2 "Changes to Award Travel" posted at delta.com, including SkyChoice restrictions
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SEA - DL DM/2MM, *A Gold, SPG Lifetime Plat, some other car and hotel stuff
Posts: 5,649
2 "Changes to Award Travel" posted at delta.com, including SkyChoice restrictions
Just saw the following posted at delta.com:
I wonder how widespread the "surchage on award redemptions" is, and which airlines are affected.
As for SkyChoice, I never use it, so it doesn't affect me. Nevertheless, I think it is really unfortunate to remove that option for people, presumably on those flights where they need it the most.
Changes to Award Travel
Some airline partners impose a surcharge on Award Travel redemptions for travel on their airline. These charges will be collected at the time of booking.
Also, effective December 1, 2007, SkyChoice Award Ticket Reservations will no longer be available on every Delta flight in which a seat is available for sale. SkyChoice Award Ticket Reservations will continue to be available on most Delta flights, but seats will be limited and possibly unavailable on some flights. Our SkySaver Award Ticket Reservations will remain unchanged.
Some airline partners impose a surcharge on Award Travel redemptions for travel on their airline. These charges will be collected at the time of booking.
Also, effective December 1, 2007, SkyChoice Award Ticket Reservations will no longer be available on every Delta flight in which a seat is available for sale. SkyChoice Award Ticket Reservations will continue to be available on most Delta flights, but seats will be limited and possibly unavailable on some flights. Our SkySaver Award Ticket Reservations will remain unchanged.
As for SkyChoice, I never use it, so it doesn't affect me. Nevertheless, I think it is really unfortunate to remove that option for people, presumably on those flights where they need it the most.
#2
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Orlando, FL, USA
Posts: 2,398
Guess they'll have to call it a SkyLImitedChoice award from now on. I don't know of any other airline that has imposed this limitation to date. Once again, DL leads the way in "enhancements."
#3
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 813
I'm thinking 2008 China Olympics on the ATL-PVG route..... 250 000 or more miles or 15K+ a ticket.....
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
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Posts: 102,095
Watch out fuel surcharges. This means award travel will be even less "free" than before.
This is going to make miles on Delta less valuable than miles from those airlines which do not include a fuel surcharge on award tickets in the months and years after this DL change goes live.
This is going to make miles on Delta less valuable than miles from those airlines which do not include a fuel surcharge on award tickets in the months and years after this DL change goes live.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
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#7
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
#8
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Programs: Starwood Gold, HiltonHHonors Silver, Marriott Silver, Delta SkyMiles
Posts: 1,775
This absolutely stinks and confirms my decision to drop My SkyMiles AMEX gold card in lieu of my United Mileage Plus Visa.
#10
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Atlanta, GA
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#11
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
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Posts: 7,857
You missed the really great news, though:
Our SkySaver Award Ticket Reservations will remain unchanged.
Same great availability!
David
Our SkySaver Award Ticket Reservations will remain unchanged.
Same great availability!
David
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
I take this to mean there'll be restricted availability (SkyChoice) and incredibly restricted availability (SkySaver). This is a vile devaluation. As if 250K miles for previously unrestricted business to Europe weren't insult enough.
#13
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ATL
Programs: DL - PM (Sky Priority);HH - Gold; Marriott - Silver; National - Executive; DL Reserve AMEX
Posts: 5,232
Wow. This is really terrible. I know DL needs to find revenue where it can, but does it really think it is losing that much revenue to SkyChoice awards? I've never used SkyChoice before, but I always liked having the option, just in case.
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: BNA
Programs: DL PM/MM, Hilton Diamond, *wood plat, UA 1kc
Posts: 921
Criteria
I wonder what criteria will be used to determine when Sky Choice seats are removed from inventory for a particular flight. My guess is some sort of calculation whereby a seat who's current value (price)exceeds the value of the mileage liability needed for the Choice seat could be implemented. A factor for the liklihood of sale of that seat may be incorporated. If I am correct, Delta will have absolutely no risk in the program. Taken with the devaluation of PM status and the millions of MQM opportunities, the program is of considerably less use to me. I am extremely disappointed.
#15
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 813
Most of you wont even tell the difference since you don't use SkyChoice anyway, at least that's the impression that I get from all your posts.