybe DL figured that out.

Now stop it!! - Your flatter is killing me!! :D

75,000 MQMs for PM status.
Unlimited free upgrades for lower-level elites.
Instant upgrades for YBM purchasers regardless of elite level.

I believe the program is substantially devalued for "old-line" PMs. I can easily make PM with just 3 M-fare trips to BOM (2 already ticketed), but I'm not sure I have the motivation to do the extra trip with the diluted PM benefits.

I have no axe to grind against DL (in fact, I wish it well), but I substantially agree with everything the "dumbass amateur travel columnist" says.

Better, but miles short of what it would take to make me come back.

Bullkaka. I have 1MM that I want to keep using for years to come.

I do not, and never did, wish DL anything bad. I knew from the beginning that they had a FUBAR situation that they had, and maybe still have, no clue how to fix.

If I had any axe, it was with Robbie Boy Borden, Leo the Louse, et.al. They broke it then they left. Leaving a mess to be fixed. In the mean time, I found another airline that I am very happy with at this time.

As for the OP, I said that even I don't agree with it all of what he said, but it was interesting.

Well Spiff is seeing the DL changes in the context of AA's LRTC, upgrade co-pays and food for sale announcements. For all DL's international upgrade policy sucks, I still like the fact that I can earn status on transatlantic flights on any SkyTeam partner unlike the bizarre situation between AA and BA!

Nah, Spiff is just considering moving his back-up carrier business on USAir back to Delta.

Even with LRTC (I'm seldom, if ever, in coach on AA), upgrade co-pays (still get 8 VIPs good on any fare with no co-pay each year and can trade for more if I need them), and food for sale (I still dine for free in F), I'd never trade EXP for any other elite level on any other domestic carrier. :)

The AA/BA transatlantic problem is very, very minor. If I'm not upgrading, there's not enough difference between BA WT (Economy Minus) and AA Coach to make me want to fly BA. Moreover, I can pre-reserve the exit row in coach on AA transatlantic flights which is a severe shortcoming on all Delta transatlantic flights. The only time I'd want to be on BA instead of AA would be on a paid C or F ticket, something my present employers and myself aren't going to go for. ;)

You are absolutley right about this. This apparently small problem (as DL seem to see it) has me looking for altarnative carriers for when I have to fly coach. On the 763ERs there are 8 seats available for medallions of which 4 are average and 4 are sub-average no recliners. Add to that some CRC staff abroad who don't even understand the differences on the ex-Gulf Air equipment and one can find that somebody with no status has the reclineable exit row while the PMs are sitting behind them. Listen up Delta!