Bruce,

I would suggest that your colleagues also take time to read the many posting s all over the board relating to this. I should also note that it has been more than 12 hours....many questions have been asked but no answers forthcoming.

So Bruce are you actually going to answer some of these questions? I would have thought you would have been glued to your computer all afternoon and evening yesterday. I know if I had been responsible for such a roll out I'd be eager to smooth out the ruffles I'd caused ASAP to help with the programs success.

edited because there was an informed reply

TW

[This message has been edited by Tolarian Wind (edited 12-12-2002).]

First set of answers are below. Sorry about the delay in responding but I can't sit on the board all day. I will most likely only respond once or twice a day, so please be a little patient in waiting for responses.

Yes. The AMEX bonuses will continue to be given. You will now get 10,000 Medallion Qualification Mile - only the name has changed � they will still count on a one-to-one basis.

Members may earn 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles with their first purchase on their Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express. In addition, members may earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles at the end of every year in which they charge $25,000 or more to the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card.

Whatever level you have earned in 2002 will not be impacted by the change. The new qualification criteria will impact your status at the end of Feb 2004 at the earliest.

In Jan 2003 we will go back and recalculate what level you would have achieved under the new qualification criteria. If, under the new qualification criteria, you would have made a higher level you will be given that level in Jan 2003. This will only impact those members moving up.

The changes involved input from a number of sources � including comments on this board.

There are still differences in the elite level programs for Platinum Medallions
� We continue to offer complimentary crown room access (plus our lounges continue to offer complimentary beverages). Delta is still unique among U.S. carriers in offering this benefit.
� We have two new additional benefit levels for Platinum Medallions at 125K and 150K � partner/companion Medallion status or carry-over base miles
� We have 2M and 4M miler levels to reward long-term loyalty
� We offer the option of earning 5000 bonus SkyMiles in lieu of the 500-Mile Upgrade points
� One of the fastest qualification options for members traveling on higher fares

The one-time deposit of twenty 500-Mile Upgrade points is designed to give Platinum Medallion members an initial starting balance. It will be done only once on Jan 1, 2004 � it will not be repeated in subsequent years.

Yes this is the final decision.

This is not about reducing the overall number of Medallion members � based on activity in 2002 we will actually have slightly more Medallion members due to the new qualification criteria

Yes.

In addition, all Medallion�s will have the option to receive 5000 bonus SkyMiles in lieu of 500-Mile Upgrade points � this could effectively give you an additional 50% SkyMiles bonus (i.e. 150% for Platinum Medallions)

Two main reasons why the change to the upgrade earn rate:
1. Currently about half the upgrade certificates we issue go unused. We want to provide customers with a more realistic number so that we are giving you benefits you actually use (and value) + it will give you a greater chance of getting the upgrade when you really want it (i.e. traveling with your spouse or friend)
2. This is also about customer choice: if airlines are going to continue to offer customers the choice of a first class cabin then first class seats need to be priced appropriately. The alternative will be a one-class product everywhere.

Current technology allows you to choose cheapest fare, upgradeable (K or higher), First, Business/BusinessElite or Y - we are working to allow a choice better aligned with the changes (First, BusinessElite, Coach, Discounted Coach and Deeply-discounted Coach).

Given that most PM's will be flying in coach a lot more under these rules, did you pause to consider how bad your coach product is?

Bruce, although not directly related to these changes, if you're in communication with the folks responsible for this, they really need to add the option for cheapest refundable fare.

Back in the day when I flew DL, that's what I would buy for work, but I could never price them on the website, I had to go to Expedia to do it because they offer that search option (restrict search to refundable fares only). Please note there is a difference between refundable and unrestricted (which you can search for on the website).

I havent seen an answer from Delta on the AMEX Platinum card 10000 base miles per year for 25K in spending....will this still count towards medallion qualification ????

I must agree with Beckles - the "Unrestricted" option currently on the DL website really means "Price me a ticket I would never, ever, ever purchase". I would love to see an option for "Refundable" or "Changable" - because frequently B, M, and even some H fares would fit the bill for a more reasonable price than a full Y.

I thought bruce's answer was pretty clear on this:

The value of the AMEX card just went up.

First of all, let me second the comment that was made about how poor the coach product really is. I'm a Delta GM and I've been flying more on AA lately (where I have AA Gold level as a holdover from my TWA days) and I really appreicate the extra leg room and more importantly the power plugs for my laptop. The only DL flights that that good are the Shuttles.

Secondly, what DL has finally done, with this change in addition to the changes in the last few years, is to completely eliminate confirmable (at time of booking) upgrades for anything but an M-class fare. These fares are too expensive for my corporate travel policy, so this means that when I fly DL I'm now in limbo.

Why shouldn't I just switch to flying AA? If I reach AA Platinum I would have the same segment upgrade benefits as on the new DL, but I would also have more comfortable seats, power adapters in coach if I don't get an upgrade and, more importantly for me, the ability to confirm an upgrade on a discounted far at booking, using my miles. Granted, I have to spend more miles for the upgrade, but I feel it is still a better deal to sit in the business cabin on a 6-hour flight.

So, Bruce and your team at DL, why shouldn't I and others like me switch to AA?

Well, I'm glad you're here-- seriously. I can imagine that seeing our unvarnished feedback is not all that pleasant. Sorry.

I read your quote above to say that someone who would qualify for FO (say) in '03 based on miles or segments might actually be bumped up to GM based on MQMs-- e.g. someone who flew 25K actual miles of paid F, or something like that.

Just to clarify this so I can wrap my limited jarhead brain around it: I am PM through Feb '03: does this apply to downgrades? I have 88K base this year, so I'll revert to GM at the end of this program year. Is it possible that I will requalify as PM under the new criteria if I have enough MQMs?

Hi Bruceb:

For the purposes of recalculating 2002 travel using the new method (to determine if one would have qualified under the new program), how will the base miles recieved under the 2002 "Double Base Miles Promotions" be treated? Will they:

1. be multiplied by the multiplier for that class of ticket to arive at a quailification miles number,

or

2. be converted at face value to a quailification miles number,

or

3. be ignored in the recalculation.

Thanks in advance for clearing this up for me.

Will there be sales on K fares to ease us over the hump?

Aren't same-day standby penalties part of this same strategy and why were they rolled out early?

What are you honestly expecting PM's who qualify L/U/T will do?

That's covered near the end of the MQM FAQs:

"...Platinum Medallion members will continue to enjoy access to our 40+ Crown Room Clubs worldwide and SkyTeam partner lounges, a unique program benefit."