Renés Points

This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our advertising policy, visit visit this page.

This is rather telling to me. There is a new thread on FlyerTalk about Delta starting to, without request from a flyer, just “giving” status to folks who have flown Delta in the past but now no longer are. This, and other such status type gifts by Delta, are interesting on a whole bunch of levels and here is why.

First off, this tells me that Delta is losing elite flyers to other airlines. And why do you think that is (I think we all know why)? Other than United, that has, if possible, an even worse frequent flyer program than Delta, just about every other airline has a better award program than Delta has right now. Delta seems to be trying to compete with Southwest on the penny value scale but the issue here is Delta is not an all coach airline and does not offer free bags or free ticket changes and more! They will not win it this way.

Next point of note is why giveaway status to begin with. Well, now that SkyMiles are worth so much less than they were before (not really worthless but just not what they were before) then you have to give away what is truly valuable, that is, status. Thus my Midwest farm reference, that is, when the milk is drying up (a.k.a. SkyMiles) you just have to give away the cow because that is all you have left (that is status with Delta) .

Then we have they further point that is why, if jets are so full, bother with gifting status. This one is simple too when you think about it. Capacity is growing and prices are dropping (just slowly but still I think we will see more of this). One big factor is those who have any level of status tend to pay more, in general, compared to a leisure traveler. Plus, lower ranked Silver and Gold Medallion elites are often more willing to pay for up-sells to 1st class (since they get so few free upgrades) compared to Platinums and Diamonds Medallions.

Lastly we have the really big issue that is the cost to win back a lost customer. This can be really expensive for any business. It is much cheaper to retain a customer than to have to acquire a new one or especially to win back a disgruntled one. Again, when you have to win back you have to do something BIG and that is give them the cow as sour milk may be the reason they left in the fist place and just offering them a bonus of what they do not want will not work.

Really the most fascinating part of all of this is to look at what is next. Personally I think the glory days of insane profits for the airlines will end in the near future. Competition will impact prices especially internationally. I think some airlines may be smart enough not to destroy their award programs. As things start to change on the profit side for the airlines, and banks keep stepping up their pressure to flyers to use their award currency, something has to give somewhere. An award program is, after all, a loyalty program and as Delta has told us so many times in the past that it really does go both ways! – René
.
.

Gold Delta SkyMiles®
Credit Card from American Express®
Click HERE for more info

Above is my current million miler status with Delta. I will cross 900,000 by the end of this year with flights and Delta AMEX Reserve card bonus MQMs from hitting $60,000 in spend. That means all I need is 100,000 more miles in 2016 to hit 1 million lifetime miles with Delta. I will get 30,000 again from my AMEX card and thus only need 70,000 flying (or maybe flying and pick up a business … Continue reading →

eBay user “dimadasha” is choosing to sell their Delta Platinum Medallion Choice Benefit on eBay. What a really STUPID idea. Oh and it gets worse as the user tells potential buyers: Oh, humm, “bid with confidence”. I am not so sure about that. Well are they the only one selling Delta status on eBay? Oh look here is yet another one. User “airportrat75” also wants to sell you Silver Medallion status but at a fixed … Continue reading →

With a HT to FlyerTalk it seems that Alaska is not going down without a fight. Delta has for Washington residents a HUGE MQM and RDM bonus going on but Alaska is making it even more simple – we will just match your status! Should you do this? If you are fed up with Skymiles2015 and are already crediting your Delta flying to Alaska why not and enjoy the perks of their program along the … Continue reading →

One of the biggest perks of reaching Diamond Medallion status is that I get to, not just pick a Platinum Medallion Choice Benefit gift but also two more Diamond ones. I cannot pick two of the same Diamond Choice Benefits but I did gift my wife Gold status. The welcome kit included a welcome letter, two plastic bag tags with no bar code on the back as is the new practice from Delta and still … Continue reading →

In yet another, in a very long list of targeted promotions made to upset just about everyone who flies Delta, is a targeted one to get 90 days of free Silver Medallion status. That is nice and I think most of us agree that “Great Perks Await” is less than accurate when it comes to describing Silver status, but the really amazing part is you would ONLY need to fly 26,000 MQMs in 90 days … Continue reading →

  At long last Delta Air Lines has updated their 2013 Status Challenge page. Delta no longer will just “match” you, you have to fly to keep the status. You will get the status during the challenge, but you will not have all the perks of full fledged status. Once you do meet the challenge you will be a full member at whatever level you challenge. There are some important features to keep in mind if … Continue reading →

I have just about sifted through the mountain of mail that awaited me after a month in Sweden and toward the bottom of the stack was my shiny new Diamond Medallion credentials. Having been Platinum off and on for a number of years I was really looking forward to seeing how much more impressive the Diamond kit would be. All I have to say is wow, Delta is getting cheap everywhere! I mean look at … Continue reading →

I have been, off and on, a Platinum Medallion with Delta/NWA for a long time. Many years ago, the first time I hit Silver, I was amazed. Acually Lisa & I both qualified on segments back then and we got our fair share of upgrades even at the then lowest elite status (now having any Delta AMEX card is the unofficial lowest elite level). But those old days are long gone. I have also a … Continue reading →

There has been a fun thread that has popped up on Flyer Talk about someone getting FREE Diamond Medallion status each year from his boss. How does this happen? Well I have blogged about before that one way is to get the DeltaJet card (was $50,000 prepay, now $100,000) and you get instant Diamond Medallion status or you can give it to anyone you want. If you spend $33-50,000 a year with Delta you get … Continue reading →

I have posted about this over and over again but if you have been waiting, and it can make a HUGE impact on your LAST year’s medallion status, you have just a few more hours to buy MQM’s from Delta that will apply to LAST YEAR’S total. If you are thinking about this read these posts HERE and HERE! – René EDIT: From DeltaAssist at Twitter they say: “@DeltaPoints This promo will end at 11:59p … Continue reading →