Is Delta Missing The Point or Are We Missing The Point?
Feb 21, 2003 | 1:42 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DL: PM/2M; UA: 1K; AA: Plat/2MM; SQ: PPS; US: Plat; Starwood: Plat; Hilton: Diam Hyatt: Diam; Loews Plat; Avis: Chair.
Posts: 1,681
Very well said FF24.
I want to add two things to that though.
1) Having a company stand behind you when there are problems is one of the most important benefits of the upper tier. When the plane breaks, or the weather deteriorates Delta has been awesome and always gotten me there.
2) As primarily an international passenger, the seat - most notably the quality of sleep in it is also a very important consideration.
When Delta ceases to be the best airline on the ground is when I'll look at making one of the others my first choice.
I want to add two things to that though.
1) Having a company stand behind you when there are problems is one of the most important benefits of the upper tier. When the plane breaks, or the weather deteriorates Delta has been awesome and always gotten me there.
2) As primarily an international passenger, the seat - most notably the quality of sleep in it is also a very important consideration.
When Delta ceases to be the best airline on the ground is when I'll look at making one of the others my first choice.
Feb 21, 2003 | 2:40 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,236
I don't mean to inflame anyone but you have to realize that there are several types of FT's on this board. Not everyone is trying to get status.
Some of us are just collecting miles and don't care much about upgrades.
I felt that the recent $100 charges to standby didn't make sense at all. I would rather somebody stand by in the morning than risk giving him denied boarding in the afternoon. It was illogical and is almost dead now. But I also figure that when I buy a ticked I am agreeing to their contract no matter how stupid it is and if I don't like it I can buy a different ticket, ride the dog, drive, hitchike, or offer the airline constructive comments.
If you are trying to offer the airline constructive comments that is great. But if you feel you have the right and power to bring them to their knees for their foolishness then I think you may not realize that the Delta may be willing to stand their ground on this issue and I personally think the management feels they thought this one through more than the standby mistake and my
bet is they are not going to reverse this.
I think they have put an economic model to this and determined it is going to be more profitable, and I want Delta to be profitable.
I hope you respect this as an outsider opinion from one who doesn't reach elite status very often, and please accept it as an opinion rather than a challenge to debate on the merits. I am not saying they have done the correct thing but I'm betting they show more staying power with this decision than the last one.
Some of us are just collecting miles and don't care much about upgrades.
I felt that the recent $100 charges to standby didn't make sense at all. I would rather somebody stand by in the morning than risk giving him denied boarding in the afternoon. It was illogical and is almost dead now. But I also figure that when I buy a ticked I am agreeing to their contract no matter how stupid it is and if I don't like it I can buy a different ticket, ride the dog, drive, hitchike, or offer the airline constructive comments.
If you are trying to offer the airline constructive comments that is great. But if you feel you have the right and power to bring them to their knees for their foolishness then I think you may not realize that the Delta may be willing to stand their ground on this issue and I personally think the management feels they thought this one through more than the standby mistake and my
bet is they are not going to reverse this.
I think they have put an economic model to this and determined it is going to be more profitable, and I want Delta to be profitable.
I hope you respect this as an outsider opinion from one who doesn't reach elite status very often, and please accept it as an opinion rather than a challenge to debate on the merits. I am not saying they have done the correct thing but I'm betting they show more staying power with this decision than the last one.
Feb 21, 2003 | 3:19 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: MCO
Programs: DL 1.5MM, Marriott LT Plat, HH Gold, AVIS PPlus
Posts: 563
Every week on DL I try to have a short chat with the person seated next to me about the Skymiles changes, all have been GM and PM's, and I am shocked that while they have heard of the changes coming they don't really know the details.
When I explained the 500 MSU and the cost of them and how many our current flight would require under the "new" program, they all seemed shocked. I honestly believe that a majority of the rank and file elite members still don't really know exactly how they will be impacted.
When I explained the 500 MSU and the cost of them and how many our current flight would require under the "new" program, they all seemed shocked. I honestly believe that a majority of the rank and file elite members still don't really know exactly how they will be impacted.
Feb 24, 2003 | 7:28 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,784
The million dollar question is does Delta really care what we think. It doesn't appear so. If Delta's new focus is on no-frills service (ie., Song), no amount of advertising is going to make a difference. Believe me ,though, I wish they would have a change of heart. The airlines that make it are going to have to be visionaries and in touch with the preferences of their customers. It's a shame that Delta couldn't positively differentiate itself from its competitors by making changes that were in sync with customer desires.