Delta Airlines Adds Diamond Status to Frequent Flier Program
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
With fewer passengers booking up airline tickets and collecting airline miles, the country's largest airline operators are trying to find new ways to entice passengers and out-book their competitors. Delta Airlines, the world's biggest airline operator, is attempting to stimulate business and leisure travel by enhancing its frequent flier program. Delta's SkyMiles frequent flier program previously had three statuses for passengers with different boarding benefits and reduced fees. Now, the airline plans to introduce a fourth status -the Diamond level - which will award passengers with even more benefits including priority boarding, free upgrades and no baggage fees.
Passengers can reach the Diamond status by earning at least 125,000 'Medallion qualification miles' (MQMS) or fly on 140 segments per calendar year. The new addition to the SkyMiles Medallion program will be introduced slowly over the next nine months, and this will serve as the top tier status for all business and leisure travelers. A closer look at the benefits reveals that this status is very similar in structure to the Platinum status of Delta SkyMile Medallion fliers a few years ago.
Diamond status flyers will receive a free SkyClub membership, a 125% mileage bonus, a dedicated phone line throughout their trip, two "choice" benefits, and priority upgrades over Platinum members. Diamond members are also distinguished from Gold and Platinum status fliers by not having to pay ticketing fees. Diamond fliers are also eligible to receive six system wide upgrade certificates every year (previously only a Delta Platinum frequent flier benefit). However, in most cases, the only major system-wide change is in the day of departure upgrades. All other frequent flier benefits remain relatively similar to other tiers.
Delta's introduction of the Diamond status is one attempt to stimulate more business travel during the economic downturn, and attract first-class and business class travelers from competing airlines.