Delta has just announced some increases to their award chart costs for travel in international business class. Interestingly they're only adjusting the cost of business class at the "saver" level. And I can actually see why they're doing that, because anyone that's able to find low level international business class award space using SkyMiles is…
Continue reading: Delta SkyMiles raises award costs for travel starting June 1, 2014
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Delta miles are useless. Too bad I am stuck on a Delta hub. However, since I was never able to book an award ticket using Delta's lower level award I don't think this will change anything for me. Sitting on over 600K Delta useless miles!!!!!
I agree with most of your rant except one part -- AFAIK Delta does not impose fuel surcharges on ANY of their partners for awards originating in the US. I was recently able to book a Virgin Atlantic business class roundtrip for only $280 in fees (mostly UK APD), which is a great deal, and will frankly continue to be a great deal even at 125K miles.
I don't know if this is still possible but I remember that those with Delta Plat card were able to cash their miles for Amex gift cards... which can be used to purchase flights on real airlines.
Not sure if this is still an option tho.
@ steve -- Hmm, right now when I search an outbound for travel prior to June 1 and return after June 1 it prices at 100,000 miles but then has an error message. My guess is that it's supposed to split the difference and charge you the old rate for the outbound and new rate for the return, for a total of 112,500 miles.
@ Bgriff -- They do for travel on China Southern, China Eastern, and Air Tahiti Nui.
In addition it appears Air France blocking goes away starting June 1. If TATL low J space will be easy to come by again, I'd say that makes the devaluation almost worth it.
@Lantean -- This option still exists, but it is at some horrific conversion rate, like 25,000 miles = $100.
When AF raised the Flying Blue business class from 100K to 125K RT it was just a matter of time before Delta matched it.
And as you point out, it's very likely the other US majors will devalue soon also. They aren't colluding but I would call this signaling.
This really does suck. I have stuck with Delta as long as I could because as someone who rarely has upgrades I prefer flying them domestically, and their connecting hubs out of my home airport are so much nicer than UA or AA.
At least I am well diversified. I got the recent DL Amex Biz card because I figured I might as well use the card to maintain my silver status for one more year before MQD's hit. I will cancel that and may never apply for another DL card.
My partner and I have taken 2 business class trips from ATL to Europe in the past 2 years at the saver award level. Maybe we are considered the type who "game the system." We only fly on paid Delta tickets maybe twice a year. All of our miles are accrued via credit card bonuses and we plan our travel 11 months ahead of time to get the saver level. Still, the 100K price has been nice and, unfortunately, the 125K puts our planned trip to Barcelona next August just out of reach.
This is really nothing unexpected from Delta but the sad part is the other more useful airlines will no doubt follow suit. We see all the time with fees and such they are very much monkey see monkey do. I would be surprised if it took a year for the others to follow suit.
@ATLJason,
You're gaming nothing. You're playing exactly by the rules, and you're smart to plan so far ahead.
So given that, are you still willing to waste your time and money getting status on DL?
I already have a R/T on AZ in biz going JFK-MXP booked via Delta miles with depart/return in second-half of June 2014...I was charged 100k for this a couple weeks ago, will Delta try and gross this up to 125k if I have the incremental miles in my account?
I just burned 300,000 Skypesos on 3 bus class tickets to Europe in late July. I thought there was some sort of devaluation coming. Sweet timing!!
@ adam -- Nope, definitely not. Tickets booked at the old rates will be honored.
Been looking (a lot) and planning (for a long time) for SM 'low' business class to Europe for Oct '14. Was I surprised when I checked July flights this week and saw all fares costing 125k miles. Went to the tables and found the June 1 change. Since I didn't have 125k each, we agreed to change to May and I think I got some of the last 100k tix (FAY-BRU) without a 10+ hr layover somewhere. Lucky me but silly me for planning so far ahead and counting on a miles program.
[…] Low level international business class awards increase in price as much as 25%. […]
Delta is going in for more from its members -
DELTA is now going to require not only flight miles but CASH EXPENDITURES for medallion status. As an international traveler, I work hard to save money and to find trips during times that are less expensive, but DELTA is going to push me to SPEND MORE TO FLY (I ALREADY have to spend more to buy upgrade eligible tickets, thanks a lot Delta) and to SPEND MORE by using an American Express card with a fee attached. Delta does NOT "Have my Back" as they like to say in the video, Delta has my back while it picks my pocket. SHAME ON YOU DELTA.
[…] aka Skypesos, it’s important to point out that Delta had already announced a devaluation of their award chart as of June 2014 written about by One Mile at a Time. Leave it to Delta to come back right after United’s […]
[…] we’ve had a nasty rash of program devaluations. Hilton, Delta, United, Southwest, Delta (again), Hyatt, Club Carlson, Delta (again? come on already!), US Airways […]