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As I blogged about before, my experience of redeeming both my regional and global upgrade certs for a trip to Sweden this fall was for the most part painless – at least painless from what we have come to expect from Delta’s frequent flyer program.
I love that Delta has at last this year offered what other airlines have had for years and years that is the chance to upgrade from just about ANY coach class fare to an international business class seat. When you compare the cost of coach to most business class seats you will see the real value of this perk for Delta’s highest tier elites Diamond Medallions. On a very long trip this can transform a trip from pain and misery to an enjoyable fun experience. Again, real value and even a reason to shoot for this top elite level.
But as we all know, starting on 00.01 in the morning on 01JAN-2015, every flight you take with Delta will earn FAR fewer rewards than they did before (unless you are spending through the nose that is). However, until that time, that is every single flight that is scheduled to depart before the stroke of midnight on 31DEC2014, we can enjoy the current earnings.
For me personally it meant that I took advantage of the amazing pricing to Sweden from LAX or Los Angeles due to my new best friend NAI or Norwegian Airlines that brought in very competitive prices to the market forcing Delta to match them as I have posted over on DeltaMileageRun.com many times. I was able to apply my global upgrades and will fly in business class for the price of a very cheap coach ticket. That is not to say I will EARN Skymiles at the business class level; no I will earn at the coach price, but even that is VASTLY BETTER under the old Skymiles rewards compared to Skymiles2015.
My point of this is that if you have qualified for these global upgrade certificates and have a long trip coming up or one you think you would like to take, to say Asia or Australia (via LAX) or South Africa or anywhere else REALLY far away, think about burning your certificates THIS YEAR and completing the trip THIS YEAR before the stroke of midnight falls on the last day of December to be able to reap the highest rewards for the distance flown.
This is not to say the certificates will have no value in 2015 and going forward. You are still going to be able to buy a cheap ticket and sit in the business class seat, you are just going to be rewarded less on the Skymiles side. Some food for thought as you make your travel plans for the rest of the year, fellow Diamonds! – René
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Somewhat related questions, any thoughts on strategy with using the regional upgrade certs? Since these are routes you might get a medallion upgrade on anyway, is it best to wait until a day before the flight to assess whether you’re likely to get a medallion upgrade (and use it if not)? Is there any disadvantage in waiting since you’re likely to jump to the top of the list? If you apply the cert but the upgrade doesn’t clear, do you get it back to use another time?
@Mitch – I would say it depends on who you are flying with. I burned mine to conf both wife and I in 1st. Could have prob just did hers but look at route. There are some that are VERY hard to UG even as DM so burn on those.
In 2015 will we be able to earn skymiles at the 2014 rate by flying on non delta tickets on Group 1 partner airlines?
@John – in 2015 you earn under 2015 rate. there is NO WAY to earn 2014 miles once we hit 00.01 on 1JAN2015! 🙁
Website says “Partner-marketed flights that are not ticketed by Delta will continue to earn miles based on a percentage of distance flown as determined by the fare class paid.” Group 1 get 100% base miles plus elite tier bonus.
@John – will NOT be full as it is now. Site also says: We currently are working with our partners and more details will be announced later this year at delta.com/partnerairlines. Booking on say KLM.com and then putting in Skymiles number I can promise you will not be a work-a-round. My guess is due to fare class etc you will get much less than booking at Delta.com but time will tell.
We will see when and what will be crammed down our throats later this year. I am already looking at tickets for 2015. It would be nice to know what this policy will be, although it appears that tickets purchased from partners will be on a mileage-based program rather than a revenue based one.
delta is certainly taking its time with this. I’m already looking at tickets for early 2015 and the only information is that skymiles on partner tickets will be allocated on some form of hybrid mileage-based system. It would be nice to know what the applicable terms and conditions will be. I eagerly await delta’s enhancement on this in the standard hands-on-knees, head-down position.
Sorry for the double comment. I thought the first one did not go through. Just post the second one if possible. Thanks.
Skymiles 2015 doesn’t look that bad for those who actually use Delta for work and not for “runs”.
My last two flights only returned 8,600 RDMs,(MYR-MCO & MYR-MLI), but I’ve had to spend almost $1,600 for both. And I don’t even want to think about my MYR-ATL flight this week that cost $680 for 2,000 RDMs.
Bring on 2015!
The 2015 program will make a lot of people very happy to have their employers buy ridiculously expensive tickets. Well done delta.
I’ll certainly be using these Global Upgrade certs. I’m not sure if I care about the miles anymore because with this change I’ve switched airlines and loyalties. (Million Miler Diamond on Delta …)
I’ll miss Delta. But not enough to not earn miles for my family for travel.
But don’t you have to purchase a full fare international ticket to use the global up-grade certificates?
@Dale – No. Almost ANY fare works with the new certs.