Delta SkyMiles Increases Partner Award Costs As Well

Published: November 30, 2017

Earlier I wrote about how Delta SkyMiles jacked up business class award costs for travel between the US and Europe. Previously they charged 70,000 SkyMiles for a one-way business class award, while after the change they charged 86,000 SkyMiles one-way. Rather bizarrely they charge 85,000 SkyMiles for travel on a partner airline, so it’s now cheaper to fly on a partner airline than to fly Delta. Perhaps we should just assume that a partner devaluation is coming any day?

I’ve been trying to search awards for all regions, and best I can tell this is the only award price increase for travel on Delta metal. However, it looks like Delta has also devalued a partner award.

Specifically, Delta SkyMiles partner awards for travel between the US and South Asia have increased in price from 97,500 miles to 120,000 miles, which is an increase of over 20%. South Asia in this case covers Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, etc.

For example, the cost of an award from Los Angeles to Colombo has increased to 120,000 SkyMiles:

The same is true for an award from New York to Delhi:

To me it’s absolutely crazy to think that 120,000 SkyMiles is the cost for a one-way saver award ticket booked in advance. Wow… just wow…

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Scott Guest

December 1, 2017, 6:38 pm

Why can’t he earn miles on United? That sounds weird....

‼ 0

Matt Member

December 1, 2017, 1:42 pm

@Willem well he doesn't fly United because he can't earn miles through their program anymore. And the Alaska argument is silly, they don't fly enough places/times. That's like people in the south saying the only airline they'll fly is Southwest... ok great have fun at mostly non-major airports in the US and Central America... serious travelers need more options than JetBlue, Alaska, or Southwest can offer, unfortunately.

Sean Guest

December 1, 2017, 10:25 am

So Delta partner award to South Asia have been 120k when flown 100% with a partner. If you flew Delta across the Atlantic and then a partner from EU to India it was 97.5k. When they adjusted the US-EU to 86k and then moved it back to 70k, the South Asia flights didn't move back to 97.5k. Really crazy what they are doing given you can fly JFK-DXB for 85k (partner or mixed DL/Partner) and even JFK-SIN is much cheaper than 120k. Don't know why DL is singling out India. Especially since US-India J class tickets are not super expensive. Btw they also increase coach to 50k.

Steve Guest

December 1, 2017, 8:52 am

Lucky, how long until you're pimping the Delta cards again telling us how awesome they are?

chesterwilson Member

Delta, AA, United all the same. I'd say to stop peddling airline credit cards, but even better thing to do is to stop spending on them. Loyalty to Ultimate Rewards, TYP and MR only.

Delta SkyMiles Increases Partner Award Costs As Well

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