topic Re: Value of sky priority reduced in Credit Cards

Value of sky priority reduced

Anonymous — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 00:03:59 GMT

Delta implemented new boarding rule, now they added a "comfort" class before sky priority.

So now it's preboarding of disabled, preboarding of infant, active duty military, prem, comfort, sky priority, main cabin 1, main cabin 2.

So much for "priority".

Time to downgrade that Amex delta gold/plat!

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

K-in-Boston — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 01:31:39 GMT

I think that's a bit of an overreaction. Amex Delta cardholders don't board in Sky Priority, they board in Zone 1. Only Delta Gold Medallions (and up), SkyTeam Elite Plus, and very high elites on the two Virgins and GOL board in Sky Priority. The sole difference in the new boarding order is that Comfort+ now boards after PREM. In many cases, if you are eligible to board in SKY, you will actually be eligible to board in one of the higher groups anyway.

https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/onboard-services/boarding-priority.html

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

wasCB14 — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 01:43:58 GMT

My main routes are between LAX, JFK, and SFO. There are so many elites that boarding from a CC means squat for all practical purposes.

The value I see...and I've considered Delta Gold and Plat...is in the bags and Plat companion pass.

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

K-in-Boston — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 01:54:59 GMT

Well, you could always fly F on MCO-LAS and board in PREM right after nearly 2/3 of the flight preboards in their wheelchairs a few hours before literally running to baggage claim.

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

Priory_Man — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 02:00:55 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
Well, you could always fly F on MCO-LAS and board in PREM right after nearly 2/3 of the flight preboards in their wheelchairs a few hours before literally running to baggage claim.

I actually LOL'd at this, but you know you're not wrong, I often see those wheeled onto some flights flying by me on the way to baggage claim.

I'm not usually in a rush and find it fairly amusing.

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

UncleB — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 02:52:03 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
Well, you could always fly F on MCO-LAS and board in PREM right after nearly 2/3 of the flight preboards in their wheelchairs a few hours before literally running to baggage claim.

Are those the "miracle flights" I've read so much about?

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

redpat — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 02:55:43 GMT

@Priory_Man wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:
Well, you could always fly F on MCO-LAS and board in PREM right after nearly 2/3 of the flight preboards in their wheelchairs a few hours before literally running to baggage claim.
I actually LOL'd at this, but you know you're not wrong, I often see those wheeled onto some flights flying by me on the way to baggage claim.
I'm not usually in a rush and find it fairly amusing.

Miracle flights......

B you beat me to it, lol!

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

NRB525 — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 03:57:37 GMT

You do realize why they are doing this? Revenue. If you buy ComfortPlus, you have paid more than someone just working status in Steerage.

If you want to jump the line, it’s easy. Buy the upgrade to Comfort Plus or better yet First Class.

And the credit card boarding is the same place in line.

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

K-in-Boston — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 04:43:09 GMT

Agreed. Revenue upsells are a huge source of income for Delta and other airlines (or air lines as Delta chose to put it). I've done it a number of times, and with the ability to easily upgrade with miles and earn MQMs on the fare class actually flown, I'll be more likely to self-upgrade to F, even if I was reasonably confident that I would get the free upgrade anyway. Comfort+ is similar to other fares like Virgin Atlantic's Economy Delight that gets some extra perks without truly being a Premium Economy fare. If someone's going to pay $35-75 or more each way to put themselves in a C+ seat, I'm fine with them boarding ahead of me no matter what my status or what cards I hold.

Let's be honest, once it gets past F passengers, the real reason most people want to board earlier is to secure overhead bin space. If you're boarding in at least Zone 1 or 2, it's not going to be an issue. If you're Sky Priority and not flying C+/F/D1, you're still going to be one of the first ones boarding in the Main Cabin.

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

Anonymous — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 04:52:33 GMT

interesting, today's boarding was just "need extra time" then prem. no special mention of infants or military. Although it didn't stop a few military guy and girl take their own intitiative to board themselves early.

Wonder if thats a new thing too.

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

K-in-Boston — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 05:39:17 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
interesting, today's boarding was just "need extra time" then prem. no special mention of infants or military. Although it didn't stop a few military guy and girl take their own intitiative to board themselves early.

Wonder if thats a new thing too.

GAs are never consistent, but the usual pattern is:

Those requiring assistance, additional time, or traveling with strollers and/or car seats.

Active duty with ID (nice that Delta doesn’t require in uniform like others) quickly followed by Diamond Medallions.

PREM

SKY

1-whatever.

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

Anonymous — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 12:16:37 GMT

I can board early, but I am usually last one on the plane. My last flight I fell asleep in the terminal so I was dead last to board. Last on, first off. I don't travel to sit in a jam packed, flying aluminum culvert.

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

UpperNwGuy — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 15:19:23 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I can board early, but I am usually last one on the plane. My last flight I fell asleep in the terminal so I was dead last to board. Last on, first off. I don't travel to sit in a jam packed, flying aluminum culvert.

What about your luggage?

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

redpat — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 15:29:37 GMT

@UpperNwGuy wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I can board early, but I am usually last one on the plane. My last flight I fell asleep in the terminal so I was dead last to board. Last on, first off. I don't travel to sit in a jam packed, flying aluminum culvert.
What about your luggage?

I've done the same. FC, I never had a problem w/ my carry on.

I hate just sitting there waiting as others pass by, we all leave at the same time.

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

Anonymous — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 17:22:35 GMT

@UpperNwGuy wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I can board early, but I am usually last one on the plane. My last flight I fell asleep in the terminal so I was dead last to board. Last on, first off. I don't travel to sit in a jam packed, flying aluminum culvert.
What about your luggage?

I do have staus, so generally I do check my bags. I don't want to deal with jamming it in the overhead bins. In fact I wish airlines would remove the bins, turnaround time would be cut by like 20%.

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 04:42:32 GMT

I’m not sure if I misread something, but it doesn’t seem like anyone is boarding ahead of me that wasn’t previously? As long as it gets me in early enough to still get overhead bin space then I’m ok. Delta takes a long time from boarding to take off so if they somehow fixed that I don’t have to sit and wait for others to board for 30 minutes, that’s alright with me.

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 05:58:23 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@UpperNwGuy wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I can board early, but I am usually last one on the plane. My last flight I fell asleep in the terminal so I was dead last to board. Last on, first off. I don't travel to sit in a jam packed, flying aluminum culvert.
What about your luggage?
I do have staus, so generally I do check my bags. I don't want to deal with jamming it in the overhead bins. In fact I wish airlines would remove the bins, turnaround time would be cut by like 20%.

I’m a bag checker too unless it is a RT in one day flight.

Re: Value of sky priority reduced

K-in-Boston — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 23:15:11 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I’m not sure if I misread something, but it doesn’t seem like anyone is boarding ahead of me that wasn’t previously? As long as it gets me in early enough to still get overhead bin space then I’m ok. Delta takes a long time from boarding to take off so if they somehow fixed that I don’t have to sit and wait for others to board for 30 minutes, that’s alright with me.

Comfort+ passengers now board ahead of SkyPriority (GM and above, SkyTeam Elite Plus, etc.) and Zone 1 (FO, SkyTeam Elite, Amex Delta cardholders, etc.) passengers not flying in Comfort+, First, or Delta One.