As a longtime Delta GM unhappy with the trashing of DL's elite program with the rule changes, I am looking to comp to another carrier. I talked to the AF people when I was in Paris recently and tell me they do not comp status. That leaves probably NW as the best option. AA is also possible.

DL's timing of its change has handed me a potential problem. I fly mostly to Europe,
5 to 8 trips a year and at the best fare I can. My last trip was in Q class, but I have also flown K, S, L and U. When DL made its announcement, I had already ticketed 4 trips for 2003 on DL or AF, two of them in L class.

Under no circumstances will I stay with DL.
Among other things, I reguard their changing the rules on tickets already issued as extremely low down and dishonest.

I need to find a way to comp to NW (or possibly AA) that will get me the whole 2004 calendar year to be able to requalify. With the tickets already issued for 2003 on DL or AF, I will not have enough other flying for that year to put on NW to requalify for 2004.

It seems to me that I have heard that if you comp in the middle of the year, they will give you status for the remainder of that year and all of the next year. If so, at what point in the year is that applicable?
Any other aspects I need to consider?

[This message has been edited by Carolinian (edited 01-03-2003).]

I can't answer for NW since I already have status there, but I did get comped to Premier Executive on United (I'm a DL GM). All I did was call their matching desk and fax over a copy of my statement. Since I did this in November, they extended me status through 2003 to 2004.

I comped from Delta (Platinum) to United. They gave me Premeir Executive. I later flew my way to 1K.

I can easily fly my way to requalify in 2004 and beyond, but DL has done a number on me with its timing as to flying my way to requalifying in 2003 because of the DL tickets I already have issued (they ought to allow us to cancel without penalty and reticket on our new carrier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I need to determine if I can time it right to comp to NW (or possibly AA) to have my status run through 2004.

Depending on how far out these are, if there are any schedule changes, you should be able to cancel the reservation(s) and get your money back. Just call in and claim the schedule changes are unacceptable to you.

You could also credit your miles to Frequence Plus (the AF program). Your GM status with Delta aill give you some perks (priority boarding, etc.) and four transatlantic trips are almost enough to make Skyteam Elite Plus with AF (lounge access on international flights is the main perk here). As long as you're stuck with those fligts you might consider switching programs if you might just continue to fly Skyteam. On the other hand those will be orphan miles if you switch to another carrier later in the year.

AF may be a good long term option, especially in actually flying AF metal where you get a much better product than on DL.
I asked when I was in Paris about comping to them, but they do not comp status, and I hate to lose my double miles for the trips I already have ticketed. If I get stuck where I have no choice but to qualify from scratch somewhere, AF will be a leading candidate.

AA comped me Platinum from DL GM a few years ago. My travel agent worked with her AA sales rep to make it happen quickly and with no hassles. If you have one, or a corporate travel coordinator, I'd suggest enlisting him or her to help the same way.

My comp came in April, about a third of the way through the qualification year. My DL travel for the first few months was history. AA said they'd give me any level that I had two-thirds the miles for. As it happened I ended the year with about 55,000 AA miles, enough for Platinum with no favors but below pro-rated EXP, so I didn't have to see if they meant it, but you can ask for a similar promise. Get it in writing, or confirm it to them in writing, since people can move between now and year's end.

During the 20 days it took me to figure out which airline I wanted to be comped on. I had to figure out where and how I would be flying. Since I live in the DC area, all the major are accessible to me, and BWI provides the SW effect on pricing. I'm a leisure traveller which means lower fares almost always prevail. I don't mind sitting in the back, but do like having my pick of good seats in Y. My flying pattern for the year post-what I've already booked is a few transcons, some up and down the east coast flying, and probably 1/2 transatlantic flights. So with that being the case CO came away as the best airline for me after leaving DL (which was hard to do because their inflight crews are so good. CO comped me with no problem to their Silver status, (same as I had on DL.)

Strategy as to who to get comped on should definitely go down to where you're going to be flying and how you're going to be flying there. It also might not be beneficial to get comped on everybody at once. If you decide you don't like the carrier you've flown most of your 2003 miles on, then the others likely won't comp you again.

AA comped me Plat from DL PM last September and it runs through Feb. 2004.