Delta Airlines: "It's all about the money..."

[lspencer534]

The company announced that starting next year, it will reconfigure its frequent flyer program -- linking miles earned to ticket prices instead of distance. Spend more money on a ticket, and earn more miles, regardless of how far you are traveling.

The program will be structured in a way that rewards elite travelers with added bonus miles, depending on their status -- more per dollar for platinum and "diamond" members, less for silver and gold.

"Customers will be able to earn between five and 11 miles per dollar, based on their Skymiles status" a Delta statement said. Those who use a Delta Skymiles credit card will earn an additional two miles per dollar.

While on its face, the program seems simple -- dollars to miles -- read the fine print, and it gets a little more complicated, as the entire ticket price will not count towards miles earned. That means that on a flight from New York to London, for example, the ticket may cost $850, but with $230 of that price being taxes and fees, the frequent flyer will only get credit for about $600 of the purchase.

"Why not take care of the guys who give us $10,000 dollars a year and fly even less miles, than those who spend $5,000 dollars and fly more miles?", said travel expert Tom Parsons of Bestfares.com.

Delta announces big change to its frequent flyer program - CBS News (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/delta-announces-big-change-to-its-frequent-flyer-program/)

[...Whitepower...]

I fly delta alot for work as they are based out of Atlanta. I even have a silver as well as gold skymiles card. Problem with delta though is you have to book at least 2+ weeks out for a reasonable fare.

I had to make a last minute trip to Raleigh Monday/Tuesday and flew Air Tran as it was more affordable. I got done early and flew home standby on an earlier flight. When i was at ticketing i joked with them about Deltas stupid $50 change fee.

The ticketing agent bumped me to 1st class for making fun of the competition in front of other customers..

I may be flying Air Tran more in the near future..

[Craig]

I'll always pick AirTran over Delta. Cheap upgrades.

[99 pewtercoupe]

SWA has been doing this for a while (points based on fares paid versus miles flown). A number of airlines are moving to this model

[Joecooool]

That's a shit deal.

You will have to book $5,000 worth of travel to get one free flight. I fly cross country all the time and its rarely more than $500. That's ten round trips for one free flight.

I use to get 6000 miles per round trip. Five round trips gave me enough miles for a free flight.

I fly American almost exclusively now and their program sucks too. The best bet is to use the Barclays Master Card and just use their program.

I cancelled my American Express Platinum Card when they started charging me for drinks in the Delta Crown rooms.

[GS Ragtop]

SWA has been doing this for a while (points based on fares paid versus miles flown). A number of airlines are moving to this model

United used a similar formula for their top tier program. The only invited those customers paying higher revenue per mile (and lots of miles). That Global Services treatment is about the only thing I miss about stopping the weekly travels.

[simpleman68]

Most of my miles are with Delta but they are becoming my non-preferred airline. :yesnod:
I just got the email this afternoon from Delta announcing their new miles program.
Scott

[VITE1]

Delta makes 20% of their revenue from the top 2% of travelers. My guess is the other airlines are in the same boat. They have to make them happy and screw those who only buy on price. It's about profit and survival.

[lspencer534]

"Globally, airlines forecast turning a $19.7 billion profit on $743 billion in revenue in 2014, up from $12.9 billion a year earlier, the International Air Transport Association said in a report. The estimate, marking two years of growth, surpasses the previous record profit, reached in 2010, when the industry enjoyed $19.2 billion in profits."

Plane Travel: Airline Profits To Hit Record High | TIME.com (http://business.time.com/2013/12/12/airline-profits-to-hit-record-high/)

I'm of course not against profits; I'm a capitalist, too. But this change by Delta (and being watched closely by other airlines to see if they should follow suit) seems a little greedy.

[lspencer534]

Delta makes 20% of their revenue from the top 2% of travelers. My guess is the other airlines are in the same boat. They have to make them happy and screw those who only buy on price. It's about profit and survival.

But the miles that the top 2% will get won't change; only the miles that other fliers get will changed (lowered). The top 2% aren't gaining anything, they're just not losing anything.

[VITE1]

But the miles that the top 2% will get won't change; only the miles that other fliers get will changed (lowered). The top 2% aren't gaining anything, they're just not losing anything.

They get more because they normally pay more for their tickets. I've had to buy tickets at 10PM for flights the next morning.

[99 pewtercoupe]

United used a similar formula for their top tier program. The only invited those customers paying higher revenue per mile (and lots of miles). That Global Services treatment is about the only thing I miss about stopping the weekly travels.

Couple of guys in my company are in United's GS. From what I have heard it makes a big difference if you do a lot of international seat time

[theriver]

I will never forget the time I was on a flight with my 80 y/o parents and my mom was so excited to use a 'free drink" coupon that she had been holding onto forever and the stewardess ­(I'm old fashioned) said they no longer honored them. Piss poor boo Southwest.

[VITE1]

Couple of guys in my company are in United's GS. From what I have heard it makes a big difference if you do a lot of international seat time

Most airlines have a speical program for people who spend CorpTravel money.

[LATB]

Miles or costs...

I haven't earned enough points for a trip across the street. :Jeff '79:

[VatorMan]

Ah Southworst. The Greyhound buses of the airlines.

That would be Spirit Airlines. :ack:

Rumors United will be going to such an arrangement soon which will screw us.

[GS Ragtop]

Couple of guys in my company are in United's GS. From what I have heard it makes a big difference if you do a lot of international seat time

1. They used to try and pick me up with a people-carrier in Chicago so I wouldn't have to walk from terminal to terminal. I told them to put a change in my file saying I wanted the exercise.

2. On one trip from Ohio to Sydney, our outbound leg to SFO arrived 10 minutes after the flight to Sydney left. An airline representative in SFO got on the plane as soon as the door opened and came right to my seat before I had even gotten up to collect my belongings. After explaining the issue, she handed me an envelope containing my next flight's boarding pass, a hotel room confirmation slip, and a $100 dinner voucher. She then escorted me down to Baggage Claim where we were met by a guy holding my bag and a hired driver to take me to my hotel.

Yup, life with Global Services was nice! :dance: