Originally Posted by RealHJ

The earnings are a small deal. Wait until you try to use the SlyMiles. That will really hurt. As of Jan 1 award pricing has gone up roughly two fold (if not more), give or take a bit, on the routes that I've look at (obviously YMMV based on your preferred routes). Now be prepared to pay as much for a one way flight as much as round trip (with a stopover) used to be before. The higher mileage levels and practical elimination of normal (level 1) and almost near elimination of level 2 awards, now some awards at level 3, and most at level 4 and level 5, will make your eyes water at how many miles it takes to redeem now for a DL flight. And the cherry on top? Additive pricing and married segment logic, which for other than simple single-flight trips can make it cost now, on the average, 3x or more as much as it cost before for the same.