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Just about every airline, hotel and car company is sending out reminders to vote for them at the Freddie awards, the MOST prestigious frequent flyer awards ceremony held each year and respected world wide, but I really did not think Delta would send beg emails out.
Even though it is being held in Atlanta and at the Delta Flight museum, I could not dream, after Delta has done nothing but DECIMATE their frequent flyer program over the past two years again and again, they would have unabashed gall and delusional nerve to request votes for SkyRubels – but they did!
I mean let’s break down what they think is vote worthy:
- Best elite program? You mean like cutting perks for elites – fewer free bags for Silvers, only getting to pick C+ seats for Golds at 72 hr mark, removing access for upgrade for Platinums on JFK-LAX/SFO route, FCM making upgrades harder for MOST medallions. Oh how about removal of greater award space for elites. Yeah, those are vote worthy moves 🙁
- Best customer service. OK if there is one place they maybe can get a vote it is here. But you still have to PUSH reps to get what you want most times even as a Diamond. And sometimes reps just give you wrong info.
- Best redemption ability. WHAT? I just fell out of my chair. Delta, your award calendar is broken beyond belief. You now HIDE your award charts. You often charge us for two tickets rather than one and cover it up by hiding the award charts. Please don’t insult us in asking for a vote by tossing us a bone to spend a few less miles now and then. No one will vote for a redemption win for SkyRubles.
- Best Loyalty card. You mean the card from AMEX that gives you MQMs boost. Yeah that is a nice card. But you cut one of the best perks 1MAY14, that is, allowing us to bring our wife and family or our business partner into the Skyclubs. How about MORE award space for card holders (yeah that is gone this year too). Please don’t think you are going to get a vote here.
I could go on and on but I have already covered all of these points over and over this year. But I guess just like the delusional insanity of THIS email about spending your points by flushing them down the drain for half their value (or less) the mothership actually thinks someone will vote for Delta this year at the Freddie’s – YEAH RIGHT! – René
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I was actually on Delta flights yesterday from LAS to DCA (which I did not pay for), and as I sat listening to the smug Delta CEO give his welcoming pitch as part of the safety spiel, talking up all the helpful things Delta does for passengers and how much they care about them, I could not help but think of all the things Delta has done over the past year, that “fly” in the face of what he was telling those passive captured passengers, most of whom I assume are totally ignorant and clueless.
Sorta hard to get out of your mind…
There are only 3 types of passengers that fly Delta:
1) First/business class corporate paid: they don’t care about miles, Amex card, ticket price, whatever…. They want the most convenient time to get them to their destination. Their corporation pay the ticket;
2) Hub hostages (including myself): those who leave in a Delta hub and have no better option to fly. I save lots of time by flying Delta non-stop versus connecting with other carriers,
3) Clueless passenger: have no idea frequent flyer programs even exsist. They fly couple times per year and buy whatever is cheaper.
Anyone that has options and cares about their miles would never fly Delta.
Couple cold realities here. Delta is a business and they are just looking to make money. So with this they will continue to “enhance” things to save money while driving new revenue. They’re smart enough to know that with decreased competition, they really don’t need too many elite customers any longer. And let’s not forget, ever US legacy program out there stinks. What other option do we have, UAL – come on now. AA? This only makes sense in very limited circumstances.
Consolidation among the big boys hosed over consumers and this is the result. Want to be an elite, time to pay for J/F. Otherwise. this is the new reality we need to live with.
I really enjoy your blog, but wish you would cut back on all the negativity and bitterness lately. Not that delta doesn’t deserve most of it, but the constant negative posts really bum me out.
@Emily – Txs. Delta needs to change. I will push for that change. I plan to push HARD at the Freddies. When Delta does good I will praise them, bad – I CALL THEM OUT!
Agree with your comments that Delta is a business and they are looking to make money. Only problem is that they only make money if passengers purchase tickets to fly with them. If they keep treating their customers like they are and people get tired and start taking their business elsewhere they won’t make money. Thus, they have to find a balance between making money and treating customers accordingly. Delta has gone too far on the “making money” side. Companies like Cathay and Singapore were able to find the perfect balance.
@Emily: “Not that delta doesn’t deserve most of it, but the constant negative posts really bum me out”. It is not his fault. It’s Delta’s fault. You should ask Delta to stop treating customers the way they are and we will be happy to talk good things about Delta. This blog is about Delta and in the past two years there has been no good news about Delta that were worth commenting here. Thus, the blog talks about reality and the reality is that Delta has taken their loyalty program and flushed down to the toilet. Once they realize that they only exist because we fly them and they should treat us as loyal customers I will be the first one to say good things about them.
as of March 1/15 a Diamond can not bring anyone else in wiht them without paying $29.
Really?
another reson why im looking at anyother airline to fly.
show me your loyalty and I’ll show you the end of my foot.
I think Delta will win an award for doing its best to screw its loyal customers
JGfromOC:
1: The economy’s doing well at the moment, so Delta’s doing well, at the moment. But in the long run, the way you make money is by NOT being a commodity. That means by having people want to buy your product, even when it costs a bit more.
As an airline, you do that by having a FF program that draws people in. Right now, Delta’s got an FF program that’s driving people away.
That’s going to really hurt when next the economy is down, and a big chunk of people who WERE “Delta first” are now “Delta last”.
2: As a result of Delta’s messing over its Medallions, I no longer buy my tickets on Delta.com. I wonder how many other ways Delta Medallions and FFs are finding to “return the favor”?
Angering your customers is bad business. It’s too bad Delta.
I received this email. Was it worng of me to use their link to vote for Alaska (AS)? LOL.
@Chris B – No. I did not vote for Delta either 😉