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!

Yes, I hated to see that plan go as well (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.