Changes to SkyMiles Medallion Program - Q&A
 

The team that was responsible for the recent changes to the SkyMiles Medallion program thought it might be useful to put up a page to collect questions and provide answers. We are really proud of these changes and want to be proactive in getting the word out.

The website should answer many of the questions – link as UDH previously posted is below:

http://www.delta.com/skymiles/skymileschanges/index.jsp

Plus link to FAQs
http://www.delta.com/skymiles/skymil...faqs/index.jsp

Please post your questions below and we will try and post replies to as many as we can. Can’t guarantee a response to every questions but we will try. We want to provide Flyertalkers with more detail, respond quickly to questions and hopefully not get any answers/comparisons wrong in the process - but please be a little patient in waiting for responses - as you can imagine we are all busy at the moment!

Edited to fix UDH, add the link to FAQs and remove the comment about unofficial

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

Will the 10K bonus BASE miles for AMEX still be given? I am speaking of if you spend more than $25K in your 12 month cycle you receive this bonus. Will this still be a part of th eprogram?

I just posted this question in another post, but here it is again ...

I've qualified for Medallion status in 2003 based on my travel in 2002. What can I expect?

Because you've earned status under the previous guidelines, you'll enjoy the benefits of that status in 2003. Your travel patterns in 2003 will determine your 2004 status under the new guidelines.

In order to recognize and reward a sizable group of customers, in early January 2003, we'll upgrade your 2003 Medallion status if you should earn a higher status according to the new Medallion qualification guidelines.


What exactly are you doing in early 2003? Does that mean you're looking back over 2002 to see if we would have earned a higher rating based on the new 2003 rules?

Bruce,

Perhaps you can tell us how you came up with the new plan? Did you listen to people on this forum? Were their focus groups etc?

Perhaps the biggest shocker is aligning your Platinum Elite benefits with those of other major carriers. Unfortunately this is what made DL special and one reason why I chose to fly DL for the past 20 years.

The site says that PM's will be given 20 - 500 mile upgrades in Jan 2004.
Will PM's be given 20 at the start of every year?

I guess my only question is: Is this the final decision on T/U/L fares getting only 50% medallion qualifying miles? If so, then I am flying 0 miles other than free flights in 2004.

[This message has been edited by Spiff (edited 12-11-2002).]

"Proud of these changes"? Sorry, but I think these are very poor changes and a very poor choice for Delta. Your company might not lose much in the hub cities, but just watch people walk away where they have a choice. There will be alot of business lost...but I dont think many tears will be shed in Atlanta...as I get the impression that Delta never really liked or appreciated our "non full fare" business anyway. Adios!

Q. Will I continue to earn bonus miles based on my SkyMiles Medallion level? (Example, GM's and PM's earn 100% bonus miles in addition to the current base miles program.

For people who requalified PM before 9/18/02, base miles earned during 10/15 - 12/15/02 are supposed to count toward 2004 qualification. Still true -- or do they count at the new rates, depending on fare paid?

Bruce (another one!)

Why the dilution of GM benefits?

I liked getting 8 MSU's and now only 4 MSU's. And they reduced the mielage they can be used for. Why would DL make such a bad decision?

ALSO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will the website allow users to select the fare class they desire when these changes take place?

[This message has been edited by GoCanes (edited 12-11-2002).]

edited



[This message has been edited by GM99 (edited 12-11-2002).]

Whoah! Spiff threatening to leave DL!?!?!?!?!? There's a new one. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Yes, can you recommend another airline? Based on these changes, I think I'd like to take my business elsewhere.

I agree with Spiff. Unless LUT fares qualify for full credit, I am out of here. Only free flights in the future to empty out my skymiles account, then it is off to Priceline.

Ahahaha! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

There appears to be an unintentional glitch in the chart for upgrade changes.

Effective May 1, the 800-MSUs disappear and are converted to 500-Mile upgrade Points, which, effective on that date, can be used for L, U and T fare upgrades.

However, a footnote clearly states that “All Platinum Medallion Upgrade benefits and guidelines…. remain unchanged for 2003.”

Thus, since PMs will not have 500-Mile Upgrade Points until January 1, 2004 and the current PM guidelines stay the same for all of 2003, apparently only GMs and SMs can upgrade L, U and T fares during the period from May 1, 2003 through December 31, 2003.

I can't believe that the intent is to give PMs a lesser benefit than GMs and SMs.
Care to comment, Bruce?

[Edited to note that the Upgrade Program Changes FAQs do make it clear that PMs can upgrade L, U and T fares starting May 1, 2003, but it's not at all clear from the chart. The FAQs also seem to be the only place that discloses that day-of-travel upgrades for L, U and T fares will be available only at the airport. That seems very misleading.]

[This message has been edited by Dave M (edited 12-11-2002).]

Is it appropriate to assume that the Medallion Qualification Miles Calculation rules that apply to Delta also apply to the new low cost carrier replacing Delta Express, to Delta Shuttle, to Delta Connection, to Comair, etc. - with the same multipliers as for Delta? The Q&A for this section indicates that there is a new system for these carriers, but there is no reference to these carriers in the chart covering Delta and its partner airlines.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif Glad you appreciate my humor...

Is there any way to redeem skymiles on the Big Grey Dog??

Bye Delta

Bruce, seriously, it would be worth the time if your team could take the time and respond on-line to some of the better questions that have been asked.

That would be my alternate in case you can't answer this:

Can you get AA to comp me to EXP for my 200,000+ base miles this year? I'll even switch my business on their non-MRTCed shuttle flights.

------------------
...or passengers swim.

Personally, I hope that Bruce and his "proud of these changes" team are piddling in their pants right now after reading the posts we've made this afternoon.

I suspect they didn't anticipate such an overwhelmingly negative reaction.

GOOD.

One of the FAQs for Medallion Qualification reads as follows (with bold emphasis added:

• I've qualified for Medallion status in 2003 based on my travel in 2002. What can I expect?
  
  Because you've earned status under the previous guidelines, you'll enjoy the benefits of that status in 2003. Your travel patterns in 2003 will determine your 2004 status under the new guidelines.
  
  In order to recognize and reward a sizable group of customers, in early January 2003, we'll upgrade your 2003 Medallion status if you should earn a higher status according to the new Medallion qualification guidelines.

Does this really mean that DL will (1)recalulate as MQMs the 2002 miles flown and (2) upgrade to Platinum in January 2003 someone who earned (e.g.) 97,000 base miles in 2002 under the 2002 program but 102,000 MQMs in 2002 under the 2003 MQM calculation rules?

Perhaps DL is having second thoughts about these rules. (I can dream.) Its web site is not currently operable. Fortunately or unfortunately, I printed everything out to pore over the bad news.

Question:

Will the new 500 miles upgrades still be only good segment by segment? Or will I have to fork over two upgrades if travelling on two segments that are under 500 miles altogether?

Delta has certainly picked a poor time to make changes. With that said, how does one find out the class of service for tickets already booked for next year. Since, they are already upgraded they show up as X and V fares-not on the chart. Secondly, how can one choose the Fare Class on the website? Presently it is all or nothing. Frequently, if a segment's upgrades are gone or otherwise not available, the website will not let you book an upgradeable fare. Lastly, am I correct in assuming that one will still earn miles at the current rates, it is just the qualifying that is changing?

A PM who will be only a GM in 2003 gets the worst of both worlds in terms of upgrade coupons. As a PM he would of course have earned no MSUs in 2002 and on Dec. 31, 2002, all MSUs accumulated in 2001, assuming he was a GM or SM then, will expire. When qualifying as a GM in 2003, he will earn no MSUs (after Jan. 1, 2003 this benefit will be dropped) and will therefore have no MSUs to be converted to 500-mile segments on May 1, 2003. Since he is no longer a PM, he will also not get the 20 500-mile segmens awarded to PMs on Jan. 1, 2004. A good idea would be to extend MSU-validity to May 1, 2003; otherwise everyone who flew enough to earn MSUs in 2002, except people in the situation noted above, would benefit; they would be the only ones left empty-handed.

[This message has been edited by Track (edited 12-11-2002).]

Yup. If they even gave me half of the 50+ 800MSUs I would have earned this year, that'd be a big help. As it is, I get penalized for breaking 100K in 2001 when they needed people flying!

What are the plans to automate the upgrade system?

Bruce, here's a question.

What about CRC membership for PMs? If the 2003 PM benefits don't change, I assume that PMs still get free CRC access, but that benefit is not mentioned anywhere in the 2003 or 2004 charts. What gives?

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.