Interesting commentary on SkyMiles changes.
 

Before you say this should go into the " “OFFICIAL” OPINION THREAD FOR THE NEW SKYMILES PROGRAM", please read it first. The "Opinion" thread keeps addressing various and specific areas of the new program.

This talks about the program as a whole (even I do not totally agree with the author, it is interesting opinion......But, here it is):

SkyMiles Defiled
Joel Widzer · December 22, 2004

http://www.travelcomment.com/widzer/2004/skymiles.htm

"Caving to the protests of its stingiest customers, Delta Air Lines is revamping its SkyMiles program to what it calls a more "customer-focused transformation meant to simplify the Medallion qualification process."

I've checked out the changes and I have a different opinion: I think it's accelerating Delta's path toward bankruptcy.

Delta is essentially downgrading its loyalty program to reward infrequent, disloyal, customers who make purchasing decisions based only on price..."

Wow, very interesting commentary. I think he has a point. I do think that decreasing F class and paid business class travel to a 1.5 multiplier will hurt my elite qualification chances. I made Platinum easily this year, mostly because of paid business intl travel. So, it will be harder for me to make as many MQMs, but of course, there will likely be more Platinums to compete with for upgrade seats.

I think "I think it's accelerating Delta's path toward bankruptcy." is a bit harsh, but he makes some good points.

Wow I love this guy. Everything that I think is wrong with this program he puts in better words. This guy deserves two ^ ^ !!!

I completely disagree with the author's underlying premise. He bases his argument on the assumption that price-sensitive customers aren't loyal. I'm definitely a price-sensitive customer, but I'm also completely loyal. I think that price-sensitive, loyal customers, can and should be rewarded.

Further, it's obvious he's never stepped foot in a crown room (at least in Atlanta), if he thinks they're a private, exclusive experience. I've been in the ATL crown rooms when they've looked like third-world refugee camps. For me, the biggest benefits of the crown room are: a place to go to get help during irregular operations, and a place to hang out, grab a coke and some snack mix, if I have a long layover.

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. I happen to think this guy's completely wrong.

He is right and wrong...

What is clear to me is that DL decision makers are no longer the best out there. The program is still too complicated and it does not need to be so easy to earn PM. Just go back to the days of the FT991s, that program worked great for most people including DL.

I’m guessing that DL has decided to stop trying to attract Mr. Big and the other fat cat flyers who would think nothing of plopping down $2K for a FC transcon RT. These folks are more often than not opting for Net Jet and the other fractional jet programs.
And it’s a rare travel department that gives carte blanche to even the highest level executives when it comes to air travel.
So it appears the future for now is to cheapen the FC product, dumb down the Medallion program and try to snare some price sensitive incremental FF’s from other airlines.

Yep, I think you are probably right. I flew more fractional and private jet last year then ever before. Had LEO not gone into self destruct mode I would never had investagated the "private" option, so DL has no one one to blame but themselfs. I still prefer to fly WN from BWI to many cities then change in ATL so DL still has a lot of problems to fix before they get the big spenders back... if they ever come back... hard to believe the DL I know is gone and probalby not coming back when I think if they fixed things I may come back... but hard now to leave the "private" world.

I agree 100 % with this guy! Delta Wake Up and LISTEN !

I don't understand your logic: First you say that decreasing the J/F multiplier to 1.5 will make it harder for you to make PM. Then you go on to say that you'll be competing with MORE PMs for upgrades? If you assert that Delta has made it harder to achieve PM, how can there be more PMs?

If you have the discretionary travel dollars to fly private (fractional or otherwise), why would you EVER fly commercial? I guess I could understand flying a commercial premium First Class for ultra long hauls (CONUS/Asia), but other than those few routes, private would seem to be a more comfortable and convenient way to go.

I do have to admit that I find it amusing that you travel private and WN. Talk about two totally opposite ends of the spectrum :eek:

All good questions...

I am sending you an off line reply as we are getting off topic, but again your questions are great!

I should sue this guy for copyright infringement as he obviously has read my posts as he is hammering on the same points that I have from the get go of when the changes were made public ;)

"What Delta doesn't seem to understand is that price-sensitive fliers have no concept of loyalty. These cheapskates don't intend to buy another ticket unless the price is right. That zero re-purchase intent translates into zero long-term profitability."

I think this guy's out to lunch on this issue. Delta's MQM insanity screwed the mixed-fare flyer, which is what many business travelers are. Just because the company might pick up a K+ fare for a number of reasons doesn't mean that the same traveler should do so out of his/her own pocket when on leisure. Also, some of those "business traveler" fares were insane. $600-700 L fares? Domestically? That's just nuts, paying that much money and still getting only 0.5 MQMs because of the misfortune of having an insULT fare.

I think the number of mixed-fare fliers far exceeds the number of regular paid F/A/J/D fliers. Perhaps Delta realized that chasing these small, ultra-high revenue passengers was not making up for the loss of revenue due to running off the mixed-fare traveler. Meanwhile, the cabins were possibly filling up... with insULT and Priceline travlers.

Perhaps, DL might take a page from UA and offer some kind of UGS recognition for those rare F/A/J/D travelers. @:-)

The same thing can be said about every airline's program. Only the first year of MQM, with its 0.5 MQM for cheap fares, rewarded higher paying passengers. Year 2005 rules are the same as all the other airlines, so why all the negativity towards Delta?

Of course we all know the OP has no axe to grind against Delta, so that can't possibly be the reason there is a topic here referencing some dumbass amateur travel columnist. :rolleyes: