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I just had to post about this. As Delta points out on their PR website, “For the seventh year in a row*, U.S. News & World Report has lauded the Delta SkyMiles [SkyPennies] program as a top performer in its annual ranking of airline loyalty programs.” – news.delta.com
If you read the full post by a staff writer you will see the same drivel they have been pumping out for years, that the SkyPennies program is amazing and TPG loves them as well as a few other sites no one really cares about. Beyond that they brag up that “there are no blackout dates for Award Tickets on any Delta flight” and the reason for this is they charge simply mind numbing prices for those no blackout dates like you see below in a quick search:
I mean this is the price in Delta one from Atlanta to Rome, Italy before the new school year begins for 10 days away. Is there anything about 1.4M+ SkyPennies that screams award winning anything I ask you?
Sure they run flash sales now and then, for limited dates, that some can point to and say something like “real value here” if you can book them. Even I have pointed out that you can sometimes get 3-4x value booking a cruise with your SkyPennies but that is hardly for everyone.
They also marketed that “Delta’s SkyMiles [SkyPennies] program has continued to innovate with recent changes and improvements“. Well I decided to point out what was missing in their bullet points for fun. Take a look:
- “Industry-leading fast, free onboard Wi-Fi [when, and if, it works and if the jet you are riding on is equipped with our new technology] available the moment Members enroll in the program.”
- “Expanded self-service capabilities for applying the Medallion-favorite Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates [but beware of phantom upgrade space and you may find you need to use a Global Certificate for a one hour-ish flight like Miami to Atlanta]. “
- “Enhanced recognition for the most loyal customers by increasing in-person Million Miler recognition and debuting new Million Miler gifts [because we destroyed the real one valuable perk of getting into our beyond overcrowded clubs for reaching this milestone]. “
- “Launching new partnerships with other beloved brands like Starbucks, so Members can earn miles on coffee purchases and Double Stars on Delta travel days.” [I got nuthin’ on this one cuz it is just so darn stupid]
Every time I board a Delta jet and see the tic-tac-toe board of “awards” it reminds me of this now 7 year PR spin of how great the loyalty program is and it makes me shed a tear!
I have to ask, does TPG awards or U.S. News awards or other site awards make you feel proud of the Delta loyalty program and tell others how great they are? – René
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When the bar is so low it’s easy to be a winner. That having been said, I do really like flying on Delta.
Yeah, Delta can be a nice ride somewhere, but the Sky Miles sucks. I’m burning the rest of my stash on a one way to Mexico, then a one way from MEX-FRA (since it’s only 75K for that route in business).
Otherwise, I’ve ditched the AMEX card and don’t plan on flying Delta anymore….
Rene! Telling it like it is!
Delta is fine. I have been able to book Delta One flights from the west coast to Europe for only 148,000 miles. I was able to get two round trip flights to Japan in coach for 55,000 miles. You can get some value out of the program.
How long ago, what months of the year, what departure times, on Delta or on partners, how long the layovers (if applicable)?
Just curious. 😀
I also got two DL (n)one RT seats in Oct 2022 from SFO – FRA, although you have to stop at JFK in both directions, so that means Delta None domestic in both directions. Overall that trip was a rare nice spend.
I’m totally with Rene though, Delta has completely sucked for many years now when it comes to any ‘loyalty’. It’s completely about the $s. I believe Ed has Snoop Dogg living rent free in his head with “I got my mind on my money (share price) and my money on my mind.”, where us poor traveling sheep that mostly fund that share price don’t factor in. I’ve been a DM every year since that tier started but this year is looking like it’s the last for me.
Not that any other domestic partner is any better, as it seems it’s a race for the worst. I tried American a few years ago as a rebellion from Delta and used one of their status challenges. Sure, I got upgraded (the real upgrades to the front, not a Delta ‘upgrade’ to CattleCar+) frequently, although overall they sucked worse than Delta, so I stopped using them.
Rene’s free agent approach seems the best in today’s world of ‘What have you done for me lately ($)?’ over loyalty.
I personally value the SkyPesos because I have flexibility in travel dates. I can be on a flight tomorrow across the world no problem. And there are still a few sweet spots that match other airlines.That being said, outside the sweet spots and flash sales, the program is not great
I’m done with DL loyalty. I just downgraded from AX Platinum to Gold (for bag checking) and will dump that after burning remaining miles. I’ve never been able to use the companion certs during a holiday and the last search from AVL to GRR gave me one flight option arriving at 1:10AM. Countless flight options all day long but the comp/cert was only good on a 0110 arrival?
I agree with all of the above. Trying to find something reasonable to Europe !!!!Delta is so much higher $$$$ than other airlines..We have been loyal for 12 years so not sure what will happen.
In April I booked 4 round trip tickets JFK to FCO to travel in November for 51,000 each.