Comments on: Passenger “blown away” after Delta Air Lines waives $30 mileage transfer fee http://www.elliott.org/blog/passenger-blown-away-after-delta-air-lines-waives-30-mileage-transfer-fee/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Madeline http://www.elliott.org/blog/passenger-blown-away-after-delta-air-lines-waives-30-mileage-transfer-fee/comment-page-1/#comment-32468 Madeline Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:54:18 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10697#comment-32468 I wasn't referring to formal benefits (like a separate boarding line), I was referring to informal perks or "nice gestures" that everybody complains is missing these days. When I've had status and asked, airlines have waived the $100 change fee on a non-refundable ticket, waived a $50 mileage transfer fee, changed my name on a ticket with no hassle (my friend who booked the ticket for me accidentally spelled my name Madeleine). Once I emailed to complain about a 12-hour flight delay, and the airline immediately replied with a $150 travel voucher. I was upset and wrote back saying this was not enough, and they replied with an additional $200 voucher and two free domestic upgrades. The kicker was that my friend who was also on this flight, who had no status with the airline, also emailed to complain and received nothing and a form letter in return (saying the delay was not the fault of the airline). These things don't happen all of them time, but I would say maybe half the time I get the "nice gesture" without much aggravation when I have status. I have never - I am pretty sure not even once in my life - received any of these perks without first wanting to pull my hair out as a "non status" flyer. I'd be interested to hear if other people share these drastically different experiences as a status vs. non-status flyer. I always knew there were formal benefits to having status, but it seems like lately airlines will go above and beyond for "loyal" passengers while taking the extreme hard line on everyone else. I wasn’t referring to formal benefits (like a separate boarding line), I was referring to informal perks or “nice gestures” that everybody complains is missing these days. When I’ve had status and asked, airlines have waived the $100 change fee on a non-refundable ticket, waived a $50 mileage transfer fee, changed my name on a ticket with no hassle (my friend who booked the ticket for me accidentally spelled my name Madeleine). Once I emailed to complain about a 12-hour flight delay, and the airline immediately replied with a $150 travel voucher. I was upset and wrote back saying this was not enough, and they replied with an additional $200 voucher and two free domestic upgrades. The kicker was that my friend who was also on this flight, who had no status with the airline, also emailed to complain and received nothing and a form letter in return (saying the delay was not the fault of the airline). These things don’t happen all of them time, but I would say maybe half the time I get the “nice gesture” without much aggravation when I have status. I have never – I am pretty sure not even once in my life – received any of these perks without first wanting to pull my hair out as a “non status” flyer.

I’d be interested to hear if other people share these drastically different experiences as a status vs. non-status flyer. I always knew there were formal benefits to having status, but it seems like lately airlines will go above and beyond for “loyal” passengers while taking the extreme hard line on everyone else.

]]> By: Mort B http://www.elliott.org/blog/passenger-blown-away-after-delta-air-lines-waives-30-mileage-transfer-fee/comment-page-1/#comment-32466 Mort B Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:04:44 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10697#comment-32466 I think Madeline is perhaps confusing 'perks' with 'nice gestures'. If being a 'status' passenger doesn't come with a few perks, then what's the point of being 'status'? Nice gestures, as in the case of Sara Davis, are not perks, but are just what the name implies, and can be extended to anyone, 'status' or not. I think Madeline is perhaps confusing ‘perks’ with ‘nice gestures’. If being a ‘status’ passenger doesn’t come with a few perks, then what’s the point of being ‘status’? Nice gestures, as in the case of Sara Davis, are not perks, but are just what the name implies, and can be extended to anyone, ‘status’ or not.

]]> By: Madeline http://www.elliott.org/blog/passenger-blown-away-after-delta-air-lines-waives-30-mileage-transfer-fee/comment-page-1/#comment-32464 Madeline Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:29:42 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10697#comment-32464 That's hilarious, and nice of Delta. I wonder if it was just because of her Silver Medallion status and history of flying the airline? Over the course of a couple moves, I have changed from having "status" on Northwest to Continental to United over the last few years. Each time when I've lost my status, I started being treated like cargo, and when I gained status on the new airline, the perks (fee waivers, exceptions, vouchers, upgrades) came rolling in with ease. There's definitely a large gap between how they treat status customers and regular customers. That’s hilarious, and nice of Delta. I wonder if it was just because of her Silver Medallion status and history of flying the airline? Over the course of a couple moves, I have changed from having “status” on Northwest to Continental to United over the last few years. Each time when I’ve lost my status, I started being treated like cargo, and when I gained status on the new airline, the perks (fee waivers, exceptions, vouchers, upgrades) came rolling in with ease. There’s definitely a large gap between how they treat status customers and regular customers.

]]> By: Justin http://www.elliott.org/blog/passenger-blown-away-after-delta-air-lines-waives-30-mileage-transfer-fee/comment-page-1/#comment-32463 Justin Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:23:01 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10697#comment-32463 @ Chris, I think the crying you hear is the sound of the money often leaving our wallets in a single direction and flowing towards individuals who do not deserve it. Unfortunately, when all hop on the same boat, you really only got a choice of sink or swim. Glad to see Delta extended a kind gesture. @ Chris,

I think the crying you hear is the sound of the money often leaving our wallets in a single direction and flowing towards individuals who do not deserve it. Unfortunately, when all hop on the same boat, you really only got a choice of sink or swim. Glad to see Delta extended a kind gesture.

]]> By: Caitlin http://www.elliott.org/blog/passenger-blown-away-after-delta-air-lines-waives-30-mileage-transfer-fee/comment-page-1/#comment-32448 Caitlin Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:53:27 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10697#comment-32448 Yeah $30 isn't much but it's a nice gesture. Thank goodness the people at my bank aren't directly compensated based on how many fees they charge me. Yeah $30 isn’t much but it’s a nice gesture. Thank goodness the people at my bank aren’t directly compensated based on how many fees they charge me.

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