Many comments have flooded in about the Save SkyMiles campaign. Some of them are listed below.

*Some comments have been edited for content and/or brevity.

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nk - April 5, 2004

Regarding Don's post from March 27th...Yes they are still boarding medallions ahead of coach class. That has never been stopped.

Steffie - April 1, 2004

PMU's...a huge waste of paper ...so far in 2004 , I have been to Europe 6 times and never been able to use them. Why "award" Platinum members with these , and then give us no opportunity to use them ? And as far as upgrades go ...many times this year I have had a Y class fare , am a Platinum member , and havn't even been close to an upgrade.....
Delta Rewards ... empty promises.....

Steve G - March 31, 2004

Based upon some recent experiences on Delta, I would rather be dunked in sewage than fly them again.. deteriorating service, consistent cheapness, penny pinching and an arrogance unmatched by any carrier I have flown in recent memory.

Why should customers pay DL's exhorbitant fares when the service and aircraft aren't up to the job while DL continues its "perception management" that service is just peachy for the price paid? It's a shame when the airline and its management can't see its own problems.

Don - March 27, 2004

As many of you know, Delta is now boarding by "zone". As an PM, I have been able to upgrade to first class during the past several weeks. But prior to one upgrade, I noticed that the coach seat I had was in zone 9, which I believe is one of the last zones to board. Has Delta stopped preboarding Medallion members? If so, what benefits to we have. It's nearly impossible to get an award ticket, they have increased the award miles for first and coach, they've eliminated preboarding for MM, the service is horrible, and so on.

My wife and I go to Puerto Rico about four times a year and I used to use my miles to upgrade to first class. And while it's become increasingly more difficult to get an award ticket, when you actually think about what you get for using 60,000 miles/ticket, it's not much. Free drinks, lunch/dinner, and a movie...so what!!! First class is merely a "seat" and in the future, I will never use my miles to upgrade unless I fly to Europe. For domestic flights, I go online and select an exit row seat. But I wouldn't be surprised if Delta eliminated this service. And if Delta has eminated preboarding for MM, that would be the final straw!!!

Brian and Hallie - March 16, 2004

We use the Delta American Express Platinum credit card to rack up our miles, and to get the added "bonus" of a free yearly companion certificate. We checked the price from Houston to Great Falls, MT through Delta - $245 (490 for both of us). We then called to use or companion certificate - total price per ticket - $494 plus $50 in fees. Do the math. The Platinum card sucks and has absolutely no benefit (unless you consider paying $135 year dues for the card a "benefit"). They are a bunch of conniving thieves!!! Anybody else have this problem?

Dick - March 10, 2004

A Delta FF since 1982, I have been quite distressed by the changes Delta has made to the Skymiles program over the past 12+ months, but I believe they get a bum rap from Jeanne on 3/4. The text used in the letter is accurate. Qualification miles are now "based on" a minimum of 750 rather than the previous 500 miles. The fare basis multiplier of 0.5 to 2.0 has been around for some time and there is no sign that Delta has had a change of heart there. I saw this as a small but positive step. Under the previous rules, Jeanne would have received 250 miles rather than the 375 she got. I'd like to see more movement toward the pre 2003 program, like restoring segment credits, but let's pick on real problems.

dsand - March 10, 2004

IT DOESN'T MATTER! All of the discussions about mileage and how much we receive doesn't even matter because you can never use it. I tried for a trip this summer with my family and made sure we were very flexible as to times and even dates. I also tried flights for Florida this spring looking at every airport in South Florida.

Notta! Nil! Zero!Forget it!

Oh! except If I am willing to use Skychoice which is double mileage (or for my family 250K miles, I can go anytime. So, I'm going to sell my miles and fly Airtran! PS - Effective March 15th they are raising 1st class from 40K to 45K and raising mileage for some other routes to 30K.

B. O'Reilly - March 9, 2004

Just booked a r/t flight from Atlanta to Newark for April. Checked Delta web site and fare quoted was $289. Continental web site was $211. Delta offered 50% of mileage. Continental offered full 100% of miles, plus 2000 miles bonus for booking on line ! Which airline do you think I booked with ? Continental baby !!
Also noticed Delta stock dropped today to $8.88 per share. It won't be long before Delta is done. I suggest anyone with accumulated miles begin using them before it is too late. Delta will be the next Eastern Airlines ! Bye, Bye.

bill rowe - March 9, 2004

how could floyd clark have flown 110 segments and not make silver thats impossible you get 250 min mqm per segment which wld come to 27500 miles are you sure you flew 100 segments? and where did you fly back and forth from portland maine to boston your numbers dont add up floyd...

Floyd Clark - March 4, 2004

GOOD JOB DELTA! (Not). I flew over 110 segments last year and didn't even make silver medallion. The skymiles program sucks. Instead of having some of my money. They get NONE of it.. I hope they go out of busniess. I am now going to fly Frontier Airline. You know, that is the great thing about America you have choices in who you do business with.

Jeanne Brooks - March 4, 2004

Please alert all Gold Medallion members to review the letter Delta has just sent a letter dated February 2004 along with the Gold Medallion card and luggage tags. The letter outlines changes to the Gold Medallion privilages, to include the following quote. "Additionally, in order to better reward our short-distance fliers, Medallion Qualification Miles earned on each flight will now be based on 750-mile minimum or the actual miles flown, whichever is greater." This is the exact quote and does not reference any connection to fare basis. However, on a recent trip to Dallas and one to Atlanta from Savannah, GA. the actual miles flown was multiplied by .5 which in both cases resulted in less than 500 miles. Keep in mind, in years past, you received a minimum of 500 per segement. Therefore, Delta has taken away your opportunity to earn the set minimum for the past decade and replaced it with less miles and blatenly misrepresented that in the recent correspondece.

Karen - March 4, 2004

I typically fly twice a week from Albany to Cincinnati a 623-mile trip(one way) that qualifies me for 750 MGM's on a discounted ticket paying around $308. I must purchase the ticket up to five weeks in advance for the best rate leaving me with complicated rescheduling problems; otherwise pay $388 to $605 to book one to two weeks in advance. My fellow business traveler can purchase a ticket a week or two in advance from Albany to LAX, pay around $297, and earn 2650 MGM's on a discounted ticket.



The traveler who flies the longer distance and pays less can make Gold Medallion in 19 roundtrip flights generating $5,643 in revenue dollars for Delta whereas I would need to make 67 roundtrip flights at a cost of $20,636 to achieve the same status. As you can see in my example, the person contributing to Delta's revenue is the person flying more often than the person flying the greater distance. Just to make Silver Medallion I would have to fly double the roundtrip flights of my fellow traveler to LAX.



I still feel that the program needs a few changes to handle those of us traveling the shorter distances but flying more frequently. Delta took away the segments penalizing the traveler who flies shorter distances yet the long distance traveler who typically pays less still benefits. The segments at least gave us an even playing field in which to accumulate the different levels of Medallion status. They need to make the program fair and at least give us full credit for the miles flown regardless of fare.

Kells - March 2, 2004

Well, it would be good to turn the SkyMiles program around, but my sense is that without somehow saving Delta from itself this will all be moot in a year or two.

Case in point. Yesterday's fiasco at Tampa when Delta's new Song cancelled a flight to Hartford, pretty well stranding a large number of passengers (many elderly) for an extra day or so. This whole event is Delta in a microcasm: gate agents not showing up till flight scheduled to depart, utterly inaccurate electronic posting of flight status, utterly inaccurate info regarding status of hydraulic repair and aircraft replacement (this interesting because I learned later that a mechanic apparently installed a non-certified part -- where did they get that?), delay cancelling flight, leaving many passengers in line for two-three hours, no offer of food vouchers. I was able to get out only because I had a cell phone and got one of last seats on a flight nine hours later (it was delayed an hour because it was scheduled to use the broken-down aircraft). I talked to several Delta employees (some of whom really tried their best to help) who were utterly ashamed of the info given them by the company, the poor supervision of this event, etc. They can see things falling apart.

This airline feels broken. Song has a few nice on-board amenities but what good is it when the parent company, which apparently wants to get rid of it, pulls this kind of stuff?

Oh, I've pretty well switched to American. Will they take my ff miles or is that for high rollers only? When Delta changed the Skymiles program I pretty well stopped flying it.

Jim Morris - February 24, 2004

I commented in this forum on Dec 19th about the amazing decision that Delta made to walk away from the 1200 Hawai'i resident Medallion SkyMiles members. Our upgrades were totally eliminated on 1 Jan and for all appearances, will never be returned. I've talked to the local station manager, made numerous calls and emails, and Delta won't budge. So today, after 700K+ miles on Delta, I walked away. American matched my status and I made my first purchase this morning. If anyone can read the financial tea leaves, they can see that Delta has about 12 months of liquidity left before Chapter 11. I work with the former LAX-based senior pilot for Delta and he describes situations like cancelling the 777 order as "burning the furniture to heat the house." Should Delta survive the upcoming certainty of Chapter 11 and regain a sense of customer appreciation, perhaps I'll come back. Until then, I'll watch the situation with amusement from the sidelines.

Jim H - February 11, 2004

Jeff made a great point on Jan 16th. Delta is all over charging the highest fees in Cincinnati or Columbus. However if you go 40 minutes further to Dayton you save up to 2/3 of the fare. Example $935 from Columbus to Atlanta, but only $229 from Dayton.
If airlines would be more consistent, I know more seats would be purchased. I was so impacted by the Delta "DUMB" rules for their Medallion program that I fly Delta as a LAST RESORT.
I have even accepted connecting flights with my premier airline (Northwest) who actually makes it easy to get an upgrade and get segments....

Richard Soley - February 9, 2004

Jim Wilson's comments are exactly right -- they've mailed out the "extra two SWU's" to the right name & SkyMiles number, but the wrong address. They're going to resend the whole batch.

In the meantime however, I've got Edgar Rey's upgrades and would be delighted to throw a stamp on 'em and send 'em to him -- are you out there Edgar?

And while I'm asking -- anybody got mine?

Jim Wilson - February 8, 2004

Just to let everyone know Delta had a computer glitch of some sort and there were apparently many medallion notifications sent out that may have had a different name, address, etc. Mine showed up with another guys name and SkyMiles number but my address. This may be important to some as the carry over deadline for Platinum to apply the miles to this year's qualifications is Feb 23rd. I called and had mine done over the phone. Good luck everyone.

BB - January 29, 2004

I fly approx. 200K per yr. 167K last yr with Delta. I can't stand this new lottery system for FF's. Example: Previous yrs I made reservations based on immediate upgrades (my schedule was flexible enough to change a day or a time of day). Now unless you pay the premium fare (Y, B or M) you are at the mercy of the system. Last yr I never rode in the back, so far this yr I missed the upgrade twice. The only thing that is worthwhile is the "big seat", if that goes away the only thing left is the cheapest fare. Why should you have to gamble (pay a higher fare) and still take the chance of getting stuck in the back with folks that paid the cheapest fare? And if you use Delta for their cheapest fare, you get screwed again for half the miles. As I’ve relayed to Delta, “there is no long term profit in short term greed!” I just wish Nordstrom's would buy an airline...

Mike C - January 18, 2004

I for one have benefited greatly from Delta's new qualification system this year. They just sent me a letter telling me I am being given Platinum status for 2004. I only flew 50400 MQMs in 2003 and that was on 46 segments. I generally fly once a week but always on short notice and to/from CVG which is the most expensive airport in the country. I really feel like Delta is showing me some loyalty because of the amount of money spent on tickets last year. And it looks like they have opened up some this year by using the new 750 MQM minimum. I think for those of you who fly the 100 plus T fares all year deserve something, but not a Platinum status. Thank you Delta for taking care of me...

Jeff - January 16, 2004

This program, while a load of crap works out well for me. I live in LA and go to Ohio every week to see my family and friends. I would prefer to go into CVG but never do becuase some burbon smoking jackass in ATL doesen't understand Economics 101!

I'm just curious, did Leo Mullen (Delta's CEO) actually go to college? If he did, was his major underwater basket weaving? Leo- do you actually look at how the company charges for tickets?

Here is the f-up part about it: Why is it $200 to $400 more for my to fly from LAX to CVG then it is for me to go from LAX to DAY (Dayton, Ohio about 40 miles north) via CVG. Is this not insane? I mean why do they charge more for us to make a connection? Can someone please explain that to me? NOW WE KNOW WHY AIRLINES ARE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS. This is just crazy but goes to show something is amiss.

On a more positive note, I've already gotten two first class upgrades since the new year began so I am not complaining. But I don't find this new program all that suprising when you look at the way they run the airline.

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