More news from Delta regarding changes to SkyMiles program were announced today. Delta has announced that they are making several improvements to their SkyMiles program, this comes after the recent removal of their award chart, which has disappointed and frustrated Delta customers.
Delta Makes New SkyMiles Announcement
Details of the changes to Delta’s SkyMiles program include: (from Delta’s press release.)
- 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.
The press release also noted, “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.” You can read the release in its entirety here.
Bottom Line
While a lot of these changes sound pretty positive, I know that there are still a lot of questions and some things are still a little unclear. I really like the idea of 10k miles one-way tickets. It also may benefit some that you can now earn MQDs, regardless of ticketing carrier, for travel on most of Delta’s airline partners (retroactive back to 1/1/15.) I think time will tell how this will all work out for Skymiles members. How do these changes sound to you?
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The Weekly Flyer writes about travel from a business traveler perspective. He travels the world every week accumulating points and miles along the way.
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1. Others, including Delta Points, have reported that it’s difficult to actually find 10,000-mile, one-way award ticket destinations. Why not publish a list?
2. What’s the point of a Sky Team alliance if Delta’s purported “partner airlines” aren’t ever offered to Delta customers looking to book flights?
3. See point 2 regarding MQD on “partner airlines.”
Might be useful to read beyond the press release to understand what’s really going on. Or at least link to sources which do.
The MQD earning is better than a stick in the eye, but not great. Especially if you fly on AS metal.
For me… And just one person obviously! Apparently perhaps JUST me it seems!…. The Delta program is way better for me.
Suddenly there are one way awards for multiple seats almost daily on partner awards. On flights I want! I don’t ever fly out and back, so before it was useless. Now…. Virgin Atlantic, Aero Mexico awesome 787 routes in biz class for great redemption rates every single day availability. And many more I imagine I haven’t searched for. Show me another program that has that. No really… Please do. 😉
I think Delta is the program people led by Deltapoints screaming at the front for a witch hunt, that people love to hate. Of course they have made massive mostly negative changes as many do over the years. United, Hilton, and BA come to mind just recently. Ummm… Roll with the punches, they all do it eventually. Life goes on (until some get sick with the stress of Delta destroying their lives and punching their babies in the face)
This may come as a huge shock to Rene and co… Delta is in business to make money. As a company and a public listed one at that, it’s their duty to try and be as profitable as possible. Skymiles is part of that equation and they have a right to do so.
Oh and this is not Cuba or Later day Russia, Americans are free to fly any airline they desire. It seems many are taking their business else where in disgust or claiming to do so. That’s their perogative too. Of course.
Just my opinion and maybe slightly off topic, but tired of dramatic over the top entitled Delta hysteria else where. It’s exhausting.
I like the ability to earn MQDs on partner airlines, now if they just expand again to include MQMs…am still waiting to see miles flown on domestic flights on Virgin Australia more than a month ago. Will see if both miles and dollars get recorded.