{"id":23087,"date":"2023-09-29T02:34:46","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T02:34:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microloannexus.com\/investing\/following-uproar-delta-ceo-says-airline-went-too-far-with-skymiles-crackdown\/"},"modified":"2023-09-29T02:34:48","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T02:34:48","slug":"following-uproar-delta-ceo-says-airline-went-too-far-with-skymiles-crackdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microloannexus.com\/?p=23087","title":{"rendered":"Following uproar, Delta CEO says airline went \u2018too far\u2019 with SkyMiles crackdown"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Delta Air Lines\u2019 CEO admitted on Monday the airline \u201cprobably went too far\u201d in clamping down on its SkyMiles reward program and access to its 50-plus Sky Clubs \u2014 and signaled the company plans to relax some restrictions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere will be modifications that we will make, and you will hear about it sometime over the next few weeks,\u201d Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian said at an event at Atlanta\u2019s Rotary Club this week, according to\u00a0AP News.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think we moved too fast, and we are looking at it now,\u201d Bastian added, promising to announce updates \u201csometime over the next few weeks,\u201d per AP.<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t give any additional details on what these \u201cmodifications\u201d would entail.<\/p>\n

Bastian\u2019s comments came two weeks after Delta
\n DAL,
\n +0.79%<\/bg-quote>
\n announced that as of Feb. 1, 2025, American Express\u2019 Platinum, Business Platinum, Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business cardholders will\u00a0no longer get unlimited access to the airline\u2019s airport lounges\u00a0\u2014 instead being restricted to 10 visits per year, though infinite access can be unlocked by spending $75,000 annually.<\/p>\n

The overhaul had many social media users lashing out against the airline. \u201cPersonally I\u2019ll have dropped my Delta Reserve Amex by this time next fall because w\/o unlimited Sky Club access for $700 \/ year, it\u2019s time for a change,\u201d\u00a0one angered user shared<\/a>\u00a0on X.<\/p>\n

Other users\u00a0said\u00a0<\/a>the new terms make \u201cthe Chase Sapphire card far superior,\u201d while\u00a0another\u00a0<\/a>chimed in: \u201cThis is a huge mistake and is customer unfriendly. How do you expect to maintain loyalty?\u201d<\/p>\n

The switch-up in how cardholders earn status was particularly upsetting to frequent fliers, who bashed the move as a \u201cterrible business decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI spend at least $60k a year on the card and now I will not have access to lounges. I was mad you wanted me to pay $50. Now no access? You should be falling over backwards for my loyalty in flights and spend,\u201d\u00a0one furious user wrote<\/a>\u00a0on X. \u201cWhat a terrible business decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

One restriction set to start as soon as Jan.\u00a01, 2024: Customers who book a basic economy ticket will no longer be allowed in Delta\u2019s lounges, regardless if they carry a Platinum Card or any other premium credit card.<\/p>\n

Representatives for Delta declined to comment beyond Bastian\u2019s remarks.<\/p>\n

Delta originally billed the updates to its SkyMiles loyalty program as part of the airline\u2019s \u201ccontinued efforts to help preserve the premium experience in the airline\u2019s popular lounges.\u201d<\/p>\n

It also claimed that the new terms are \u201csimplifying its award-winning SkyMiles Program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though the airline didn\u2019t disclose the reason for the changes, Delta has notoriously struggled to handle overcrowding at popular lounges at Delta\u2019s major hubs\u00a0like JFK Airport\u00a0and Atlanta, which have become beloved for offering free food and beverages, more comfortable seating and greater security.<\/p>\n

Amex\u2019s
\n AXP,
\n +0.22%<\/bg-quote>
\n Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders \u2014 who pay the highest annual fee, a cool $695 \u2014 will be limited even further, only getting six complementary lounge visits per year, though unlimited access could be achieved with a $75,000 annual spend.<\/p>\n

In addition, passengers will no longer earn status based on the number of miles they fly with Delta, but instead will earn status based exclusively on the amount of money they spend with the airline.<\/p>\n

Also under the new terms, Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business\u00a0American Express card\u00a0members earn 1 Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) for every $10 spent on the card, while Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express Card Members earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent.<\/p>\n

To reach Silver Medallion status, cardholders must spend 6,000 MQDs, or $60,000.<\/p>\n

To reach the highest status \u2014 Diamond Medallion \u2014 travelers will have to chalk up $350,000 in order to earn 35,000 MQDs.<\/p>\n

This report originally appeared on NYPost.com.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n