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Delta has made some positive changes today for all SkyMiles members, with further enhancements (in the true sense of the word) for Delta Amex cardholders and those with status.
You can read Delta’s full announcement here, but here’s a quick summary.
Award Tickets
For travel in the US (including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands), Delta is removing the $150 redeposit fee when canceling award flights, as well as the $150 reissuance fee when changing an award ticket. This is valid for all SkyMiles members – not only those with status – and is valid on all tickets with the exception of Basic Economy tickets.
They will also be allowing changes and cancelations of all domestic award tickets (except Basic Economy). Changes and cancelations that take place within 72 hours of your flight will also be eligible for a return of the redeemed SkyMiles to your account, rather than them being lost.
Delta Amex Cardholders
The following select Delta Amex card benefits which were/will be issued from January 1 to November 30, 2020 have been extended through December 31, 2021:
- Delta SkyMiles Gold card – $100 Delta flight credit (this is earned when spending $10,000 during a calendar year)
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum & Reserve – Unused Companion Certificates
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve – Unused Sky Club guest passes
Delta Sky Club Memberships
If you had a membership active as of March 1, 2020, your membership will be extended through June 30, 2021.
SkyMiles Select Members
You’ll receive an additional 6 month extension on top of the 6 month extension you’ve already received. This includes any drink vouchers which have remained unused.
Platinum & Diamond Medallion Members
If you selected Choice Benefits in 2020 (e.g. Delta Travel Vouchers, Upgrade Certificates, etc.), you’ll get to choose new Choice Benefits on February 1, 2021, or as you earn Medallion status. The exception appears to be if you selected bonus miles as your Choice Benefit seeing as those don’t expire, so you won’t have lost out with that selection.
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Quick Thoughts
These are all great enhancements, particularly the removal of change and cancelation fees on award tickets. Some airlines had already announced that a few weeks ago, so it’s slightly unusual for Delta to be playing catch up, but at least that change is here now.
It’s also good to see other benefits being extended through to various points in 2021. This suggests Delta is expecting travel demand will remain sluggish for the foreseeable future.
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Hypothetically for somebody with platinum status, it would be interesting if you could select a travel voucher now, and the miles next February. Assuming you could use the voucher, of course.
That’s an interesting idea. Let us know how it turns out if you try it
The value of Platinum and Diamond Medallion statuses just went down relatively. I doubt it is worth the cost of earning status – even though it may be cheaper to get it.
The last benefit left is free upgrades but there is going to be ton of Platinum and Diamonds next year with all the rollover fighting for same upgrades – certainly many more Platinums, and slightly less Diamonds in numbers.