All articles tagged with #skymiles
Delta and Hyatt announced an exclusive, long-term loyalty partnership on September 9, 2026, replacing Hyatt’s previous tie-up with American Airlines. The deal enables dual earning for elite members, allowing them to accrue SkyMiles and World of Hyatt points simultaneously on flights and stays. The partnership is set to launch in the coming months, with full details to be revealed later this year.
Delta is adding Basic fare options to its premium cabins—Delta One Basic, Premium Select Basic, and First Basic—with tighter restrictions: no automatic lounge access, seat selection after check-in, reduced SkyMiles earning (2 per dollar), one fewer free checked bag, and cancellation fees. Basic fares sit alongside existing Main Basic and Comfort Basic fares; no Basic fares are eligible for premium-cabin award tickets. The move mirrors United's strategy and is rolled out on select routes; it may save money upfront but at the cost of less flexibility and fewer perks.
Delta is rolling out three new “basic” fare options—Delta First Basic, Premium Select Basic, and Basic Business—to extend the no-frills concept into its premium cabins on select routes. These cheaper fares come with tighter restrictions: Basic Business won’t grant access to Delta One lounges or seat selection, while Premium Select Basic and Basic Business typically cut bags and can impose higher change fees with fewer SkyMiles earned. The move aims to give price-sensitive travelers a lower-entry point into premium cabins, mirroring similar steps by United with basic Polaris and Premium Plus, and is framed as preserving existing options for Classic/Extra fares.
Delta Air Lines and American Express are expanding value for Delta SkyMiles cards with a complimentary second checked bag on domestic Delta flights for eligible cardholders, a $120 annual rideshare credit for Gold cardmembers, refreshed card designs, updated Companion Certificates toward Delta Vacations, and substantial limited-time welcome offers through July 15, 2026, all without raising annual fees.
The fallout from Delta's changes to its SkyMiles program has led to strong reactions from customers, prompting JetBlue and Alaska to offer competing status matches for Delta elites. While Allegiant, Spirit, and Frontier also have loyalty programs, they are not viewed in the same way as Delta. American and United have remained relatively quiet, suggesting they may be considering similar changes to their requirements. The market's response to Delta's changes serves as a cautionary tale for other airlines, highlighting the importance of not making drastic changes that undervalue loyalty programs.
Delta Air Lines will make modifications to its SkyMiles frequent flier program after facing backlash from customers over changes announced earlier this month. The changes would have made it harder for frequent fliers to benefit from the loyalty program by increasing the spending requirements for elite status. Delta's CEO, Ed Bastian, acknowledged the negative feedback and stated that the company is listening and assessing the situation. Details of the modifications will be announced in the coming weeks.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged that the company went "too far" with its controversial changes to the SkyMiles loyalty program and plans to make modifications. The increase in elite status holders during the pandemic led to overwhelming demand for premium services, causing difficulties in effectively serving customers. Bastian did not provide specific details about the upcoming changes but stated that they will be announced in the coming weeks. The changes implemented in September, including limited access to Delta Sky Clubs and higher requirements for Medallion elite status, have faced criticism from frequent fliers.
JetBlue is offering a status match to Delta elite members in response to the recent changes to Delta's SkyMiles program. The offer is available to the first 30,000 Delta elite members who apply or until October 31. JetBlue will match statuses based on the SkyMiles Medallion tier, and the matched status will be valid until December 30, 2023, or through 2024 if certain conditions are met. This presents an opportunity for Delta loyalists in JetBlue's primary regions, such as New York and Boston, to enjoy perks with the Northeast carrier.
Delta Air Lines is making significant changes to its SkyMiles program, including retiring Medallion Qualifying Miles and Medallion Qualifying Segments and focusing on a redefined version of Medallion Qualifying Dollars. The new metric, called Medallion Qualification Dollars, will track eligible travel spend on Delta and its partners, as well as spending on credit cards, car rentals, hotel stays, and Delta Vacations. However, the changes also come with higher thresholds for earning Medallion elite status, making it more challenging for travelers to achieve and maintain status. Delta's updates aim to reward customers for total engagement and capture value from the entire travel journey.
Delta Vacations has introduced several customer-friendly changes, including enhanced redemption value for SkyMiles members. Previously, members could redeem SkyMiles at a fixed rate of 1 cent per mile, but now they are worth at least 1.15 cents when used for Delta Vacations purchases. Additionally, bonus mileage accruals have been increased for certain paid bookings, and the platform has changed how miles are earned for flights included in vacation packages. These changes make Delta Vacations more valuable for SkyMiles members.
Delta is offering 2,500 SkyMiles to passengers whose checked bags take more than 20 minutes to arrive. The claim form is simple and quick, and the compensation is approved instantly. Passengers can receive up to 5,000 SkyMiles per incident.