When the Airline You Love Walks Away - DL Leaving BGM
 

Well, the writing was on the wall, and I said it here a year ago, Jim Whitehurst promised me it wasnt going to happen, and it was announced today. DL is pulling all service from BGM Sept 6th!

I was as much of a kool-aid drinker as there was, but Delta you did this to yourself.......

Last year DL changed from BGM-CVG....this is the end product of that decision

In between we had BGM-ATL, a 2+ hour flight on RJ's, a severe drop in on time performance and a huge increase in cancellations. A couple months ago we swapped one of the BGM-ATL (we had 2 a day) for BGM-JFK. Reliability even lower, and using props instead of RJ's.

The only one who has benefited from this is NWA, their BGM-DTW flights are constantly oversold. They were smart enough to know a reliable flight, to the center of the country was what we need. Delta was too blind to see that.

BTW Delta is claiming that this was over loads, loads at BGM are up 44% in the last year.

Jim, Jerry....you guys really blew it on this one!!!!!!!!!

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Enjoy the DTW WorldGateway or. trekking up to SYR, neither of which will be fun in the Winter. :(

Don't think that was Kool-aid you were drinking when we met at the Red Carpet....

Sorry to hear that DL is pulling out of your home airport. What does this mean for you? Flying on NW? Driving to another airport that DL serves?

I know if you leave DL for NW, DL will lose one of their most loyal outspoken customers.

Truth, this is going to drive another decision I was pondering, moving out of Binghamton in the very near future (my house has been on the market for about 3 weeks but I still hadnt decided for sure if I was buying another in the area or moving to the Twin Cities area).

Forget for a minute the Kool-Aid and how I feel about Delta, this decision will have major travel implications for our community. Prices on flights for the other three airlines will go up significantly, and the availability of seats will go way down. It was already impossible to get home if you missed a connection, it took days to get a seat, loads at the airport are VERY high right now, almost always oversold. Flying every week under those conditions just isnt going to be viable anymore.

As for my loyalty, I am not sure what I will do. I hate NW, that is the bottom line, but it looks like I will be spending a lot of time on their planes, so will probably have no choice now but to be an elite with them. That will never make me a loyalist however, this will be about functionality not love.

I hope this does not portend you no longer posting in the Delta forum, Lehava.

I am sorry to learn of the latest news regarding Delta Air Lines ending their service to Binghamton.

My condolences on your loss.

At least, unlike for Grandma BamaVol and l4p, DL pulling out still leaves you with options that don't involve a 90 minute drive and it doesn't make US look attractive.

DL seems to come and go in the smaller markets and I'm not sure they're learning anything from the experience.

It looks like you'll be giving your loyalty to another airline, even if you do move to another location, but I hope you'll stick around this forum.

Good luck.

Well, if I recall, you'd told me some time back about a possible career/move/change, and how your loyalty may be affected.

I know you're disappointed, but maybe in the long run it helps make your decisions easier.....

Lehava should probably just move to a city that DL serves. :p

I actually considered that in my move criteria, and CVG was one of my top choices, but the reality is a lot of my work is in the Twin Cities and it is the place that will mean I can be home the most nights and that is the single biggest factor for me right now

Come on over to the RedTails...Mikey did, I did, and it has been a good experience. I'll buy the first round in the MSP World Club.

Although there is the informal "no match within ST", I'd write to NW and see about getting status. Since DL is leaving your market, they might just see this as a great opportunity.

Where is BGM, couldn't find it on a map

:p

Flying DL out of MSP is no big deal. The only flights are to hubs (just like BGM) but there are a lot more to choose from, plus you have many NW options.

The SkyTeam airlines generally refrain from poaching one another's elites but do make exceptions when service is withdrawn from a community. I'd suggest you save some documentation about DL's withdrawal from BGM and use it to make your case with NW. Caveat on timing: If you do that late in the year and move to MSP and end up flying less, you might not requalify by the end of the year.

If Delta doesn't fly there, there's no need to be on any map.

Lehava, you have my sympathies. I know you've been a big booster of Delta. I also understand the "small airport" syndrome. As much as I like Delta, if they ever pulled from DAB, I'd be in a tough spot as well. I'd either go with the replacement airline or learn to love the drive to/from MCO.

How long is the drive to SYR for you, and does Delta serve SYR? Another option that a friend of mine in BGM uses is Wilkes-Barre Scranton and ABE. Just a couple of thoughts.

In late 2003 as a DL Plat (from the inception of Skymiles) I asked for and receive a comp to NW Gold. I achieved Plat in early 2004 and remained so through 2006 until retiring early that year. I, like many others; really disliked NW but came to be more satisfied with them than I had been with DL for years. My wife and I recently completed a CVG-MSP-LGW roundtrip in NW WBC and found it to be a great experience. Try it you might like it.

For your move, you might want to consider someplace between CVG and DAY. Either airport provides easy travel to MSP and you can join us leisure travellers who originate at DAY; fly to CVG and connect to mainline DL. If you have the time the fares are often a lot cheaper and you get the extra miles.

Lehava, I've been in your shoes--I was a loyal NW flyer until they pulled out of RNO, which is how I ended up with DL.

As to Mill Creek Don's suggestion, yes, give it a try. I set up a DL challenge on my own based on NW status and NW pulling out of the market. After I'd done this, NW sent me a letter saying they had set up a status match with either DL or CO, and gave instructions for activating the match on the chosen airline.

I don't know what I'd do in OP's position. I do know that if Lehava winds up leaving DL, DL will loose one of their most consistent supporters (and a big part of the Medallions for an Independent Delta group).

Lehava, you def have my best wishes in whatever you decide. As I sometimes fly the red tail too, maybe I'll see you on a flight.

BGM has it bad with no DL service at all, but I understand that PVD will become completely RJ soon... this is a station that as recently as three years ago had 3-4 757s a day as well as 2-3 MD88s to ATL/CVG, 2 DL Express flights to MCO and DLExpress to FLL.

I suppose this means no more transfers in Atlanta and eating at Prime...

Canarsie I still see me coming to ATL just not on Delta. My plans for this weekend, figure out which Amex to transfer my two cards to, contact NW about a match, try to see if I can book a cruise with my stash of DL miles.

The more I have thought about this today, the more I think Delta's international view is what is behind this and you will see it happen more and more. What else makes sense, loads out of BGM on DL are up 44% over a year ago, so drop off in service makes no sense. My guess, Delta is now measuring "worth" based on how many passengers does a small airport dump on to international flights, and out of BGM that is next to nil.

Pretty much feel my signature says it all at this point.

To be fair, DL gave BGM a lot of opportunity to develop. Few new markets are given as much time and different hub connections in order to prove themselves. BGM failed for a few reasons:

1) Low yields: much of BGM's high yield traffic is still being taken by SYR forcing DL to do too much discounting
2) Weak loads: despite all the hype from the media, DL at BGM rarely had loads greater than 75% and they were often far lower than that during off-peak times
3) High fuel prices: the economics of the CRJ/ERJ aren't great and high fuel prices makes it even worse
4) Fragmented market: for a small market like BGM to have four carriers is a lot and makes it hard for any carrier to build up enough marketshare to survive

BGM's experience won't be unique. Many smaller markets are going to be on the chopping block. Marathon, FL will also be suspended effective Sept 5.

OMG, I thought you wrote Melbourne, FL.

Where is the list of airports that are losing DL service?

You gave me a scare for a moment. Fortunately our flight in is on August 3 and out on August 7. Since we have transcon connections at JFK on the two days, how severe have the delays been recently?

On the issue of NW, having been in the position twice, albeit in a larger market, when an airline abandoned us. (Continental and American) while elites, we share your hurt. But NW is not that bad especially if you are doing mainline jets. Even as a gold, you have a good chance of a first class seat at no extra cost to you. You do need to buy an Ipod if you do not have one since this is the sole source of domestic entertainment.

Based, on the comments it looks like BGM is going back to the days when it was served by Mohawk. After-all, it is a depressed area and cannot support much travel. Still a very inexpensive place to live.

Lehava, really sorry to hear this. Like others have said, if DL loses you, they will lose one of their most ardent supporters.

I'm sure whatever your decision is, it will be the right one for you.

Yeah, I'd like to see this list too...!

These are what I have read about:
Marathon, FL
Macon, GA
Binghampton, NY
Tijuana, MX

There may be more to come.

No one will ever convince me sitting on a flight listening to flight attendants gripe, every single flight, about their jobs, their pay, their hours and so on is good service. You can all keep saying NW isnt so bad, I fly them enough to know that they have some of the most unpleasant staff to deal with in the industry!!!!! And to me that matters!!!!!

Hey, I still post here.

Looks like the ERI-ATL flights will disappear as well.

Word is there is more to come!
 

There is talk that DL is going to slowly wind down the smaller CRJ fleet... they are uneconomic for a variety of reasons. So I suspect that any stations that cannot support service from larger RJs will be at risk of abandonment.
This won't happen overnight, of course.

The other reason why DL may abandon a station is when the initial startup service occurred as a result of a travel bank arrangement, essentially a load factor guarantee from the local chamber of commerce or the like. When the "subsidy" or guarantee expires, so does the route (unless DL found the route to be successful). I believe that is what happened to New Haven, CT which had brief service to CVG a few years back.

Routes like the ones from BOS to the Canadian maritimes (YYG, YFC etc) are all subsidized by local organizations. I know that some routes out of SLC are currently or were initially subsidized (RDM, EUG, MFR).

Was BGM ever a subsidized station for DL?

BGM had incentives. Not sure about subsidies, per se.

Some cities that initially were subsidized, like RDM and MFR, have done quite well and have last years past the expiration of any support.

This is an excellent reason why none of us should ever be married to any given airline.

I fought long and hard over SaveSkymiles.com I took it personal, then realized that an airline is just a way to get from point A to point B.

No matter what anyone says in any of the airline forums at FT...They are all as good or bad as the rest. And, one thing for sure, they will ALL make changes for the worse...Not Better!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I moved on to NW. If they screw up, I'll find something else.

Lehava's problem, is that unless she moves, she doesn't have any good options.

Does that include returning to DL? ;)

You make an excellent point Mike. Amazing how emotionally attached we get to these corporations.

If they count segments:)

Deleted. Off topic. :)

I don't believe there was direct subsidies but Delta was sought by BGM not the other way around. There was work done at the airport to lure them and I am sure there was other promises and deals.

A day into all this, you could say I am moving through my stages of grieving, I am now just sad, but you know what, I can't blame Delta for any of this. I am sad because this community, that used to be so great (we are the origination of IBM, Flight Simulators, Endicott Johnson Shoe, Universal Instruments and so much more) is in a death spiral. Truth, I dont think we will see BGM here another 10 years, and that saddens me beyond words.

I am also heartbroken for the 17 employees who will lose their jobs (I dont see them taking the offer to move to other markets as they all have families here). We have the BEST staff in the country (ok I'm bias) and to know they will all be jobless breaks my heart. Some of them are older and there is not going to be much for them job wise here.

But with that said, how can I blame Delta for pulling out when I am considering doing the same with my business? This community financially has nothing to offer businesses that want to be here.

I agree and disagree with Mikey, part of me says he is right about not being loyal to any airline, but not having status is not a choice. Forget upgrades for a minute *gasp* having to deal with baseline CSR phone lines is not something I can deal with, I spend too much time travelling for that BS (heck at NW that gets you told "we're too busy to talk, call later" and hung on).

But you know what, all airlines are NOT the same. Delta does have a heart and soul, and if I doubted that the email I just received from my "friends" there in Atlanta in response to my email yesterday to them reminded me of that. When an executive goes out of his way to communicate with a single medallion in a market that Delta now how no vested interest in and goes out of his way to try to help with solutions, it is more than your average airline!!!!!!!

Like I said, if I need to get status on NW to travel I will do that, but my heart will always be with Delta!!!!!

Oh put it back, it had to be good *smile*

Glad to hear that, I have read everything here. I would feel the same way. For me, living in SLC is a great reason to fly DL. However I did fly one of those other nasty airlines and stood up for them till one day as a Plat on them they didn't do the right thing and that left a sour taste in my mouth. I no longer fly with them or give them ANY of my money. Delta does care about people, esp their FF'ers, but like you said, sometimes the community does not and can not provide what DL needs to keep them in that market.

It was. Anything that talks about Mikey and segments is always good. :D