If needing proof of how the airline industry is anything but a serve "us" entity, take a look at the frequent flier programs, but to see it at it worst, focus in on Delta.
Speaking to USA Today, frequent business traveler Geoff Slater says he was a top-tier elite member of Delta Air Lines' frequent-flier program but now tries to avoid flying on Delta.
"I had accrued over 700,000 miles on Delta, but then found they wanted double or triple miles for most everything," Slater says.
Working as a public transit consultant Fayston, Vt., he is many former and current elite members of Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles program who say they're disgruntled because they haven't been able to redeem miles at the minimum mileage level for a free ticket.
One big issue has to do with Delta's offer of a free round-trip coach ticket within the continental USA for 25,000 miles.
Frequent fliers claim, according to USA Today, it's virtually impossible to cash in that amount for a desired flight and one instead must cash in 40,000 miles, Delta's "medium" level award, or 60,000 miles, the "high" award.
It's getting very hard on Delta to find a seat for minimum miles," says Aik-Meng Tan, vice president of sales for OKT Travel, a corporate travel management company in Plainview, N.Y. "Of all the mileage programs out there, Delta is the most unfriendly in terms of the number of miles you need to redeem an award ticket," Tan says, stated USA Today.
When the newspaper contacted Delta, the airline informed them that they stands behind its frequent-flier program, emphasizing that many components are beneficial for their members. Spokesman Paul Skrbec said an advantage of the program is its three mileage redemption levels, unlike two at other airlines.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
