Delta eliminates SkyMiles experation

[bydesign77]

Just got an email telling me this. Now you don't have to worry about use it or lose it.

Finally, an airline doing something right!

 

[Gutter]

My 190,000+ Northwest WorldPerks Miles thank Delta.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I wonder if it works retroactively.

 

[bydesign77]

Re: Delta eliminates SkyMiles expiration

Here's the email:

You now can earn miles without worrying if and when they will expire as we have eliminated our mileage expiration policy - no asterisk, no fine print, no ifs, ands or buts.So regardless of your future SkyMiles activity, redeem your miles whenever you want for Award Travel to 350+ worldwide destinations, car rentals, hotel stays, newspapers, magazines and one-of-a-kind auction packages.We are proud to be the only major U.S. carrier without mileage expiration.Visit delta.com to learn more about your SkyMiles benefits and explore the many ways you can earn and use your miles

 

[MileHigh]

What's the catch? There HAS to be a catch.

 

[slappy4428]

Well, it's kind of a moot point if you paid attention before.
All you had to do was have account activity -- anything -- to restart the two-year window.
Buy flowers on line? Go through the mall. Shop at Target on line? Go through the mall. ...
Northwest had no expiration date IIRC...

 

[SoCalDude]

Well, it's kind of a moot point if you paid attention before.
All you had to do was have account activity -- anything -- to restart the two-year window.
Buy flowers on line? Go through the mall. Shop at Target on line? Go through the mall. ...
Northwest had no expiration date IIRC...

But there are never any seats available when you try to cash in your miles. That information comes from my sister-in-law, who works at the reservation center in Minnesota.

 

[21]

What a great airline. Tell it to the soldier about to be deployed, trying to visit his family before shipping out....had to change the date of travel, due to military schedule, Delta charged him $500 to change the ticket.

http://msnbc.newsvine.com/_question/2011/02/15/6059537-a-soldier-needed-to-change-a-flight-after-learning-hes-being-deployed-to-afghanistan-should-he-have-to-buy-another-ticket

 

[bydesign77]

21, No one said they were great, just a step in the right direction.

And I have had to charge a soldier to change his flight to get to the airport to be deployed because carson wagonlit screwed up.
It's the nature of the beast. And I'm sure there's more to the story than what's related there.

 

[BTExpress]

Stories like this are a PR nightmare for the airline.

If the follow their guidelines, they're heartless dicks. If they make an exception, here comes the following . . .

"Hey! I had reservations to see my family last June. Got a call in May saying Mom was terribly ill and may not make it and can I come right away. I changed my reservation, and they charged me $500 for it! How come I didn't get any leniency? My mom was dying!!!"

Fact is, few people change their reservations on a whim. Usually something happens to force the change. But other than the headache of taking each change on a case-by-case basis, what's the solution?

 

[bydesign77]

It is case by case in the sense it's up to the agent dealing with it. You'll have more luck finding sympathetic agent at the airport cause they have to make adjustments all of the time. Reservation agents don't make the same number of changes so they are more glaring.

Airlines have policies and procedures, yes, but I can find the ways around them as long as you're not a **** about it. Especially if military orders can be produced.

I didn't read the story, but I bet he called Delta instead of going to the airport.

 

[trifectarich]

Stories like this are a PR nightmare for the airline.

If the follow their guidelines, they're heartless dicks. If they make an exception, here comes the following . . .

"Hey! I had reservations to see my family last June. Got a call in May saying Mom was terribly ill and may not make it and can I come right away. I changed my reservation, and they charged me $500 for it! How come I didn't get any leniency? My mom was dying!!!"

Fact is, few people change their reservations on a whim. Usually something happens to force the change. But other than the headache of taking each change on a case-by-case basis, what's the solution?

Well, let's see. I've used the airline's computer system to make my reservation. I didn't take up a reservationist's time to buy my ticket, find me a seat or process the charge to my credit card. So if I want to change my reservation and I can do it electronically, what inconvenience have I caused? My fee ought to be pennies; $50 or $100 or more is nothing short of fraud.

 

[BTExpress]

I suppose there needs to be an incentive in place to prevent people from just jerking around with the reservation system "just because we can."

So yes, 99.999% of the people have to pay because of the 0.0001% of people that would just like to **** with things.

 

[playthrough]

Stories like this are a PR nightmare for the airline.

If the follow their guidelines, they're heartless dicks. If they make an exception, here comes the following . . .

"Hey! I had reservations to see my family last June. Got a call in May saying Mom was terribly ill and may not make it and can I come right away. I changed my reservation, and they charged me $500 for it! How come I didn't get any leniency? My mom was dying!!!"

Fact is, few people change their reservations on a whim. Usually something happens to force the change. But other than the headache of taking each change on a case-by-case basis, what's the solution?

Well, let's see. I've used the airline's computer system to make my reservation. I didn't take up a reservationist's time to buy my ticket, find me a seat or process the charge to my credit card. So if I want to change my reservation and I can do it electronically, what inconvenience have I caused? My fee ought to be pennies; $50 or $100 or more is nothing short of fraud.

The fact that Southwest never charges for reservation changes exposes every other airline.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

It is case by case in the sense it's up to the agent dealing with it. You'll have more luck finding sympathetic agent at the airport cause they have to make adjustments all of the time. Reservation agents don't make the same number of changes so they are more glaring.

This makes perfect sense to me, and if wholly valid, it's terrific, invaluable advice.

 

[bydesign77]

I don't think thays true about WN, but even if it is it has to do with their fare structure and lack of assign seating.

 

[Second Thoughts]

Here we go.

DALLAS — Major U.S. airlines are raising the price of some tickets favored by business travelers again, this time by up to $120 per round trip.

Fare experts said Delta started the latest increase on Monday, which was matched immediately by American and a day later by United, Continental and US Airways.