The real reason for the Skymiles changes?
 

This just occurred to me...if it's already been suggested, please pardon the faux pas. Delta's war on LUT fare users appears brain dead on it's face. But just consider it as Delta's version of AA's MRTC program. Except instead of providing extra knee room for individual seats. Delta provides a more spacious atmosphere throughout the rear cabin by driving away LUT folks and thus having more of their seats empty. This way, more Y and K fare payers can have the middle seats empty and be able to flip up the armrests, thus creating more lateral room. There is a method to the madness. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

edited to add smiley (in case someone took this seriously!)

[This message has been edited by AgMedallion (edited 02-21-2003).]

LUT fares are not for the business traveller but for leisure travel.

In my opinion, there are three categories of travellers -
1. Leisure travellers for whom price is the most important criterion. FF loyalty programs ranks low in their priorities
2. Business travellers for whom FF loyalty ranks at the top because of the convenience and benefits.
3. A hybrid group that flies more for business and does a good bit of leisure travel (and engages in mileage runs ;-) every once in a while).

It is the third category that is impacted the most followed by the second.

The first category has reduced their patronage due to fears and the economy. But, it really doesnt feel the real pain of changes to the FF programs. They selected LUT fares as they went for the cheapest fare.

The second category is being pushed to select more of the LUT fares due to budget cuts and changes in policies. This is beginning to hurt their perks and therefore, there is the question of loyalty. Some of us are able to work with the system and still keep out of the LUT trap. For the rest, it is coach cramps.

But, airlines really are trying to keep the fares down at the LUT levels and yet keep the business traveller out of these seats - hoping that they will go for the benefits of K and above fares. But, as I am pushed to fly with a LUT ticket for business, I rather complain against the airline than my company's policy.



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gt0138d - a certified George P Burdell clone...

There's actually a fourth group. It's the folks that love to take advantage of those last-minute weekend airline deals. The airline brags about its low fares via email and that customer concentrates his/her travel on that airline and travels quite frequently (once or twice a month). The average round trip is four segments, and before you know it, this person has accumulated 40-50 segments. Add in a few other flights, and this "leisure traveller" has made GM, accumulated some nice miles, and is receiving bonuses up the wazoo. THIS is the passenger hurt by DL's new tactics.

It just doesn't make sense. Why is DL even making these low fares when they just punish pax by not awarding appropriate MQMs?

The main reasons the changes are assinine is that:
1) No other airline has made them; and
2) Many/most of the bennies given to medallion members cost the airline virtually nothing, but help insure repeat business from those folks, i.e. loyalty.

As long as the other airlines appreciate their business more, why stick with DL? And exactly what is DL gaining by screwing loyal customers out of bennies which don't cost much to begin with?

Weak argument. Are you saying that it is assinine for DL to give PMs free CRC? OALs don't match this bennie.

gt0138d, I think I've said this to you before, but maybe not.

Interesting that you still use your old gt number. And furthermore gt0138d looks really really familiar too.

Anyway.. I thought the original joke was humorous. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

gt5513b

I am a segment qualifier. However, I understand Delta's position. Checked my Amex bill and all I spent on Delta last year was $11,000.

The part of the change I don't like is the massacre of PM upgrade benefits. A max of 20% upgrade rate from 100%. I know something has to be done. Leaving DCA, FC class is always full and the upgrade list has at least 14 others on it. Many PMs can't upgrade (of course SM and GM Y and B fares have priority). Even out of MCO with 50 X seats there is a waiting list. There are too many MSUs in circulation. I don't want to seem crass but it seems to me that the SM are the true winners out there...there will finally be inventory for them to use their MSUs.

marc

Whoa, Nellie!

LUT fares ARE for business flyers who can plan their travel far enough in advance.

I know the American Bar Association, for example, reimburses for the lowest available advance fare, period. Since the calendar is set weeks, months (and even years) in advance, ABA flyers are requires to get the best deal. I am sure they are not alone.

I suppose I'm looking at the changes from the selfish standpoint of the ones which affect me most, i.e. only getting 50% credit towards medallion status when paying LUT fares. Since no other airline has adopted this change, I can freely spend my money elsewhere (in my case AA), rather than with DL. Other than the 25% mileage bonus, the bennies I got from DL cost them NOTHING (priority boarding/check-in lines/seating). So from that standpoint, it has been a lose-lose decision for DL as far as my case is concerned. Furthermore, in all the flights we (my spouse and daughter are also FO) took to qualify for FO, there were ALWAYS empty seats. So that's thousands of $$$ DL got which didn't cost them anything, other than the extra fuel consumed as a result of a few hundred pounds worth of three warm bodies and associated carry-ons. That money is now going to AA. So try as I might, I have never been able to figure out how DL will ever benefit from these changes. Btw, the only change they made (eff May 1st) which could have benefitted me is the ability to upgrade from LUT fares. But I'll bet that the chances of an FO geting an upgrade will be slim to none. After all, PMs and GMs on LUT fares will also be able to upgrade and they get first crack.

Exactly! Not all business travel consists of last-second "who cares how much it costs" trips. Plenty of business travel is set weeks/months in advance. Of course, the typical Sat night stay still gets in the way.

There are plenty of routes that don't require a Sat nite stay to get a decent fare if booked fare enough in advance.