[CONFIRMED] 1/6/09 NW E-mail: Plats to Pay $100 for Award Ticket Redeposits Beg 3/1
I just looked in my in-box, and noted one in many of emails I seem to get from NW every week. I did notice a very unwelcome note in the middle that says:
An increase in both the award ticket redeposit and reissue fees (formerly called change fees) from $50 to $100. Platinum Elite members will be exempt from this fee until March 1, 2009. I really hope this is a mistake of some sort. If Plats are charged these fees, then this WILL be the straw that breaks the camel's back for me. ------------------------------------------------------ Moderators Note: This new fee has been confirmed by NW Scoop and can be see in Post 175 |
Originally Posted by Jaimito Cartero
(Post 11026004)
I just looked in my in-box, and noted one in many of emails I seem to get from NW every week. I did notice a very unwelcome note in the middle that says:
An increase in both the award ticket redeposit and reissue fees (formerly called change fees) from $50 to $100. Platinum Elite members will be exempt from this fee until March 1, 2009. I really hope this is a mistake of some sort. If Plats are charged these fees, then this WILL be the straw that breaks the camel's back for me. I will ask on the DL forum to see if anyone has yet received anything or read anything about the same happening to DL Platinums as well. Clearly, DL wants to "harmonize" both programs (and the award pricing and fees) to eliminate arbitrage opportunities that would actually give DL-NW Platinums the best of both programs -- but of course DL management seems to have a lot to gain in the short term by instead delivering the worst of both programs, which is exactly what DL management is on course to deliver to DL and NW customers regardless of elite status. :eek: |
Originally Posted by Jaimito Cartero
(Post 11026004)
I just looked in my in-box, and noted one in many of emails I seem to get from NW every week. I did notice a very unwelcome note in the middle that says:
An increase in both the award ticket redeposit and reissue fees (formerly called change fees) from $50 to $100. Platinum Elite members will be exempt from this fee until March 1, 2009. I really hope this is a mistake of some sort. If Plats are charged these fees, then this WILL be the straw that breaks the camel's back for me. |
Perhaps that's a target date for merging the NW and DL programs at which point all NW miles will become DL miles. If NW miles don't exist after that date they can't get redeemed any more?
They could just be setting up the option to change the rules as they get closer to the program merger. I'd guess the date will slide as deadlines get missed. |
Originally Posted by Gargoyle
(Post 11026133)
Perhaps that's a target date for merging the NW and DL programs at which point all NW miles will become DL miles. If NW miles don't exist after that date they can't get redeemed any more?
They could just be setting up the option to change the rules as they get closer to the program merger. I'd guess the date will slide as deadlines get missed. If that is what DL is intending to do it is an interesting approach, but then I also would hope DL's business practice here is one which invites US Bank to unleash the legal dogs upon DL for biasing the game against US Bancorp despite the still running contractual obligations that exist. |
Splitting this discussion off into its own thread before it gets lost.
slippahs nwa forum co-moderator |
This does deserve its own thread highlighting what appears to be yet another DL management-led devaluation in benefits for "loyalty" program members.
Originally Posted by Stripe
(Post 11026101)
I just got the same email. That also would be the straw that breaks my back. It's outrageous and sets NW well behind its competition.
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That's been one of the biggest bennies of being a NW Plat. DL/NW just keeps continuing to tell us we're making the right decisions by not sticking around. This is getting so bad I really have to wonder what they're smoking in Atlanta. The news just keeps getting worse.
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Also notice how it was buried in an email entitled "Mountains of Miles update, vacation packages, exclusive partner offers and more...".
And within said email, they pass it off as an attempt "to ensure a seamless and consistent customer experience during the WorldPerks and SkyMiles® integration process, Northwest will be introducing the following program changes effective January 15, 2009." How damned stupid do they think we are? I guess "seamless and consistent customer experience" = turn the Plats upside down & shake more money out their pockets. I'm totally disgusted at what the WorldPerks staff has morphed into. |
Originally Posted by MikeMpls
(Post 11026286)
Also notice how it was buried in an email entitled "Mountains of Miles update, vacation packages, exclusive partner offers and more...".
And within said email, they pass it off as an attempt "to ensure a seamless and consistent customer experience during the WorldPerks and SkyMiles® integration process, Northwest will be introducing the following program changes effective January 15, 2009." How damned stupid do they think we are? I guess "seamless and consistent customer experience" = turn the Plats upside down & shake more money out their pockets. I'm totally disgusted at what the WorldPerks staff has morphed into. I had over 25 changes to award reservations last year. (Its amazing how award availability changes/leans towards better routings just when you make that award res, doesnt it? Either I need to be more careful or I make a switch sooner rather than later... |
Originally Posted by gottaluvNW
(Post 11026331)
This absolutely stinks, the way the buried it in the Mountains of Miles email, as MikeMpls points out. I ignored the email and it was not until I came on FT that I even realized they had snuck this in.
Originally Posted by gottaluvNW
(Post 11026331)
Either I need to be more careful or I make a switch sooner rather than later...
A while back another, another FT'er accused JeffBob of channeling Leo [Mullin, the disgraced ex-CEO of Delta]. She was right. In fact, I think they must be having some regular seances with the spirits of Leo & Rob in the corporate offices. |
Wow, I missed this in the EMail too. This was a huge benefit to me. Can platinums still be exempt from award ticket change fees? Or are they going the way of the dodo bird too?
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Originally Posted by fti
(Post 11026365)
Wow, I missed this in the EMail too. This was a huge benefit to me. Can platinums still be exempt from award ticket change fees? Or are they going the way of the dodo bird too?
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Originally Posted by MikeMpls
(Post 11026373)
The email states specifically that Platinums will no longer be exempted from this fee as of March 1, 2009. Delta is screwing its elites once again.
While the email says this, the link in the email still markets the award ticket fee waiver benefit to Platinums and makes no mention of the upcoming change announced in the email. Very sneaky approach from the very sleazy DL management-led "loyalty" program(s). This DL way of doing business just encourages customer disloyalty. |
If this occurs, and stays, this stinks. I'm specifically booking (before Jan15) two big vacations for later this year, specifically with the expectation that if personal crisis cancelled these vacations (which happened once last year), the miles could be redeposited without fee. This is a huge Plat benefit, and one of the top 3 or 4 reasons for being a Plat.
At least say that only tickets booked after a date have fees applied, and tickets booked before that date have no redeposit fees. This is like buying a ticket a year out, and then having new fees assigned 6 months later. To pay to have to cancel a K-fare revenue ticket is one thing... that's the cost of flying 30 RTs a year. To pay to have to cancel a D-fare award ticket is just insulting. |
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