Randy,

It's Thursday, we're waiting...

Randy,

It's Thursday, we're waiting...

The topic of Delta seems to really be the "topic". First of all, this thread has a lot of "other" stuff mixed in. I will only direct my comments about Delta (just following the credo of FlyerTalk). If you want an update on other things than Delta, try http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum97/HTML/000231.html

So, SWUs. First of all it took me by surprise. I certainly had no real advance notice and honestly didn't pay much attention to it for a few other reasons. Reality is that there are always changes going on and to some degree, airlines follow published, though not enforceable, guidelines for notice of these changes established by NAAG. I like to spend some time really looking over any issue before taking any action. Some changes aren't worth it and others really are. As it is, I think I've always got 6 months to elicit a change to the change, so I'm not worried right away. Part of winning any war is to know the enemy well. In this case, Delta's not really an enemy, but if we want to give them the constructive criticism they need to review this change, we must make sure that our efforts are dialed into the right place. I had found out a little before the announcement date that the two most senior people responsible for the SkyMiles program were probably moving on. That info was extrememly inside and not all of it came from the Delta camp....headhunters are marvelous leaks. I couldn't let you know because most of the people within Delta didn't even know. Why is this important? Well, in reading some of the comments here, it seems that there are at least a few of you that think you should be out picketing and I should be leading that response right now. Go ahead, knock yourself out. I for one have won some pretty good battles through the years (remember when Continental discontinued upgrades several years ago or when United instituted a Saturday night stayover requirement? And you'll soon hear some news of my involvement in a class action lawsuit against American Express Membership Rewards in Canada.) Anyway, why in the hell would you protest to a lame duck administration? Pretty dumb if you ask me. Both Martin White - Vice President (going to Vail Associates to be head of marketing at the ski resort) and Christine Jilek - Director (taking a promotion to head up eDelta) are great people, but they aren't going to review this before moving on. Come on....be realistic. So, now you know why I wasn't really up in arms to begin with though being involved in an Internet startup launch and almost 3 weeks international travel without a computer doesn't help the matter much either. But here's our strategy (that is if you still want me to help?). We'll have to wait to see who the next persons are that take over to direct our concerns with. Trust me, it's not Leo Mullins. Yes, he's the President, but this really isn't anything he would get involved in with no one really running the program. So, here's my plan. On Monday we'll announce the first of several chat sessions on FlyerTalk Live! on this topic only. We will ask all of you to get more Delta members recruited to spend time on these chats. Because this only affects Medallion members and we should concentrate on that segment, though I think it's good to have everyone contribute. The reason for the chats are simple - to document the feeling and concerns of members (remember, with these type of chats we'll have transcripts to use and pass along to Delta at the appropriate time. I will moderate and with the help of hfly (who BTW has been a very valuable asset to FT for this matter) prepare a list of issues for each chat. We will also set up a Web site devotes strictly to documenting this change to all Delta members on this issue and we will start the first E-Petition in the travel industry on this matter. We all know other Delta elites and can get a huge chain letter going to get people to register for the petition. As soon as the new person gets assigned to Delta SkyMiles, we can present this information to them and I think make a pretty good case on how they can be a hero at Delta. We will also use FT to solicit Delta employees help in this matter where possible. Anyway, this is all just a start and I do hope you understand, we have plenty of time, but in any battle, you really can't just go complaining. We all need a strategy and I look forward to your contributions in addition to this. Face it, if the pilots and others can bring down an airline with a well planned "slowdown" then so can we.....But understand, this is not us against Delta, we are above that. We are simply going to plan as much a detailed report on the effects of this change to SkyMiles members as we can. Nothing more and nothing less. Now, we've all got things to do, right?

P.S. to clear one matter up since it was a popular speculation - I'm not in any relation with Delta. I do not serve as a consultant, I'm not paid any money by them and if you looked real closely....they don't even advertise in InsideFlyer, so there's definitely NO conflict of interest. Bottom line, I'm good at causes because I don't waste energy on people who aren't decision makers.....

[This message has been edited by Randy Petersen (edited 09-29-2000).]

Thank you very much Randy! That sounds like a truly exhausting trip. I look forward to attending many of the chats and helping in any way I can.

Just an idea - if "we" go ahead with the web-site petition idea (which I think is an excellent idea) with members' names, Medallion leval and location (obviously not membership no.), it may be a good idea to create some sort of business card with the web-site URL on it to hand to fellow Medallions on flights. It may not be too feasible - just an idea.

[This message has been edited by leroy11 (edited 09-28-2000).]

Thanks for taking up the challenge, Randy! You can count on whatever support I can give on this matter. I think it's really important because what happens with Delta can very likely effect other airline's programs as well.

Great Post Randy, as you know I'm ready and able!

Thanks Randy.

Great ideas, great sense of humor and I look forward to getting further involved. It's good to have you "back". http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Just one more in a huge chorus of Thank you's! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

me thinks hope can now overtake my despair

Here's just another great reason why I love this board......look up a few posts. See the idea of the business cards to hand out when we travel? That is simply unbelievalble. I will front any and all costs on this ventture. As for the business cards, once we get this new site set up (I need ideas for the name of said Web site), we'll print the URL on the card along with our mission statement, chat session dates (now, there may be some dates I can't make, but I think I'll see a volunteer or two from this group to moderate and my staff will assist you). This is going to be great...in fact, I see signs that it will be the most organized voice of the flying public there has ever been. God, I love the business card idea......Leroy11 has just been promoted in my mind.

[This message has been edited by Randy Petersen (edited 09-29-2000).]

I'm so glad that you have jumped into this with so much wisdom and support, Randy. I was confident that you weren't on the take and would speak to this when you were ready, so I've been patient. But I want to say that I'm impressed with the magnitude of the steps that you are promising to take and also with the attitiude, that this is not "us against them" but rather a considered attempt to let DL know what we really want and what they can do to keep our biz. I don't travel out of the country very often (and have so many miles on BA and AA that flying DL abroad is unlikely...) so I haven't seen some of the changes as being that bad for me. But I do want to participate in the discussion, and it is important to me how DL responds to the concerns of my fellow elites, whether or not those concerns directly effect me, because I can be sure that something will come along that does.

Thanks, Randy. I appreciate your help and the way that you've walked in to this like a perfect gentleman not minding all the accusations that have been hurled your way. Cheers!

Kudos, Randy!!

Thank you for your response. I look forward to taking an active part in this project!!!

Regards from ISP!

Thanks Randy!

Taking the business cards on step further:

I'd be happy to arrive at the airport extra early and stand by the medallion line handing them out. I might also forget a few in the CRC...

I was on the rental car shuttle at DFW today and this particular one goes only to terminal E which is pretty much all DL. I was thinking, if I had the cards, this would have been a good opportunity since 90%+ were probably DL FFs. The point here is don't forget to catch people on the rental shuttles, too. Especially when the shuttle serves mostly DL gates.