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During its Q3 earnings call today, Delta Air Lines CEO, Ed Bastian, said that tweaks to the changes it announced (more here) a few weeks ago would be announced “in the coming days.” Many speculated that something would be revealed on this call, but it looks like the waiting will continue.
Bastian talked about Delta’s performance and the great numbers it posted for the quarter (up 13% year over year), but also noted that the changes to both SkyMiles and Delta Sky Club® access were too aggressive. He continued:
We had too many changes rolled out at the same time. [Delta needs] to go back and reassess the planned rollout for the new qualification levels. There still will be changes to the program. I’ve been very clear about that. But, we’re going to make modifications to what we announced. Everyone sees that the premium number of customers that we continue to build are in excess of the premium assets that we have to offer. Most everyone also agrees that something has to be done. We’re not seeing any changes to trajectory, whether acquisitions, or changes to spend levels. Everything continues to stay intact.”
Blogs, FlyerTalk members, and anyone with a passing interest in Delta has been positing their opinions of what these changes will entail. Some feel that Sky Club® visits will be increased, while others argue that the new spend thresholds will be reduced. We’ll have to see what is announced “in the coming days.”
Anthony’s Take: Delta ripped the Band-Aid off and it’s pretty clear that people were almost universally unhappy. I think the changes will only be dialed back slightly. It’s also fascinating that United Airlines and American Airlines have been quiet as I guess they also want to see what Delta does before they announce any changes of their own.
(Featured Image Credit: Delta Air Lines.)
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1 comment
I honestly don’t know why any accumulates miles with Delta given how unbelievably atrocious and uncompetitive the value of SkyMiles is. Wanted to fly JFK-SJU in December. Two flights were $1500 and one was $580 and yet all three priced at 130,000 miles. I would have taken the cheapest one using miles but 130,000 miles for a $580 coach ticket is obscene.