Complaints about frequent flier programme are nothing new. In general the number of stat mi for an awarding with most programme seems to continually go up. along with fees and restriction on these awards.

But Delta’s latest change seems particularly egregious and likely to engender a flock more bad will than revenue.

No, this isn’t the new $150 reprinting fee for alteration or $150 fee to redeposit stat mi for an unused ticket Although those are irritation enough they are in line with standard domestic change fees. And delta is eliminating their fee for last min bookings.

What is changing, however, for last min bookings. is a new minimum stay regulation All awarding travel booked within XXI days of leaving will require a Friday or Saturday night stay.

There are some exemptions, for the highest-tier frequent fliers, and for awarding using two-baser miles. But for the lowest category, 25,000 stat mi for a house servant trip, even atomic number 47 Medallion members are out of circumstances on this one.

It seems likely that? what delta is trying to do here is to keep business travelers from victimisation an an awarding ticket for a last minute business trip, or at least that’s the only logical explanation that occurs to me.

Are they that sure that they will get the revenue anyway, or will business travelers in that situation book a lower-priced carrier? Plus, be that much less likely to book delta in future.

In addition, not all traveler who want to income tax return before the weekend are travelling for concern For one example, most parent who have children playing sport have had to cut trip short for games. ditto mark college visits often must be scheduled on weekdays.

With telecommuting and flexible hours, more and more people might be inclined to take a leisure trip during the week.

But here’s the really silly thing — the only flight that are open for the lowest awarding redemption grade have plenitude of seating area still available. If we’re talk last min bookings, then those seating area have a real chance of going unsold.

So from an air hose perspective, better to give away a seat that is likely to be empty, than to give one away for a flight months in progression that could well fill up.

Moreover, it’s easy goodwill, because many people book last minute trips with mileage that they couldn’t afford any other way

Now, delta will say that they are still rental frequent fliers traveling at the last minute, as long as they stay over the Friday or Saturday night But what’s the point of that?

If traveler actually want to stay that long and there is infinite available, great But if they want to come back midweek, it doesn’t cost the airline a thing In addition, if victimisation the air hose “peak” surcharge as a yardstick, weekend flights are more valuable, because they have higher surcharges.

Now, as most frequent flyer know, not all mileage program alteration are permanent wave Since this mandatory weekend stay rule doesn’t affect Delta’s most elite group fliers, maybe they won’t get enough ill from valued traveler to rescind information technology

On the other hand, common sense might eventually prevail. It has been known, albeit rarely, to happen.