It’s Friday, and I managed to take today off. Call me crazy, but I think we all need a day off. The last week or so have been one of the more “interesting” since I started this blog in 2006. A lot has happened in that time, but I really believe that Delta’s recent announcements may be the most interesting, challenging, any other words???? since I started. I’ve posted well enough about the specifics of my thoughts and others on Delta’s SkyMiles changes.
- Delta SkyMiles Changes
- Another Word About Delta SkyMiles Changes
- Change is Hard
- Maybe It’s Time to Think About Other Things
- Random Miles Musings and a Little Unsolicited Advice for Delta Air Lines
- My Last Word on SkyMiles and Why I’m Staying (You really should read this)
- Well That Didn’t Take Long
- The 2015 Delta SkyMiles Award Charts Are Available
- Thoughts on the Delta SkyMiles Award Chart for 2015
Geez. I must be invested in SkyMiles even if I my name isn’t DeltaPoints. 🙂 Recognizing that I am a bit of a contrarian on the topic of “miles” around BoardingArea, I hope you realize I really do care about my miles…..and yours. I’ve had the opportunity to experience too many good things as a result of airline miles not to care. Even so, I recognize that the airline industry has changed and it is not likely that miles are going to represent the same value they always have. That said, not equaling the same value is not the same thing as “no value.” Opportunities abound. Don’t give up. I’m surely not.
Keep the faith…..and the miles. More soon.
-MJ, March 7, 2014
I wouldn’t mind a switch to AA myself, until I have to fly their Business product internationally with the service it comes with.
Seriously, the service is a differentiator for me. But foreign carriers take that to a new level.
This has been a tough week especially for someone like me who is a “low value” Delta Diamond. Delta will “revalue” my mileage earning ability next year with a reduction of about 75,000 miles earned.
There is a silver lining and so far only “Frequent Miler” has picked up on it. I keep a broadly diversified portfolio of miles and points and I have noticed it is getting tougher
to book a roundtrip in a premium cabin with any one airline [plus their partners] especially if the dates of the trip are important.
With the advent of Delta allowing one way awards I think the ability to book award travel is possibly much better. I can see flying Virgin Atlantic [using Delta miles] to London and coming home in First on British Airways. Maybe going to Asia on EVA and returning on Delta.
I think the one way awards may make Delta miles a valuable currency…something I haven’t felt in some time. It allows me to mentally live with the idea I will be earning fewer of them 🙂
Stuart,
As much as I like the Delta product, you are likely right. When MrsMJ and I make it further south…aka Miami….. we’ll be back to AA. Notably, that’s not just because of the loyalty program even though it figures in pretty heavily. Convenience matters.
I don’t think you are contrarian when one takes into account that you live in Atlanta. Let’s face it, Delta own Atlanta. And while that may be the biggest reason you are loyal to SkyMiles, above and beyond the fact that Delta has excellent management which provides a competitive onboard product, my guess is that if you lived in a market where American and United’s presence matched that of Delta, SkyMiles would not be your first choice.