"Delta Air Lines Inc.'s top executives, looking for a way to bolster the bottom line, are retooling the carrier's frequent-flier program, and it could mean that booking award flights -- already a daunting task -- could get even harder.

That could alienate the airline's most loyal travelers, who according to industry watchers, are already wandering.

Delta will implement a change Dec. 1 that will make fewer award seats available on popular flights, even for loyal customers willing to redeem double the miles to get a "free" ticket.

Delta will also start passing along a "surcharge" for miles tickets booked on SkyTeam airline partners.

In an Oct. 30 interview, Lee Macenczak, Delta's executive vice president of sales and marketing, said that, "90 to 95 percent of people using SkyChoice," Delta's premium award level, won't be affected.

"We perceive it to be a minor change, but it's elicited a much more emotional response," he said.

Travel industry watchers have been complaining, saying the move could be matched by other legacy carriers.

In other words, it's a "race to the bottom," said one industry observer.

"The real trend in the industry is to just make fun of people, basically," said Atlanta consumer advocate and WSB radio talk show host Clark Howard.

"They say, 'Hey look, how'd you like to get a free trip to Italy? Just kidding,' " said Howard, who decried Delta's move as the latest trick on people lured into loyalty programs that never really pay off.." [Via www.bizjournals.com/atlanta]

The Pointswizard.com Spin:
We hope other airlines don't follow this bad move by Delta.
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Labels: Delta Airlines, frequent flyer