Will Delta Drop Elite Bonus Miles?
Jun 12, 2008 | 6:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: DL 5MM; 360; AA EXP
Posts: 1,503
Will Delta Drop Elite Bonus Miles?
US Airways has cut elite bonus miles. Will Delta (and all carriers) follow suit?
The press release here: http://www.usairways.com/awa/content...sreleases.aspx
snip:
Dividend Miles Changes: A new award redemption processing fee will be assessed to all Dividend Miles award tickets issued on/after Aug. 6, 2008. The fee will be based on destination ($25 for domestic/Canada tickets, $35 for tickets to Mexico / Caribbean, and $50 for Hawaii / international). US Airways is also eliminating its bonus miles program for Preferred status Dividend Miles members. Preferred members currently receive mileage bonuses based on their status level. The Preferred bonus program will be discontinued for tickets purchased on/after Aug. 6, 2008.
The press release here: http://www.usairways.com/awa/content...sreleases.aspx
snip:
Dividend Miles Changes: A new award redemption processing fee will be assessed to all Dividend Miles award tickets issued on/after Aug. 6, 2008. The fee will be based on destination ($25 for domestic/Canada tickets, $35 for tickets to Mexico / Caribbean, and $50 for Hawaii / international). US Airways is also eliminating its bonus miles program for Preferred status Dividend Miles members. Preferred members currently receive mileage bonuses based on their status level. The Preferred bonus program will be discontinued for tickets purchased on/after Aug. 6, 2008.
Jun 12, 2008 | 6:55 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still PAL Premier Elite & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 25,429
DL (and NW) would be wise to use this opportunity to lure elites away from US. Helping a competitor into Chapter 7 is the ultimate schedule reduction. 
Jun 12, 2008 | 7:02 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
I am somewhat torn on this actually as losing US to Ch. 7 would be bad for the local CLT economy which is already feeling the impact of the disruptions in the financial markets, but having said that as I absolutely loathe USless, "nothing gold (ahem, cough) can stay" and if one of the legacies going under would be good for the others, well let the market act as it will. Safe travels.
Jun 12, 2008 | 7:16 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: LAX/BUR
Posts: 2,013
Talk about an airline that hates its Elites 
(US Airways that is!)
Dear Delta, don't even think about following US' lead!
(US Airways that is!)Dear Delta, don't even think about following US' lead!
Jun 12, 2008 | 7:51 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: CLT
Posts: 7,249
Delta better not follow. Although others have been posting issues with Delta FAs I have found them to be much more enjoyable than US or UA's.
Too bad CLT is so close to ATL so Delta won't sweep in and take some gates that will inevitably open up now that US has said it doesn't care about frequent flyers.
US keeps talking about their upgrades. I think Delta has much nicer F seats and better mixed drinks. DL FAs also never hesitate to serve me 2 drinks on the 42 minute flight from CLT-ATL that I am 100% on upgrades.
If Delta cuts elite bonuses they might as well start with more sky saver seats b/c it would be the same rate as now. I doubt that will happen though.
No elite bonuses + no sky saver =
Too bad CLT is so close to ATL so Delta won't sweep in and take some gates that will inevitably open up now that US has said it doesn't care about frequent flyers.
US keeps talking about their upgrades. I think Delta has much nicer F seats and better mixed drinks. DL FAs also never hesitate to serve me 2 drinks on the 42 minute flight from CLT-ATL that I am 100% on upgrades.
If Delta cuts elite bonuses they might as well start with more sky saver seats b/c it would be the same rate as now. I doubt that will happen though.
No elite bonuses + no sky saver =
Jun 12, 2008 | 8:25 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS Titanium, Disney AP
Posts: 14,532
With "consolidation" being the buzzword du jour in the industry, the other 5 carriers could easily achieve a lot of it by letting US be the lone soldier in pulling elite bonus miles. Between the 500-mile minimum being gone and now no bonus miles, it's going to be ugly over there.
We may very well be down to only four legacy carriers at this time: DL(+NW), UA, CO and AA.
We may very well be down to only four legacy carriers at this time: DL(+NW), UA, CO and AA.
Jun 12, 2008 | 8:56 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LEX
Programs: Delta Reserve - PM
Posts: 1,147
US Air is garbage! Every flight that I've had or my wife has had has always been late or lost our luggage. That's no exaggeration.....EVERY flight!
Jun 13, 2008 | 12:11 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,880
US Air is one (nee Allegheny) is one of the primary reasons that the mainline carriers have been unable to raise fares. They are oxygen thiefs that have helped suck the air out of the industry, and have been a particluar thorn in DL's side on the East Coast. There is no way that DL will match this and if US Air doesn't manage to merge themselves into someone else then they will be out of business within 9 months, I don;t think they could make it into and out of Ch. 11 a fourth (or fifth combined) time
Jun 13, 2008 | 5:03 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mesilla, NM
Programs: DL DM 4.7 MM Marriott Lifetime Titanium AA PL Not chasing status Retired!
Posts: 2,777
You got that right
On my 1 US flight this year I had to check my bag once on the plane as I have no status and there was no overhead room. Guess what they could not get it from the boarding door to the cargo.
Jun 13, 2008 | 5:20 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BDL
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 529
Wow, sounds like a sure way to penalize loyalty.
Jun 13, 2008 | 6:27 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: RDU
Programs: Delta PM/1MM, Hilton Diamond (for now), Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 3,448
where is that iahphx USAir lover when you need him? I remember when he was all up Doug Parkers butt - wonder what he thinks of 'ol doogie now?
Jun 13, 2008 | 6:47 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 2.017 MM, Hilton Life Diamond, IHG Diamond, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (life gold), AA Gold
Posts: 8,053
A new award redemption processing fee will be assessed to all Dividend Miles award tickets issued on/after Aug. 6, 2008. The fee will be based on destination ($25 for domestic/Canada tickets, $35 for tickets to Mexico / Caribbean, and $50 for Hawaii / international).[/B]
But US Air may have decided that they need to bite the bullet on their mileage and elite programs, and go the Ryanair route. Future moves may see seats that don't recline, and the removal of domestic FC cabins.
David
Jun 13, 2008 | 8:23 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BDL
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 529
Seats? Why do they need seat? Shoot, benches are lighter and you can squeeze 8 people into a 6 person coach row. Set the pressurization at 15,000 feet and fewer complaints from passengers. Hey, we can come up with a lot of ideas and get a mega-bonus in the process.
Jun 13, 2008 | 8:29 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,386
Not just loyalty, but it's removed "incentive", too. Remember that the FF programs are as much about incentive (to fly more) as they are about loyalty. Ultimately a business cares about where you spend money in the future, not about where you spent it in the past.
Jun 13, 2008 | 8:55 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,880
I took a look over at their forums and its like mass suicide over their. In my many years on FT I have NEVER seen a move that was so anti-customer and received so badly by passengers.