DL stratifies it's Elites: Source NW Elite Transition Team Member
Jan 10, 2009, 3:35 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: NWA, UA, CO
Posts: 42
DL stratifies it's Elites: Source NW Elite Transition Team Member
According to an 'in the know' Elite transition team representative, Delta stratifies it's Elite membership when assigning upgrade status and other elite benefits.
There have been a variety of comments about individuals receiving upgrades on discounted fares several days out. If this is happening to you, you may well be a valued Delta customer. For those of you not recieving upgrades on 006 tickets in advance, arriving at the airport to find you are the only one on the waitlist for an upgrade and they are selling seats before giving them to you, you may be a disposable Elite member in the eyes of Delta. The elite transition team appears to be suprised at how Delta 'values' its premium customers. It's more than just miles...
A warning for those who may be confused why their upgrades are not handled in the way they were with Northwest-there is still time to change for 2010.
There have been a variety of comments about individuals receiving upgrades on discounted fares several days out. If this is happening to you, you may well be a valued Delta customer. For those of you not recieving upgrades on 006 tickets in advance, arriving at the airport to find you are the only one on the waitlist for an upgrade and they are selling seats before giving them to you, you may be a disposable Elite member in the eyes of Delta. The elite transition team appears to be suprised at how Delta 'values' its premium customers. It's more than just miles...
A warning for those who may be confused why their upgrades are not handled in the way they were with Northwest-there is still time to change for 2010.
Jan 10, 2009, 3:44 am
#2
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Not surprising. It's the kind of underhanded thing I would expect from Delta, but underhanded only to the extent that they're selling upgrades before upgrading elites. This is contrary to their publicly stated practices.
In a way it's kind of amusing because it's a bit of a "back at ya" for all the Elite-lites that they coined last year. You think you're Silver/Gold/Plat because you signed up for the Quintintuple MQM Promos and flew twice on a cheap ticket? Gotcha, sucka.
In a way it's kind of amusing because it's a bit of a "back at ya" for all the Elite-lites that they coined last year. You think you're Silver/Gold/Plat because you signed up for the Quintintuple MQM Promos and flew twice on a cheap ticket? Gotcha, sucka.
Last edited by MikeMpls; Jan 10, 2009 at 3:53 am
Jan 10, 2009, 6:11 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nashville
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Posts: 6,187
It very may be that. I forgot about all those promos they ran.
Jan 10, 2009, 6:26 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,884
Other than elite upgrades, there's little Delta could do to stratify their elites since most other benefits are widely published as being benefits of the three elite levels only, regardless of how you obtained the status.
I'm not dismissing the importance of upgrades, but there aren't many other benefits they could conceivably mess with and "get away" with.
I'm not dismissing the importance of upgrades, but there aren't many other benefits they could conceivably mess with and "get away" with.
Jan 10, 2009, 7:44 am
#5
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 1,931
Depressing. There is no other word for it.
Jan 10, 2009, 7:48 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
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Posts: 4,550
It's quite clear (and I was told such by DL folks) that DL puts DL plats above NW plats on any DL-operated flights. Where's the seamlessness or reciprocity? NW & its elites are getting left in the dust...
Jan 10, 2009, 7:56 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,527
Really? How about "I'm sorry sir, I am only coming up with availability in the extortion column" versus "Yes, sir, I can book that for you in the only-greatly-overpriced column" when booking an award ticket?
Jan 10, 2009, 8:01 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
Is the stratification at the class level? Meaning that all Plats are not equal, but I assume that even a "Riff-Raff Plat" trumps a high spend silver? I just cannot imagine that the DL EUA system will run past a Plat in favor of silver. Let me put this way, on Tuesday afternoon flying ATL-ROC, I on a "T" fare, I just cannot imagine that a Plat will not be upgraded at the window, but nonetheless thanks for the heads up!!!
Safe Travels.
Safe Travels.
Jan 10, 2009, 8:27 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Posts: 3,395
Is the stratification at the class level? Meaning that all Plats are not equal, but I assume that even a "Riff-Raff Plat" trumps a high spend silver? I just cannot imagine that the DL EUA system will run past a Plat in favor of silver. Let me put this way, on Tuesday afternoon flying ATL-ROC, I on a "T" fare, I just cannot imagine that a Plat will not be upgraded at the window, but nonetheless thanks for the heads up!!!
Safe Travels.
Safe Travels.
Last edited by humanoid94; Jan 10, 2009 at 9:50 am
Jan 10, 2009, 8:32 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: ROC
Programs: DL DM, HH Diamond, National EE
Posts: 1,229
Now I'm ready for my first DL-operated flight in a few weeks; a T-fare...should be interesting to see if I'm "disposable."
Jan 10, 2009, 9:18 am
#11
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Other than elite upgrades, there's little Delta could do to stratify their elites since most other benefits are widely published as being benefits of the three elite levels only, regardless of how you obtained the status.
I'm not dismissing the importance of upgrades, but there aren't many other benefits they could conceivably mess with and "get away" with.
I'm not dismissing the importance of upgrades, but there aren't many other benefits they could conceivably mess with and "get away" with.
They usually get caught when they lie to FT (e.g. JeffBob & the availability of SkyPass/PerkPass/RuleBuster awards), but they seem to have little shame.
Last edited by MikeMpls; Jan 10, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Jan 10, 2009, 10:00 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Posts: 1,925
Hummm. Just went MKE>ATL>TPA yesterday and was upgraded 5 days out on a cheap $188 fare. Was on the CRJ-900 and 767. DL Plat buddy was in the back! All is good!
Is it me or does the 767-300 first class seat seem "narrow?"
Is it me or does the 767-300 first class seat seem "narrow?"
Jan 10, 2009, 10:31 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: ROC
Programs: DL DM, HH Diamond, National EE
Posts: 1,229
763:18.5" width
DC9: 19.5" width
319/320: 21.0" width
Even the 9's have a bit wider seat than the 763. Unlike CO, which has a 2-1-2 config on the 767, DL and I think every other US carrier has a 2-2-2 config (only one less seat across than in Y).
DC9: 19.5" width
319/320: 21.0" width
Even the 9's have a bit wider seat than the 763. Unlike CO, which has a 2-1-2 config on the 767, DL and I think every other US carrier has a 2-2-2 config (only one less seat across than in Y).
Jan 10, 2009, 3:45 pm
#14
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As long as they treat NW/DL elites the same eventually. I'd be real ticked off if they favor DL elites long-term over NW elites, especially when NW elites earned status the real way.
Jan 10, 2009, 3:48 pm
#15
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In folklore studies, we call those like the experts quoted here as FOAFS. Friends of Friends. There is no indication that a 3rd party as described here exists, so why assume it does?