Delta Air Lines has announced that effective September 2008 you will need to
cash in more air miles for a free ticket. Actually, what they said was that they
want to offer more "flexibility" to their SkyMiles frequent flyer
members.
 We are not sure that when you increase the number of air miles required
for a free ticket that you are gaining "more flexibility".
The only SkyMiles award that did not change is the standard 25,000 air miles
for a free ticket for USA, Alaska and Canada travel. But don't think that this
will be the easiest ticket to earn and travel with. Delta's current two-level
system will become a three-tier system. One of the new levels is called
"discounted". This is just a fancy word meaning that you will have to
be more flexible to get this award. The newest tier is called
"expanded" and the highest award tier is called "last seat on the
plane".
Now when this program came out in 1982, the 25,000 mile award was actually
25,000 miles for last-seat availability. Today, last-seat availability will
require 60,000 air miles on Delta. All other SkyMiles awards went up. Delta may
want to change the name of their frequent flyer program from SkyMiles to SkyHigh
awards.
For example, a business class roundtrip ticket to Europe was 90,000 air
miles. In September, you will need as much as 350,000 air miles for the
"any seat" award. The first tier will be 100,000 miles. The expanded
award is going to cost 200,000 miles. Now that's what we call, or Delta calls,
flexibility.
Not only are they jacking up the air miles needed for their awards but they
are also going to charge you $25 to process your free ticket for travel between
and within the US and Canada. There will be a $50 processing fee for all other
worldwide destinations including San Juan, Virgin Islands, Mexico, Caribbean and
transatlantic and transpacific destinations.
Listed below is the current SkyMiles award chart. If you currently have air
miles, you'd better cash them in before September 2008.
| For Travel between
Continental USA, Alaska, Canada and: |
Coach Class
Starting at |
Premium Class
Starting at |
| Continental USA, Alaska and
Canada |
25,000 |
45,000 |
| Hawaii |
35,000 |
75,000 |
| Caribbean |
30,000 |
60,000 |
| Mexico |
30,000 |
60,000 |
| Central America |
35,000 |
60,000 |
| Northern South America |
35,000 |
70,000 |
| Southern South America |
50,000 |
90,000 |
| Europe |
50,000 |
90,000 |
| Africa |
80,000 |
120,000 |
| Middle East |
80,000 |
120,000 |
| South Asian Subcontinent |
80,000 |
120,000 |
| Japan/South Korea |
60,000 |
120,000 |
| Southeast Asia |
60,000 |
120,000 |
| Southwest Pacific |
100,000 |
150,000 |
Listed below is the new mileage award chart loaded with flexibility to charge
you more air miles. Don't you just love it when the airlines are improving their
programs? I just don't understand the word "improvement" here.
| For Travel between
Continental USA, Alaska, Canada and: |
Cabin |
Discounted |
Expanded |
Last Seat |
| Continental USA,
Alaska and Canada |
Coach |
12,500 |
20,000 |
30,000 |
| Premium |
22,500 |
40,000 |
50,000 |
| Hawaii |
Coach |
20,000 |
32,500 |
45,000 |
| Premium |
37,500 |
67,500 |
90,000 |
| Caribbean and Mexico |
Coach |
17,500 |
25,000 |
35,000 |
| Premium |
30,000 |
50,000 |
70,000 |
| Central America |
Coach |
17,500 |
30,000 |
40,000 |
| Premium |
30,000 |
50,000 |
70,000 |
| Northern South
America |
Coach |
22,500 |
35,000 |
50,000 |
| Premium |
45,000 |
65,000 |
90,000 |
| Southern South
America |
Coach |
30,000 |
45,000 |
62,500 |
| Premium |
50,000 |
100,000 |
175,000 |
| Europe |
Coach |
30,000 |
45,000 |
62,500 |
| Premium |
50,000 |
100,000 |
175,000 |
| Africa |
Coach |
40,000 |
65,000 |
95,000 |
| Premium |
60,000 |
115,000 |
185,000 |
| Middle East |
Coach |
40,000 |
65,000 |
95,000 |
| Premium |
60,000 |
115,000 |
185,000 |
| India |
Coach |
40,000 |
65,000 |
95,000 |
| Premium |
60,000 |
115,000 |
185,000 |
| Asia |
Coach |
30,000 |
60,000 |
75,000 |
| Premium |
60,000 |
120,000 |
185,000 |
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