Thousands of Delta Air Lines' best customers are gearing up to fight changes in upgrades in the carrier's elite frequent flier program.

        Many of Delta's most loyal customers are vowing to leave the Atlanta-based airline, the nation's third-largest.

        A Web site - www.saveskymiles.com - has signed up nearly 2,000 Medallion Club members in protest of the new policies, some of which took effect Monday. Some travelers are even taking the campaign to airports, passing out informational fliers and business cards on Delta flights and even in restrooms at facilities such as Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport — Delta's second-largest hub.

        “This is a culmination of issues,” said Mike Seidenman, a Fairfield salesman who was one of the first participants on the Web site and who hands out cards whenever he travels.

        “They've been chipping away at this stuff for a couple of years, and now we're all fed up. And it's especially a problem here in Cincinnati, because Delta is all we've got. Now we're all fed up.”
       Medallion Club members are the elite of Delta's frequent fliers, each traveling at least 25,000 miles a year, with the top platinum level traveling more than 100,000 miles a year on Delta.

        By comparison, it takes 25,000 frequent flier miles to earn a free coach domestic ticket. There are about 28 million SkyMiles members, but Delta would not disclose how many of those are Medallion club members. The airline holds about 291.5 billion miles in liability, according to Inside Flyer magazine.

        “I probably spend close to $30,000 a year with the airline, and there are a lot more out there like me who spend even more,” Mr. Seidenman said. “We're not trying to be greedy, and we understand changes have to be made. But we also feel there has been no return.”

        Starting Jan. 1, the bottom two Medallion levels — silver and gold — no longer will be issued upgrades usable on all flights, including to international destinations. Instead, they will have to earn upgrades for use on North American flights only. And previously earned systemwide upgrades will not be honored after March 1.

        An upgrade allows someone to buy a coach class ticket and use the upgrade to travel in business or first class.

        The old policy was to allow system-wide upgrades (including international flights) for all levels. Delta was the only major airline to offer such a perk, but those old upgrades can no longer be earned as of March 1.

        Inside Flyer editor Randy Petersen said he was surprised by Delta's move, but even more surprised by the reaction.

        “I never thought of SkyMilers as politically active, but this certainly has their back up,” Mr. Petersen said.

        “The average person who has signed the petition on SaveSkyMiles.com has 575,000 base miles, and you don't want to make that crowd mad if you're an airline.”

        Delta SkyMiles system manager Kevin Pinto said the changes were made in part to free up more space for paying customers in business class, and in part because many gold and silver members do not fly internationally. He said that the company also tried to provide new services, such as extending club membership for two months and allowing upgrades to be transferred to traveling companions.

“We understand change is hard, and people are upset,” Mr. Pinto said. “But we feel these changes will prove to be positive in the long run.”

        Mr. Pinto said that he plans a dialogue with upset customers and wants to keep their business.

        Mr. Seidenman and others say that the move was just the latest in a long list of reductions. They point, for example, to the company's making certain coach-class tickets off-limits for upgrades.

        “I'm starting to wean off Delta and (am) using Southwest and others,” said John Doyle, an electrical engineer from Louisville.

        “The final policy goes into effect in March. I wouldn't say that myself and others are going to go into a boycott, but we are prepared to stick to our guns.”

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