The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly for international Business Class and domestic First Class travelers.
New Elite Fare Restrictions
Delta has introduced a new line of branded products. Business Class is now called Delta One and Medallion members who purchase the lowest economy fares (Basic Economy) no longer receive paid or complimentary upgrades to First Class, paid or complimentary Preferred Seats, or paid or complimentary Delta Premium Economy Lite seats (Comfort+).
[aside headline="Ridiculous: Elimination of Award Charts" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"] Sky Miles members are now flying blind, as the carrier eliminated its mileage award-cost charts, making planning a guessing game. Not having a price list makes it very difficult to evaluate the airline’s value proposition and disguises program devaluations—two things the airline now prizes.
If you ever needed evidence, this program is sinking, and fast, here you have it.
As always: Reconsider your Elite-Status Mindset before it’s too late. Some may get tired of hearing me say that, but Loyalty-Free Agents weather these program devaluations well and can take advantage of the new benefits at the same time, lock-in free.
I know mindsets are hard to change, but given that Delta values miles in its new domestic “Pay with Miles to Upgrade” program at 1¢ each, it’s not hard to imagine a day very soon when that’s all miles are worth, whether you are redeeming miles for a toaster oven or flight. Chasing a few percent discount is a waste of time.
Stay diversified.
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Losers: Elite members that fly on lowest economy fares.
The hardest hit is elites who upgrade from the lowest economy fare to domestic First or even to just a better economy seat. In the name of re-branding, Delta is disguising the real hustle, pushing elites to pay a higher economy fare to receive their hard-earned elite benefits. That’s Delta loyalty now.
For example, on the Los Angele's Detroit route, Delta’s basic economy fare (booking class E) is $401. Medallion members don’t receive complimentary upgrades to First Class, Preferred Seats, or Delta Comfort+. The main cabin economy fare is $441, so Delta now makes elites pay $40 more to get their benefits. Yes, not a big difference, but the rule and new fare restriction behind it is—and no-doubt the disparity will grow over time—like international M fares did.
That said, the elite upgrade line will be cut so the odds of getting an upgrade just skyrocketed for those willing to roll the dice on elite upgrades.
In effect, Delta is now like American, charging elites for upgrades (although Delta still calls them “unlimited free”). But, unlike American, Delta is taking the money in the form of the higher fare whether you get the upgrade or not.
Delta has already blocked elite upgrades on routes that matter most, such as JFK-LAX/SFO and some routes to Hawaii.
The Nub: Elite status is increasingly meaningless on Delta. You have to pay up, no matter what. That said, we do like Delta for low domestic First Class published fares, which ought to be considered first, before playing elite upgrade roulette.
New One-Way Awards
Delta and US Airways were the only U.S. airlines that didn’t offer them, so you had to be lucky to find award space round-trip. Delta now offers one-way awards at half the cost. Until this change took effect, I rarely thought about using Sky Miles. Read more on the importance of one-way awards and how they can Boost Your Options 72,900%+.
Winners: Delta Skymiles members + Multi-Airline Currency strategists.
Those with MACs in their diversified portfolio can now think about using Delta SkyMiles, especially when Delta has the best routing, as Amex Rewards and Starpoints can be transferred into SkyMiles.
Earning Miles in 2015
Delta introduced earning miles and MQM’s based on the fare paid and elite status—the higher your fare and the higher your elite status, the more you earn.
Winners: SkyMiles members who buy high-priced premium tickets.
Losers: SkyMiles members who buy low-priced economy or First Class tickets.
Delta is becoming a two-class society, rich and poor, for Sky Miles members: Either pays full-fare for Business or First Class and earn enough miles for another free ticket, or book cheap EasyUp strategy fares and earn very few miles.
Instead of taking a big hit on the miles you earn, consider crediting miles to Delta’s partners, like Air France and Alaska. Why? One quick example: If you purchase an EasyUp Business Class fare between Los Angele's and Madrid ($1,600), Delta will only credit you with 8,000 miles whereas Air France and Alaska will give you 15,675 miles. (See FCF’s newsroom for great Delta international and domestic fares.)
More Online Partner Booking Options
Delta is expanding the number of airline partners that display availability online and can be booked online as well.
Winners: Sky Miles members + MAC Strategists.
More partners online are great—I dread being on hold and then not getting a good agent. This change empowers the traveler who is creative, flying different routes, airlines, and dates. Online partners now include Aero Mexico, Air France, Alaska, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Garuda Indonesia, GOL, KLM, Korean, Virgin Atlantic, and Virgin Australia.
Mileage Award Calendar
Delta has made huge improvements to its online award mileage calendar, which now shows five weeks of availability at a time.
Winners: Sky Miles members + MAC Strategists.
Delta had the worst online calendar. The information was often contradictory, with one rate on the calendar and then another when you went to book the award. Now the award calendar shows five weeks of availability at a time, and it seems to be accurate.
Earning MQD’s
Delta elites can now earn MQD’s with partner airlines and elites will receive retroactive MQD credit on eligible partner flights dating back to the beginning of the qualification year, Jan. 1, 2015.
Winners: SkyMiles members.
It’s about time. Why even have partnerships with other airlines if your elites can only fly on Delta to earn MQD’s?