DL changes award booking rules to more restrictive
Aug 9, 2011 | 1:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 30,343
DL changes award booking rules to more restrictive
Just heads up for those who may not visit DL forum, or those who think the No Expiration on DL miles is a great plus (versus other programs where there are gazillion activities one can perform to perpetuate the life of the accounts).
Here is a drastic change on allowed change on DL rewards which makes it even more restrictive than BA's program.
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfromthewing/
<<Today, Delta announced that award tickets would in fact be totally non-changeable and non-refundable within 72 hours of travel. Very odd indeed that they would make one change to the policy and then two weeks later make another, more severe, change to that same policy.>>
No change is allowed 72 hours before departure.
<<Since Delta says that there were 1,000,000 seats booked 72 hours out but not flown (again, no mention of a time period from which this number was taken), that means 1,000,000 award tickets that would no longer be redepositable. Who says Delta Skymiles don’t expire?>>
If you dont cancel the award before you fly, you lose all the miles.
Since DL tends to release its Saver tier award very close to departure, this essentially means you cannot do so even if low cost award becomes available close to departure but within the 72 hours window.
Dont know if the top elites can still cancel inside the 72 hours without penalty. Those who are elites naturally would have already been in the know. The rest of us would need to be much more careful when using DL miles - making the Skypeso further lower value than other airlines' currencies.
Here is a drastic change on allowed change on DL rewards which makes it even more restrictive than BA's program.
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfromthewing/
<<Today, Delta announced that award tickets would in fact be totally non-changeable and non-refundable within 72 hours of travel. Very odd indeed that they would make one change to the policy and then two weeks later make another, more severe, change to that same policy.>>
No change is allowed 72 hours before departure.
<<Since Delta says that there were 1,000,000 seats booked 72 hours out but not flown (again, no mention of a time period from which this number was taken), that means 1,000,000 award tickets that would no longer be redepositable. Who says Delta Skymiles don’t expire?>>
If you dont cancel the award before you fly, you lose all the miles.
Since DL tends to release its Saver tier award very close to departure, this essentially means you cannot do so even if low cost award becomes available close to departure but within the 72 hours window.
Dont know if the top elites can still cancel inside the 72 hours without penalty. Those who are elites naturally would have already been in the know. The rest of us would need to be much more careful when using DL miles - making the Skypeso further lower value than other airlines' currencies.
Last edited by Happy; Aug 9, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Aug 9, 2011 | 1:42 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: New Yawk
Programs: Delta Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Mosaic 3, ⓥ for the animals
Posts: 477
This is obviously an *enhancement* - the title is misleading.
Just heads up for those who may not visit DL forum, or those who think the No Expiration on DL miles is a great plus (versus other programs where there are gazillion activities one can perform to perpetuate the life of the accounts).
Here is a drastic change on allowed change on DL rewards which makes it even more restrictive than BA's program.
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfromthewing/
<<Today, Delta announced that award tickets would in fact be totally non-changeable and non-refundable within 72 hours of travel. Very odd indeed that they would make one change to the policy and then two weeks later make another, more severe, change to that same policy.>>
No change is allowed 72 hours before departure.
<<Since Delta says that there were 1,000,000 seats booked 72 hours out but not flown (again, no mention of a time period from which this number was taken), that means 1,000,000 award tickets that would no longer be redepositable. Who says Delta Skymiles dont expire?>>
If you dont cancel the award before you fly, you lose all the miles.
Since DL tends to release its Saver tier award very close to departure, this essentially means you cannot do so even if low cost award becomes available close to departure but within the 72 hours window.
Dont know if the top elites can still cancel inside the 72 hours without penalty. Those who are elites naturally would have already been in the know. The rest of us would need to be much more careful when using DL miles - making the Skypeso further lower value than other airlines' currencies.
Here is a drastic change on allowed change on DL rewards which makes it even more restrictive than BA's program.
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfromthewing/
<<Today, Delta announced that award tickets would in fact be totally non-changeable and non-refundable within 72 hours of travel. Very odd indeed that they would make one change to the policy and then two weeks later make another, more severe, change to that same policy.>>
No change is allowed 72 hours before departure.
<<Since Delta says that there were 1,000,000 seats booked 72 hours out but not flown (again, no mention of a time period from which this number was taken), that means 1,000,000 award tickets that would no longer be redepositable. Who says Delta Skymiles dont expire?>>
If you dont cancel the award before you fly, you lose all the miles.
Since DL tends to release its Saver tier award very close to departure, this essentially means you cannot do so even if low cost award becomes available close to departure but within the 72 hours window.
Dont know if the top elites can still cancel inside the 72 hours without penalty. Those who are elites naturally would have already been in the know. The rest of us would need to be much more careful when using DL miles - making the Skypeso further lower value than other airlines' currencies.
Aug 9, 2011 | 2:15 pm
#3
Original Poster
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 30,343
Major discussion in DL forum. People are urged to voice their displeasure via all possible channels...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...le-change.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...le-change.html
Aug 9, 2011 | 4:55 pm
#4
In memoriam
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Near Jacksonville FL
Posts: 3,987
I suspect if one had a true emergency cancellation (like for heart surgery) - and not just a heck of it cancellation - I can save money doing it someway else - arrangements could be made. The only travel entity I have ever ever had a problem with was the Hurtigruten in Norway - when my MIL wound up on her death bed a week before our scheduled trip. And those SO*s refused to even give us a credit for a future cruise - even if they could re-book our premium cabin in high season. When you're in your 50's and 60's - and have parents in their 70's or 80's or 90's - well sh** can happen. I would never book a cruise myself without trip cancellation insurance - but it's kind of hard to get that insurance with the right terms at a reasonable price if your concern is a 90+ year old parent.
Anyway - although I don't deal with Delta very often - I like to give the vendors I deal with the benefit of the doubt. That they will do the right thing by me. Until they prove otherwise.
FWIW - we did eventually get to Norway - but never re-booked that trip on the Hurtigruten. Robyn
Anyway - although I don't deal with Delta very often - I like to give the vendors I deal with the benefit of the doubt. That they will do the right thing by me. Until they prove otherwise.
FWIW - we did eventually get to Norway - but never re-booked that trip on the Hurtigruten. Robyn
Aug 9, 2011 | 5:05 pm
#5
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 30,343
BA as far as I know, is not yielding on its rule of no change at T-24 on the first flight - there are enough sob stories reported from the first round of 100K BA card bonus in Nov 2009 to Mar 2010.
One story is, a guy has used his BA miles to fly his parents from Asia to US for a visit. The father developed heart problem during their stay in US. Even with doctor's note about heart surgery scheduled a few days before the return flight, BA would not allow change because the passengers had already flew the outbound flights. The poster ended up booking a one-way AA award to fly his parents home because one-way pay tickets were too expensive and their BA tickets became useless due to the father could not possible take the original return flight.
It is incidents / emergencies like the above, that it is highly advisable to book BA award as 2 one-ways instead of a r/t even though it may mean 2 x phone ticketing fee and 2 x cancellation fee in case you need to cancel but you preserve the flexibility of the return leg - could be a very important factor. Things happen and you do not want to get stuck without shelling out big money for the alternative(s). Buying travel insurance would not solve this issue because travel insurance would only cover the change fee on award ticket - in this case, the ticket is not even changeable.
Another story is, a guy cut his connection flight too close to position himself to take the CX flight from JFK to HKG. Well, his position flight delayed and caused him to miss the CX flight. There was another CX flight after that but BA said No Way - no change was allowed after T-24. He literally posted that he saw his flight turned to pumpkin....
Good luck to trust DL management would do the right thing when emergencies arise...
Good luck to trust DL management which announces MAJOR Change that even their own elites are negatively impacted (and being used as scapegoat for the change), without any advance warning and goes in effect immediately... and RETROACTIVELY! Not sure what other proof you still need... but to each their own...
Last edited by Happy; Aug 9, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Aug 9, 2011 | 5:09 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Tucson, AZ, USA. UA 1K, reluctant but * best in class * DL FO/MM. Former BA jumpseat rider and scourge of Dilbertian management and apologists. As LX might - and do - say: "....an experienced frequent flyer of international airlines"
Posts: 3,386
Bwahahah! Another :-: best in class :-: move by the :-: best in class :-: program.
I received this "notification" too, via email. But who cares? I don't use SM as my primary program and it's just another minor annoyance from the LCC-competitor.
The real problem is not even the policy - it's a. the blitzkreig way this is delivered and b. the "justification" for it.
There are so many reasons why DL's "justifications" are not believable. Remember when Jeff R. told Medallion members two years ago that the reason for the sudden elimination of Platinum Medallion Award Change waivers was the vast volume of "misused" bookings? This was rolled back, at least
But what's the value of a waiver if there's a blanket ban on ticket changes at short notice?
Hohoho! Just the same, here. This no-notice change is just another classic from Virginia Ave. If there weren't so many NRSA to be accommodated, perhaps this wouldn't be necessary @:-)
It's truly amazing how some - perhaps increasingly few, now - DL apologists will maintain that this is acceptable corporate behavior. Even US doesn't do this, or at least, apologizes for its mistakes.
Meantime, in the face of these immediate, no-notice degradations of their Medallion program, DL continues to publish their shiny blog.... showing crass misunderstanding of the role of these communication technologies.
Drink from the social media firehose, my friends and feel the love. Show how your actual IT backbone is so deficient it needs this level of policy "support."
Elite flyers, if you don't like it, why fly DL? Keep booking on 1W/Star. Keep listening to AA/UA even US who don't act with such open contempt towards their customers.
The value of DL SM is severely eroded because of the way in which DL has proven it will handle program changes - major changes, uncompetitive ones, announced with immediate effect.
Next week - who knows what? No UG for anyone on LUT? No accrual on LUT? No PMU except on Y?
I received this "notification" too, via email. But who cares? I don't use SM as my primary program and it's just another minor annoyance from the LCC-competitor.
The real problem is not even the policy - it's a. the blitzkreig way this is delivered and b. the "justification" for it.
There are so many reasons why DL's "justifications" are not believable. Remember when Jeff R. told Medallion members two years ago that the reason for the sudden elimination of Platinum Medallion Award Change waivers was the vast volume of "misused" bookings? This was rolled back, at least
But what's the value of a waiver if there's a blanket ban on ticket changes at short notice?
Hohoho! Just the same, here. This no-notice change is just another classic from Virginia Ave. If there weren't so many NRSA to be accommodated, perhaps this wouldn't be necessary @:-)
It's truly amazing how some - perhaps increasingly few, now - DL apologists will maintain that this is acceptable corporate behavior. Even US doesn't do this, or at least, apologizes for its mistakes.
Meantime, in the face of these immediate, no-notice degradations of their Medallion program, DL continues to publish their shiny blog.... showing crass misunderstanding of the role of these communication technologies.
Drink from the social media firehose, my friends and feel the love. Show how your actual IT backbone is so deficient it needs this level of policy "support."
Elite flyers, if you don't like it, why fly DL? Keep booking on 1W/Star. Keep listening to AA/UA even US who don't act with such open contempt towards their customers.
The value of DL SM is severely eroded because of the way in which DL has proven it will handle program changes - major changes, uncompetitive ones, announced with immediate effect.
Next week - who knows what? No UG for anyone on LUT? No accrual on LUT? No PMU except on Y?
Aug 9, 2011 | 5:33 pm
#7
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 30,343
Bwahahah! Another :-: best in class :-: move by the :-: best in class :-: program.
The real problem is not even the policy - it's a. the blitzkreig way this is delivered and b. the "justification" for it.
There are so many reasons why DL's "justifications" are not believable. Remember when Jeff R. told Medallion members two years ago that the reason for the sudden elimination of Platinum Medallion Award Change waivers was the vast volume of "misused" bookings? This was rolled back, at least
But what's the value of a waiver if there's a blanket ban on ticket changes at short notice?
The real problem is not even the policy - it's a. the blitzkreig way this is delivered and b. the "justification" for it.
There are so many reasons why DL's "justifications" are not believable. Remember when Jeff R. told Medallion members two years ago that the reason for the sudden elimination of Platinum Medallion Award Change waivers was the vast volume of "misused" bookings? This was rolled back, at least
But what's the value of a waiver if there's a blanket ban on ticket changes at short notice?
Way to run a loyalty program... Not only the change would become effective immediately it is even retroactively applies to tickets booked before the announcement... Very disturbing behavior.
Aug 9, 2011 | 5:42 pm
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Tucson, AZ, USA. UA 1K, reluctant but * best in class * DL FO/MM. Former BA jumpseat rider and scourge of Dilbertian management and apologists. As LX might - and do - say: "....an experienced frequent flyer of international airlines"
Posts: 3,386
Remember this? This is consistent with how DL operates SM...
This is entirely consistent with previous SM changes of this type.
2009: elimination of award change fee waiver for PM (no DMs then):
Originally Posted by RealDLInsider:
"Unfortunately, almost 10% of ticketed award seats by Platinum Medallions are no-shows on flights, and then after the seat goes out unused, we are giving customers their miles back without charge. On top of this, Platinums are taking and canceling award seats at alarming rates far greater than other Medallions, which is likely driven by this waiver policy."
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...n-benefit.html
Who believes this number? Or the new one?
And what next for SM, and when? Tomorrow? Next week?
Newsflash: very obviously, today's change was under discussion for some time since the email announcement was already prepped, locked and loaded.
Perhaps the reason they dumped it on us today was because of the stock market crash yesterday. As good a time as any to get the dirty deed done with minimal comparative impact on the folios of execs.... @:-)
Much worse things are coming for DL SM and they could be released very shortly under these circumstances. Read the commentary from recent DL SM focus group participants. Since I've been banned from the DL forum I can't access it while logged in.
Forgive the Google cache thread URL, you can find it by searching FT.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...www.google.com
In light of this and potential future developments, think of those $$$ you're about to direct to DL in the expectation of some SM value. Think carefully about it.
2009: elimination of award change fee waiver for PM (no DMs then):
Originally Posted by RealDLInsider:
"Unfortunately, almost 10% of ticketed award seats by Platinum Medallions are no-shows on flights, and then after the seat goes out unused, we are giving customers their miles back without charge. On top of this, Platinums are taking and canceling award seats at alarming rates far greater than other Medallions, which is likely driven by this waiver policy."
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...n-benefit.html
Who believes this number? Or the new one?
And what next for SM, and when? Tomorrow? Next week?
Newsflash: very obviously, today's change was under discussion for some time since the email announcement was already prepped, locked and loaded.
Perhaps the reason they dumped it on us today was because of the stock market crash yesterday. As good a time as any to get the dirty deed done with minimal comparative impact on the folios of execs.... @:-)
Much worse things are coming for DL SM and they could be released very shortly under these circumstances. Read the commentary from recent DL SM focus group participants. Since I've been banned from the DL forum I can't access it while logged in.
Forgive the Google cache thread URL, you can find it by searching FT.http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...www.google.com
In light of this and potential future developments, think of those $$$ you're about to direct to DL in the expectation of some SM value. Think carefully about it.
Aug 9, 2011 | 5:50 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
Yet another customer-unfriendly change from DL SkyMiles management. I wish I could say I was shocked, but I cannot. This is so very typical for DL SkyMiles management.
Hopefully the highlighting of this issue will help those persons who come to FT to try to make up their mind about whether or not to use DL/DL SkyMiles when there are alternatives.
Hopefully the highlighting of this issue will help those persons who come to FT to try to make up their mind about whether or not to use DL/DL SkyMiles when there are alternatives.
Aug 9, 2011 | 6:03 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 781
Yet another customer-unfriendly change from DL SkyMiles management. I wish I could say I was shocked, but I cannot. This is so very typical for DL SkyMiles management.
Hopefully the highlighting of this issue will help those persons who come to FT to try to make up their mind about whether or not to use DL/DL SkyMiles when there are alternatives.
Hopefully the highlighting of this issue will help those persons who come to FT to try to make up their mind about whether or not to use DL/DL SkyMiles when there are alternatives.
I will be writing Delta my dissatisfaction today. If this isn't rectified, i will pull my business with then. You should do the same.
Aug 9, 2011 | 10:39 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Tucson, AZ, USA. UA 1K, reluctant but * best in class * DL FO/MM. Former BA jumpseat rider and scourge of Dilbertian management and apologists. As LX might - and do - say: "....an experienced frequent flyer of international airlines"
Posts: 3,386
What DL says...and what it means..
Yoo hoo Michelle....and DL SM, hodiho Jeff R., I know you're there in the basement at ATL.
OK, so here's the statement, with translation in [ parentheses ]
-----------------------
Updated: Award Redeposit and Reissue Rule Change
Late last month, I posted information about recent changes to our Award redeposit policy. The changes were made after we reviewed the number of award seats that were going out empty and the number was large massive, in fact. So we made some adjustments to help address the situation and increase award availability.
[This is what Jeff R. said two years ago for the PM change fee waiver. Hope nobody calls us on that...aargh, we forgot about the nightmare RTS guy, get him offline, can't you FT mods? And what about buc?]
[And what michelleSM thinks: Boy, I'd love to work for Scott and his organization over at UA, who have a reputation for telling it straight, in good time, and listening to their elites. But I'm stuck here in ATL as a corporate mouthpiece for Jeff R. I know this isn't good or right but I gotta do it...OK, onwards...]
In response to that post, more than half a dozen FT members asked if we were looking at making changes to the policy for any time prior to departure.
[Half-a-dozen thousand, more likely]
In fact, we were. During that review we determined that there are more than 1,000,000 award seats that were going unused at the 72 hour mark prior to departure.
[Bwahahah! How I can state this "data" with solemnity, a straight online face, who can know? Hey maybe I should audition to replace Tina Fey when this gig falls through]
That is 3 days in which those seats could otherwise be sold or used for other SkyMiles members who truly intend to sit in the seat and travel.
[That's chutzpah! I know nobody now believes any of those awards would otherwise "be used for SM members who truly intend to sit in the seat".... no, but hey, Jeff told us we need to raise the mean SM/domestic redemption number to between 45 and 50k a pop, slowly reducing the huge backlog of liability to AmEx. We're at 38.8k right now.]
As a result, were updating this policy once more. [Got to find that extra 30%, that's how I get evaluated] So, effective August 15, 2011, SkyMiles members who wish to cancel or make changes to their award ticket now need to do so at least 72 hours before their flight departure (for changes, this applies to each flight segment outbound and return). This change will make those seats available to other members and ultimately increase award availability.
[Bwahahaha!!!]
Miles for tickets cancelled within 72 hours will be nonrefundable. Taxes and fees for award travel cancelled within 72 hours will be refundable upon request. Same-day standby options will remain.
For changes or cancellations made at least 72 hours prior to departure, Diamond and Platinum Medallion members will continue to receive reissue and redeposit fee waivers. Reissue and redeposit fees will continue to apply for other members.
[This is so uncompetitive with every OAL. But Jeff knows that]
We will be sending out an email to customers with advance award travel booked later today delta.com is being updated with this information as well.
[Ah! Just made it on time! At least this time our pants are still kind of hanging on, we posted here before emailing the SM Medallion idiots en masse]
Because it was a trending theme in last months thread, lets address another issue head-on. We understand that extenuating circumstances do happen and our agents are equipped to review those situations on a case-by-case basis to determine if an exception is warranted. (Just do us a favor and try to make sure its not the 8th time your great uncle has passed away.)
Candidly, we expect that this change may be unpopular with some and we will hear all of your concerns related to it so we are communicating this early and will be sending a variety of communications to customers later today. [BONG! Fasten your seat belts! Cabin crew, discontinue service and take your seats immediately!]
When program changes occur, we want our members to be aware of them so that they can adapt accordingly.
[Be fleeced out of more SM, we hope]
Now lets start the conversation. Im gathering your comments and bringing them all back to the team
Michelle, SkyMiles | Delta Social Ambassador
Connect with us at Twitter.com/Delta & Facebook.com/Delta
[Heh! Thank goodness that no "conversation" is possible through these highly modulated channels that insulate us from the opinions of the SMM. All DL social media comms are as one-way as possible
But, wait, Jeff, didn't you work once for AA? Weren't you one of the architects of the class-leading EXP program? It can't be that you don't know how to design and deliver a program with real benefits. So, what happened here at DL? O, I get it, the Borg at ATL won't permit discussion of such quality programs.
And what's this, Mr. Robertson? A guide sheet for releases for next week? I need to "announce" these too! Oh my!!!
Monday: no upgrades on LUT fares, effective immediately
Tuesday: 0.5 MQM on LUT. Didn't we try to do that before?
Wednesday: PMUs only valid on Y fare classes
Thursday: elimination of bag fee waivers for FO.
Friday: GM/PM mileage bonus reduction to 50%
Saturday: introduction of Osmium Medallion level. What? Why this? Well, the unremitting blast of negativity needs a counter at least once a week.
We have three apologists who will be able to use this fact to claim that SM is awesome. Maybe even
:-: best in class :-:
But Jeff, there's one problem. You forgot, we have SM too.
We may work here but I've just matched to AA Plat. C U L8R big boy!
]
OK, so here's the statement, with translation in [ parentheses ]
-----------------------
Updated: Award Redeposit and Reissue Rule Change
Late last month, I posted information about recent changes to our Award redeposit policy. The changes were made after we reviewed the number of award seats that were going out empty and the number was large massive, in fact. So we made some adjustments to help address the situation and increase award availability.
[This is what Jeff R. said two years ago for the PM change fee waiver. Hope nobody calls us on that...aargh, we forgot about the nightmare RTS guy, get him offline, can't you FT mods? And what about buc?]
[And what michelleSM thinks: Boy, I'd love to work for Scott and his organization over at UA, who have a reputation for telling it straight, in good time, and listening to their elites. But I'm stuck here in ATL as a corporate mouthpiece for Jeff R. I know this isn't good or right but I gotta do it...OK, onwards...]
In response to that post, more than half a dozen FT members asked if we were looking at making changes to the policy for any time prior to departure.
[Half-a-dozen thousand, more likely]
In fact, we were. During that review we determined that there are more than 1,000,000 award seats that were going unused at the 72 hour mark prior to departure.
[Bwahahah! How I can state this "data" with solemnity, a straight online face, who can know? Hey maybe I should audition to replace Tina Fey when this gig falls through]
That is 3 days in which those seats could otherwise be sold or used for other SkyMiles members who truly intend to sit in the seat and travel.
[That's chutzpah! I know nobody now believes any of those awards would otherwise "be used for SM members who truly intend to sit in the seat".... no, but hey, Jeff told us we need to raise the mean SM/domestic redemption number to between 45 and 50k a pop, slowly reducing the huge backlog of liability to AmEx. We're at 38.8k right now.]
As a result, were updating this policy once more. [Got to find that extra 30%, that's how I get evaluated] So, effective August 15, 2011, SkyMiles members who wish to cancel or make changes to their award ticket now need to do so at least 72 hours before their flight departure (for changes, this applies to each flight segment outbound and return). This change will make those seats available to other members and ultimately increase award availability.
[Bwahahaha!!!
]Miles for tickets cancelled within 72 hours will be nonrefundable. Taxes and fees for award travel cancelled within 72 hours will be refundable upon request. Same-day standby options will remain.
For changes or cancellations made at least 72 hours prior to departure, Diamond and Platinum Medallion members will continue to receive reissue and redeposit fee waivers. Reissue and redeposit fees will continue to apply for other members.
[This is so uncompetitive with every OAL. But Jeff knows that]
We will be sending out an email to customers with advance award travel booked later today delta.com is being updated with this information as well.
[Ah! Just made it on time! At least this time our pants are still kind of hanging on, we posted here before emailing the SM Medallion idiots en masse]
Because it was a trending theme in last months thread, lets address another issue head-on. We understand that extenuating circumstances do happen and our agents are equipped to review those situations on a case-by-case basis to determine if an exception is warranted. (Just do us a favor and try to make sure its not the 8th time your great uncle has passed away.)
Candidly, we expect that this change may be unpopular with some and we will hear all of your concerns related to it so we are communicating this early and will be sending a variety of communications to customers later today. [BONG! Fasten your seat belts! Cabin crew, discontinue service and take your seats immediately!]
When program changes occur, we want our members to be aware of them so that they can adapt accordingly.
[Be fleeced out of more SM, we hope]
Now lets start the conversation. Im gathering your comments and bringing them all back to the team
Michelle, SkyMiles | Delta Social Ambassador
Connect with us at Twitter.com/Delta & Facebook.com/Delta
[Heh! Thank goodness that no "conversation" is possible through these highly modulated channels that insulate us from the opinions of the SMM. All DL social media comms are as one-way as possible
But, wait, Jeff, didn't you work once for AA? Weren't you one of the architects of the class-leading EXP program? It can't be that you don't know how to design and deliver a program with real benefits. So, what happened here at DL? O, I get it, the Borg at ATL won't permit discussion of such quality programs.
And what's this, Mr. Robertson? A guide sheet for releases for next week? I need to "announce" these too! Oh my!!!
Monday: no upgrades on LUT fares, effective immediately
Tuesday: 0.5 MQM on LUT. Didn't we try to do that before?
Wednesday: PMUs only valid on Y fare classes
Thursday: elimination of bag fee waivers for FO.
Friday: GM/PM mileage bonus reduction to 50%
Saturday: introduction of Osmium Medallion level. What? Why this? Well, the unremitting blast of negativity needs a counter at least once a week.
We have three apologists who will be able to use this fact to claim that SM is awesome. Maybe even
:-: best in class :-:
But Jeff, there's one problem. You forgot, we have SM too.
We may work here but I've just matched to AA Plat. C U L8R big boy!
]
Aug 9, 2011 | 10:46 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,939
Goodness, more love from Zimbabwe miles. They should change their ads to say that there is no close in ticketing fee for bookings within 21 days of departure to 18 days. I'd love to meet the idiot analyst who cooked up these numbers. Why can't s/he do some analysis on the effect of the pathetic FFP of Skypesos.
Aug 10, 2011 | 4:42 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London and Zurich
Programs: AA, BA, Mucci: Sir Roger des Directions Routires, PCR
Posts: 13,609
I've had no DL e-mail and I don't FB or Twitter, so I'm out in the cold. Except for FT, I wouldn't know about this change.
Aug 10, 2011 | 4:47 am
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
You have a lot of company. Even lots of customers with DL-issued mileage tickets -- even those mileage tickets used in part -- have not been provided any email or phone calls from DL about DL changing the rules on mileage tickets.
Aug 10, 2011 | 7:26 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K, SPG PL
Posts: 20
gawd! i have had it with delta ... had tolerated all the crap for the past two years I have been plat and diamond, but they keep making it worse for me to adjust.
time to status match and pull out
time to status match and pull out