Feb 26, 2014, 5:15 am
Last edit by: mooper
Universal link to SkyMiles 2015 changes
2015 SkyMiles Program
PDF Version
Everything begins January 1, 2015 on Delta marketed flights with DL code and 006 tickets.
Medallion Qualification - Same as 2014.
MQM or MQS stays at the qualification criteria for all members except US based where MQD is added.
Rollover MQMs to stay.
Current benefits to stay...? Remains unclear until the benefits are published for the following year.
Miles don't expire
Earn Award Miles - Drastically changed.
Non Medallion - 5 Miles/$1
Silver - 7 Miles/$1
Gold - 8 Miles/$1
Platinum - 9 Miles/$1
Diamond - 11 Miles/$1
Credit Card miles earning remains unchanged. Depending on the card you hold you may earn up to 2 miles/$1. Until the new award rates are out it remains as mystery on whether using a Delta credit card is better or worse.
Partner flights will earn on a percentage of distance flown and fare class paid...? Remains unclear until more information is out.
All fares paid by other currency will be converted to USD based on IATA 5-day currency exchange rate at the time of ticketing. Then apply the same rate listed above.
Existing miles to stay with no changes.
Miles + Cash are AWARD tickets. Medallions can get free upgrades.
Redeem Miles - New 2015 Award Chart
No blackout dates on Delta flights...? No blackout dates on DL-operated flights as per the FAQ.
More award seat availability...?
Five award levels
Miles + Cash offer available
One-way awards at half of round trip rate
New award calendar
2015 SkyMiles Program
PDF Version
Everything begins January 1, 2015 on Delta marketed flights with DL code and 006 tickets.
Medallion Qualification - Same as 2014.
MQM or MQS stays at the qualification criteria for all members except US based where MQD is added.
Rollover MQMs to stay.
Current benefits to stay...? Remains unclear until the benefits are published for the following year.
Miles don't expire
Earn Award Miles - Drastically changed.
Non Medallion - 5 Miles/$1
Silver - 7 Miles/$1
Gold - 8 Miles/$1
Platinum - 9 Miles/$1
Diamond - 11 Miles/$1
Credit Card miles earning remains unchanged. Depending on the card you hold you may earn up to 2 miles/$1. Until the new award rates are out it remains as mystery on whether using a Delta credit card is better or worse.
Partner flights will earn on a percentage of distance flown and fare class paid...? Remains unclear until more information is out.
All fares paid by other currency will be converted to USD based on IATA 5-day currency exchange rate at the time of ticketing. Then apply the same rate listed above.
Existing miles to stay with no changes.
Miles + Cash are AWARD tickets. Medallions can get free upgrades.
Redeem Miles - New 2015 Award Chart
No blackout dates on Delta flights...? No blackout dates on DL-operated flights as per the FAQ.
More award seat availability...?
Five award levels
Miles + Cash offer available
One-way awards at half of round trip rate
New award calendar
Delta introduces new revenue program for earn, one-way awards
Feb 25, 2014, 11:54 pm
#76
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
Thought I saw that line. Thanks 
. Frequency of travel is the key word there, so it looks like 125,000 MQM and the PQD requirements will stay.
In theory, someone could still MR for DL status and waive the PQD with a high enough Amex spend, but won't earn anywhere near the current number of RDMs in doing so.
. Frequency of travel is the key word there, so it looks like 125,000 MQM and the PQD requirements will stay. In theory, someone could still MR for DL status and waive the PQD with a high enough Amex spend, but won't earn anywhere near the current number of RDMs in doing so.
10 round trips at a $250 fare, about $195 of which is going to be the base fare, would yield 2,255 RDMs each if paid using a DL AmEx = 22,550 RDMs. Under the old distance-based system, 10 round trips with a 100% Platinum bonus would yield 100,000 RDMs for the flights themselves, plus another 4,800 RDMs from the AmEx spend.
So the 5cpeqm mileage runner gets 78% less under the new system.
This isn't going to stop someone who needs a few thousand MQMs from a cheap mileage run if they don't care about the RDMs, but for many of the extreme mileage runners, the RDMs play too much of a factor.
Feb 25, 2014, 11:55 pm
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
I wonder if there's a way for AA, UA, or AS to take advantage of DL's move? I.e. can any of these airlines take in the customers DL fires without following their FF move, and still make a healthy profit that investors would be happy about?
I guess a "flat" $2.7B profit for Delta's 2014 just won't cut it this year...
I guess a "flat" $2.7B profit for Delta's 2014 just won't cut it this year...
Feb 25, 2014, 11:55 pm
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
Feb 25, 2014, 11:57 pm
#80
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ECP
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 1,658
Feb 25, 2014, 11:58 pm
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Not good for my FT future that is for sure. I quite resemble that remark 
.
Yeah, I can't say I'd MR purely from zero for status if I wasn't earning at least a reasonable number of RDMs for my money. Better off just buying biz/first those times I really want to go somewhere. Paid biz/first fares have come down a bit recently (while products in those classes have improved in many cases and weakened in few cases), so it isn't as outlandish an idea as it was a few years ago.
.Take someone who would barely qualify for Silver but wants to requalify for Platinum. Need 50k MQMs to bridge the gap. Assume a $250 fare for a 5,000 mile RT - 5.0 cents per MQM, not great, not terrible, a rate that is fairly easy to get if you look for it.
10 round trips at a $250 fare, about $195 of which is going to be the base fare, would yield 2,255 RDMs each if paid using a DL AmEx = 22,550 RDMs. Under the old distance-based system, 10 round trips with a 100% Platinum bonus would yield 100,000 RDMs for the flights themselves, plus another 4,800 RDMs from the AmEx spend.
So the 5cpeqm mileage runner gets 78% less under the new system.
This isn't going to stop someone who needs a few thousand MQMs from a cheap mileage run if they don't care about the RDMs, but for many of the extreme mileage runners, the RDMs play too much of a factor.
10 round trips at a $250 fare, about $195 of which is going to be the base fare, would yield 2,255 RDMs each if paid using a DL AmEx = 22,550 RDMs. Under the old distance-based system, 10 round trips with a 100% Platinum bonus would yield 100,000 RDMs for the flights themselves, plus another 4,800 RDMs from the AmEx spend.
So the 5cpeqm mileage runner gets 78% less under the new system.
This isn't going to stop someone who needs a few thousand MQMs from a cheap mileage run if they don't care about the RDMs, but for many of the extreme mileage runners, the RDMs play too much of a factor.
Feb 25, 2014, 11:59 pm
#82
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: MCO
Programs: AA EXP, United PS, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Amtrak
Posts: 1,254
Meh, this does not sound good.
Based on my MQD/MQM ratios (due to longer trips & purchasing -UP fares), my earn rate will decrease significantly. It also sounds as if our redemption rates will skyrocket.
I honestly don't know if I'll stay with DL after all these years if the program specs are as bad as they sound.
I was fine with MQDs. It takes x-dollars to be an elite at each level. After the extreme devaluation at every level of Medallion status, I don't think I can accept a second shot to the program in terms of awards & redemption.
I might even be most disappointed about the death of the mileage run.
Based on my MQD/MQM ratios (due to longer trips & purchasing -UP fares), my earn rate will decrease significantly. It also sounds as if our redemption rates will skyrocket.
I honestly don't know if I'll stay with DL after all these years if the program specs are as bad as they sound.
I was fine with MQDs. It takes x-dollars to be an elite at each level. After the extreme devaluation at every level of Medallion status, I don't think I can accept a second shot to the program in terms of awards & redemption.
I might even be most disappointed about the death of the mileage run.
Feb 26, 2014, 12:00 am
#83
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: South Florida
Programs: DL GM, SPG GOLD, UA DIRT, AA PLAT, US (RIP), Hilton HHonors
Posts: 705
They'll say (I formerly would have said) it makes sense for them to do as a business, rewarding PM and DM fliers by giving them bigger bonuses at the cost of less for lower elites and kettles...
As for myself, THIS particular Delta apologist is debating his course of action for the rest of the year - qualify for status again for 2015 and then unload, or jump to another airline now? I could challenge with AA and be plat within a month, but is AA safe right now? Perhaps maybe just go with B6 and say goodbye to flying RU
As for myself, THIS particular Delta apologist is debating his course of action for the rest of the year - qualify for status again for 2015 and then unload, or jump to another airline now? I could challenge with AA and be plat within a month, but is AA safe right now? Perhaps maybe just go with B6 and say goodbye to flying RU
Feb 26, 2014, 12:00 am
#84
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Panama City Beach, FL (ECP)
Programs: Delta PM, Alaska MVP, Hilton GoldMarriott Titanium
Posts: 780
Feb 26, 2014, 12:00 am
#85
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
Programs: Delta SkySponge ExtraAbsorbent, SPG Gold
Posts: 29,988
Don't you worry. I'm sure if any of them have seen this news they immediately wet themselves out of excitement. They are probably in a Delta-Fan-Boy coma right now. Remember, by their logic any of us who use the benefits of the DL frequent flyer program are gamers.
Feb 26, 2014, 12:01 am
#86
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
I'm sure bubba will be along to sing the refrain:
"Keep undeserving trash out of elite ranks"
"Get rid of the mileage running posers."
"Letting people know they are trash, human refuse, gluttons, cheats, whiners, gamers and thieves is a tough job, but somebody's got to do it."
(Actual quotes)
"Keep undeserving trash out of elite ranks"
"Get rid of the mileage running posers."
"Letting people know they are trash, human refuse, gluttons, cheats, whiners, gamers and thieves is a tough job, but somebody's got to do it."
(Actual quotes)
Feb 26, 2014, 12:02 am
#87
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
Programs: Delta SkySponge ExtraAbsorbent, SPG Gold
Posts: 29,988
I'm sure bubba will be along to sing the refrain:
"Keep undeserving trash out of elite ranks"
"Get rid of the mileage running posers."
"Letting people know they are trash, human refuse, gluttons, cheats, whiners, gamers and thieves is a tough job, but somebody's got to do it."
(Actual quotes)
"Keep undeserving trash out of elite ranks"
"Get rid of the mileage running posers."
"Letting people know they are trash, human refuse, gluttons, cheats, whiners, gamers and thieves is a tough job, but somebody's got to do it."
(Actual quotes)
Feb 26, 2014, 12:04 am
#88
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
Outrage? I'm not even surprised. I'm just done.
I fortunately saw the signs early enough not to trust RA and Slippery Jeff, or any of the remaining entities in this oligopolistic market. I've got small mileage balances all over the place, but nothing near what I once did, so I won't get burned badly.
I fortunately saw the signs early enough not to trust RA and Slippery Jeff, or any of the remaining entities in this oligopolistic market. I've got small mileage balances all over the place, but nothing near what I once did, so I won't get burned badly.
Last edited by javabytes; Feb 26, 2014 at 12:10 am
Feb 26, 2014, 12:04 am
#89
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,217
Same here! My stupid alarm is set for 7:15 CST and it is already passed 1 am! I was expecting a nice relaxing read after finishing a paper, but NO. At least I will be able to dream about the fun places I will go this summer with my delta miles!!
Feb 26, 2014, 12:05 am
#90
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K, AA EXP, US G, SPG P, HH D, MR G, NEXUS/GE, DL AMEX Reserve
Posts: 2,035
I think you will see the reactions soon...