Yesterday all the rage was the news American Airlines once again was accessible via Award Wallet. This truly is great news and a flyer friendly move by American as I feel Award Wallet is one of the best ways to be able to track so many different point programs in a glance.
As Delta Flyers we have one of the only programs whose points never expire. However Skybonus points do expire and we have to login to see these points or wait for a statement. So many other airline and hotel programs do have expiration dates and being able to get a warning about the expiration is just fantastic (not to mention changes or updated information).
Gary from A View From The Wing in a post yesterday speculated that moves like American Airlines coming around could push those like Delta to again to allow Award Wallet. He said:
“Airlines usually follow pretty closely in lock-step, United announcing revenue-based requirements for elite status shortly after Delta did for instance. I wouldn’t be surprised to see United and Delta follow American’s lead here… eventually. Delta’s IT focus — at least as far as Skymiles is concerned — is likely focused on the technology behind their anticipated new revenue-based redemption’s. The Skymiles program has been pretty singularly focused on program changes for the past year and a half (when was the last time you saw a significant Delta promotion, or American Express® Membership Rewards® transfer bonus?). So I don’t see Delta moving on this quickly, they’re simply focused elsewhere.”
I reached out to Delta Air Lines to see if there has been any change or any on the horizon and was given the same quote that was offered before when Award Wallet was first blocked from accessing our Skymiles accounts:
“While we understand some customers have used tools like Award Wallet in the past, we do not have a contractual relationship with them. The past use of information from delta.com was unauthorized and employed automated screen scraping techniques that we don’t allow.
The Fly Delta app has been consistently rated highly by our customers and we plan to continue offering highly useable information for their travel experience.” – Delta Air Lines
So if Delta Flyers think that anytime soon their account will be accessible on a real time basis through Award Wallet – think again.
Right now there is the workaround where you can get the monthly update by allowing award wallet to receive your SkyMiles statement. To me this is not all that useful and I do not use it. As we can see, Delta recommends that we use the Delta mobile phone app to be able to quickly get instant updates about our Skymiles balance. This would be wonderful if it did not take longer to pull up on my Android the Delta app than it does to walk to Atlanta and simply knock on the door and ask them what my SkyMiles balances is. So for now we are stuck with the option to simply log on to Delta and see what our SkyMiles balance is in real time.
Do you use Award Wallet to track your programs? Do you wish Delta would soften their stand and again allow us access? – René
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Yes. I’d expect Delta to follow quickly.
I’ll chime in with my conclusion which you quoted, “I don’t see Delta moving on this quickly” because their mindset is very 1995 about control of information, and because their focus is (pretty singularly) elsewhere.
@Gary – ugg… There is so much I love about Delta and almost as much the other way. Thanks Gary as always for your thoughts!
A rookie question for Sunday…. If I am a GM and get free economy comfort, will my wife in the same reservation be given this same benefit? Or I don’t pay and she would have to? Thanks
@Bryan – sure no prob. Yes! Per Delta.com:
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The Economy Comfort Medallion® travel companion benefit is applicable for up to eight companions traveling on the same reservation as the Medallion member. Gold Medallions and their travel companions receive Economy Comfort at no charge for Domestic travel and 50% off on International travel.
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https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/in-flight-services/products/seating/economy-class-premium-seating/economy-comfort/economy-comfort-comparison.html#Discount
Rene,
Just started using award wallet and like It already. I also setup my wife’s account. I noticed that my available miles showed up and since I haven’t sent a monthly statement I think they
Maybeb got it from my Amex SkyMiles cards.