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For a long time, when Delta Air Lines still had award charts, they would yearly or even multiple times a year devalue the value of SkyMiles award charts. They were always without notice and nasty dumps. Each time we were hit with one of these, it chipped away at my loyalty to Delta and the value of my Delta points.
Now, as we all know, Delta’s travel currency should be termed a SkyPenny because if you look at the “cash” price for most awards and then compare them to the SkyMiles, prices show the value per point is about 1 cent. There was a time when Delta people were afraid that we would “do the math” and see this, but no more.
Historically, and for many other airlines, award points have always been a way to get real solid value compared to paying cash for a ticket and a reason to stay loyal to the airline and to not just save points but motivate spending habits to get bonus points for future flights. Today we clearly see some award points from airlines are worth so much more than others. Let me illustrate.
Last year, I flew to Europe twice. Once, I used the “trick” of flying to Mexico City to fly Air France in business class for just 75,000 SkyMiles one way. On the second trip, I flew Delta premium economy for 74,800 SkyMiles one way. While a real pain to fly to Mexico before really starting my trip, I truly enjoyed the Air France experience and the long flight with time to sleep on the way to Europe. I was less impressed with Delta’s premium economy for a night flight, and it is sad that I “perceived” that spending almost 75k for my tickets was getting value out of my Delta points.
For 2025, so far anyway, I have one trip to Europe booked. I started looking again for Delta awards from Mexico City for the now 105k “low level” award chart pricing on Air France or KLM but those seats seem to be all but gone for the dates I wanted.
Not only is this frustrating, but gosh, it stinks that 105,000 Delta points is now considered a “great value” to fly one way to Europe in business class. I then jumped on American Airlines and searched and found flights, not from another country, but from my hometown South Bend to Europe in business class for just 57k on the exact date I wanted. If I were to book the same route on Delta, it could cost me 245,000 Delta points! Ridiculous right?
Here is another example. I have a trip returning from a cruise home to South Bend and once again looked at the Delta points award price in business class and found, with horrible flight times, the lowest price for the date I need to be 43k. I then compared American and found perfect flights for 21k each. Bottom line: my flights with American points to Europe are 25% of the price compared to Delta, and my flight domestically is 50% of the Delta price spending award points.
Delta right now is living “high on the hog” as the expression goes and we are the ham sandwiches. They are crushing both in bookings and premium seat sales (meaning you elite’s will no longer get “free” first class upgrades) and continue to have an endless stream of loyal flyers applying for more and more Delta Amex credit cards – they seemingly can do no wrong.
Well, no matter how good Delta thinks they are, they are not four times better than AA internationally or even twice as good as AA domestically. The more I try to find value out of my Delta points, the more I see the outsized value of almost every other award program on earth.
What does this mean for me? It is time for a change. No, not an elite race change as I gave up that chase a while back now and will drop to Gold Medallion come February 1st. So what change am I talking about? Just this.
SkyPennies are no longer worth 1 cent to me! They are, at best, worth half a cent domestically and just a quarter in my eyes internationally. This is a massive shift for me mentally, and I honestly am stumbled by the cold realization.
Now before the talking heads jump in and “try” to correct me that I can always get at least a penny value spending them on Delta tickets (with a Delta Amex card) that may be true but we are talking Delta’s over priced tickets to begin with so that simply does not hold water. And while, yes, the 15% off Delta award prices by holding a Delta Amex card does help, it still does not get award prices anywhere CLOSE to other choices.
I have to say, especially now being a free agent and no longer beholden to only Delta, seeing how much greater value I can get almost anywhere else has cemented in my psyche that Delta points should never ever be worked for but only taken as an incidental bonus that happens to come along when they are free! – René
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Rene! Telling it like it is!
@Greg – I still like Delta – but not at ANY price!
Finally seeing the light? There are simply no good Delta redemptions except in limited circumstances (xUS being the biggest). It’s the primary reason I slowed my flying Delta many years back choosing to either credit Delta flights to AF/KLM or Virgin, or flying other airlines – Southwest, American primarily. I guess you need to change your bio from the “avid Delta flyer” and “has held Delta Diamond Medallion for many years”. The question is what will you change it to? 😉
@khatl – Well I have been a Diamond for many many years! 🙂
“Recognized Authority on Delta SkyMiles”
I don’t understand how they sell tickets at their prices, points or $. I live near ATL and haven’t flown Delta in over 3 years because of their out of line pricing.
Ever since Delta started dynamic pricing, it has spread like wildfire to other airlines. Now it appears the international miles biz travelers are getting cornered and it is a matter of time before the airlines claim checkmate.
Also, when looking at close-in international biz award class, either to Japan or Europe, all airlines, including Delta, are fully packed. Meaning most biz travelers are shelling out the big bucks!
With a bubble everywhere markets and for many years now, those with assets (primarily houses) have a lot of cash and are splurging on biz class. Baby boomers, in particular.
Last June, while on Rick Steve Central Europe tour, almost all were retired. One said he pays for biz class when flying over either pond. This is a contrast when on a RS Greece tour in 2018 (almost all were not retired).
The only thing I can see turning these ridiculous high price international biz awards class, is a market correction.
To answer the headline’s question: Yes. I do not use Delta points to fly long-haul to/from the US, whether Delta or a partner. Period.
Like you, my best use of Delta points is entirely non-US itineraries. For example, intra-Europe or Europe to somewhere. After that, if Delta happens to be the most convenient short-hop US domestic, I’ll ignore the fact that Delta points are of lower value.
All these years and still a shill for Delta
Better value and redemptions with other airlines – feel free to be stubborn, but maybe time to switch
@Erndog – A shill for Delta? LOL. OK readers… do your thing! 😉
Ask Delta brass how much of a “shill” we are for them. Please report back when you get an answer. 😉
Totally agree. Can’t figure out why anyone flies them. Even their service is terrible lately. Cancelled one of the tickets on our reservation and we didn’t notice until day of flight. They could see that they had done it but had no remorse.
I spent years dedicated to Delta. I’m an almost 3 million miler. But I’ve given up on them. Status and miles became so devalued and difficult that they made the decision easy. I’ve downgraded the dl c card and leaned into other programs. United is actually ok. See you Delta.
@Crown Room Alum – Wow almost “lifetime” Diamond and you have given up on Delta? I am surprised.
I live 21 miles from ATL and fly on my own dime only about four times a year. My last DL flight was ATL-FLL to board a cruise ship for a transatlantic trip. The flight for two was free from the cruise line to FLL. Returning from BCN, using awards, DL wanted 320,000 Skymiles per person for business. Making a connection through EWR I spent 80,000 award miles each for United business and domestic first. I NEVER fly Delta on a ticket I paid for!
I’m flying (2 of us) from GSP to BCN with 2 stops and I couldn’t even afford Delta One–had to settle for DC and Preminum Comfort. Coming home from Athens–Couldn’t even use Delta Points–USED AMX points–but not even Comfort. I’ve been Delta Diamond for years, almost 2 million miler–Now am only Platinum b/c of use of past MQMs–Am very sad at what is happening–but I agree–No value of points, or AMX Platinum, Delta AMX, Sky Club Status–
I miss it some–but I think I’m glad I’m off the every week traveling and living in an airport and hotel
Recently flown “Premium Select” from MSP – ICN. Not worth the price! What happened to the Alessi dinnerware and premium blanket and pillow? No longer flying Delta Internationally. Just booked 2 trips on Singapore airlines for “Business” savers for the price of Delta economy out of JFK – HKT in May/June and November.
Also, whether domestically or internationally, has anyone noticed that the flight attendants make an announcement that the Captain has indicated rough air and either don’t perform a beverage service on transcontinental/international(unless 6+ hours in) and NO turbulence or “chop” experienced?
Keep “Descending”
I have a friend who was a flight attendant for Air Italia 20 or so years ago. He told me that sometimes the pilot would have the plane do a quick jerky movement (you get what I mean) so the flight attendants didn’t have to do service.
I started with Delta when my Northwest Airlines miles transferred to Delta. My goal was a roundtrip Delta One ticket for Seattle to Paris. But over the years when I’d get close, the miles got devalued. I finally got my trip last year with miles. I’m in my 70’s and based on my experience, I won’t live long enough to get another one from Delta. I started comparing with other airlines and determined I could have had about 3 of those trips had I been saving other miles, although they probably wouldn’t be non stop flights. Now I’m focusing on other airlines and their alliance programs.
It’s the nonstop that gives Delta the edge. If other airlines could offer more nonstops, I’d abandon Delta in a heartbeat.
This why I stop flying on Delta. Their SkyMiles are worth nothing anymore long. The Delta representative who run their SkyMiles program gives the reason cause we can when he’s asked why they keep devaluing the SkyMiles program.
Yes! I’ve been a Delta (Northwest) flyer my whole life. I live in Japan and come from the upper Midwest. Because the program is in USD and the yen is weak, it takes twice as much to get the basics. Then flying home economy costs ¥300,000+. I can use up to 50% of miles to offset but then I can only fly alone. For my next trip home, I’ll be looking at UA/NH or AA/JL or even Hawaiian/Alaskan just to save cash.
Good topic, and the answer is yes. I haven’t flown Delta more than one flight in a year for the last several, only because they cost way more on the same routes than AA or United, etc. The miles redemption are horrible, so I’ve not used those, just piling up in my account like Argentinian pesos. I’ve been a Platinum or Diamond for about 20 years, including 2025. I’ve been Platinum Pro (or equivalent) with AA longer. These factors along with the change in qualifying for status make this the year I stop flying Delta and pursuing status. My Reserve card will be good for most of the year, but I won’t renew again, won’t fly Delta unless a client is paying for tickets and it has to be Delta, or I find a good way to burn miles. Going all in on AA, with United as the backup when possible.
I recently found a round trip cash ticket in first class on American between DC and CLE for the same price as a coach ticket on Delta. The AA flight was non stop. The only downside is that I can’t use the Skyclub on my way out.