Many comments have flooded in about the Save SkyMiles campaign. Some of them are listed below.

*Some comments have been edited for content and/or brevity.

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R D Martin - December 3, 2003

To those out there like Ken Tucky--You're absolutely right--it is an optional program, and not any sort of entitlement. It was also the only thing that set Delta apart in the eyes of any business traveler! A 767 is a 767, and most flight crews and cabin staff are true professionals, but those perks really meant something.

Just as our auto manufacturers have finally learned, you can offer the best equipment being built, and support it equally, but as soon as a multitude of competitors enter the market, you must ---Stand Out----. Consummers need to feel good about doing business with you, and incentives work! Look at the post 9/11 market in their business-up 25+%.

In one fell swoop, Delta kills CSA's, meals, segments, availability, SWU's, 800 mile coupons, and even almonds. Just what is going on in those board rooms? Goodby Leo--Last chance for Delta, and it's fine little team. Our guys are all evaluating the competitors match programs.

Steve G - November 25, 2003

Delta operatives, take heed. Every and any good marketing / customer relations course taught at professional institutions will tell you: "It's the Customer, stupid". Leave the arrogance and ignorance at the boarding door and focus on who keeps your airline flying - Customers.

Your rampant and unchartered effort to pinch pennies at every turn should not impede customer service, or those programs which keep customers coming back. Skymiles is now plumetting compared to other programs.. what do you plan to do?

Tim - November 24, 2003

Anyone read the news on Delta's website today? Leo announced that he's stepping down as CEO. Maybe things are FINALLY taking a turn for the better.

Harry Chambers - November 22, 2003

Ken tucky called us all "cry babies"
The people doing the most crying are Leo Mullen and the laid off/downsized Delta employees. They cry because the business travelers aren't supporting Delta, but they refuse to consider there own actions which are driving the business traveler away.

Travis Bickle - November 21, 2003

Medallion Qualification Changes
The Medallion qualification criteria are designed to reward members who contribute the largest share of revenue to Delta.

It is no longer a frequent flier program ! Goodbye Delta...see you in bankruptcy soon !

Ray - November 20, 2003

I live in Cincinnati and used to fly Delta all the time. My travel agent would book me on USAir or Northwest occaisionally to save money vs Delta's high cost to fly out of here. I was always at least a Silver Medallion member until this year. My job changed and I fly more than ever now, sometimes every day of the week.
I fly Southwest all the time now, out of Indy, Louisville, or Columbus. The two hour ride doesn't bother me when I know that I am saving my company up to 80% instead of flying Delta out of Cincinnati. Plus my kids love using the free tickets that I earn EVERY WEEK!
Yesterday, I tried to book a first class trip on Delta for my wife and I for next August using my FF miles. I was told there are no seats available period. When I emailed Delta with my concerns, I receieved a poorly worded form letter back.
Bye Delta, not sorry to see ya go.

ken tucky - November 18, 2003

Remember all you complainers out there:

The Skymiles Program is a VOLUNTARY PROGRAM....
It is not a mandatory program put forth by our government. But please continue to bear your "crosses" on the web......we love to hear you crybabies.

Kevin DCA - November 18, 2003

These changes seem largely a case of "Monkey See, Monkey Do." Delta is just bringing its program in line with its stodgy competitors AA and UA. Why any company in its right mind would want to mimic either of those two is unfathomable. It's a shame though. SM used to be a viable even progressive program. Now you can't distinguish it from the rest.

If I could defect I would. USAir is out of the question given their recent attempt to cover up the touch-and-go incident at IAD. No other carrier currently services the routes I fly as well as DL. Believe me, I'll jump ship at the first opportunity. In the meantime I'm bleeding down my miles. As for travel next year, it will be the bare minimum necessary to maintain status and not a single segment more.

andre - November 14, 2003

I typically do about 60 segments a year, mainly spread on over Delta and USAir. This year, running at 26 segments on Delta, I am no longer even close to getting Silver. And yep, I'm getting Silver on USAir. See ya...

With improved boarding policies on Southwest, despite their cutting back website booking bonuses, one less reason to book Delta.

And how come there are so many more Medallion members on Delta than USAir? I would guess at double as a minimum for the routes I fly, and I almost never get an upgrade on Delta, almost always on USAir.

And now they want to increase the miles necessary for award travel!?!?!?!?!?!

LawProf - November 10, 2003

Well, the other shoe has now dropped. After grossly restricting the availability of "Skysaver" tickets, Delta is now raising the number of miles needed for award tickets, effective for tickets issued on/after March 16, 2004. Under the new rules, domestic first class will be 45K miles and Europe business class will be 90K. Hawaii tickets, both coach and first, will cost more miles (and are never available at the "Skysaver" rate anyway). Milage upgrades are also being raised.

My advice: burn those miles before Delta degrades their value even more. As a legal matter, Delta could abolish the program tomorrow, and we're totally at their mercy. Because Delta can't seem to get its pilots to renegotiate the highest wage rates in the USA, the bean counters in Atlanta seem fixated on nickel and diming Delta's most loyal customers. Just brilliant. AirTran, anyone?

Larry - November 6, 2003

I have flown Delta loyally for 10 years and have made gold and silver med. status. with the new changes I'm silver now and proably nothing next year because of the new mileage rules and because I fly out of an airport using commuter aircraft.
Suddenly Delta doesn't look so good and I will shop around before making that reservation with Delta. I feel they have let down the little guy who have to get to a HUB before really taking off.

FLBRONC - November 6, 2003

On a recent international flight I was surprised to hear that beer, wine or cocktails would cost $4 each in the coach section. Granted, I was flying on miles and was in business class but when did Delta start charging for drinks on international flights ? I haven't heard of any other airlines doing so. Another first for Delta I suppose. As a PM for many years I am fed up with them. I have written more 'bad service' letters in the past year than I have in ten years !

Rob Bertocchi - November 5, 2003

I have wrote the letters to Delta about my disagreement in the new medallion program. I can not see penalizing my employer for expensive plane ticket just so I can get medallion status. I shop to save my employer the most money possible when I travel. Maybe Delta should do the same and they might become a little closer to profitablity.
The upgrade to first class is not that important to me. I have been in the silver medallion class for about seven years (got close to gold a few times). I understand that I buy the cheapest ticket when possible and I have to put up with the coach seats, but I think I should get something more then the person who travel once or twice a year on Delta. At least with the Medallion staus I got to board first, pick better seats, had a special phone number to call and was treated alittle bit better.
Starting next year I will be know different then the person who travels once a year. If that the case, Airtrans hear I come. Why not set up so different levels get different perks. Silver can't upgrade, gold can only upgrade 12 hours, platium can up grade anytime. When Atlanta set up the special security check-in for gold and platium, that was fine by me, they should get something little extra over the silver. Let least reward the guy that is flying once every three weeks, maybe not as much as the guy that fly's once a week, but at least give him something more then the person that fly's a couple times a year.
In a time that they need to fill seats they are running people away. Don't sound to smart to me.

Amy - November 5, 2003

I'm sure that the new Delta awards program was designed by some consultant that presented a proposal to save money without considering the affect the loss of loyal customer would have on the cost structure. I have been a Platinum medallion memeber for the last 3 years. I used to always book Delta flights, even when the cost was slightly more. Because of the changes to the Skymiles program, my decision will now come down to the cheapest flight. As you know, that's not usually Delta. There is no longer any reason to be loyal to Delta or any other airline. One thing I will miss about Delta are the nice flight attendants. Overall, Delta's flight attendants are much better than any of the ones I've run into on other airlines.

Phil - November 5, 2003

Was curious if any other Atlanta based Skymiles members happened to see on the NBC affiliate here last night that our less than Beloved Delta will be announcing job cuts this week? Go figure I supposed since they have complete scrapped their FF program we're all leaving and they are are feeling the pain. While that I think is good for Leo and crew I hate it for the Delta staffers.

BTW...4 Year Platinum, Gold this year, back of the bus bext year and 700K miles flown in 6 years

Also just received my new American Gold card in a match program...See Ya delta

Johnny Green - November 3, 2003

I just read the comments from one member who states "you buy a $300.00 coach ticket and complain when it isn't upgraded." For his information my tickets run over $900.00 per week,50 weeks per year. I have a right to complain about the new program.

Manuel Hernandez - October 30, 2003

What a joke! Like others, I've been lowly GOLD medallion for a few years and this year, I won't even make Silver. I was fuming when I found out of the changes and it took no MBA to figure out how Delta, once again, demonstrated that they are as short sighted as they can be. I have 600K miles the bank and the only time I plan to fly them is via award travel .. if I ever get a seat.

I've been delighted flying AirTran since they got the new aircraft and on my routes, they are considerably cheaper. Once I did the math and figured there was no sense staying with Delta, I switched and am not going back if I can help it. Just on me alone, that meant 40 segments this year. I will give my business to those who want it.

Also, as a technology director, the use of video conferencing is more and more attractive to my organization and this too will affect the travel that I will be approving for my staff and consequently affect the airlines as other so the same. You would think they would want to covet their bread and butter.

I wish you well Delta but you really earned the knucklehead award with this move.

Paul Johnson - October 30, 2003

As a PM and long time Delta customer, I listened carefully to all of the "sunshine" when the Delta handlers stripped out every good reason for doing business with them. Watched the little meal service perks disappear, the "Red Coat" CSA's be eliminated, and every other cost cutter they could push forward.

We endured the early Ravages of the TSA when the big six threw up their hands and said "Let the Feds do it". Then, worst of all, Leo's whining started, always referring to the "Post 9/11 passenger loss". We, your business clientel, toughed it out-while the soccer mom's kept the kids home.

Now, here's the real deal Leo--remember all of those nice little things, and incentive programs your team had initiated in 2001, and then immediately jerked post 9/11/01? Any possible connection there to your overall decrease? I love Jet Blue, but miss Delta 2001 dearly. Fix the real problem-your labor issues.

Tom Ashley - October 29, 2003

I left United 4 years ago after 1.3 million miles and have flown them just once since; Delta has treated me even worse, so I will find yet another airline. It isn't that hard! There is plenty of competition with better fares AND service.

Why would I bother to be loyal when the benefits are so few? And why does Delta share United's (nearly fulfilled) death wish?

sean mudd - October 29, 2003

I have flown 1,720,388 miles on Delta and been a platinum member for the past several years. I continued to hear that the new skymiles program would benifit me, but I have failed to see it.

My total 03 flight segments have fallen to less that 20, from over 120 segments in 02, that ought to tell Leo something.

I wish Delta's emploees well and am eager for the stock to rebound so I can sell and move on down the road.

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