Delta Air Lines debuted “SkyMiles Select,” an intriguing option offering non-Medallions and non-Delta Amex cardholders “priority” boarding and drink coupons.
For $59 a year, Delta SkyMiles Select members receive Main Cabin 1 boarding and eight drink coupons that can be used toward beer, wine, or liquor during a flight. (Remember, not all Delta flights have cabin service.)
Plus, members also receive a SkyMiles Select brag tag.
Is Delta SkyMiles Select “Status” Worth It?
Medallion status or not, if you find yourself often sitting in coach and buying cocktails, this is a great deal for drinks.
Adult beverages cost $10(!) on Delta flights. SkyMiles Select gives you $80 in booze coupons for $59. The coupons are deposited into your wallet on the Fly Delta app.
Main Cabin 1 boarding is fine — but not “priority” in the way many people assume. Although (as I pointed out the other day), it’s handy if you don’t want to check bags.
Between Medallion status holders, Delta Amex cardholders, and now SkyMiles Select, I feel like Delta has become the Oprah Winfrey of Main Cabin 1 boarding: “You get Main Cabin 1 boarding! And you get Main Cabin 1 boarding! And you get Main Cabin 1 boarding! And you…”
However, if Main Cabin 1 boarding and checking bags are important to you, consider getting a Delta Amex card. For those not looking for Medallion status, either the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card should suffice just fine.
Does SkyMiles Select Status Count Toward Amex Airline Incidental Credit?
A number of readers have contacted us for ideas how to use their American Express business or personal Platinum cards’ airline incidental credit, seeing as how one of the more reliable ways as apparently been blocked. (FWIW, the American Express® Gold Card has a $100 airline incidental credit.)
Does SkyMiles Select count toward the credit? Pending. Yes, it does!
I had $55 of credit remaining on my Platinum Card® from American Express. I purchased SkyMiles Select (for science’s sake, of course) and the vendor was listed as “DELTA SKYMILES.”
What Do You Think of SkyMiles Select?
I’d love to hear your thoughts about Delta SkyMiles Select! Please share them in the Comments section below!
–Chris
H/T: Rene’s Points reader Rick
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.
RENE! The new blog is a lot easier to read!
I’m looking forward to the new SELECT members thinking their zone ‘1’ should be the FIRST to board! i’ll bet the gate agents are shaking their heads at this one!
Please just stop boarding Main 1 through sky priority. If the entire plane is getting on through sky priority, it completely defeats the point of having the separate lane.
Delta boarding process is kind of a joke when “anyone who needs extra time” gets to board first anyway.
As someone that has an Amex card and is now Silver Medallion I’m bummed that there will be even more people boarding in Main Cabin 1. It waters down one of the benefits of having the card or the corresponding status. Not a happy camper.
Several LCC offer the option of purchasing priority boarding for a flight – and I like that. It, together. With PriorityPass lounge access makes the experience better.
I’m not sure I like the idea of a subscription. If you are flying Delta frequently enough for this to make sense, you probably get status or an AmEx card. If you only fly 2-3 times, it is too expensive or you’ll have a lot to drink…
Imagine everybody on your flight subscribe to the same feature… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOrhMcqx6vw
Did it end up triggering the airline credit on your AMEX?
@Roger: Nope.
You might want to update your response based on your later post that showed your receiving the credit.