Comments on: Some more thoughts on Delta Diamond status

By: David Glenn

David Glenn — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 01:06:31 +0000

The other point worth making is that the SW upgrades are not necessarily available simply by purchasing a Y,B, M fare. I did however finally manage to use one last week on a TPE-NRT but was sitting in coach from NRT-ATL on an M fare.

I’ve been 100% on non-international.

So far, I’ve successfully used only 1 SWU in the past 3 years. I would gladly give up multiple coupons for a single guaranteed upgrade on a K fare.

By: scott

scott — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:32:38 +0000

@Mike,

What’s your source on this info? I haven’t heard that yet.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:46:59 +0000

Just an FYI, but Delta is doing away with upgrades on flights with “Business Elite”. For me this all of South America and over 50% of my other destinations even some US flights. Diamond members beware of what Delta has gift wrapped here, it’s their bottom line they were thinking of, not us Diamond members.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:12:32 +0000

So …

If Delta won’t adopt Vince’s absolutely sensible proposal (see above), will it at least allow us to decline diamond status and elect to rollover instead?

I’d be perfectly happy (and would certainly decline diamond) even if they capped the amount I can roll over at “only” 49,999 miles.

By: Bob Leiter

Bob Leiter — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:22:16 +0000

My thought as i reach the new diamond level on my next flight is that I’m giving up 50,000 “roll over miles” for little or no gain. I reached 2m miles a month a go with out even a thank you note or email. If I wasn’t from Detroit I would consider another airline.

By: Cosmo

Cosmo — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:48:09 +0000

Gee, I could fly 75,000 miles on Delta and be Platinum, and 50,000 miles on American and be Gold. Or, I could fly 125,000 miles on Delta and be Diamond- which is about the same as being Platinum! I might as well have high status on 2 airlines!

By: Dan J

Dan J — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:40:57 +0000

Like others here, I’m loathing the new system. On top of these great points let me add that the coming from NW, the new mileage tiers for award travel stink and offer next to no inventory for lower-level seats. This plus having to fly 125,000 to get benefits I had the last 4 years at 75K — GOODBYE DELTA, UA here I come

By: chris

chris — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:12:11 +0000

Yikes you guys are a bunch of whiners.

By: Vince Pecoraro

Vince Pecoraro — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:47:28 +0000

The new rollover benefit is rather interesting. If you fly 124,500 miles, you get a whopping 49,500 miles as a Platinum Member to use toward qualifying status the following year. However, if you fly 125,500 you can carry a Diamond Card and get the benefit of 500 rollover miles for the following year. So, yes, I will have flown 50K more miles to qualify for the next level and will have lost 49K miles for the rollover option. What genius thought that one up?

One solution would be to credit diamond members with 50K miles towards Pt status and 500 miles towards renewing the Diamond Level.

When you call up the Pt line, they start waxing on about the new Diamond level until one points out that the new benefits are the old benefits for Pt levels as discussed above. Basically, rather than enhancing elite benefits, the new Delta has devalued the program faster than the dollar is dropping against the Euro or Yen. Unfortunately, I live near Detroit metro so there is no competition with other airlines available here…

Finally, ditto with respect to the SWUs they would have some value if they could be used on less expensive fare classes. The new Delta has basically blocked any intercontinental upgrades under $2,000. The cheapest I recently found was $2100 to Heathrow (they should actually pay us to go to that miserable airport).

By: Joe Gillan

Joe Gillan — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:31:43 +0000

This is really better described as a way to screw Platinum members that are over 75K, but will not get to 150K. What a joke.