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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T F Smoak - October 27, 2003

It's very apparent to me that Delta has put it's future in the hands of some Junior MBA's that really are, in their perception, trying to save the firm, and serve the stockholders. As both a stockholder and Medallion member with almost 500,000 lifetime miles, here's something they're really missing: The affect on corporate travel decisions.

I'm the CEO of a 29 year old wireless infrastructure provider. We purchase all of the travel for not only my personal travel, but several contractors as well. For years, as a matter of convienence, and as an incentive for our service providers, we flew them on Delta. They loved the Perks, Skymiles, and a ride up front from time to time. When the Delta MBA's changed all of the rules, and stripped the points system, the Perks were gone for the average guy. I speak from experience, I used to be one of them. As observed by so many of my fellow flyers, if you work in a given region, you'll never even make Silver.

Make no mistake, too many changes, too quickly, have created a "customer elimination department", and really showed your shallow hand. You've nullified any incentive to continue customer loyalty. We don't mind coach most of the time, and the Delta staffers are usually the greatest, but----Delta, my guys are all on Airtran and Southwest now. You've lost your focus. Shades of TWA, and the attempted Crown Club rule change fiasco!

Abigail - October 24, 2003

Someone else mentioned the international program, which is the one that affects me as well. Previously, 5 intercontinental segments qualified for silver medallion. Not anymore. So now you can fly less, but pay more, and get better status. That's not frequent flyer. That's higher-paying. call it what it is. More to the point: medallion members have the advantage of using business class check-in. This is at NO extra cost to the airline. Business-class members, duh, get business class check in anyway. So why do those of us who fly 6 or 7 times a year, round trip, on international flights, who specifically select delta because of the check-in advantages, now get stuck with the cattle? Frankly, if I'm going to have to use regular check in, I'll do it on a better airline, like KLM, or at a lower price.

One alternative Delta hasn't even considered would be a "Classic Medallion" program. Those who are already members could stay members according to the current guidelines. NEW members would have to qualify according to new guidelines. The fact that we are being penalized for our patronage isn't helping anyone.

Jim Ricci - October 23, 2003

I have been a very loyal Delta Platinum member for over 5 years now and am appaled at what has happened to this once fine airline. Customer service has slipped, the "new" SkyMiles Program is lousy, though Delta keeps telling us that this is what "us" wants. Who's "us"? Stock brokers in New York? Leo Mullins should hang his head low for trying to run this airline into the ground.

Normally by the end of August, I would under the old program have made Platinum for the next year, but no!!!! Not this year! I will make Gold this year and barely just that. Also, I have noticed that Delta has basically eliminated the First Class seating from all flights out of or to my Birmingham, Alabama home base. Hmm... another perk to be trashed for "us" along with most of their Crown Rooms that have been closed accross the nation.

What good is it to loyal to these jokers!? My only predicament is that for where I fly to, my choices are North-Worst or Southwest (I hate having the babies puking on me!.

I guess I am stuck at this point and am not happy right now! I wish I could vote with my feet!

G. Back - October 23, 2003

I am a long time Gold Medallion flyer, and for the last few years have come within one more flight of being Platinum. I am also self-employed and a dollar saved on airfare is a dollar I keep in my pocket. I fly roundtrip Atlanta to either New York or Orlando every week of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Years weeks. Based on the new rules I will just barely make Silver this year if I am lucky. I fly 50 round trips per year, but to Delta I am not worth bothering keeping as a customer. When I no longer get the 100% bonus miles from being Gold I'm going to another carrier.

evander smith - October 22, 2003

i hear you people complaining..but i disagree.. there are to many elite members now, GET RID OF SOME OF THEM. when i call for a upgrade half the time i dont get it. there is only so many seats up front so why are you complaining. its called a complimentary upgrade base on availability not a automatic upgrade.im a gold person and when i get it im happy and when i dont so be it.i see some elite members act like the biggest jerks to the delta employees like they think there god because the platnium or gold get a freakin life if your that content ona first class seat go out and buy one. you buy a $399 coach ticket and cry like a baby if you cant get a upgrade on one of the segments. boo hoo.

R. Fuller - October 22, 2003

This is my second year of being a Platinum Member of Delta's skymiles program. I have already qualified as Platinum under the new guidelines. My corporate travel office does the same as everyone elses and books the lowest available fare. So, 1/2 of all these trips are an L or U fare, I still made Platinum status. I use our local airport since Delta is the only choice, otherwise, I would be forced to bounce around to other airlines and doubt I would make any status anywhere. I am currently able to upgrade about 95% of the time. However, effective Jan 1st, unless I screw my company and only make last minute reservations, I will find that I will quickly run out of "Points for Upgrades" and even though I am one of their best customers will not enjoy the benefits of that. This is a bad business decision. Since I will be traveling so often in the back of the plane, I might as well go to a larger airport, avoid ATL and get truly cheaper fares for my company.

Wayne Austin - October 17, 2003

I'm facing the probablilty of not even making Silver Medallion this year due to the reduced miles awarded for 2 roundtrips to Europe in addition to my domestic flights.

During the same time this year, I made roundtrips to Australia and to New Zealand, having to use United, since Delta had no partners to the South Pacific. I was pleasantly surprised that United awarded me "GOLD" status early this year, although I was several thousand miles shy of the requirement for Gold.

I recently woke up to realize that I routinely booked Delta for another trip back to Europe, when I could have easily flown the airline that rewarded me for travel. SHAME ON ME!!!

Gary Scandiff - October 14, 2003

I'm a gold medallion Delta traveller. I've flown more miles and more segments this year than last year. However, because of Delta's new program, it doesn't look good for me mantaining my gold status for next year. I'm staying loyal to Delta through the end of 2003 with the hopes of somehow meeting their qualifications. If I don't, I promise to switch my loyalties to AirTran where I will be appreciated. They fly pretty much everywhere I travel to. Their prices are ridiculously lower than Delta's, most of their airplanes are brand new and state of the art. For a lousy $35.00, I can pay for an upgrade to business class when I book the flight! No longer will I have to set my alarm clock for 2:00am for a 2:00pm flight, twelve hours later, as required by Delta for an upgrade on a discounted fare! Delta, I hope you're listening!

Diane - October 12, 2003

I could rave on and on about the way Delta treats all the loyal passengers.....but.....I would only repeat what has been said. I just came back from overseas and yes I flew the lowest fare as that is within the guidelines set by my company. The flight attendants are great, but they have a sad look in their eyes. I made a stop over between the mainland and Hawaii and usually there is island music and a festive air to the flight....not this time. MMMMMMMMmmmmm.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD SALES IN THE CROWN ROOM?? I really paid $$$$ for that. Want a muffin-buy it, want anything other than pretzels and the usual beverages??? Pull out your wallets!!!

Good Bye
Delta!!!!!!!!!!Call me when you wake up and smell the coffee

Andy Myers - October 12, 2003

I want to congratulate the management of Delta for finding a sure-fire way to lose loyal customers; and, offer my condolences to the employees of Delta for having put up with disgruntled customers due to the superior (sic) efforts of their management.

I work for a relatively small company but service to the customers for which I am responsible requires me to spend 30-35 weeks each year in the air. Despite having to fly fairly regularly with Continental, US Airways, or Northwest, I have been either platinum or gold with Delta for the past 9 years. Most of the time I reach this status because of segments since most of my flights are made throughout the southeastern states. This year I'm gold (86 segments on Delta last year).

During 2003, I have been able to increase the
number of flights with Delta by over 50%. Unfortunately, the reward for my increased business this year will be to drop back to Silver for next year. The additional down-side to this situation is that over 90% of my flights are booked exactly as recommended by Delta's website when I request available flights, fares, and seating.

So in addition to being penalized for being a loyal customer to Delta by the new program, I'm also penalized for utilizing Delta.com for the information for my bookings.

Does any of this make any sense to anyone but Delta's management?

Needless to say, despite the increased business with Delta this year, my business with them will be almost non-existent next year.

To Delta management: WAKE UP! We are (were) your loyal customer base and we are leaving in droves.

T. Bone - October 6, 2003

Basically Delta is saying if your stupid enough to pay a ridiculous fare, they will "reward" you with the actual miles flown. If you are a frequent flier that is smart enough to shop for a fair and reasonable fare, you will be "penalized" and not receive credit for total miles actually flown. I have been flying Delta since the mid 80's and they can now take there new program and shove it !

Bob - October 6, 2003

I could reiterate everything that has already been said on this board, however, as it gets later and later in the year, I think it is more productive if Delta knows that their best customers will be leaving in droves.

My recommendations:
1) Pick the airline that will substitute the best based on your situation.

2) Contact their frequent flyer program via phone or email (this information can be found if you hunt around on their website)

3) Tell them that you want to switch ALL of your business to their carrier and ask for a comparable elite level. (I got a great proposition from US Airways. They gave me Gold and said fly 20 SEGMENTS in 2003 and they would give me Chairman's Preferred, the highest level. It's a no brainer)

4) Send an email to the following people at Delta and tell them of your plans quickly and consisely without a bunch of complaining:

'patrice.miles@delta.com'; 'leo.mullin@delta.com'; 'vicki.escarra@delta.com'; 'jackie.yeaney@delta.com'; 'robert.borden@delta.com'; 'tracey.bowen@delta.com'

5) Sit back and wait. Delta is being run by bankers and accountants instead of air line people these days. When they see BIG dollars walking out the door, they will have no choice but to respond. If they don't....vote by walking.

Roy Kiefer - October 2, 2003

I upgraded to the American Express Platinum card because of the FREE COMPANION Certificate when you renew the card after a year. I just received my companion ticket and see it excludes L, U and T class fares. Nowhere did it state this in the free companion ticket offer. I think this is false advertising and misleading to customers. I contacted Delta and they said take it up with American Express. I just spent 30 minutes on the phone with American Express and they said it is a Delta policy on any restrictions. It does not say anything about the fare restrictions on the American Express site on the free companion ticket information.

I am a Platinum level and flew over 100,000 base miles last year. So Delta is catering to the full fare flyer to make the platinum status. Anyone whose company lets them buy full fare tickets must have money to burn or can expense it to their unwitting customers. My company does not operate that way. Sorry Delta, it is no longer a benefit to go out of my way to fly Delta.

John Wills - October 1, 2003

I am also one of the frustrated Medallion fliers that has had just about enough of this nonsense. I have had to rely on segments for the past four years to retain my Platinum status even though the bulk of my flying is East Coast segments.
With the changes in the SkyMiles program scheduled to take effect in 90 days, I will have to fly approximately 160 segments, most in V fare, just to retain what I perceive a nice little perk. I guess I am one of the "2%" that Delta initally identified that would be affected by the changes.
Whoever the rocket scientist was that figured out this equation was needs to run for prsiden because he doesn't know his butt from a hole in the ground.
I hear more and more good things about Continental and I think it was a marketing stoke of genius for them to introduce themselves via the codeshare with Delta. What a great way to tempt customers of your competetiors with little or no risk.

Joy Johnson - September 29, 2003

Like so many others, I have a relatively long history with Delta. In the last seven years I have always been Gold or Silver. Most of the time this was from segments. When the changes were announced I thought I would see how it all shook out. Well, As of July 1st I have 30 segments but only 9,000 miles. I have received my Gold status from US Airways. I thought that I would photocopy it and send it to Delta to let them know where their business went. Of course, when I tried to find a person to whom to address it, I was out of luck. Interestingly, I called US Airways Dividend Center with an unrelated question and was given a name and fax number of the manager for my region. I was told that whenever I have a concern to contact her. I almost fainted. I don't remember that service ever from Delta.
I don't expect something for nothing but it seems to me that the loss of goodwill has cost them a lot more than letting me board a plane in the first "pack".

Brian - September 29, 2003

Be careful....I saw a post encouraging people to switch to Continental's One Pass Program. Due to the alliance with Delta, One Pass has been changed to provide only 50% mileage on discounted fares. I have left Continental. If I can't get full mileage on my $300 roundtrip from L.A. to Detroit, I am surely not going to give them the money when I HAVE to pay the walk up $1200 L.A. to Newark fare. I am the one that they are trying to attract with this new program, and it had just the opposite effect. Thanks Delta employees.....you are the best in the air. I feel badly your management has done this to you. You have gone from the upstanding symbol of quality in the air to a flying Walmart.

Phil H. - September 26, 2003

Last year I was silver on Delta and USAW. Since the changes, I only fly Delta as a last resort. I'll hit gold with USAW in another month. Guess what Delta? I've found the service at USAW to be outstanding, the staff friendly and professional. Even if Delta revises the Skymiles program back to the way it used to be, I doubt I'll be back. USAW has earned my loyalty.

Rex Stanley - September 26, 2003

I am a Million Miller and have been platium for ten years. In general I have always been pleased with Delta, its employees, and the Sky Miles program. Like so many other Medallion flyers, I have over the years, frequently purchased tickets on Delta when cheaper flights were avalable on other airlines. In others words, I worked to keep that platium status and also considered my self a loyal Delta customer. Some years I reach Platium status from miles some years from segments and some years both. After looking at this years program changes, it was obvious to me that Delta has no appreciation for my loyalty or my business. Very early in the year I it was obvious that the majority of my busineess trips would be closer to home this year. Under the old program it would be one of those reach platium by segments not miles years. It was also very obvious that even buying expensive tickets on every flight I would not make platium. As a result almost half of the flights I booked this year have been on other airlines. Still have not decided who is going to get my business next year but I will be moving it somewhere. Congratulations to the management at Delta! No other airline could have taken me away but you managed to drive me away in one year.

Patrick - September 26, 2003

2001- 42 Flights/Segments (all "L" fares) Reached medallion for the first time. Strived to improve my status the next year.

2002- 86 Flights/Segments with Delta, and due to my company's policies, probably 80% of them were "L" fares or specials. Thanks to my medallion status I never even looked at other airlines or used the Orbiz or Travelocity sights to compare.

2003- I have had only 8 flights with Delta. I have lost countless upgrade points, and am only a couple of months from losing my Gold Status, or medallion status altogether.

2004 ?? - Without my Medallion Status, it will most likely be even less.

Thank You Delta for MAKING me travel with other airlines due to your higher fares, your slashed flight schedules, and most important your lack of incentive to make me choose you over them.

Enough Said?

anonymous - September 26, 2003

I am a delta flight attendant and have been appalled at the way delta has been treating it's most loyal customers for some time now. i've written several letters, none of which got a response. now, after seeing the ad in usa today, i am going to try to send a letter straight to leo mullin himself. i realize that delta is trying to save money like everyone else, but if we lose our most important customers, the lifeblood of our company, the frequent flyers, then not only does delta go out of business, but i am out of a job. i want all frequent flyers out there to know that i am rooting for you, and trying my best to knock some sense into our idiotic management. hopefully together we can turn this thing around before it's too late!

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