by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:40 AM ET, Thu September 28, 2023
Delta Air Lines announced that some of the recent changes to
the carrier’s loyalty program would be rolled back after travelers voiced their
displeasure.
According to The
Associated Press, Delta CEO Ed Bastian said during a meeting at the Atlanta
Rotary Club that the airline “went too far” when addressing the rising number
of frequent flyers reaching elite status.
The carrier revealed earlier this month that it planned to
limit the number of travelers who would be permitted to enter its airport
Sky Clubs, starting on February 1, 2025. The airline also revealed changes
to the SkyMiles program, which makes it harder to qualify for status by
allowing only Medallion Qualification Dollars to serve as the qualifier for
Medallion Status.
Bastian said that Delta was reconsidering its decisions and
would make “modifications” to the previously announced plans, with details
expected to be revealed “over the next few weeks.”
“No question we probably went too far in doing that,”
Bastian said. “I think we moved too fast, and we are looking at it now. We have
received a lot of feedback.”
The CEO said that top-tier Diamond status has doubled since
the pandemic began, which led to higher demand for premium seats, upgrades, and
access to its airport Sky Clubs. As a result, the carrier attempted to fight
against overcrowding by making it harder to earn the rewards.
To convince jaded Delta travelers to make the switch to a
new airline, several carriers—including Alaska Airlines and JetBlue Airways—revealed
they would match each customer’s loyalty status if they made the switch.
In addition, just days after announcing plans for its
largest-ever schedule for flights from the U.S. to Europe next year, Delta revealed
it would cut flights to six
major cities in the coming months, starting in October.
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