Well it seems that the MQM Santa Claus of 2008 has turned into the MQM Grinch for 2009.

David

Something tells miles of both varieties will still be handed out like candy, it's just that the customers who actually pay the big bucks for YB(M) fares won't be rewarded for doing so.

It's all a scheme to force you to make up the difference with the Delta Amex card.

That's the truly inexplicable thing. DL hands out elite qualifying miles like candy for a whole host of activities that don't directly involve flying DL. Given that reality, why would DL shy away from generously rewarding very lucrative economy class purchases with bonus elite qualifying miles? :confused:

If they can get millions of people to hand over cash to them through e.g. AMEX's mafioso arrangements with merchants without having to do anything in return except display on their website "your miles have expired but don't worry under the new rules you wouldn't have had enough to do anything with them anyway", why would they want to do something difficult and expensive like fly people around in airplanes?

So how'd the NW Plats find out about this?

A DL Plat reads their Plat package. Posts about DL YBM 100% EQM wording. SMS answers a few times differently then aligns on a message that this is about program alignment. NW Plat interprets this as that the NW YB EQM going to 100%. NW Plat calls, and confirms via Elite line.

So... what will it take to convert this thread from "rumor" to "confirmed"?

Here's a compromise I could live with. LUT fares earn 99% EQMs. That way we are duly penalized for being thrifty - but not so much. :cool:

I actually started a new thread on this, but the Mods merged it into another thread started by MikeMPLS with a different title... go figure...

Call the elite line yourself and ask. As the agent said she was reading her computer, I didn't think that calling and asking again was worth the time. She said she and others have had so many upset customers calling about all the nasty changes, but I tried to be very nice to her (it's not her fault that "Tricky Dickie" has returned to cause such havoc to our FFP).

Hey how about a "Tricky Dickie" flyer for the WP masses, Jaimito?

I wasn't expecting the new program to be quite as good as the old Worldperks, but there is quite a difference from not quite as good to the steaming pile we're being left with. This change is the last straw for me. I barely make elite thresholds as it is, so I can't afford to blow miles on free tickets, so their only use for me was international upgrades.

International upgrades on B or Y fares lose a lot of their attractiveness without the 50% bonus. I was actually about to do a B-fare vacation to SIN mostly justified by making plat based on that this year, but don't think I'll be able to get it in before March 1, so I think all my and my company future travel is just going to be on a cheapest/convenience basis. Maybe I'll try a match to AA.

Have enough miles for two WBC tickets to anywhere, so probably do that with the wife and be done with Delta.

Bad Delta
 

I am so upset about the way in which Delta treats its customers, especially its elite. Since there are still NWA flights to be had I am guessing this will be my last year with NW/Delta. I fly on B fares all the time. I guess another airline will now have to get my business.

See ya Delta!
Shame on you!
:mad:

Seriously looking at AA right now. Not as good for local service but probably worth a shot.

The plat line told me that as long as a Y/B class ticket was purchased on or before January 12, the 150% rule will still be in effect. (How one was supposed to know that come January 13 is beyond me.)I think many of us have come to that conclusion. DL is a real tool.

It's certainly worth looking at a status match!

It's like a treasure hunt. What other program changes have already occured, that we don't know about, that we've made purchase decisions based on, and now we're finding out now? My word.

I sent off a TTU asking about YB bonuses in the WP '09 program year, and was forwarded to the '08 program year URL. I've replied, specifically wording a more detailed requeset about the '09 program year.

What suprises me is that this hasn't leaked, especially if this landed in the Plat kits. Between back-office, printers, etc... you'd figure someone would have noticed.

This Plat has not received a kit yet.

Purchased a TATL B fare Jan 19. I fully expect 150% EQMs. Looks like I will have a battle on my hands... :(

I believe NW does it's elite pack printing off-shore... so they probably don't have a clue about what an EQM is...

Appears TTU is punting this one:

Thank you for contacting nwa.com.

At this time we do not have that information available online. You
would however be able to contact your Elite line and they should be able
to assist you with this information.

I believe this information will assist you with your questions.

Thank you for choosing Northwest Airlines, now part of Delta Air Lines.
We value your patronage and consider it a privilege to serve your travel
needs.

Can we assume the days of Bob/Scoop are gone for confirming these changes? Things have been very quiet as of late.

I seriously picture Scoop sitting in a jail cell with a tin cup singing "nobody knows the troubles I've seen...nobody knows my sorrows"...

Poor Scoop...:(

Let's rephrase the question:

Q: Can we assume the days of Bob/Scoop are gone for advising us up front & in a straightforward & honest manner of pending changes? Things have been very quiet as of late.

A: Yes, welcome to the new Delta, Rev. 4. Most user-friendly customer notification interfaces are removed from Rev. 3, codenamed "Grinstein".

I get a picture from Nabokov's Invitation to a Beheading. Bob/Scoop is Cincinnatus, condemned for gnostical turpitude (specifically, treating NW elites honestly and fairly). His executioner (JeffBob in real life) poses as a fellow prisoner to get to know him & size him up for the chopping block. Eventually the increasingly bizzarre world of the prison (DL/NW) disintegrates, and Cincinnatus is freed into reality.

Truly one of the more amazing references I have read in my few years on FlyerTalk. :)

Cheers,
Pogopossum
(self-confessed English Major)

YBM fares will continue to earn 150% MQM/EQM on Delta in 2009.

YBM WILL EARN 150% for DL flyers!!
 

Yep, looks like DL elite members have lobbied enough to keep the policy intact, at least for one more year.See here.

Since there's been confirmation that the 50% extra EQMs still remains for premium Y fares, I'm going to close this thread and ask that this conversation be continued here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/north...ns-2009-a.html

Thanks,

slippahs
nwa forum co-moderator