I left DL for CO. I have been happy at CO but now they have copied DL. I do not have a primary airline for 2004. I am self-employed and travel all over the US. Being based out of fll we have nothing but lower fares I cannot see a reason to pay more for the same flight just to earn elite status. So for now it is off to wn or orbitz to see who can get me there the fastest and the least expensive.

I left DL for UA in March, 2003. I could not stand the thought of flying in Delta's coach product after two years as a Platinum with 99.9% upgrade rate. I find that I now prefer United's E+ coach seating over DL F. That has been reflected on several opportunities since I switched when DL and UA pricing and schedules were comparable.

I've been a Medallion on DL for a good 3-4 years, and I also had the Elite level with TWA. When AA bought TWA they matched my status in AAdvantage, and I sampled them. Even before DL screwed the Medallion members royally with the changes, I had realized that AA has a better coach product by far -- more room (really noticeable, especially on the 767s), more frequent service and power ports. Oh, and did I mention the consistently cheaper fares? This year, once I used all of my left over DL upgrade certificates, I'm switching to AA completely, and I'm much happier for it. With the Medallion changes, cramped seating and cuts in service and aircraft type on the routes that I fly (757s have replaced 767s on the JFK-SFO and most JFK-LAX routes), I don't see why I would fly DL any more. The only decent product they have left is the Shuttle.

I did not leave Delta (as I was not that loyal to them in the first place). After they devalued their FF elite benefits, I simply shelved any plans to increase frequency on them even when they offer a cheaper and/or better schedule. I stick to OW/Star carriers and LCCs sometimes (B6, WN, etc.) when FF program is not an issue.

No. All FF plans eventually copy each other anyway. Give it time.

We are two multi-year Delta elites (plat last two years) who comped to NW last January. So far, it's working out really well.

If Delta hadn't screwed with the platinum upgrade system, we would have stuck with them, paying higher fares and taking less convenient flights.

Dumb us. We upgrade as often on NW (although with a shorter window), pay less, can consistently fly reasonably from our home airport, and have better flight time choices. Plus there's decent food in first. Plus when we cash in miles for a coach ticket, we can upgrade. Plus the new Detroit is awesome and WorldClubs are great. Well, I could go on and on. We each expect to earn NW platinum on miles flown this year.

But it's all because they dinked our old SkyMiles program. Oh, the unintended consequences!

Yes. I've been Silver on CO for 5 years (was Gold one year) and next year will be different. I still have Silver on CO but IO have a trip to India coming up (business) in 2004 and will have to decide where I want to put my loyalty since the 18,000 mile round trip is a healthy start towards Elite status somewhere. I may even be flying Business Calss. I have several options within a reasonable range of each other on price. All I know is that it will be with an airline that loves me for my miles all the time, not just when I'm flying Business Class. Whether it's my money or my employer's, I always get the lowest fare class I can.