Since this has been confirmed, and the confirmation is being discussed here, would moderators please close this thread.

Merging would convolute the message/conversation in the new thread.

I was the OP in this thread.

Thanks!

But idea to bring this up, DTWflyer. They will make sure to correct this obvious deficiency by reducing the EQM earning ability of K fares to something like 25%. Then your LAS $300 fare will only get you 875 EQMs, which will be more equitable when compared to your Saab earnings. It is also in line with the best in class practices of other SkyTeam partners.

I am only surprised because this change would seem to harm DL/NW every bit as much as it harms us customers. Y and B fares are very lucrative for NW (as are their counterparts for DL) and it would seem that handing out an elite qualifying mileage bonus that costs the airline absolutely nothing (it doesn't serve as a multiplier on redeemable miles) as a potential incentive for customers to purchase more expensive fares is an absolute no-brainer.

To me, this change portends one very unfriendly forthcoming change: less expensive fare classes are headed for an elite qualifying mileage multiplier penalty. Get ready for 50% elite qualifying miles on the non-refundable, discounted, advance-purchase economy fares in the not too distant future.

Precisely, in fact a couple of us were just discussing that possibly behind the scenes. 100% for YBM might still be a "premium" over lesser amounts for LUT & HQK. Think 50/75/100 or 25/50/100.

Problem is, they now have a large rebellion brewing on both sides of the aisle.

let's wait, maybe 25-50% EQM/RDM for discounted fares in the coming months :S

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?

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.

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.

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!