Delta Adds Shine to Diamond Medallion Status
Joe Cortez February 01, 2017
Top-tier flyers will choose three different perks starting in 2018, while automatic Sky Club membership drops.
Flyers most loyal to Delta Air Lines will soon be able to choose between three different benefits of the top-tier SkyMiles Diamond Medallion status when they re-qualify for 2018. In a press release, Delta announced the new benefit coming for their most frequent flyers.
In 2018, those flyers who qualify for Diamond Medallion status will be allowed to choose between three different membership benefits, an increase of an additional benefit from years prior. The “Choice Benefits” Diamond flyers can choose from include upgrade certificates, Delta Sky Club individual or executive memberships, Sky Club guest passes for unlimited access for up to two traveling companions, the ability to gift status or miles to other SkyMiles members, gift cards, and Global Entry application vouchers. In addition, Diamond Medallion members can use Choice Benefits to receive a perk more than once.
However, the additional benefit comes at the sacrifice of automatic individual membership into the lounge program, Sky Club. The airline claims that the automatic membership offered in prior years was redundant, as many frequent flyers would receive access to the Sky Club through the Platinum Card from American Express, or the Delta Reserve Credit Card from American Express. Those who still wish for the individual membership can use one Choice Benefit selection on the membership, while those who prefer the executive membership can use two Choice Benefit selections.
Although the new benefits will not go into effect until the 2018 loyalty year, SkyMiles loyalists will still have newfound flexibility for 2017. Starting Feb. 1, all Diamond Medallion flyers will be able to select Choice Benefits at different times throughout the year, instead of all at once.
