Last night, I wrote a very brief blog post entitled, “Delta – I’ve Missed You.” In that post, I mentioned some of the things I enjoy about flying Delta like friendly employees, clean airplanes, consistency in service, and most of all, wi-fi. I apparently struck a positive nerve because I’ve had several comments to the post and the number of views of the post numbers into the several hundreds. I really like Delta Air Lines, but clearly, a number of people out there are either wondering what I’m smoking or share similar feelings.
As I mentioned in my post, SkyMiles can be a challenge. It’s not that the program is totally unusable, it’s just frustrating sometimes. I’m absolutely convinced that Delta’s website simply doesn’t “see” award availability that really is there, and when it does….something usually goes wrong to give you some kind of error when you try to book it. This has been covered at length by bloggers far more eloquent than me in explaining it so I won’t belabor the point. That said, it’s something that should be fixed. Given that my Google Analytics data clearly points out that there is interest in the topic, I thought it might be interesting to list the top 3 things I think Delta could do to improve SkyMiles, only one of which is even tacitly related to their well publicized “availability” issues. So here ya’ go.
- Fix the Delta.com booking engine
- Offer one-way awards
- Make at least a token portion of their systemwide upgrades from Platinum and Diamond Medallions usable on any fare
So those are my 3 ideas for SkyMiles. See, I’m really not all that demanding, am I? What are your ideas?
One thing they cannot change and that will always make them inferior to united is that they are not in star alliance. Once you have tried the enormous possibilities *A offers to go places, you can never go back. And sometimes in Int F as well!
Restore the status delta has taken away from the silver medallions. Hey, 25,000 miles may be pittens to diamonds, but we silvers work hard and spend our own money to travel.thanks!
Another thing I would like DL to change is stop inflating the elite ranks by handing out EQMs through AMEX. Heck some people are Golds without even stepping onboard a plane. Get rid of the EQMs and offer more RDM bonuses for the CC customers and preserve the elite ranks for those that have to step onboard a plane quite frequently. The only program I don’t mind DL offering status to without having them step onboard the plane are those who are members of Delta’s AirElite program.
Agree with you about one-way awards and usable SWUs. Also, allow F redemptions with SkyMiles please!!! Most, if not all, Skyteam’s business class products blow [angled lie-flats ugh] and many of them are not making any positive strides to improve the product particularly AF. Only two airlines have a pretty competitive J class products that partners with DL are KE and VA and the rest are sub-par. AZ and KL are installing new seats, but they are taking their sweet time with the installations.
Of course, it is always YMMV and people have different priorities, but award redemptions, SWUs, and upgrades are the most important benefits for me. Delta obviously fails on 2/3 key benefits for me.
I like #3 especially, and I like aadvantagegeek‘s suggestion on that front too.
A fixed booking engine would help (although selfishly I don’t mind it being broken as long as I can book what I want…) as would better training of agents for booking partner awards, especially since most are not available online and I’d rather they fix what’s already implemented first.
One-way awards are nice, but what would we give up? I far prefer Delta’s international stopover + open jaw vs. e.g. AA’s lack of an international stopover, in most cases.
I’d prefer a relaxation of the 72-hour rule.
Usable SWUs would be a huge, huge improvement. I’d put that number 1. International usefulness would be great, but even a better way to upgrade my wife and I together domestically a few times a year would be appreciated.
They aren’t called skypesos for nothing.
If addressing availability is assumed, then I’m in complete agreement with you on items 1 and 2.
My third suggestion would be to allow mileage upgrades from the deeply discounted, international fare buckets (like H, T and Q),
The real value to me (and probably many other non-elite SkyMiles members) is in being able to use miles to upgrade a cheap international ticket. I’d even be willing to pay a $300-350 fee.
Delta is a great airline that flies to some great destinations. The worst thing that could happen to United or American would be for Delta to fix SkyMiles.
1 – dl “IT” feels booking works end of story
2 – no way on one way – trying to burn miles
3 – no way on upgrades – worst in the biz
but they make up for it in so many ways if you know how! I do. 🙂