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Delta Air Lines quietly but drastically reduced its SkyMiles Mileage Upgrade Awards on Tuesday.
There were rumors circulating about this for several days. Multiple sources confirmed to Eye of the Flyer that the change was effective this afternoon.
This does not affect the upsells that we see in the Fly Delta app or seating charts in the My Trips section on Delta.com (i.e., “Upgrade to First Class for $YYY or XX,XXX SkyMiles”).
Rather, it’s a SkyMiles feature allowing customers to upgrade one cabin higher at a fixed cost when purchasing certain paid, retail fare classes. Award tickets are not eligible.
The option was sunsetted several years ago for flights within and between the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Other routes were still available, though. For example, the United States to most destinations in markets such as Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Again, this is developing news and as we understand it.
Now, the only countries to/from which SkyMiles members can use Mileage Upgrades Awards are:
- Egypt
- France
- Ghana
- Hong Kong
- India
- Philippines
- United Kingom
The awards will be available on Delta-, KLM-, or Air-France-marketed flights — and may be operated by Delta, Air France, China Airlines, Czech Airlines, KLM, Korean Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.
This page tells us which fare classes are eligible:
Within North America and Northern South America (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela), Mileage Upgrade Awards may be used to upgrade on published fares booked in Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, or T class. For all other International markets, Mileage Upgrade Awards may be used to upgrade only on published fares for Delta-marketed and operated flights booked in Y, B, M, H, Q, or K class. For Air France/KLM marketed and/or operated flights, Mileage Upgrade Awards may be used to upgrade one cabin for flights booked in Y, B, or M class. For Virgin Atlantic, upgrades are available from Y, B, M, H, Q, and K class from Economy Cabin and P, A, and G classes from Premium Economy. For Aeromexico, upgrades are available on Delta’s published fares on Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U or T class.
We also hear that SkyMiles Mileage Upgrade Award redemption rates will increase. Finally, there’s some confusion as to which fare classes will be eligible.
We’ll update this post as we learn more.
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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.
I’ve been confused since reading this on FT yesterday. In the first part they list the countries that are eligible (and apparently, at least for the UK, it’s only for flights originating in the UK if flying DL metal) — and then in the next breath they mention South America. Then KLM gets mentioned which looks like full fare Y — so does that mean we can only upgrade up to Premium Econ on KLM?
The rules, especially which countries are eligible, contradict eachother completely.
As we read it, yes, only from Economy to Premium on KLM.
But, yes, the rules are head-scratchers.
“Upgrade to First Class for $YYY or XX,XXX SkyMiles”
Typo: probably should be “XXX,XXX” or “X,XXX,XXX” SkyMiles
FTFY lol!
;-)’
Heh heh!
Starting to feel like Delta climbed to the top of the competition just to jump off the ledge. Getting harder and harder to remain loyal.
“Starting to feel like Delta climbed to the top of the competition just to jump off the ledge.”
I like that analogy!
It is true though. They have a loyalty program yet are doing their best to destroy the feelings of loyalty with all the devaluations that have occurred in the last few years. I have used these awards several times and they were very much appreciated.
After having flown more than 1.3 Million miles with Delta and having made it to “Diamond Medallion” status since it was introduced (I had also made it to platinum stays for 8 straight years before) I decided to divorce Delta and am now accruing miles with both Star Alliance and with JetBlue. Both airlines actually offer a much better flight experience than Delta.
I am a silver medallion member and had a platinum AMEX. I went to the Delta SkyClub about a year ago and was told that to enter without charge, I had to have a AMEX Reserve card. So, I got one. I was flying ftlrom ATL to SFO and was told that I could no longer enter with my reserve card. WTF?
I have flown United and was not impressed. I suppose that I’ll shop around.
Was it the Reserve Card like the one on this page?
I have never had any problem entering a Skyclub or a Centurion Club with the Delta Reserve Card. Do you have the purple one?
I’ve never had a problem with the purple reserve card!
I’m still on the fence about this because I asked 3 reps the other day AFTER the alleged change and all 3 told me “no changes at this time” … so I’m about to try it in a few weeks for my November trip – we’ll see what happens!
Chris, have you ever written a follow-up on this? I’m very interested in how I can still take advantage of this upgrade. I have called the diamond desk, and most agents need to know this exists. The few that understand about it can’t tell me how to look it up on my own, find out what the upgrade values are per region, or if it works departing and arriving in the US. Any new information you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Darin
We haven’t heard anything new, sorry!