Delta SkyMiles Program: Horrible

tonytifao · Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:14 pm

I was a very LOYAL Delta customer for 2 years. Last year (2006), I flew 93 segments.

Guess what status I earned? Silver. Not even Gold. If this was AA or UAL, I would have qualified for their middle tier and would have been almost at the top tier.

I emailed Delta 2 times, having them consider giving me Gold for having so many segments and Crown Room membership. I got 2 big NOs! They don't know what kind of customer they lost.

I am a Exec Plat with American and will be driving 15 min more to Fly AA out of Orlando instead of DL at Melbourne.

Alitalia744 · Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:16 pm

Per your membership guide, Delta doesn't offer a segment-based status.

You should have known this, not sure why you're so upset.

tonytifao · Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:20 pm

I know they don't, but it sucks to fly almost every single week of the year and reach only their bottom tier. Their program falls in disavantage to AAdvantage and Mileage Plus.

Does anyone know why they stopped counting segments?

Cadet57 · Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:24 pm

Quoting Tonytifao (Thread starter):
I am a Exec Plat with American and will be driving 15 min more to Fly AA out of Orlando instead of DL at Melbourne.

I hope the 2 gallons of gas and 15 extra minutes doesnt kill you sarcastic

Does any airline ever make you happy? I mean you bitch about everything...

Alitalia744 · Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:26 pm

Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 2):
I know they don't, but it sucks to fly almost every single week of the year and reach only their bottom tier. Their program falls in disavantage to AAdvantage and Mileage Plus.

Does anyone know why they stopped counting segments?

They stopped counting segments as a result of some of the enhancements they implemented into SkyMiles some time ago - including complimentary upgrades (domestic/mexico/canada) and minimum of 500miles regardless of fare class.

I know how you feel, I missed gold last year by a few miles and it sucks, but next time try booking in Y,B or M or taking a mileage run.

tonytifao · Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:32 pm

Quoting Cadet57 (Reply 3):
Does any airline ever make you happy? I mean you bitch about everything...

That is not true! Smile

I like Delta, just not their FF program.

Quoting Alitalia744 (Reply 4):
They stopped counting segments as a result of some of the enhancements they implemented into SkyMiles some time ago - including complimentary upgrades (domestic/mexico/canada) and minimum of 500miles regardless of fare class.

I know how you feel, I missed gold last year by a few miles and it sucks, but next time try booking in Y,B or M or taking a mileage run.

I would actually have made Gold, but when my paid flight GIG-ATL was canceled I was put on AA GIG-MIA-ATL and they did not want to compensate my account for that loss of those miles I would have earned.

EddieDude · Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:32 pm

Wow, seems your segments were all very short! With a few of those 93 segments being long-haul or even medium-haul, you would have earned Gold at least!

DL WIDGET HEAD · Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:36 pm

Quoting Tonytifao (Thread starter):
They don't know what kind of customer they lost.

Yeah they do. According to you a lowly Silver Medallion.

tonytifao · Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:41 pm

Quoting DL Widget Head (Reply 7):
Yeah they do. According to you a lowly Silver Medallion.

I did a sum on my Delta charges on my Amex last year: ~ US$ 24883.

I spent about ~US$ 13000 with AA and achieved Exec Plat.

Aeroflot777 · Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:53 pm

Seems like your segments were just too short. I flew 2 roundtrips on DL SFO-SVO and one domestic hop and I was in Silver status right away.

They don't count segments but miles. Just cause it didn't work out for you, don't complain.

Aeroflot777

Ex NWA · Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:23 pm

Where in the hell were you flying from MLB to have 90+ segments and only acheive silver??

I only had 40 segments (all DFW-ATL-BWI, DFW-ATL-RDU, DFW-ATL-GSO & DFW-ATL-ILM and reverse) all in T,L or U class and and hit silver by Septmeber and didn't miss gold by too much. Finished w/ over 35K + in MQMs. Something doesn't add up.

deltagator · Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:42 pm

Quoting Tonytifao (Thread starter):
I was a very LOYAL Delta customer for 2 years. Last year (2006), I flew 93 segments.

Something is fishy here. There is no way you flew all of these segments on Delta only to get Silver Medallion. The story doesn't add up. If you didn't fly the number of miles to make Gold then you don't get Gold. I've been in the same boat before and I dealt with it for that year.

Why should having a CRC membership entitle you to Gold either? It doesn't. I have had a CRC membership for years and it has never helped me jump a level that I didn't earn.

AeroWesty · Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:56 pm

Quoting Tonytifao (Thread starter):
Last year (2006), I flew 93 segments.

Guess what status I earned? Silver. Not even Gold. If this was AA or UAL, I would have qualified for their middle tier and would have been almost at the top tier.

Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 8):

I did a sum on my Delta charges on my Amex last year: ~ US$ 24883.

Let's do some calculations. $24883 over 93 segments = $267.56 per segment. At a minimum of 500 miles per flight, that's 46,500 MQMs, and shy of Gold by 3,500 MQMs.

However, if you buy Y, B, or M class coach fares or higher, you'd earn 750 MQMs per flight, or 69,750 MQMs, just shy of Platinum, by 5,250 MQMs.

Something is definitely wrong here, if this guy is paying $267 per segment and not reaching Silver, at least, and possibly close to Platinum. Gotta be more to the story.

Edit: Typo

[Edited 2007-01-15 08:02:35]

ScottB · Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:58 pm

Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 8):
I did a sum on my Delta charges on my Amex last year: ~ US$ 24883.

I spent about ~US$ 13000 with AA and achieved Exec Plat.

That's great and all, but:

1. How much did you spend on Delta?
2. Perhaps if you'd spent some of that $13,000 you spent with AA on flights with Delta, you'd have made Gold.

tonytifao · Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:15 am

Quoting AeroWesty (Reply 12):
Something is definitely wrong here, if this guy is paying $267 per segment and not reaching Silver, at least, and possibly close to Platinum. Gotta be more to the story.

I did reach Silver, I did not reach Gold.

I was flying MLB-ATL on a weekly basis. All I'm trying to say is that Skymiles program is not good anymore. On any other carrier, flying this much, I would have been close to a Platinum Status.

I don't know if you read all my postings, but I did spend ~$3000 dollars in a Biz Elite Seat on a one-way segment from GIG to ATL which eneded up being canceled and I flew on AA.

MEACEDAR · Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:34 am

I agree with you, DL SkyMiles does suck. I had about 150,000 miles and just I just transfered them to US Airways Dividend Miles. I don't really fly US but they are partners with UA, so I would be able to earn miles on UA with my US Dividend Miles. I have about 4,000 Miles with UA left so I am just going to transfer them to US FF now.

AeroWesty · Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:50 am

Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 14):
I did reach Silver, I did not reach Gold.

Yes, my apologies for the slip of my fingers regarding the SkyMiles levels. That sentence should have said: "if this guy is paying $267 per segment and not reaching Gold, at least, and possibly close to Platinum."

OK, MLB-ATL, is 442 miles, so you would recieve 500 miles as the minimum. The current one-way T-class fare is $88 all-in, and one-way Y-class is $678.

Sounds like despite the dollars you spent on travel, you simply didn't pay close enough attention to the fare class you bought, resulting in only the basic mileage credit. A simple mileage run would have solved your problems, but basically, thems the rules. It sucks for short-haul flyers who are buying mid-range priced tickets on DL.

micstatic · Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:17 am

Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 14):
I did reach Silver, I did not reach Gold.

I definetly would have been looking at a mileage run at the end of the year

klkla · Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:47 am

Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 5):
I would actually have made Gold, but when my paid flight GIG-ATL was canceled I was put on AA GIG-MIA-ATL and they did not want to compensate my account for that loss of those miles I would have earned.

Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 8):
I did a sum on my Delta charges on my Amex last year: ~ US$ 24883.

I spent about ~US$ 13000 with AA and achieved Exec Plat.

Write Grinstein a letter and send it directly to his office certified mail and include your Silver card. Explain all these facts and let them know they are on the verge of losing a valued customer. DO NOT send this letter to customer service or SkyMiles department. He won't read it himself but when it gets handed down to the CS department from the CEO's office it will carry more weight. I would be very surprised if they don't give you gold.

I don't think you're over reacting, either. I spent abut $15,000 on Delta last year and made Platinum so you should at least be Gold.

klkla · Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:49 am

While on the subject of Delta SkyMiles, but slightly off topic, I just made Medalion for the first time. Do they deposit the system wide upgrades into your online account like United or mail paper certificates?

Reggaebird · Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:52 am

Well something in this story doesn't add up:

92 segments X 500 miles (lowest possible mileage) = 46,000 MQMs
1 segment X 7,116 miles (4,744 miles from ATL-GIG times 1.5 for the BizElite bonus) = 7,166 MQMs
Total = 53,166 MQMs

Status = Delta Skymiles Gold Medallion

I think he is exaggerating something in the story to make a point. I bet he didn't really fly 93 segments on Delta or his Delta flights were credited to another mileage program. If he comes clean, I might be more sympathetic.

Reggaebird (Proud and happy Delta Skymiles Platinum Medallion member)

Zone1 · Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:18 am

Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 2):
Their program falls in disavantage to AAdvantage and Mileage Plus.

Enjoy trying to get all those 500 mile upgrades on AA and UA instead of being put on the upgrade list automatically. Both programs have their downsides IMHO.

S12PPL · Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:27 am

Next time, fly longer segments. Take a short trip out west...Go to Hawaii...

Just seems like an aweful lot of crying on your part, when you didn't earn the miles to get the status you so desperately want. Try harder this year.

MCOflyer · Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:36 am

As a US Plat, i drive the extra 30min to MCO because US doesnt fly into MLB. I fly 5 times a year only needing to get an airline credit card. I do agree with aerowesty when he says that you chose the wrong fare. Next time go with the highest Y fare.

MCOflyer

AeroWesty · Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:02 am

Quoting Reggaebird (Reply 20):
1 segment X 7,116 miles (4,744 miles from ATL-GIG times 1.5 for the BizElite bonus) = 7,166 MQMs

That segment was cancelled:

Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 14):
I don't know if you read all my postings, but I did spend ~$3000 dollars in a Biz Elite Seat on a one-way segment from GIG to ATL which eneded up being canceled and I flew on AA.

zrs70 · Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:08 am

Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 14):
I don't know if you read all my postings, but I did spend ~$3000 dollars in a Biz Elite Seat on a one-way segment from GIG to ATL which eneded up being canceled and I flew on AA.

Was the flight cancelled last minute? Did DL reroute you or did they refund your ticket, directing you to buy a new one. If they rerouted you, then you are able to "double dip" and get flight credit toward elite status on both AA and DL. Hope you saved your boarding card!

Pope · Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:18 am

Dude, get an American Express DL Plat card. Spend those same $24,833 add the $300 CR membership on it and you will have earned 50,000 Skymiles (2 for each dollar of DL spending) plus an annual 10,000 MQM bonus. Problem solved.

Next.

usnseallt82 · Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:51 am

Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 5):
I like Delta, just not their FF program.

Who cares? FF programs are incentives from the airlines to fly with them instead of someone else. If the incentive is no longer enticing, fly elsewhere.

Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 8):
I did a sum on my Delta charges on my Amex last year: ~ US$ 24883.

I spent about ~US$ 13000 with AA and achieved Exec Plat.

Then fly AA.

Next? irked

mohavewolfpup · Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:58 am

when you get to the wanted tier you get, access to a lounge and 2 funny clowns to entertain you while sipping starbucks and surfing the internet, do you stay at that level for the rest of your life, or have to purchase as many tickets/flights as you did the previous year?

abrelosojos · Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:16 am

Quoting Klkla (Reply 19):
Do they deposit the system wide upgrades into your online account like United or mail paper certificates?

= DL does not do SWUs or any other "certificate" as UAL. On domestic and non-Biz Elite international runs, you get an automatic upgrade based on space availability, status, and fare class.

Cheers,
A.

EXAAUADL · Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:30 am

Just buy the lowest fare and stop complaining...If your boss is paying for your flights, then purchase whatever fare you can and stop complaining

FlyDeltaJets87 · Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:36 am

Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 14):
I was flying MLB-ATL on a weekly basis. All I'm trying to say is that Skymiles program is not good anymore. On any other carrier, flying this much, I would have been close to a Platinum Status.

MLB-ATL-MLB = 1,000 Skymiles (500 miles per leg). If you do that weekly, that's 52,000 miles a year. If you were to use another airline to go from Florida (probably MCO, since the only domestic airline that serves MLB to my knowledge is DL) to Atlanta, you would most certainly have to connect (AA in MIA, US in CLT, NW in MEM). That means you would achieve four segments per trip or at a minimum, 2,000 miles, because most airlines give a minimum of 500 miles per segment. So you are correct, if you flew another airline, you would achieve elite status faster, but that's because you're taking more flights per year.

I do know what you mean. Though I don't fly that often (6 times a year at most), I would have far more Delta Skymiles if I didnt live near ATL for 10 years. I've been in the program since 2003, though sadly, my two longest flights (ATL-PDX-ATL and ATL-HNL-ATL were on reward tickets, so no mileage credit), but I'm only up to 22,000 miles because most of my Delta flights have been ATL-Whereever-ATL. A lot of my flights are into CVG as well, so I get a direct flight there too.

[Edited 2007-01-15 22:05:03]

ClearedDirect · Tue Jan 16, 2007 7:12 am

Remember not to confuse regular Skymiles with Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQM). They are not the same. You need MQM to earn status.

S12PPL · Tue Jan 16, 2007 7:20 am

Quoting FlyDeltaJets87 (Reply 31):
I do know what you mean. Though I don't fly that often (6 times a year at most), I would have far more Delta Skymiles if I didnt live near ATL for 10 years. I've been in the program since 2003, though sadly, my two longest flights (ATL-PDX-ATL and ATL-HNL-ATL were on reward tickets, so no mileage credit), but I'm only up to 22,000 miles because most of my Delta flights have been ATL-Whereever-ATL. A lot of my flights are into CVG as well, so I get a direct flight there too.

I experience the same thing with my AS account. If it weren't for my AS Visa, I wouldn't have the 50,000+ miles I have now. Most of my legs, 1-3 times a year, are PDX-OAK-PDX, at under 1,000 miles per leg. So, unless I buy instant miles, I don't get many miles each year. I want to save for a F ticket somewhere in Europe, Asia, or Australlia...But saving for that will take forever at the rate I earn miles.

Falcon84 · Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:09 am

Quoting Tonytifao (Thread starter):
I emailed Delta 2 times, having them consider giving me Gold for having so many segments and Crown Room membership. I got 2 big NOs! They don't know what kind of customer they lost.

Yeah, a spoiled, whining one, who didn't meat the criteria for Gold, and now wants it handed to him. Yeah sure

deltagator · Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:35 am

Quoting Abrelosojos (Reply 29):
DL does not do SWUs or any other "certificate" as UAL. On domestic and non-Biz Elite international runs, you get an automatic upgrade based on space availability, status, and fare class.

Except in the case of Platinum where we do get paper systemwide upgrades that are to be used for International flights unlike the normal automatic upgrades we get at all 3 levels of Medallion within the Domestic market. The funny thing to me is that when they upgrade you in the US it still has a hook into the system where it shows a +500 mile upgrade has been used for that segment.

Quoting ClearedDirect (Reply 32):
Remember not to confuse regular Skymiles with Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQM). They are not the same. You need MQM to earn status.

Very true, but DL has gotten away from the super saver tickets only getting half the MQM. Even at the lowest rate you still get full miles counting towards MQM.

Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 14):
I was flying MLB-ATL on a weekly basis. All I'm trying to say is that Skymiles program is not good anymore. On any other carrier, flying this much, I would have been close to a Platinum Status

If all you flew was MLB-ATL then you earned 500 miles per segment and you ended up short of Gold Medallion. It sucks but that's life. Next time purchase a little bit more pricy ticket and get 1.5 MQMs for every mile flown.

Silver764 · Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:52 am

Quoting DeltaGator (Reply 35):
Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 14):
I was flying MLB-ATL on a weekly basis. All I'm trying to say is that Skymiles program is not good anymore. On any other carrier, flying this much, I would have been close to a Platinum Status

If all you flew was MLB-ATL then you earned 500 miles per segment and you ended up short of Gold Medallion. It sucks but that's life. Next time purchase a little bit more pricy ticket and get 1.5 MQMs for every mile flown.

Or check your MQM status, take a long haul to get the necessary mileage needed which I have done many years. I was fortunate this year, 800 MQM's short of platinum and DL gave it to me, I couldn't squeeze in one last flight but gave me the status. In the scenerio I feel something is missing if you flew that many segments and no more than silver....

woodsboy · Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:15 pm

Im a Delta Silver Med and I didnt have near 93 segments or travel every week but I did have at least one trans atlantic trips last year and that was 16,000 miles alone. Anyway, I've been reaching Silver for the last 6 years straight and I almost ALWAYS get first class upgrades, I have no complaints with SkyMiles.

As with any airline FF program, you have to learn how to work it to your advantage and when you understand how it works you can get what you want.

And the above post was right, no way 93 segments could add up to less than 25K miles, the math doesnt work.

avi8tir · Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:24 pm

all I have to say about Skymiles is, as long as you reach Gold or Plat (not that hard with a trans-atlantic or 2), is upgrades upgrades upgrades. I have been flying DL on a regular basis for 2 years now. From the time I went silver, there has only been 1 time that I have not gotten an upgrade. and the reason for that was that I didnt request it ahead of time (didnt know I had to at that point) Now I am platinum, and the Skymiles program is obviously working for DL because its the fact that I know I will get an upgrade that makes me book nearly all of my travel on DL!

klkla · Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:26 pm

Quoting Abrelosojos (Reply 29):
= DL does not do SWUs or any other "certificate" as UAL

Quoting DeltaGator (Reply 35):
Except in the case of Platinum where we do get paper systemwide upgrades that are to be used for International flights

Now I'm really confused. I was under the understanidng that I would get system wide upgrades for inernational flights. I am Platinum Medallion. If I get them is it a paper certificate or how else do I claim them?

Even though I am not a huge United fan I have to admit that their system of depostiting them automatcially in your 1K account is a major convenience.

deltagator · Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:57 pm

Quoting Klkla (Reply 39):
Now I'm really confused. I was under the understanidng that I would get system wide upgrades for inernational flights. I am Platinum Medallion. If I get them is it a paper certificate or how else do I claim them?

As a Platinum you do get systemwide upgrades on international flights but they do require the paper certificate. I don't have them in front of me right now but you must present them 2 hours or so before an international flight for them to work or something along those lines. When you make the reservation for an international flight make sure you book the correct fare, ensure the upgrade is available, and give them the cert. number and then turn it in when you get to check-in. Having these available online would be great and perhaps it is in the works. Domestic upgrades continue to be all electronic for all levels of Medallion.

I hope I'm not talking out of my ass here so if I am someone please set the record straight. Otherwise, I'll see what my certs say when I get home sometime on Wednesday.

Quoting Woodsboy (Reply 37):
Anyway, I've been reaching Silver for the last 6 years straight and I almost ALWAYS get first class upgrades

You must fly at weird hours, off days, or light routes still on mainline to be that lucky. I flew to DCA last week and there were 29 folks on the upgrade list for a MD-88. Platinums were being turned away for a F seat so Silvers could only look longingly as they boarded.

deltairlines · Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:16 pm

Here's the skinny on Platinum Medallion Upgrades:

Only good domestically on K+ fares. Internationally, you need a full fare (Y/B/M to use them). If you're on an H fare ATL-LGW, you're out of luck.

Pretty sure you need to surrender the actual certificate when you check in. Only the name on the certificate or a travelling companion on the same PNR can use them.

---

As for the OP, he flew 46,000 MQMs. The DL rule is 50,000 MQM. Considering you can get a flight from MCO to the west coast for under $250, it's not too hard to do a mileage run.

This doesn't even mention that MLB is a very tough upgrade for even a Platinum (lots of full-Y government traffic due to defense contractors on MLB-ATL), so unless you're on a full-fare Y ticket, upgrade odds on this route are very low (and this is talking to several PMs that fly this route frequently). Fly the miles, get the status. It's a simple concept. Not to mention that the OP mentions he is going to fly AA out of MCO - flying MCO-MIA-ATL compared to MLB-ATL doesn't seem all too efficient; not to mention, it's F on an hour flight - I've been on several 1hr-1h15 flights in DL F; it's nothing more than glorified coach; no meal, no towel service, nothing but a bigger seat, some more Sunchips, and free booze. I can live without that on a short flight.

---

Also, as for this Silver's upgrade percentage, 75% over the last year. Helps that I can pick and choose my flight times liberally; missed upgrades were on a Saturday night red-eye LAS-ATL, a couple Thursday morning GSO-ATL, a Sunday afternoon ATL-STL, a Sunday night ATL-GSO, a Sunday afternoon RDU-ATL and a Sunday evening ATL-BOS (maybe one more short flight in there). Not bad, including upgrades on a Saturday afternoon 767-400, several GSO-ATL and ATL-BOS (including at busy flight times) and more.

jetpixx · Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:17 pm

Fly another airline then...people whine way too much. I took a round-trip in December to PVD for less than $200 just to run my miles up and get what I needed.

If you don't like their FF - use another one. You should feel happy to get anything with the way these airlines are in financial peril these days...no one owes you anything except getting you there safely.

billreid · Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:14 am

Something doesn't jive here.
Based on MQMs the minimum mileage per segment is 500.
93 X 500 is 46,500
this assumes not a single segment over 500 actual miles, unlikely given 93 segments.
Now he claims

Quoting Tonytifao (Reply 8):
Quoting DL Widget Head (Reply 7):
Yeah they do. According to you a lowly Silver Medallion.

I did a sum on my Delta charges on my Amex last year: ~ US$ 24883.

well Amex gives 10,000 MQM's for spending over 25K per year.

I give up ..... all segments must have been less than 500 miles and the fool used the wrong amex card cause he didn't want the miles.

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