cross-posted from: https://lemmy.radio/post/13137400

Delta Air Lines has agreed to pay $79 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed in 2020 after one of its airplanes that was experiencing engine trouble dumped its fuel over schoolyards and densely populated neighborhoods near Los Angeles.

Delta Air Lines has been sued by passengers who claim they were charged extra for a window seat but found themselves sitting next to a blank wall.

Delta jet engine bursts into flames at Orlando International Airport; no injuries reported.

Social media posts are circulating online, showing a lightning bolt zap an airplane Monday night as it flew over Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood.

Delta Air Lines said it is aware of the reports and said the plane landed safely.

Beginnng in February, Delta is limiting free visits to Sky Club.

"Cardmembers with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card will be limited to 15 Sky Club visits per calendar year.

Cardmembers with The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express will be limited to 10 annual visits."

Might be time to burn some of your Skymiles for winter travel. "For 3 days only, make the most of your miles with deals to beach destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and beyond. Sale ends September 12, 2024."

Scripps News is reporting that two Delta jets clipped each other on the Tarmac in Atlanta. No reported casualties.

I'd be more excited about it if they were giving MQD's.

MS Crowdstrike ain't taking any more crap from Delta.

Delayed passengers try to get even by wasting food, drinks and water in a Delta lounge.

I gave up on Delta and took a long bus ride home. Looks like the meltdown will continue all week.

Delta melt down continues into Sunday, probably beyond.

Delta flight attendants' union protests Delta's ban on international flag pins, following multiple incidents where flight attendants were harassed online for wearing the Palestinian flag.

Preparing to fly out of Portland OR tomorrow, Monday. Will my flight be canceled? What's it like out there?

#Delta

I'm required by federal rules to buy a ticket through an American carrier for work travel, which means my flights have to be booked by Delta even if the flights are operated by AF/KLM. I want to fly on AF/KLM stock to get better MQDs, though. Can I call either Delta or AF/KLM to have them change the ticket stock after purchasing? I know the stocks CAN be changed, because KLM were forced to do it in order for them to book me on a new flight after mine was cancelled. I just don't know if there are special code words I can use to get them to do it for me.

Full details here. In a nut shell:

No MQMs or MQMs will be used for status earn, MQD only

Status earn only through Delta flight purchase, Delta vacation/car rentals, or Delta AMEX card spend

1 x MQD for every $10 spent in Delta AMEX Reserve

1 x MQD for every $20 spent for Platinum

10 lounge visits per year for delta AMEX reserve starting in 2025

6 lounge visits per year for Platinum starting in 2025

No lounge visits for Platinum in 2024

These are huge changes that are going to hurt medallion members who make their status on the fringes. I know United raised their bar for status qualification this year so I wonder if this is response to that and/or the want to make their medallion statuses more elite again. During pandemic they made a lot of exceptions and relaxing of rules to keep their customer base while air travel was low and as a result, I was able to keep my platinum status for 3 years in a row with minimal traveling. I'm presuming many others were as well which likely leads to lounge overcrowding and high competition for upgrades.

Part of me wonders if there will be some whiplash effect as a result from cardholders. To only earn 1 MQD for every $10 spent on a card that has a $550 annual fee is pretty egregious. Additionally, Delta has been typically at the top of the list for best rewards programs (usually behind Alaska) so I wonder how that will shake out as well. I personally think Delta feels it has earned enough of a reputation as an "elite" airline that it can sell an elite experience at a higher cost.