Signal: Delta Air Lines SkyMiles changes draw ire on social media

Delta Air Lines recently introduced substantial revisions to its SkyMiles loyalty program. Under the new policy, elite status will be based on the amount of money spent rather than miles flown. This shift, while altering the landscape of elite benefits, has triggered discontent among numerous frequent flyers. Many have expressed their frustration and disappointment on social media platforms, including “X,” (formerly Twitter) where influencers openly shared their dissatisfaction and contemplation of a potential switch to other airlines, highlighted in the Social Media Analytics Platform of GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company,

Smitarani Tripathy, Social Media Analyst at GlobalData, said: “Numerous influencers active on “X” have voiced their discontent regarding the alterations made to Delta Air Lines’ SkyMiles program. This has prompted many customers to contemplate severing their loyalty ties with the airline and exploring alternative options. The prevailing sentiment among these influencers leans overwhelmingly toward negativity, reflecting customers’ perceptions that the Delta Medallion modifications fail to adequately acknowledge their loyalty.”

Below are a few popular influencer opinions captured by GlobalData’s Social Media Analytics Platform:

Jake Williams, Faculty at IANS:

Changes to the @Delta SkyMiles program is a shameless cash grab in an attempt to get people to book rental cars, hotels, and vacation packages through Delta.

That's it. Period.

— Jake Williams (@MalwareJake) September 14, 2023

Sherrell Dorsey, TED Tech Host:

The biggest L of these @Delta skymiles changes and new policies is that there are very few high-quality airlines that deliver as well as the Delta experience. So you can't even truly switch in protest.

— Pronounced Sher-Elle (@Sherrell_Dorsey) September 14, 2023

I'm about 100K miles away from Million Miler Status on Delta, but I might not get there… starting next year I'm going to break my decade+ long diehard loyalty to the airline bc of changes to earning Medallion status. https://t.co/nIx9JBolwv

— Michael J. Miraflor (@michaelmiraflor) September 14, 2023

Christina Warren, Sr Dev Advocate at GitHub:

The Delta Medallion changes are absolutely abysmal. I can't realistically change airlines but I can change who I fly internationally and man, these changes make a great case for OneWorld or something.

— Christina Warren (@film_girl) September 14, 2023

Kelly Vaughn, Director of Engineering at Spot AI:

Delta completely gutting the SkyMiles Medallion program as someone who lives in Atlanta is… extremely disappointing. Tough to stay loyal to my local airline when that loyalty is not returned.

— Kelly Vaughn (@kvlly) September 14, 2023

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GlobalData’s Social Media Analytics Platform allows businesses to understand brand sentiments, product led conversations, buzzing trends over Reddit and Twitter by using a combination of AI and human based analysis that curate content and displays only what matters to you.