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I so fondly remember the first time I ever achieved Delta SkyMiles Gold Medallion status. I felt like I finally was somebody big time.
I mean, I had been Silver off and on before and loved the perks. But back then, Gold was just one step away from the top elite level of Platinum. Reaching Gold, everything flying Delta was so much better as well as Skyteam partners.
That was then; as now, Gold is nice. But I no longer expect anything special like my years of being Diamond Medallion. I miss not being able to automatically choose Comfort+ seats (if I want to, that is, because it’s not really an upgrade) for longer flights. But I’m just as happy with an exit row when I am on shorter flights, so no major loss. I no longer expect upgrades ever, even to and from my tiny South Bend International Airport (SBN), and only pick First Class as my choice if I would happen to clear.
With my status downgrade, I really have changed my overall mindset when I fly Delta. Back when I was flying all the time as a Diamond, I came to expect that a vast majority of my flights would result in a First Class upgrade. This really mattered on longer flights of, say, 3+ hours, including mid-con or trans-con legs. I have no illusions that as a Gold I would ever clear on such long flights.
For long haul and ultra long haul I am still, as I did before even with status, booking a premium cabin seat be it First Class, Business Class or even Premium Economy when the price is right either in points or dollars. For flights that mean I will be on a jet for six, eight, or 12 or more hours, I refuse to suffer in coach. Plus, my wife of almost 40 years has made it clear to me she will NOT be riding in coach for long-haul flights (and I like my wife pleased with me so…)!
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But that brings me to domestic flights. For a flight that is under or around 2 hours, the seat just does not really matter to me or my wife. By the time I am sick of the experience, we are getting off the jet and the memory of the flight is quickly forgotten. That takes care of almost all of my flights to the East Coast, down south, or even to Texas if I connect via Atlanta. But what about the rest?
I have booked an award flight out of Mexico City over the next year, and that means I have to position there to fly. No way am I flying coach, even with a number of short connections (that are an option) so I booked the cheapest possible first class flights and used a Delta gift card and paid with my The Business Platinum Card® from American Express to trigger $200 off (for my yearly travel credit) to make the price of the flight somewhat reasonable. Then I waited for a Delta Schedule Change Saturday to change to perfect flights that would have cost me thousands more (are we learning yet, kids?).
For another flight, I booked coach because the flights were all short but after a schedule change I ended up with one leg that was 3ish hours long (plus simply perfect flight times and even a co-terminal flight change free). Now, I did not want to fly that long in coach but after the change I was able to spend under 20k SkyPennies to upgrade to 1st class with lunch and time to enjoy clubs along the way = winning in my book and no stress about maybe upgrading.
Now, wait a minute, you might say. I thought you were not flying Delta that much anymore! Well… when the price or the points are right. I will be happy to fly Delta vs. other airlines. On to my next Delta flight.
This one is again a mid-con but one that includes an A220-300 and about a four-hour flight. That Delta jet has a Premium Economy seat in First Class that is OK but not amazing (especially the horrid row one that is a total joke). But oddly enough, Comfort+ on this baby bird is quite nice. I booked an ultra cheap exit row seat with the TakeOff 15% assist from my Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card for booking with SkyMiles. After booking, the price dropped (vs. buying it outright – a common thing I see) to upgrade cheaply to Comfort+ for such a long fight with a tiny shot at an upgrade to First-ish Class.
So, what should you take from all of this? If you, too, are someone who no longer is chasing status with Delta by choice or for other reasons you can game Delta back and find ways to fly premium or at least in comfort for so much less than retail and with so much less stress that hoping you maybe get some mythical upgrade – why not just enjoy the trip from the get-go with all the tools available to us! – René
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There are those that say “buy the seat you want.” But not all people have the luxury of picking anything above C+. Thankfully, I have lots of points, so I am able to upgrade to FC for a longer flight and enjoy the space and meal.
@Bill – There are so many ways to get points that most can take advantage of if the choose. Heck, even AMEX MR points can be transferred to Delta if one wants to.
You are so right… pay less, expect less, and be ok with what you get. Gosh, I was a Diamond for so many years until they came up with Diamond 360, then spending requirements… the higher you position yourself, the bigger the disappointment when that upgrade doesn’t come through. What! Now only 19% of first class goes to upgrades???
But oh do I miss the good old days of Northwest Worldperks and Regal Imperial service!
Couldn’t agree more. No longer any value in maintaining status with Delta. I’m also dropping my Delta AMEX (which used to have unlimited club visits) due to new restrictions AND the fact that clubs are always packed with lines streaming out the door.
I lost my Platinum status for the first time and fell to gold this year. I was SO close and kept thinking I’d sneak in a weekend run here or there, but my dad kept landing himself back in the hospital from pretty much Oct until after Christmas, so it is what it is.
That said, the travel I had last year – I rarely saw upgrades to the front, even when paying for C+ out of pocket. Clearing an upgrade at 5 days? It doesn’t happen anymore. You’re lucky to see one at 24hrs, even as a Platinum.
I’ve been doing exactly what you’re doing for my travel this year – playing the game back. Buy C+ seat, then hope the price goes down and/or the upgrade cost is so cheap it makes it worth it. I truly think this is reverse psychology from Delta, though. They know most of us with status have a bank of points to fall back on, and maybe this is their way of getting us to spend those miles.
Rene, for your trip through MEX what did you use your $200 AMEX Platinum reimbursement for? I thought you could not use it for airfare!
@Rob – When you include i.e. spend a Delta gift card (any amount) as part of the purchase (plus your Amex Platinum card) it triggers the $200 credit.
I quit flying Delta because of EXACTLY THIS!!! They changed the rules and DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE CUSTIMERS!!!! THROW THE CUSTOMER OUT THE EMERGENCY EXIT!!!
whether you’re a diamond or gold or whatever, you’ll pay the same price for the ticket. just pay for the Delta One. problem gone.
We are still trying to figure out why we were moved out of exit row seats together to separated economy comfort seats (me in a middle seat three rows back). Of course, the person who changed our seats on a four + hour coast to coast flight may have thought (albeit wrongly) that we were upgraded. I am a platinum level Delta flyer and a million-miler, so the bad seating came as a surprise particularly when it was done shortly prior to the flight. That was our most recent annoyance. We normally choose exit row seats rather than “upgraded” seats and, more and more, choosing other airlines. It is easier to change meals on Air France, for example, and I can still get my Delta frequent flyer points. We will be trying Turkish Air in the fall.
The biggest perk of Diamond are the intangible benefits when there are IRROPs. Delta always treats me *very well* when things go sideways. This is very beneficial on complicated international routings
As to upgrades:
I was on a flight yesterday between two mid-tier markets on an A320. There were 75 people on the upgrade list. Overhearing the flight attendent serving drinks with a “thank you for your diamond status”, everyone in first was Diamond.
Delta already knows they have enough customers (like myself) that just buy the seat they want. The upgrade ship sailed at least five years ago.