The USA Today Save Skymiles Ad that I mentioned yesterday was mentioned in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

I’m told, but have not received a copy firsthand, that Delta made the following statement in response to the ad:

A very small group of SkyMiles members placed an ad in the Georgia edition of today’s USA today, stating that they were leaving Delta because of recent management decisions. (Those decisions include service and employee cutbacks and, most importantly in this group’s opinion, changes to the SkyMiles program.) This very small fraction of members – less than a quarter of one percent of the company’s 32 million SkyMiles members – are those who were accustomed to qualifying for Medallion status traveling on low-fare segments or earning limitless first class upgrades. The reshaped SkyMiles Medallion program ensures that DL’s highest revenue customers receive premium treatment with rewards that are based on fares paid as well as miles flown. As a result, customers who generate the most revenue for DL will reach elite status faster and are now truly recognized as the company’s most important customers. Although DL continues to evaluate and refine the program, there are currently no plans to return to the program offered in the past as the company believes its revised Skymiles program and related benefits strike the right balance between the needs of our Medallion memebers and those of DL.