By Kevin

Jul 1, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this

Every airline is entitled to make a fair profit, and I do not hink that is what has every upset over the latest moves by the airlines. The issue is they hide fees and penilize loyal customers. If it costs Delta more to run the flight, increase the ticket price. I would rather see my cost up front that when I get to the ticket counter in the form of additional baggage fees on your first piece of luggage, and fuel surcharges. These are all costs they should put into the ticket price, as should all carriers. Let me easily review your costs, and then I will choose as an informed buyer. All these surcharges are a way of adding extra fees they will never remove. If the price of gas does go back down does anyone really expect the airlines to revolk any of these fees? If an airline cannot remain competitive and honest then they go the way of the dodo.

By Gavin

Jul 1, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

I find the fuel surcharges to be a sneaky way of raising faires. I have no problem with Delta charging an appropriate price for my ticket. They should charge a price commesurate with the amount of profit they desire. Just do not wrap 14 other fees up with it. Pricing should be simple and easy to understand. As for the Frequent flier surcharge, it rubs me the wrong way. I kept my end of the deal by being a loyal customer and now they are saying that does not matter. It is like a restaurant changing the menu prices after you already ordered. It will cost them my loyalty. It will also cost them when they go bankrupt again (it will happen). I will presonally refuse to vote for any politician who suggests a bailout for these guys. If they can not compete then they should go out of business.

By Tom

Jun 30, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this

Delta is doing a wonderful job convincing me that I just can't afford to fly anymore...especially for family vacations of two adults and two children. $25 to redeem tickets, $75 to change each ticket, $50 or more to redeposit miles to my account if the tickets I reserved six months in advance are not usable because my child's band camp was shifted by three days and causes a major family conflict. So long Delta (and American, NW, United, etc).

I'm cutting up my FF credit cards as well and throwing all my earning power to my hotel cards where I am still treated with respect rather than as a bottomless money pit to be mined until I am dry. From here on out it's fly the cheapest seat possible. AirTran and Southwest's greatest asset is that they don't promise a superior experience so you're not disappointed when you don't get it. You get a seat to go from Point A to Point B and that's OK for me.

If Southwest can make money in this environment, anybody can...if they have the discipline. Apparently the Big Six airlines didn't learn a thing in bankruptcy. They had their chance and blew it. It's a shame as I will miss the good old days of flying with dignity but no one can deliver it anymore.

Delta, why do you continue to refuse to hedge your fuel costs? You know we're in a different environment and are never going back to $70 a barrel of oil. Why not learn from your competitors rather than blaming the economy and your passengers for not paying enough?

I'm willing to pay a decent fair...Delta deserves to make a profit...but only if they have a workable business plan. Obviously, they do not.

By Delta FF

Jun 30, 2008 10:02 PM | Link to this

I agree this is not Delta's fault. I agree that imposing fees on SkyMiles redemptoin is completely backwards. You can't even walk by a Delta counter w/o being charged 5 miscellaneous fees. They are the only company that I know that can raise fees 100% ...their same day change flight fee is now $75...you have to pay that for seats that would go unused otherwise!!!! One of the many things that blows me away. Delta has managed to make their FF program irrelevant...the only thing determinig which airline I fly is the cost going forward...not the carrier. I am a Medallion flyer. I won't come 2010.

By Atico

Jun 30, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this

I cancelled my Delta Sky Miles card with A/E yesterday. I could see the hand writing on the wall. OOEC has the world by the short hair, and we will continue to pay through the nose until we wake up and drill, drill, drill. Enough said to make all the greenies ill.

By Joe

Jun 30, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

Charging a fuel charge on top of a ticket is a total joke. Yep fuel costs most...so why doesn't Delta and the other Big Six airlines hedge their fuel like Southwest? I saw the other day where United had a $179 sale to Las Vegas. But wait, there was a $140 fuel charge to be added. Where was the bargin? When I buy a loaf of bread the cashier doesn't charge me 35 cents more at the register for fuel surchage. The Big Six are saying its our fault because fuel costs so much and they can't cover their expenses...all the while Southwest is growing. Doesn't someone see the discrepency in all this? Time to abandon the FF game...especially when Delta ups its redemption levels this Fall...and blames us for the inflation. If they think too many miles are out there, stop selling the miles to AmEx and the others.

By JoJo

Jun 30, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this

I know all airlines are suffering from the fuel cost surge and I understand their need to raise revenue. But this surcharge on frequent flyer miles we earned when they were eager for our business comes across as a betrayal, a renege on the mutual understanding that was supposed to lie behind the program. I hope Delta and the other lines understand the price they will pay for this "revenue enhancement": we'll never again trust them to keep their word. They'd have been much wiser to raise the needed revenue by raising current fares (for passengers flying now, when those high fuel costs are in effect) than to do it by going back on their implied promise to us who flew so many miles when their fuel was relatively cheap.

By Cindi

Jun 30, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

Last time I checked, businesses are run to MAKE money. When customers think they should be able to fly across country for what it costs for a tank of gas how are airlines even going to break even. Everyone knows gas prices are going up but they seem angry that the airlines want to charge more.

Part of the price of flying is the fuel involved, just like driving our cars everyday. It isn't Delta's fault the market is going crazy yet consumers seem to think there is something they can do about it.

Delta has just as much right as any business to make a profit and increase their prices; and besides, it isn't like they are the only airline doing it.

By Martha

Jun 30, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this

One week I read that three of the top 25 salaries in Georgia belong to Delta executives. The next week I read that redeeming miles will carry a surcharge. Hmmm.... Am I the only one to put these two news items together? Are the oil price increases the only reason for the surcharge?

By Award flyer

Jun 30, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

I think the fuel surcharge on award tickets is BS. Why not surcharge on the revenue generating tickets and give us a break when we decided to use our miles for travel?