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Delta’s Skybonus program has some new promotions (that may be targeted) to and from JFK. This got my attention after the new implementation of the NO Diamond complimentary upgrades the “sorta secret” upgrade program ended last month.
The bonus, that you have to sign up for before you buy the tickets, are based on the fare class of the ticket. Notice the T&C inside the promo for the 3x and 2x bonus deals:
“Now your company can earn triple SkyBonus points on Level 1 fares for each purchased ticket between New York (JFK) and Los Angeles, CA (LAX) or San Francisco, CA (SFO). Level 1 – defined as Delta fare classes: F, P, A, G, J, C, D, I, Z, W, Y and B”
and
“Now your company can earn double SkyBonus points on Level 2 fares for each purchased ticket between New York (JFK) and Los Angeles, CA (LAX) or San Francisco, CA (SFO). Level 2 – defined as Delta fare classes: M, S, H, Q, K, L, U and T”
Delta clearly loves this market and has attempted to “WoW” LAX flyers with a PVT-ish DeltaONE check-in before they are returned to the “normal” elite / TSA Pre Check line and enter the airport (no PVT screening for DeltaONE passengers). I have not tested this yet but am guessing I will be underwhelmed. After all, when carry-on, I can just head up the escalator with my boarding pass in my phone and go right to the Skyclub or, depending on my departure gate, to the Alaska boardroom LAX that I also have access to. But this business promo is about pushing people to buy higher priced fare class tickets to earn more Skybonus points. Is it worth it?
I think the loss of complimentary transcon upgrades is a huge deal for top elites in these markets and it will be interesting to me how many Delta flyers book on Jet Blue’s MINT product due to this latest change. Then again, perhaps what Delta is shooting for is for the company booking rep to reap Skybonus points for buying higher class fares and leave their employees stuck in coach (who cares about their complimentary upgrade).
Speaking of Skybonus points be sure you have checked that you have received all the points that are due to you and especially so if you, like me, will get booted out of the loyalty program at the end of the year because not having 5 employees who are flying at least 1 paid flight this year. I checked and there were a hand full of flights that were not in queue for credit. Not really shocking after the revelation that a bunch of folks had missing flights last year.
Will I be sad to see my participation in Skybonus go? Oh sure, it is one more indication that Mr. Anderson “has my back” or at least is kicking me in the back side out the door as my loyalty is not good enough to matter to Delta as a sole proprietor no matter how much I spend with Delta. Just one more thing in the long list of cuts I think about each time I go to buy a ticket. – Rene
Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Skybonus is actively hostile to small businesses. They have pulled back >100K points from me without notice, and refused to discuss reinstatement. I’m done with them.
I have gone through the Delta One entry at LAX twice, most recently this past Sunday. You’re greeted outside by one or two agents, who check your credentials and introduce you to an escort. My escort showed me the beverages and snacks in the waiting area but confessed that those in the Sky Club are much more diverse. She instructed me to take the elevator to the next level, where one walks down a tasteful grey corridor and exit into… the same place you’d be if you just went up the escalator. An additional disappointment: Pre Check was closed, though we who generated three beeps were given green cards identifying us to TSA screeners so we could go through the X-Ray machine and not have to remove shoes. (Laptops did need to be presented.) I suspect there may be a different process escorts follow for real VIPs and celebrities, but I didn’t qualify. My judgment: It’s much ado about nothing.
The DeltaOne check-in is really only beneficial if you have luggage. In that event, they take the luggage from you as soon as you get in the door of the DeltaOne lounge and check the bags in while you are sitting in the lounge. A nice perk, but not extraordinary. Very underwhelming.