Delta Does It Again
One Mile at a Time is reporting that Delta has removed the SkyMiles award charts from their website. Yeah, that is right. They simply don’t think we as customers need access to that type of information. I am almost speechless.
Ok lets get past the obvious first. This is about as customer unfriendly as you can get as a company. Oh and it was intentional. They have confirmed that they meant to do this. Delta simply doesn’t care.
A Currency
Skymiles are a currency. As a customer you used to be promised a specific number of Skymiles based on the distance flown. Then they raised the number of SkyMiles needed for free flights and even changed the basic way that the currency is earned.
While those moves really gutted the program, they were mostly transparent. They (sometimes) gave notice and all of the new program rules were always publicly available for everyone to see. Until the changes they made today.
Regulation to Come?
Besides being a disgusting move, I think Delta may find themselves in regulatory trouble. When companies blindly make moves like this it often draws government attention. The last thing we want as miles and points enthusiasts is government attention to our hobby.
I am not saying what Delta has done is illegal. (I am not a legal expert.) What I am saying is that a company that huge cannot continue to screw over consumers without someone looking into it. The value proposition that they made when you earned SkyMiles in past years has changed so drastically that I have no doubt someone will think it is illegal.
What Is Their Intention?
Now we are supposed to simply rely on Delta’s computer to price an award out correctly. The way it is now, if someone at Delta HQ decides that an award should cost more, they simply have to change the computer and never tell the customers.
I just don’t think that lack of transparency holds up to scrutiny. Not in that industry. Someone will sue or some Congressman who flies Delta on a regular basis will get pissed off. The government will then start looking at mileage currencies and regulation will ensue. That could be really bad for us.
What Do You Think?
I am putting this out there to get your opinion tonight. If you work for a certain company in Atlanta and want to say this is a good move, then don’t comment. There simply is no justification for this in my opinion. They can do whatever they want to SkyMiles, but this is one move too many. I can’t see any reason to do this other than to quietly raise the price of awards.
Do you think actions like this are going to lead to more government regulation of awards programs? If you do, how will that effect us? Let me know in the comments.
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I think we need to be using boardingarea.com and flyer talk to fight back. One of you bloggers who has a ton of followers needs to create an online petition telling Delta us 500K members strong will no longer be using their product.
Basically, I have so many personal issues with the Delta brand, that last time I flew on them was 1967, and would not flew on them EVER AGAIN.
I am an elite AA member. So far I feel they have treated me well. So I am waiting on AA and USA have up their sleeves.
Rolfe
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i just sent an email to Delta asking that they re-post the chart. I hope you and all your readers do the same.
Agreed. Completely unethical. And I also agree that Amex may be losing their minds over this. I will definitely be canceling my Delta Amex with this move. I’d considered it before with the devaluation and now I’m certain I will. Shall continue with Amex Plat MR, but my interest in Delta Skymiles, which was at an all time low, is now ZERO.
Would you go to a restaurant and order dinner without a menu and wait for the check to see if you can afford it? Delta’s policies are driven by their accountants which I suspect have been huffing too much Jet A exhaust on the ramp.
I tend to agree. Maybe they thought this sounded good on paper, but it is a terrible decision.
The more I see how the airlines are changing their FF programmes to the detriment of we, the flying public, the closer I am getting to the point were it is becoming more & more trouble to try and keep up with the changes that are never in my favour
I am seriously considering burning the miles that I have accumulated and then spending my money without having to think of “Loyalty” …. something the airlines have been doing for years
And as for that nice perk of airport lounge access ….. I think it is better value buying it from one of the independent companies ( PP etc)
Yes loyalty is a two way street. When companies take actions like this, it becomes obvious where there loyalty lies.
Delta made an explicit point of trumpeting 5 tiers for their awards. Now there is no global price list as to what any of that means. With no warning. They can’t simply change redemption values as they please. It’s akin to a enormous bait and switch. Even if it is legal it is completely unethical and, for lack of a better term, slimy. Why would a global leader act like this. Part of me wants to believe that AMEX is going apoplectic at this sudden subterfuge. Did someone at Delta actually just throw this incredibly unfriendly change against the wall to see what reaction they would get??? It’s quite disappointing.