Best strategy for switching from Delta
#16
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ABQ
Programs: Delta Platinum, Southwest A-List
Posts: 1,426
I did this last year. That said, I did have status with Delta. If you search in this website, I do think there’s a website that one of the European airlines run that automatically checks you in... maybe that’s an option for you.
I don’t regret switching. In fact, upgrades had become so hard that I ask myself why I didn’t do this sooner. I now have more flight options out of ABQ and have the companion pass, so my husband can fly with me for only the price of the tax. Here’s a tip... book your hotels through the southwest website (especially if you don’t care about hotel points or status) and you can get companion pass with just a few stays. I highly recommend it!
I don’t regret switching. In fact, upgrades had become so hard that I ask myself why I didn’t do this sooner. I now have more flight options out of ABQ and have the companion pass, so my husband can fly with me for only the price of the tax. Here’s a tip... book your hotels through the southwest website (especially if you don’t care about hotel points or status) and you can get companion pass with just a few stays. I highly recommend it!
#17
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,563
Here's the way I've always looked at it:
- Legacy carrier no-status is the worst way to travel.
- Southwest no-status is better than that.
- Legacy carrier low-tier is on par with, or maybe a little better than, Southwest. AA Gold nets me about the same seat that WN A-List nets me. AS MVP does a little better since I actually get an upgrade once in a while and have a high hit rate on extra legroom seating.
- Legacy mid-tiers and up get more compelling, thanks to lounge access and confirmable E+/MCE type seating.
- Legacy top-tiers with confirmable long-haul upgrade instruments are great.
So if you're in the no-status to low-status range, and you have a bunch of routes where WN has a nonstop, it makes a lot of sense.
I should know...I feel like I"m the King of the Low-Tier Statuses. I often have three or four of them at a time and a weird pattern of travels that makes getting to a higher tier fairly unlikely. Ugh...
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 124
I largely agree with that. That said - DL with no status, a decent credit card with lounge access... and zone 1 because of the credit card. That's not a bad combo. I've been very happy thus far. I'm concerned that I won't be as happy on WN A-List. But I want to be able to show my employer that I'm saving them money. And in my department, flying WN is seen as a badge of honor. I want to be a good teammate and save the company money.
Every once in a blue moon, I wind up with a middle seat. That's something that would never happen on WN A-List. Which is ultimately what I will do. We'll see how it goes.
Every once in a blue moon, I wind up with a middle seat. That's something that would never happen on WN A-List. Which is ultimately what I will do. We'll see how it goes.
Last edited by argolfer; Sep 24, 2018 at 3:57 pm
#19
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,620
Just between you and me, almost every airline is easy to like if you are willing to forgive an occasional mistake. I even like RyanAir.
Edited to add: The secret is to learn each airline's system and adapt to it.
Edited to add: The secret is to learn each airline's system and adapt to it.
Last edited by nsx; Sep 24, 2018 at 6:20 pm
#20
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,508
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,185
#22
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,944
I largely agree with that. That said - DL with no status, a decent credit card with lounge access... and zone 1 because of the credit card. That's not a bad combo. I've been very happy thus far. I'm concerned that I won't be as happy on WN A-List. But I want to be able to show my employer that I'm saving them money. And in my department, flying WN is seen as a badge of honor. I want to be a good teammate and save the company money.
Every once in a blue moon, I wind up with a middle seat. That's something that would never happen on WN A-List. Which is ultimately what I will do. We'll see how it goes.
Every once in a blue moon, I wind up with a middle seat. That's something that would never happen on WN A-List. Which is ultimately what I will do. We'll see how it goes.
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,563
True, but one would assume that if you're flying enough to justify the airline credit card that includes lounge access, you're flying enough that you won't be no-status for long. So if you think you can get to mid-tier on DL or better, I'd probably just stay there unless Southwest gives you more frequencies, better times, etc.
#24
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,563
If you fly a lot of WN, you could go the poor man's version of lounge access and get one of the many credit cards that include Priority Pass Select. There are a few of these that net out to be free (or less than free) assuming you can use the hotel benefits. SPG Luxury, HH Aspire (both Amexes) would do it. The lounges are hit-and-miss with the WN route map, but I've managed to pair up a lounge with a Southwest flight in several cities. LGA, PHX, PDX, SEA, LAS, ATL...off the top of my head.
Lounge quality varies - I definitely do not advise people to spend much on PP. Just let Amex pay you to carry their Aspire card around and use the PP benefit a few times a year as a bonus.
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 124
FYI, I get Zone 1 from my Delta Platinum card, which I also got from Delta Gold Amex. Right now it's still worth it to just pay $30 to get into SkyClubs because more often than not I've got less than an hour between flights anyway and never leave the gate.
Also for those accustomed to AA, Zone 1 on Delta is behind PREM and SKY (along with active duty military, families, etc.) So it's similar to Zone 5 on AA. Maybe slightly better.
I used to have a regular Amex Platinum that I let go. The lounge access was nice but not worth it for the 18 or so (all domestic) trips I take each year, maybe 10 of which have a lounge-worthy segment.
Also for those accustomed to AA, Zone 1 on Delta is behind PREM and SKY (along with active duty military, families, etc.) So it's similar to Zone 5 on AA. Maybe slightly better.
I used to have a regular Amex Platinum that I let go. The lounge access was nice but not worth it for the 18 or so (all domestic) trips I take each year, maybe 10 of which have a lounge-worthy segment.
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 124
I rationalized the switch to WN thusly:
Overall, the positives outweigh the negatives.
- Slightly better seats than assigned seating on Delta if I'm A-List. Never another middle seat, basically.
- Saves me money personally because I should never have to purchase a roughly $60 seat upgrade to get out of a middle seat situation (which rarely happens, but does sometimes on Delta... especially when I've been rebooked after weather in ATL).
- Saves the company money.
- Makes me a team player.
- Fewer summer delays due to storms in ATL. Delta does a good job on this stuff but you can't get away from climate. It storms a lot in the summer at ATL.
- On a handful of trips per year where I'd usually enjoy a SkyClub in ATL, I won't have lounges in DAL and STL.
- Fewer flight options. A handful more pre-6AM flights are in my future.
- Sometimes I will have to fly without status on DL or AA because WN doesn't go everywhere. I would otherwise have Delta Silver Medallion or AA Gold, which doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot, though. And as I mentioned before, Delta with a decent credit card is still generally a great experience.
- Another CC fee for the WN card. I will probably keep my Delta Plat card and AA Plat Select.
Overall, the positives outweigh the negatives.
#27
Join Date: Dec 2003
Programs: AA Plat Pro, United Silver, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,120
...Here's the way I've always looked at it:
- Legacy carrier no-status is the worst way to travel.
- Southwest no-status is better than that.
- Legacy carrier low-tier is on par with, or maybe a little better than, Southwest. AA Gold nets me about the same seat that WN A-List nets me. AS MVP does a little better since I actually get an upgrade once in a while and have a high hit rate on extra legroom seating.
...
- Legacy carrier no-status is the worst way to travel.
- Southwest no-status is better than that.
- Legacy carrier low-tier is on par with, or maybe a little better than, Southwest. AA Gold nets me about the same seat that WN A-List nets me. AS MVP does a little better since I actually get an upgrade once in a while and have a high hit rate on extra legroom seating.
...
Of course the ultra low cost carriers treat all of their passengers the same, too, but without dignity and decency. . 28" seat pitch is just wrong.
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 124
Jet Blue doesn't have any flights to my airport, so I've never flown them. I wish that were an option.
Agree. 28" pitch is an abomination.
Agree. 28" pitch is an abomination.
#29
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
Until your incoming flight is a few minutes late and/or the connection starts boarding early. Then your overpaid BS A01 boarding pass and A List+ status will get you a middle seat on a LAX-BWI transcon! Happens to me quite a bit since I generally have to connect everywhere.
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 124
Until your incoming flight is a few minutes late and/or the connection starts boarding early. Then your overpaid BS A01 boarding pass and A List+ status will get you a middle seat on a LAX-BWI transcon! Happens to me quite a bit since I generally have to connect everywhere.
I might regret this decision.