Tag Archives: SkyMiles Program

Delta makes changes to its SkyMiles program

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has announced these changes to its SkyMiles program:

Delta Air Lines is updating the SkyMiles program with several changes to improve the program as members earn status and redeem miles for Award tickets. Beginning March 9, SkyMiles members will have access to a number of program improvements, including lower One-Way Awards, improved tools for Delta customers to book Award travel, and the ability to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) on partner airlines.

“We continue to adjust the SkyMiles program to give members more value and options, including making it easier to redeem more Award travel at lower prices,” said Karen Zachary, Managing Director – SkyMiles. “Delta is committed to providing industry-leading operational performance and on-board product and services, while remaining innovative in meeting our customers’ needs.”

Details of the changes to Delta’s SkyMiles program include:

New One-Way Award tickets beginning as low as 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees, available through Dec. 31, 2015 for travel in select U.S., Mexican and Caribbean markets. Customers can now fly to several popular Award destinations with a 21-day minimum advance purchase.
Improved Award redemption by expanding the number of airline partners that SkyMiles members can select to redeem for Award Travel on delta.com. Delta recently updated the Fly Delta app to give customers the ability to book Award travel from mobile devices. Since January, Delta has offer customers the ability to book SkyMiles Award travel through the Fly Delta app.
Customers can now earn MQDs, regardless of ticketing carrier, for travel on most of Delta’s airline partners, which will help them achieve Medallion status faster. SkyMiles members will receive retroactive credit of MQDs on eligible partner flights dating back to the beginning of the qualification year, Jan. 1, 2015. MQD earning varies based on carrier, percentage of distance flown as determined by Delta and fare class paid.

Additionally, this month, Delta launched refreshed cabin experiences with its Delta One, First Class, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin products. As part of these changes, SkyMiles Diamond Medallion members are now among the first board the aircraft along with Delta One/First Class customers. Diamond and Platinum Medallion members also enjoy complimentary upgrade eligibility to First Class as well as complimentary access to Delta Comfort+ seats at the time of booking. Gold and Silver Medallion members continue to enjoy complimentary upgrade eligibility to First Class and will now enjoy complimentary access to Delta Comfort+ seats starting 72 hours and 24 hours prior to departure.

Since January, Delta has made 50 percent more Award Seats available giving members more options when they travel. In 2014, program members redeemed more than 296 billion miles in the SkyMiles program for 12.5 million award redemptions.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-3P6 ER N1501P (msn 24983) climbs away from Los Angeles International Airport.

Delta aircraft slide show (current livery):

Delta issues a redemption chart to better explain the changes to its SkyMiles program

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has released the 2015 SkyMiles U.S. Award redemption charts as part of its commitment to inform members of upcoming SkyMiles program improvements. Of the 44 Award level pricing changes, more than 95 percent of the changes reflect a decrease in the miles needed for Award Travel redemption by SkyMiles members.

The new SkyMiles U.S. Award chart: CLICK HERE

According to the airline, “With the release of the U.S. Award chart, members can learn even more about Delta’s 2015 SkyMiles program including how the new five-tier Award structure will be implemented. The lowest level for SkyMiles Saver Awards will remain at 25,000 miles plus taxes and fees for an Economy Class Award ticket for travel within the U.S. andCanada excluding Hawaii. The introduction of two additional redemption tiers will offer members more price points for Awards and is designed to complement new features such as new One-Way Award tickets which will start as low as 12,500 miles plus taxes and fees within the U.S. and Canada excluding Hawaii and the ability to redeem Miles + Cash Award options. In addition, members will experience significant improvements to award-redemption functionality at delta.com and Delta reservations in 2015.”

Delta is moving the emphasis of the mileage awards program to its premium flyers who pay more for their tickets.

Copyright Photo: James Helbock/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-432 ER N841MH (msn 29714) with the special “100 Years – American Cancer Society – The Official Sponsor of Birthdays” logo and inscription arrives in Las Vegas.

Delta Air Lines (current):

Delta Air Lines (historic):

Delta announces changes to its SkyMiles program, changes to a ticket price, not miles flown

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has issued this statement about changes to its SkyMiles program:

Delta Air Lines has taken another step in its ongoing commitment to improve the travel experience by unveiling changes to the SkyMiles program. The 2015 SkyMiles program will introduce a shift from today’s current model in which customers earn redeemable mileage based on distance traveled to one based on ticket price. The program updates will be effective January 1, 2015 and will also include a new mileage redemption structure that will improve Award seat availability at the lowest mileage requirement levels, offer One-Way Awards at half the price of round-trip, provide additional Miles + Cash Award options, as well as make significant improvements to delta.com and Delta reservations Award shopping tools.

A New Mileage Earning Model

Today’s method of earning redeemable miles based on the distance a customer flies will change to a model of earning redeemable miles based on the price of the ticket purchased. Delta is providing 10 months advance notice of the upcoming program changes so that customers have ample time to make travel plans.

Customers will be able to earn between five and 11 miles per dollar* spent based on their SkyMiles status, and continue to earn up to an additional two miles per dollar* when using their Delta SkyMiles Credit Card, for a total of up to 13 miles per dollar. The updated program will better reward the customers who spend more with Delta and give them improved mileage-earning opportunities.

The updated mileage-earning plan, for travel beginning January 1, 2015, will better recognize frequent business travelers and those less frequent leisure customers who purchase premium fares. The move is consistent with a trend in the travel industry of rewarding customer behavior based on price. Customers will continue to earn additional miles for purchases with a Delta SkyMiles Credit Card⁺.

MILEAGE EARNING

SkyMiles program status	Miles per dollar*	Miles earned with Credit Card*⁺	Total miles per dollar*
General member	5	+2	7
Silver Medallion	7	+2	9
Gold Medallion	8	+2	10
Platinum Medallion	9	+2	11
Diamond Medallion	11	+2	13
⁺ on Delta spend

For travel marketed and ticketed by Delta’s partner airlines, members will earn a percentage of miles flown as determined by the fare class purchased and will also earn Medallion mileage bonuses on eligible fares.

New Redemption Options

SkyMiles members will gain even more redemption options with the introduction of up to a five-tier structure to give them a wider variety of Awards and improve overall availability at the lowest price points. The lowest level for SkyMiles Saver Awards will remain at 25,000 miles for an Economy Class Award ticket for travel within the U.S. and Canada excluding Hawaii. All of Delta’s worldwide redemption charts will be updated to reflect the new options in the last quarter of 2014 and will be effective for new Award bookings beginning Jan. 1, 2015.

In addition to offering multiple new redemption levels, the SkyMiles program will also introduce One-Way Award tickets starting as low as 12,500 miles within the U.S. and Canada excluding Hawaii and will offer customers the ability to redeem Miles + Cash to provide more Award booking options for tickets purchased at delta.com or through Delta reservations.

Customers will continue to have access to every seat on any Delta flight as an Award seat with no blackout dates. In 2013, frequent flyers redeemed more than 271 billion miles in the SkyMiles program for more than 11 million Award redemptions.

Delta and the SkyMiles Program

Delta is the only major airline that offers elite perks such as unlimited complimentary upgrades, no mileage expiration, no Award fees, a published Diamond Medallion tier and rollover Medallion Qualification Miles.

Now in its 33rd year, SkyMiles is one of the longest-running and most successful loyalty programs in the travel industry. Delta offers many ways to redeem frequent flyer miles, including airline tickets on Delta and 28 partner airlines, mileage upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays and Delta Sky Club memberships, and is the only major airline with miles that don’t expire. For more information on the SkyMiles program, Medallion status and mileage-redemption options.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 747-451 N673US (msn 30268) departs from Los Angeles International Airport.

Delta Air Lines (current):