In the post-COVID travel boom, he explained, flyers have been accessing the club through credit cards like American Express Platinum, which Sumers said became "overwhelmingly popular." "Delta has had a severe overcrowding problem in its lounges," Sumers said. But Delta says, '50% of our airplanes can't have elite status.' So, it does make sense that the Delta has gone ahead and made changes." "I don't necessarily think it's like punishment against customers - people see it that way. "Delta flyers are extremely loyal and they're upset and they feel that the rules have been changed against them," Sumers said. He suggested that the airline is now in a spot where it needs to adjust accordingly. Sumers has seen consumer popularity soar within Delta's loyalty program that made it nearly impossible to get upgraded, and long waits at Sky Club lounges. The problem is that these elite status programs only work if a relatively small percentage of your customers have access." "I get the feeling that Delta is a victim of its own success," Sumers said, speaking with "GMA." "It had too many people interested in elite status, it had gotten a lot of Americans, especially in its hubs (Atlanta, New York, Seattle, Detroit, Minneapolis) just jazzed about all the perks that come with elite status: upgrades to extra legroom seats, first class upgrades, priority boarding. But now, Delta is doing away with both Medallion Qualifying Miles, or MQMs, and Medallion Qualifying Segments, or MQSes, to instead focus on a redefined version of Medallion Qualifying Dollars, or MQDs. "Every time an airline changes their loyalty program it changes for the worse."Īccording to Keyes, Delta flyers could previously earn the Atlanta-based airline's coveted elite Medallion Status and perks based on a mix of how much they fly and how much they spend with the airline. "It's going to be a lot harder to get elite status, especially if you're not a billionaire," travel expert Scott Keyes told "Good Morning America" in a phone interview Thursday morning after the airline announced that spending will soon serve as the only qualifier for Medallion Status. Travelers sounded off this week in the company's social media comments sections, expressing disappointment with the sweeping policy changes, which will soon impact Medallion Status, lounge access and more. Delta Air Lines recently announced it is "simplifying its SkyMiles Program," prompting backlash from travelers who have been loyal to the airline for years.
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