Jul 14, 2015, 4:38 pm
Last edit by: Zorak
Summary of SkyMiles Upgrade Changes
Effective Aug 1, 2015, DM's on paid fares and no companions will no longer receive complimentary upgrades JFK-LAX/SFO. Delta's reps failed to disclose this in their June 14 announcement.
For travel on or after June 1, 2016, additional fare classes are eligible for SkyMiles upgrades:
Within North American and northern South America, L/U/T fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M/H/Q/K)
For all other markets, H/Q/K fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M)
SkyMiles Upgrade Awards will also require more miles. Prices for the following markets as quoted by multiple reservations agents: (Pricing is one-way)
(current chart based on observations has been moved to this thread: Upgrading with miles)
Effective Aug 1, 2015, DM's on paid fares and no companions will no longer receive complimentary upgrades JFK-LAX/SFO. Delta's reps failed to disclose this in their June 14 announcement.
For travel on or after June 1, 2016, additional fare classes are eligible for SkyMiles upgrades:
Within North American and northern South America, L/U/T fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M/H/Q/K)
For all other markets, H/Q/K fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M)
SkyMiles Upgrade Awards will also require more miles. Prices for the following markets as quoted by multiple reservations agents: (Pricing is one-way)
(current chart based on observations has been moved to this thread: Upgrading with miles)
SkyMiles July Announcements
Jul 14, 2015, 3:15 pm
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,539
Variable=Whatever we think we can get. I wouldn't be surprised to read reports of 7 digit award quotes.
Jul 14, 2015, 3:15 pm
#92
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: DL DM360, Aeroplan SE
Posts: 40
[QUOTE=AAerSTL;25116914][Bolding mine]
This is also very poorly written and confusing:
Other transcontinental flights, including New York-JFK to Los Angeles or San Francisco will continue to not be eligible for Complimentary Upgrades.
[Bolding mine]
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...d-updates.html
Hopefully just worrying unnecessarily but... because RUCs can now be used for JFK-LAX/SFO upgrades, does this mean to imply Diamonds are no longer entitled to their "secret" behind-the-scenes benefit of instrument-less upgrades on that route? Particularly concerned given the current Diamond benefit was referenced as coded as a cert upgrade (now how to differentiate?), and there is no mention on the previous benefit on the Delta site anyway, so effectively no need to communicate a potential "change in policy" This would be a MAJOR negative if so... but hopefully no change on that!
This is also very poorly written and confusing:
Other transcontinental flights, including New York-JFK to Los Angeles or San Francisco will continue to not be eligible for Complimentary Upgrades.
[Bolding mine]
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...d-updates.html
Hopefully just worrying unnecessarily but... because RUCs can now be used for JFK-LAX/SFO upgrades, does this mean to imply Diamonds are no longer entitled to their "secret" behind-the-scenes benefit of instrument-less upgrades on that route? Particularly concerned given the current Diamond benefit was referenced as coded as a cert upgrade (now how to differentiate?), and there is no mention on the previous benefit on the Delta site anyway, so effectively no need to communicate a potential "change in policy" This would be a MAJOR negative if so... but hopefully no change on that!
Jul 14, 2015, 3:20 pm
#93
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta DM/1.3MM, Marriott PP/LTP, Natl EE, Etihad Guest, FT FNG
Posts: 662
I'm assuming that you are referring to the DL AMEX Card??
Jul 14, 2015, 3:29 pm
#94
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC, BOS, ORD
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM
Posts: 843
I've been successful in getting "annual fees" for "credit cards" like the SPG or Delta cards waived or compensated for in points, but not "membership fees" for "charge cards" like the Preferred Rewards Gold or Platinum Charge Card. Of course, YMMV.
Jul 14, 2015, 3:41 pm
#95
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, 2MM
Posts: 1,254
I am indeed - worth noting that my annual spend has been quite high as it includes all of my work expenses (we self-charge and submit for reimbursement rather than use corporate cards).
I've been successful in getting "annual fees" for "credit cards" like the SPG or Delta cards waived or compensated for in points, but not "membership fees" for "charge cards" like the Preferred Rewards Gold or Platinum Charge Card. Of course, YMMV.
I've been successful in getting "annual fees" for "credit cards" like the SPG or Delta cards waived or compensated for in points, but not "membership fees" for "charge cards" like the Preferred Rewards Gold or Platinum Charge Card. Of course, YMMV.
Jul 14, 2015, 4:08 pm
#97
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 115
Agreed. We knew this day was coming. Variable award pricing should be the story of the day, but PMs and DMs have been distracted by the shiny toy that is RUC improvements.
As far as mileage upgrades, we have no idea how much these will cost, only that they are increasing. There does not seem to be any clarity on whether prices will vary by fare class or other factor. It seems possible that even those who bought expensive Y/B/M fares for international travel will be paying more for their upgrades now too, perhaps paying the same rate as upgrades from K fares.
Edit: Got some very interesting data on SkyMiles upgrades.
Domestic (except JFK-LAX/SFO, Hawaii, etc.):
Y/B/M: 15,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 20,000 miles
L/U/T: 30,000 miles
US-Europe:
Y/B/M: 60,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US-Northern Asia:
Y/B/M: 60,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US-Southeast/Southwest Asia, Micronesia, Southwest Pacific:
Y/B/M: 80,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 115,000 miles
Prices are each way. Sorry, those are the only regions I got. But it's pretty clear: this is a bloodbath.
As far as mileage upgrades, we have no idea how much these will cost, only that they are increasing. There does not seem to be any clarity on whether prices will vary by fare class or other factor. It seems possible that even those who bought expensive Y/B/M fares for international travel will be paying more for their upgrades now too, perhaps paying the same rate as upgrades from K fares.
Edit: Got some very interesting data on SkyMiles upgrades.
Domestic (except JFK-LAX/SFO, Hawaii, etc.):
Y/B/M: 15,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 20,000 miles
L/U/T: 30,000 miles
US-Europe:
Y/B/M: 60,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US-Northern Asia:
Y/B/M: 60,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US-Southeast/Southwest Asia, Micronesia, Southwest Pacific:
Y/B/M: 80,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 115,000 miles
Prices are each way. Sorry, those are the only regions I got. But it's pretty clear: this is a bloodbath.
Jul 14, 2015, 4:14 pm
#98
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,510
Define "annual spend is high enough."
I am at $55k already this year on my DL AMEX Reserve. Is that considered "high"?
Jul 14, 2015, 4:17 pm
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
Jul 14, 2015, 4:18 pm
#100
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
I wish that Delta would just get it over with and eliminate the program altogether. They've made it clear that SkyMiles is nothing more than an inconvenience to those in charge. The Medallion program is mostly fine, but no one is going to be redeeming 300-400K miles for a TATL J ticket (you know that's coming).
Jul 14, 2015, 4:51 pm
#102
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
I don't think we know for sure that DMs using RUCs are prioritized on the waitlist above PMs using RUCs. Do you know of a place where this is currently published? In the context of upgrades for longhaul international flights, I've had agents tell me that the waitlist for upgrades in advance of travel depends (only) on time of request.
Jul 14, 2015, 5:15 pm
#104
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,552
Jul 14, 2015, 5:19 pm
#105
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: PVU, SLC
Programs: DL Pork Medallion, PP, GE
Posts: 1,657
I'm waiting for a slew of threads, or perhaps even some sort of master thread, for new credit card options. I plan on taking a big trip with my wife next April or May, and almost have enough miles to burn for two J tickets. But now I'm tempted more than ever to just make GM again this year instead of having a nice rollover, do a status match to AS and credit all my skymiles there. However, whatever I spend on my Amex is going to accrue SMs; even though I don't spend tens and tends of thousands like most people here, it would be nice to figure out now what card(s) to look at to best accrue and utilize points/miles.
Last edited by brocklee9000; Jul 14, 2015 at 5:32 pm