It seems, at least according to all the buzz on social media sites, that a large number of Delta elites are giving up the chase for status and will be so called “free agents” that is, flying any airline that can get them from A-B at a decent price.
That being the case, is simply buying a first class ticket with Delta going to yield the same results as having say Platinum or Diamond status?
As a disclaimer on this post I am not talking about the obvious things you will not get like choice benefits and the like – what I am talking about is the flight experience holding status vs. just being a paid first class passenger. Also it is important to know that a top elite in coach gets nothing special vs. any other passenger (elites get limited drink coupons if they want free adult drinks and no special snacks or food is provided due to status like some airlines).
- Boarding. Officially Delta has Delta One and first class boarding before Diamonds (Platinum and lower are way down the list btw). Here booking first wins but we know in practice often gate agents are quick to call a number of zones all at once.
- Bumps. Delta does at times oversell even first class. If they can not get volunteers they are less likely to force at top elite out of their seat vs. someone who has no status. In this case you are better off with status but it really is rare this happens and Delta does tend to offer vouchers at high numbers to get someone to volunteer.
- Bags. First class passengers get to check 2 bags free. What you are missing out on are some of the perks of waived over weight fees and extra bag fees but for most trips checking 2 plus one carryon works. Both paid first and elite plus members get priority tags thus your bags should come out first. Call this, depending on your bag needs, a win for status.
- IRROPS. Delta used to brag about how long it had been since they canceled a flight (often months in a row). Nowadays irregular operations is happening more frequently. While Delta will work to get you to your destination you are more likely to have a better, and faster, resolution calling the elite line vs. just being a paid first class passenger (For immediate impacted travelers Delta has a help line number 1-855-548-2505). Overall this is another win for status.
- Lounges. Neither status (on it’s own) nor domestic first class tickets get you into the clubs (there are a few exceptions like Delta One from say LAX to JFK). This was is a a slight win for paid first if flying out of the markets that offer the exceptions.
- Earning SkyPennies. As a Diamond you are earning 11 bonus cents back per dollar spent (vs. the lower rate for just being a SkyMiles member) so this one again is clearly a win for status.
Bottom line is the “Delta Experience” if you will should be the same for you if you have paid for first class vs. holding top elite status if things don’t go sideways. Clearly you are earning more and have more perks as an elite but for most the benefits simply no longer are enough to move the needle to always book Delta to both fly paid first and drive for top status as well. – René
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That is my strategy for the coming year. It actually feels good sitting in a first class seat that I outright bought. No more chasing Diamond! No more worrying over if I will get upgraded.
Fools chasing status then paying for something that used to be free. If everyone would stop paying for first you’d get upgrades again!
@Truth – The airlines have been successful in selling cheap first class upgrades to the point that “we” are trained to just buy them. I agree with you but think that time has passed. Anyone chasing status for upgrades (that is say a 75% success rate) is living in the past (other than a few select low elite routs).
This ^^^
1-855-548-2505 died many months ago. I was caught in IROPS and tried to use it but it stopped working in early summer.
@Frankie – Well that stinks. They killed the old good ones as well plus Singapore one.
I am Elite Plus and have been Platinum as long as I can remember. I fly First or Business/Delta One on every flight and I have never had my bags come out first. SOMEtimes I will find them pulled and put in the little rope area, but never ever do I get them first off the belt.
Is this a domestic thing?
@Christy – They should if priority tagged. Mine tend to be some of the first out.
Mine completely random. Sometimes first, sometimes middle, sometimes last. The only times they are ALWAYS FIRST is when I land in BKK and KE is handling the bags.
@truth when F is only a slightly more than coach, it will continue to sell. ie. My trip, DTW-CUN, $2105 main cabin and $2465 in First. For that small difference I will fly F
DL claims that about 75% of their F seats are paid for. Unless your flying is exclusively on Tuesday or Wednesday mid-day to places no one wants to go to, upgrades aren’t going to happen. This was going on even pre-pandemic. I learned that if I wanted F, I would find flights with discounted F availability, book Y (per the corporate standard) and then immediately use PWM to upgrade myself.
Since status is pretty difficult to earn these days and since the elite benefits are pretty meh, I would forget about chasing status and do the following: WFBF (want first, buy first) and forget about upgrades. Buy your own Sky Club membership for $695 (that’s just a little more than the DL Reserve CC fee). If you don’t fly often enough or to locations that don’t have a Sky Club, just hit the airport bar/restaurant. I think the Sky Club is way overrated and doesn’t offer as useful amenities as the old Crown Room did 20 years ago. Get the DL AMEX Gold card to get the minimum benefits (free checked bag, 15% discount on redemptions) that you could actually use. If you find a better deal/itinerary on another carrier, take it.
DL is aggressively trying to weed out non-HVCs (high value customers) from the elite ranks. In doing so, they are pissing off the loyal customers, whereas these programs were put there to instill loyalty.
YES!
It would be nice if DL did what some other airlines (like Singapore) do. When you call in it says: if you are First Class press 1, if you are Business Class press 2, if you are Coach Class press 3. 1 and 2 get you to an agent fast! Ed are you listening?
I often wondered about this. Thanks for sharing.