Do you regret leaving Delta?
 

I am GM on Delta but will only make Silver this year. My previous postings on here have been primarily whining about the SkyMiles program. Since I will only make Silver this year, I am not committed to staying with Delta. Before I jump ship, though, I want to know if anybody has left delta and regretted it? I fly PDX-AMS coach about 4 times a year for business and try to hit some other European country for a personal trip while I am there. Domestically, I just fly a couple of times a year for personal vacations (I hate that I cannot upgrade my family with my points on those trips!!). I use my skymiles AMEX whenever possible.

Anyway, I am looking closly at the various programs out there but feedback from travelers is always appreciated!

I left Delta after two years as Gold Medallion. Since then, my life has changed the better:

1) my skin has cleared up
2) the kids are getting straight "A"s
3) my employer doubled my salary and halved my workload
4) my wife got a job as a supermodel
5) I won the Lotto 3 weeks in a row.

Do it...you won't regret it.

SteveH

[This message has been edited by 330CiC (edited 11-04-2002).]

I moved from DL to US and haven't regretted it at all ...

Switch to AA. They'll probably do a status match, since everybody does that these days.

Every program has pros and cons, including AA's. However, I've been mid-tier on a few different airlines over the years, and AA does one unique thing that nobody else has thought of: they treat their low- and mid-elites like human beings. You may not fly F on every segment, but you will talk to a lot of nice people during your travels. They actually *help* you when your flight gets canceled, unlike most airlines (unless you are top-tier). That's worth quite a bit to me. Plus with MRTC, you don't have to obsess about upgrades quite as much as you do with Delta or the others.

/end_shameless_AA_woofing

I was gold on Delta and used to love the ability to upgrade all fares with 800 mile upgrades. Used to love upgrading international fares. Now, all that is gone. After seeing 60 - 80 800 mile upgrades go away every year I knew it was time to move on.

Been flying AA (AS) and WN. WN earned a CP pass so that my wife can fly with me for free. AA, will be making EXP this year. Have a good stash of upgrades that I can use on any fare (would rather trade them for miles). Will be lifetime gold, if they still offer it, in a year or so.

Do I regret leaving DL? Nope. Can fly anywhere I flew DL on AA, Oneworld and WN.

Christian

cxn: Yes, they still have lifetime levels. 1mil for Gold, 2mil for Plat. Any miles earned in the program count, not just butt-in-seat miles.

I used to trade in upgrade credits for miles all the time (4 for 10,000 miles). I'm not sure if that is still an option or if the miles are the same. I no longer fly nearly as much as I used to!

I went from DL to UA and switched back after 6 months. UA's customer service is absolutely terrible. But I'm making GM this year on DL (rather than PM due to UA getting some of my $$) so I'll stick it out another year and do a status comp on probably AA in Feb 2003.

I left DL a few years ago and never looked back.

1. DL employees had a very cocky and non-helpful attitude.
2. AF is the WORST partner. Skyteam? HAH!
3. I got tired of hearing "I'm sorry, but you can't upgrade that fare. You have to pay one of our outrageously high "rape you" fares, and even then there is no guarantee that you'll get the upgrade...but you still have to pay the higher fare just for the chance."
4. Yes, we can get you from LAX-SJC, just put SLC in there somewhere.
5. L1011. Nuff said.

Every airline has its problems, but WN and AA just treated me better.

Why don't you switch to Alaska? You probably know you can fly non stop to Amsterdam via Seattle on NW/KLM (partner). You could also fly on AA (partner) with MRTC and have more space than you do on Delta in coach. As for the domestic trips, you can always fly up front on Alaska if you plan ahead enough. You will qualify for MVP with 15,000 on AS/25,000 on AS and partners. MVP Gold is 35,000 on AS/50,000 on AS and partners. Your 4 trips to Amsterdam will generate approximately 43,000 miles - not too far from the MVPG requirement.

Incredible responses and response time! I really appreciate it and will continue to check back for more. I am leaning towards AA since I seem to get the most positive feedback both in terms of service and FF program. Also looking at NW with that KLM partnership. Both Alaska and Southwest would be great because of where I live. I have done my time at Squatters at SLC. BTW, was anybody there on November 2? The bartending was so deathly hung over and trying not to show it- it was quite an entertaining stop.

Thanks again!!

I was PM on DL last year. Unable to upgrade any international fares. Threw away 6 PMUs since they are non-transferrable. Sat in coach on LUser fares while F seats went empty. F seats are now whored out to non-elites willing to pay cash at the gate, so there are even fewer operational upgrade chances.

This year, I have already flown over 100k miles on AA. I have given them a nice mix of business and leisure fares . I have upgraded most of my international flights regardless of fare and have received several operational upgrades domestically as well.

AA will be getting my business first for the forseeable future and DL will remain as my second choice, providing they don't get any worse.

I am one happy AA flier! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Yes, I hated to see that plan go as well http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif (honestly I did, but I guess you didn't), but that wasn't the reason I left Delta. When I realized I was confined to coach because of my employer's strict "lowest fare" travel policy, MRTC on AA sounded much better. No, I haven't regretted my move.

I was some level of Medallion, usually Royal and after 1995 Gold, for a decade or so until I switched to AA in 1999. The L fare policy seemed too extreme for me (take more credits to upgrade L, or do it space-available at the airport, but don't rule it out completely) and the replies to my correspondence on the topic consisted entirely of form letters that missed the point. I also saw a big drop-off in service from the late 1980s to the late 1990s.

I have consistently found, for my trips, that the lowest AA fare plus the cost of purchased 500-mile upgrades is less than the lowest upgradeable DL fare. "Free" upgrades? Hah!

The revenue loss to DL from my travel and that of colleagues and friends who follow my flight choices is easily in six figures. (If anyone from Delta is reading this, it would have been better for your bottom line to have written me a decent letter. There's a message there for the future.)

YMMV, of course, but I'm a happy camper now.

Was DL GM through 2001. Switched to AA and this was the right move. DL upgrade policies (domestic & intl) and their lack of MRTC cinched the deal for me. Plus, I always thought Delta such an awkward name for an airline (reminds me of toilets and teeth, not aviation)- have never understood the affinity so many have for this company- I grew up flying Pan Am and TWA (dad was State Dept) and never even heard of DL till I took a job in Atlanta out of college. Bottom-line: Too many negative features to DL's program compared to AA's.

Looking over the AA site to check out the program and prices for flights. If I understand correctly, you do not get mile for mile points unless you pay full fare. Since your employer has you go on the lowest fare, do you end up only earning 1/2 the miles? And it is STILL better than DL? Really says something about DL.

There are two systems: Qmiles and Qpoints. You get full Qmiles for discount economy but only 50% Qpoints. However, your Qmiles are what you use to redeem awards and your status bonuses are added to your Qmiles total.

Check out http://www.fewmiles.net/AA for a complete explanation.

I switched from DL my primary carrier with CO my 2nd carrier in the fall of 2000 and have never looked back. as much as I gripe about CO; it beats DL. the biggest factor for me leaving DL was the inability to u/g LU fares and since then they have added T fares to the list. DL isn't even my 2nd carrier now; UA is although I want to switch that to AA... another story

Leave them; DL is badddddd

AA has two "programs", Q-miles/points and miles.

You can earn elite status just like all the other airlines by flying miles or segments. I fly tons of segments so I am not really sure any more what the mileage tiers are. One flown mile equals one FF mile. I think you earn elite levels as follows: 25k miles/30 segments for Gold, 50k miles/60 segments for Platinum, 100k miles for Executive Platinum.

Or, you can earn Executive Platinum status by earning Q-points. AA awards Q-points based on the class of service you fly. Discount economy earns .5 Q-point per mile flown, full economy earns 1.0 Q-point per mile flown, and premium cabins earn 1.5 Q-points per mile flown. Executive Platinum status can also be achieved by earning 100k Q-points (~66.667 flown miles in premium cabins).

So, with AA, if you are a premium cabin type of person, you will get the recegnition you deserve and get top tier status while having flown less actual miles. Or, if you are like I am and the company makes you fly economy, then you earn your elite status via actual flown miles.

Come on over to AA, you'll never look back.



[This message has been edited by onedog (edited 11-04-2002).]

Darn, I'm 36 and my skin still hasn't cleared up yet! Zit zapping must have been one of those unofficial benefits that AA phased out as a cost cutting move before I switched over to AA. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

You can also earn AAdvantage Gold and AAdvantage Platinum with 25,000 and 50,000 q-points, respectively.

Business class travel earns 1.25 q-points per mile flown. First class travel earns 1.5 q-points per mile flown.

DL is still my primary domestic carrier. I do grudgingly fork over the money for domestic K fares in order to upgrade, but have shifted most of my international business to UA and have never looked back. UA's upgrade-at-the-gate policy, E+ seating and *A Gold international lounge access policy makes them my primary overseas carrier.

LH is starting PDX-FRA (non-stop) service. This might make Star very attractive for you.
DL used to be a fantastic airline in the 80s in terms of management practices (for both employees and customers) ... this devotion to quality caused me to go far out of my way to fly DL over the years ... but the past 5 years has seen a steady change, towards "industry standards" and DL isn't special any more. Skyteam is a joke of an alliance, so I have mostly switched to Oneworld and am now PM-equivalent on AA and QF; now fly DL when convenient, and might make PM again this year despite DL not being my carrier of choice (it is still a good airline, in terms of plane quality). But I didn't leave DL, rather DL left me (and I hung in there for several years ... the problems at DL predate 2001 for the most part).
I will say that AA offers far better service than DL on some routes, and the alliance benefits are far better than for Skyteam (also awards are actually redeemable). My QF Plat status gives me free F lounge access even when flying AA domestically (DL doesn't have anything close to the F lounge quality) so I won't miss the CRC if I do lose access.

I used to fly Delta whenever possible. Since May 2001, I have split my business between Delta and United. Personally, I prefer United in most respects. If United's routes met my needs, I would probably make the switch 100%. Delta seems to hate its customers much of the time. Strange, but true!

Bruce

I used to fly DL whenever possible, and was Gold for a couple of years. The upgrade policy and the number of expired upgrades were large factors in my defection. Currently, I am mixing US, WN, and AA. I never make the top rung, but it proves to be satisfactory since much of the travel is for work and everything is domestic.

GM for past 6 years...gone as of 12/31. Had 2 segments this year - LAX-SLC-LAX. Also let my CRC expire.

Not unhappy about walking away. AS Gold, HP Gold, UA 1P and still haven't flown in Y yet this year.

Leo can...well you know...

I did enough mileage runs to upgrade from GM to PM and, as soon as I reached PM, DL slapped the no upgrades restriction on L fares. Gosh, I'm sorry that I can schedule my business travel far enough in advance to qualify for L fares. My choice then was to pay $400 for a $200 ticket or give all of my business to UA. I now have no status on DL and UA hates me as a 1K because I buy the $200 tickets and then have the nerve to upgrade. Next year, I'll give Greyhound my 100,000 miles.

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Biggest Little 1K (in The Biggest Little City) In The World

I'm in a similar position. Most of my travel is planned months or even years in advance. (For example, I have a business meeting in Honolulu in October 2005.) Obviously, I buy tickets very far in advance, with an effort to catch sales when they occur.

I used to buy Delta's K fares so that I could upgrade. As a PM buying so far in advance, I was almost always upgraded. But now, with the introduction of U and then T fares, the K-fare differential has become huge. My employers can't justify paying the difference. That will land me in coach more and more often. And coach on Delta is really intolerable for a frequent flyer, even a small person like me (5'6", 140 pounds).

So, I have been drifting toward United and liking them a lot. They have much better planes, as we all know. Their upgrade policies are much better. Coach is tolerable when you can't upgrade, because of E+, even for long flights. And the employees have been very nice to me (although others report different experiences). I have even been able to use my Mileage Plus miles for award tickets with almost no problems.

Finally, Delta under Leo Mullin seems to have adopted a customer-hostile attitude that I am unwilling to accept or even tolerate. I know that all airlines would love to fill their planes with last-minute, premium-fare passengers, but that's not going to happen. The world has lots of people like me. I fly an awful lot (250,000 miles annually), but I can and do buy cheap fares well in advance. Is that some sort of crime? I don't think so.

Bruce

Just got off the phone with DL trying to book DC to SIN First Class using miles this coming January. Before calling DL, I tried both AA and UA.

Within 10 minutes, the AA agent confirmed me in F on Cathay Pacific for the exact days I needed. Routing: DCA-JFK-HKG-SIN-HKG-JFK-DCA. She also offered JAL as an option (similar routing, but through NRT). Total cost, 130,000 miles.

It took longer with UA, maybe 20 minutes, but the agent came up with a really exotic routing (also on the exact days requested): IAD-LHR in UA F; LHR-BKK in Thai F; BKK-SIN in SQ F; SIN-FRA in SQ F; and FRA-IAD in Lufthansa F. Total cost, 120,000 miles.

On to Delta! After almost 30 minutes, the agent offered I could leave a day earlier than desired (ok with that), would fly DL Y from DCA-CVG; DL C from CVG-LAX; SQ F from LAX-SIN. Could only come home day after desired date and the only thing available was Y on SQ SIN-SFO, then F on DL SFO-ATL-DCA. The next available seat out of SIN in F was not for 12 days. Total cost, 140,000.

So, in addition to DL's restrictive upgrade policies, lack of comfortable Y seating, now they can't even compete in terms of honoring award requests. The only regret here about leaving DL is all the unusable miles in my account. A real incentive to earn even more miles with them, I think not!

Is it really more difficult to claim an award in the Delta SkyMiles program than then in the United Mileage Plus and American AAdvantage programs?

You bet!

http://www.webflyer.com/programs/award_upgrade_index/

These statistics are based on extremely small samples of data. Take United's award success ratio: September 2002, 95%; October 2002, 0%. As an overall measure of upgrade or award availability, I think they are rendered useless by lack of data.

I don't miss DL at all! I acutally drove from GNV to JAX to fly WN this past weekend as WN was nonstop and DL was a change in ATL and with ASA. I landed in a good mood for both portions of the trip - that would have been iffy on ASA.

I was a die hard DL fan, they spent a lot of management fees figuring out how to run me away.

I was comped to GM in Delta at the beginning of this uear based on my relocation to SLC. I was previously a UA PremEx for 3 years and a long-time United flyer before that (lots of cheap trips to HKG when I was a kid...just don't have the 80,000 miles from that in my lifetime account...another story)

I flew DL for 17,000 miles domestically and I ended up switching to UA again (based on relocation away from SLC).

I have no regrets. The upgrade policy left me with a whole bunch of certs stranded and the same for the other 4 GM Delta fliers in my SLC office. What good does it do you that you get 8 certs (800 miles each) at a whack when they never do any good. One of my team ended up 41/56 certs last year. That was my biggest beef. The service was as good/bad as UA but I definitely prefer UA EconPlus on UA.

Hope this helps.

Did you also notice there appears to be a marginal upgrade success rate on SouthWest. How's that possible?

I,too,am planning to move from Delta. As an ATL traveler,it's not an easy decision. It's mentioned here that AA will comp. I thought they no longer were doing more than a challenge.

My personal experience, confirmed by anecdotal evidence, is that AA will comp from UA but not from DL.

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StuckWithDelta

That makes no sense, why would they care what airline you are coming from? By the sounds of it, if I can do at least the challenge, AA is going to be the way to go.

AA will NOT match status, they will give you a challenge... Had a CP from US call recently and they offerred him the following:

Fly 5,000 miles in 3 months and get gold status.

US and Continental will match status

AA will match status, it all depends on how much you spend and how you go about it.

AA comped me from DL. (Granted, it was 1999. Things may have changed since.) They gave me equivalent status: Platinum for GM.

With apologies to those who have read this suggestion in other places, if you have a travel agent or corporate travel coordinator, ask him/her to take up your case with his/her AA sales rep. They have a lot more leverage than you do as an individual.

If you can't do this, and AA suggests a Challenge, say you know about it but you've moved, or whatever, and really want a status match. If they resist, don't push to where they make a note in your file. Hang up and call back for another rep.