The comment on BA was essentially that Randy thinks there is about a 50/50 chance that BA will go multi-alliance and join SkyTeam and remain in OneWorld. Having two US partners would help ease regulatory scrutiny on the BA/AA partnership.

Ouch, that sounds terrible. No offense to BA. Last thing DL needs is an alliance partner whose sole purpose for joining the alliance is to lesson the politcal pressure on BA for a merger with AA. Would such a member in Sky Team bear any fruit?

[This message has been edited by JRF (edited 08-22-2000).]

JRF - I might not have got the reasoning quite right - that was from memory and from a few days ago. I think Randy's logic was that the BA/AA partnership has come under intense scrutiny. BA/AA and BA/DL gives the regulators two tagrets and dilutes the flack. Also, since BA can't merge with AA which is what they wanted, the ties between them are weaker than they were (or could have been). Personally, I think BA would be an excellent member of SkyTeam if they were a full member and the alliance were seamless. Their truly global route netwrok is something SkyTeam currently lacks.

Anyway, I know people in this thread principally want Randy's opinion on the DL changes - and I don't want to completely change the topic, because the original is very important to a lot of people.

[This message has been edited by james (edited 08-22-2000).]

[This message has been edited by james (edited 08-22-2000).]

Randy,

I ask this question with the greatest respect. I love this board, and it is one of my all time favorites.

It has been publicized that at times you serve as a consultant to different FF programs.

Considering the fact that you have not answered us for several weeks on this thread, and that you mentioned during the chat the other week that you were in Atlanta, are you currently consulting for Delta?

Is this the reason that you are witholding comments from this board?

If so, I believe that most of us understand, its just that we are looking for help, and you have not been as forthcoming on this subject as you have in the past with similar FF problems.

For whatever reason--and it's perfectly understandable whatever it is--I'm going to assume at this point Randy is unable to help us out.

We're coming up on the beginning of September so I think if there's any sort of fight to be waged, now is the time.

I'm going to start drafting a letter and looking into direct channels of communication at DL; I have in the past had very nice correspondance with a VP, etc.

Having thought a lot about his (and who hasn't) I wonder if perhaps acting as a group (in the class action vain) might be more prudent. I don't think there's any right way to go about this, but I definitely feel not doing anything would be wrong.

Any interest in combining efforts?

Scribbler,

You took the keys right out of my strokes. I've been thinking the same thing. This is one reason I asked Randy what sort of action UAL people took in the past.

We need to take action, but need to do it properly.

This is purely speculation, but perhaps Randy is working on this "behind-the-scenes" but any public acknowledgement of such discussions might jeopardize real progress and the "saving face" aspect of the negotiations by one of the parties involved, that almost always has to be taken into account.

I would guess that if Randy is discussing this, and he feels he can make no progress directly with Delta, that we would soon see some very public opinion here and in InsideFlyer.

If he is discussing this with Delta, your direct communications to Delta on this matter would be of great assistance to the "cause" IMHO.

<must learn to read the first 4 words of other people's posts>

[This message has been edited by james (edited 08-28-2000).]

I have been hoping that what PremEx posted is the case--it would make perfect sense.

Obviously, the changes effect us all differently and we should each write individual letters expressing such.

I think it could potentially be very powerful if we submitted a general letter signed with as many of us as we can muster up--the basic statement being that by taking away the SWU's DL is also removing arguably not just the best facet of the program but, for the most part, any loyalty we might feel towards DL. IOW, we're gonna start seeing what the grass looks like on the other side of the fence.

Sounds like a good idea to me. Can we do this in electronic form? IE Each Medallion member that we can muster, e-mails the kind soul who's putting this together, a copy of their signature as well as their Sky Miles number and Medallion status. How would that work?

My 2 cents worth, honestly, I don't think the top brass at Delta cares or they would not have made the changes they did. They are not stupid, although they sure think we are. If we keep flying on them they will be correct in their assumptions, at least for PMs who do not live in Atlanta and fly mostly international and GMs and SMs in general. Poor MM who spent all those years on DL and now have basically nothing to show for it.

The fact that Randy may be playing both sides of the fence is most concerning. Is he on our side or that of Delta's. No response from him at all believes me to think he has joined the ranks of the reactive (vs. the proactive which long left Delta.)

Delta does have a recent history of rescinding policy decisions, and there is no reason to speculate that they would not consider doing it again if they could be convinced it were in their best interests.

JRF wrote: IMHO it's not that simple a question of being on one side or another. Personally, in my dealings with United, I would love to say "unlimited upgrades and triple miles for all 1K's", but I do understand and respect that this may not serve either side in the long run, if it devalues the program or makes for a financially unhealthy airline.

Secondly, I have read many posts that some actually like these changes Delta has done. I would hope that Randy would take that into account as well and present a balanced argument to Delta as best as he can.

But the simple matter is that Randy is not our elected official in this matter. It is not his responiblity to act on your behalf. If he is doing so, it is through the concern he has as an individual. He is a powerful voice and can effect change because I believe he doesn't come across as extreme to one point of view, and the fact that by the very nature of his business, he probably knows the "pluse" of the industry better than any one airline's marketing department. That's because he gets to see it all.

If the majority of FlyerTalkers and InsideFlyer readers are posting or writing him that they don't like this change, I for one am confident that Randy will communicate those ratios to Delta.

But again, direct communications from the customer (preferably in large numbers) usually have a great impact and at the very least if you lose this battle, it may give them pause before considering their next program delution.

IMHO.

PremEx-

To date, the ratio is about 100000000 to 1 against this decision. The 1 was a "mole" for Delta who appeared for a day and then disappeared. I personally spoke with a high ranking Delta official the day before the mole posted and told him to check the boards. The mole used some same examples and expressions as the Exec.

Besides that one guy, several purely domestic fliers have come out neutral on the matter, or even appreciate the opportunity to bring along a companion.

None however have been in complete favour of the changes.

As James warned you yesterday READ THE POSTS!

Please don't put words in my mouth - I wasn't warning Premex, or anybodt else. I was actually thinking aloud, because I had just written a long post wondering if Premex's earlier post was speculation!

My suggestion would be to each write your own letter as it may effect each of you in a different way. Also - one letter with 50 signatures is still only ONE letter. "So Bob - how many complaints we got about the new upgrades?" "Just one."

(And that's all I'm gonna say on this subject, be it for or against.)