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Major
Changes at SkyMiles for Medallions
Well
folks, we knew it was coming to this.
At
Delta, the gap between the rich and the poor is set to widen
significantly when it announces changes to the SkyMiles
program later this afternoon.
Although
Delta will try to spin this as an “enhancement,” it is
going to feel like a slap to many of those who have grown
accustomed to elite perks like early boarding, easier access
to upgrades, and preferred seats on the plane.
The
lowdown: if you are a low-fare flyer-- one who typically books
discounted fares (those that match low fare carriers), or
those that require a Saturday night stayover—- expect to be
effectively shut out of the Medallion club.
But
if you are the type of flyer who can afford less restrictive,
full coach, first or business class fares, you’ll find it
easier to keep or even increase your status as a Medallion.
And
if you are a corporate travel manager, hoping that you’ve
trained your travelers to book those low fares, your job will
get a little more difficult as Medallion-hungry travelers try
to flout your rules and book anything but lowly L, U or T
fares.
Starting
January 1, Delta will award Medallion status based on
“qualifying miles,” not just “miles flown.” This
means that Delta will assign a “multiplier” to each
ticket, based on how much you paid for it. The miles flown
will be multiplied by this number, which will determine the
Medallion-qualifying miles you earn.
ADVICE:
If you are anywhere near attaining Medallion status under the
current rules, it would be a good idea to consider a
“mileage run” before December 31—- take as many cheap
web fare or sale trips as you can. That way, you’ll keep
your status for at least another year. DO NOT expect Delta to
offer a program to requalify for Medallion status in the first
few months of the year as they have done in years past.
It’s
a new world out there, folks. And while it is difficult to
hear, a dollar-based SkyMiles program seems to make much more
business sense than a mileage-based program.
Look
for full details at www.delta.com/skymileschanges.
Then, read our take on the new plan, along with your
comments, in the December issue of THE TICKET coming later
this month.
FEEDBACK
PLEASE! What are your thoughts or feelings about basing
medallion status on the dollars you spend rather than the
miles you fly? Let
us know
TICKET
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