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Your paltry Delta miles aren't accepted here
If Delta Skymiles could be equated to a currency, they would be Zimbabwean Dollars.Over the past several months, numerous changes at the Atlanta based company have brought significant detriment to the joint Delta and Northwest frequent flyer program. These modifications range from an increase in mileage fee for economy tickets (tickets to Europe, for example, went from 50K to 60K miles,) application of fees for award bookings (up to $150,) and the reduction of benefits such as free miles redeposits and system wide upgrades.
There are plenty of small annoyances, but what all of these program changes boil down to is a change in the model in which award tickets are exchanged. Formerly, supply of award miles was lower, availability was higher and the top few passengers who earned numerous miles could spend them fairly easily.
Now, supply is higher, availability is lower and the masses all generally have access to a few scrappy seats. The very few extra that are booked are done so at excruciating costs. So as a result, the airline loses less money on award bookings and gives passengers the false sense of reward with useless miles.
No passenger is in a better perspective to observe the change than he who was a Northwest Worldperks member. Over the last six months, that customer watched his counterparts at Delta reap the benefits of numerous mileage bonus offers, virtually dumping miles into the pockets of passengers and severely diluting the mileage pool.
Meanwhile, program changes continue to cut Worldperks down to the level of Skymiles and defectors leave in droves. At a poll on the frequent flyer website Flyertalk, nearly 30% of passengers queried are leaving the conglomerate to join another airline program, another 20% are leaving at year's end and 20% are too distraught to know what to do.
Out on the underground mileage exchanges, Delta/Northwest miles have lost their value. Most don't even bother trying to trade, and one passenger trying to exchange Delta miles for an equal number of competitor miles was laughed at. The best offer so far? A few beverage certificates.
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
joe Feb 26th 2009 1:44AM
the airlines hv been coninually changing the ff miles requirments for one reason they dont want you to use them its a total fraud
fgh Feb 23rd 2009 9:32AM
there sb a national no fly day maybe then passengers will be treated like humans instead of animals in a cage
johne Feb 23rd 2009 9:45AM
your cant put liquids in yr luggage so anything of that nature has to be checked and they just steal everything- why dont they get to the bottom of the problem instead of as one poster said he was told dont change in miami thats a hell of an indictment
steve Feb 23rd 2009 9:36AM
i once tried to use delta miles to fly from key west and was told that all seats were booked already. i told them i would fly any flight any time in the next year any day and guess what nothing available. a couple of calls and threats and i got my seat and canceled my card the next day and went to american where they are still doint the right thing
p red Feb 23rd 2009 9:47AM
they cheat you, screw you, steal yr luggage, treat like dirt if foreign carriers were allowed in the would wipe the floor with these por excuses for airlines
mike Feb 23rd 2009 9:59AM
Absolutely true. I have avoided Delta nad Northwest for years, preferring Continental as a frequent flyer. This past week, I was using my Continental miles to fly to Colorado for a ski trip. On the way out I had zero extra charges for baggage (one week trip, skis/boots/poles for four). The outbound was Continental. The first segment of the return was on Northwest -- a Continental "partner." Northwest had baggage fees of $160 PLUS overweight fees on two bags @ $90 per bag. The counter employees were rude and unhelpful. The bags weighed 1 and 3 pounds overweight, respectively. The flight was horrible as well. As we deplaned, the pilot wished us a nice rest of our day. We said we were sure it would be as we were flying Continental the rest of the way home.
When business is bad, treat customers even better, not worse. Customers that frequent the purchase of your product (especially those loyal to a competitor) should be treated like Royalty -- not Crap!!!
Ron Feb 23rd 2009 11:25AM
Hey flyers:
Last year my flight from Charlotte to El Paso was so
depressing I am determined to never fly again.Please
Mr Obama get someone to ceate a great rail system!
Rather than describe the awful flight,including ground and
terminal anxiety,its best to say my flying is done.
lillian Feb 23rd 2009 11:45AM
I flew back to NY from Orlando, FL with US airway. had a 9 hour delay in Philly because the waited until they had a full plane. Got here after 11:ooPM, my luggage was lost. I reported it then and there. The next day I got a call and they had it and was going to delivery it. I opened it, it wasn't even closed , there were a few items missing , it was so messed up, I called them, sent them an itemized list. I did get a check and also a letter of apology.
I am going to FL again real soon, am trying ALLEGIANT AIR. $29.00 one way and picked another day to return, $69.00 . After taxes, checked luggage, insurance, reservations etc, the trip came to $202.00.
Will let you know how it turns out.