2015 SkyMiles Program News from Delta
Feb 26, 2014, 6:45 am
#76
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: MSP/BER
Programs: DL Plat, LH Freq Traveller
Posts: 139
The changes are for redeemable miles, not qualifying miles.
One thing to keep in mind with the calculator - the example you showed with $5000 from MSP-TXL is most likely for J, so you have to also add the class of service bonus to the old number for it to be accurate. The new calc you still come out ahead, but not by as much as this makes it look.
One thing to keep in mind with the calculator - the example you showed with $5000 from MSP-TXL is most likely for J, so you have to also add the class of service bonus to the old number for it to be accurate. The new calc you still come out ahead, but not by as much as this makes it look.
Feb 26, 2014, 6:47 am
#77
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Atlanta, GA Hub Captive
Programs: DL GM, FL A+ Elite, WN A List
Posts: 303
Based on my playing around with the calculator on the DL site, it seems like the biggest hole and difference is a GM like me, flying on LUT and below fares... I fly my share and am getting the Amex $25K waiver but the number of Skypesos will drop significantly based on the fares I buy.
So I would guess that there would be some change in the program in terms of he award charts but from my personal perspective and spending habits for flights, going from a 100% RDM bonus to 8 Mi/$ is a HUGE difference.
A good example is a K fare from this past summer from ATL-BCN... Earned 18,000+ SkyPesos this year, would earn me only 12,800 in 2015...
So I would guess that there would be some change in the program in terms of he award charts but from my personal perspective and spending habits for flights, going from a 100% RDM bonus to 8 Mi/$ is a HUGE difference.
A good example is a K fare from this past summer from ATL-BCN... Earned 18,000+ SkyPesos this year, would earn me only 12,800 in 2015...
Feb 26, 2014, 6:48 am
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: 45° North
Programs: DL DM MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 10,196
You earn the same as you would now (based on distance). So for TXL-AMS-MSP you would earn approx 4666 MQMs each way. (500 MQMs for TXL-AMS and 4166 MQMs for AMS-MSP based on non-premium fares).
Feb 26, 2014, 6:51 am
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
When I saw the email subject I knew it wasn't a change I would like. And typical Delta starts out the email with wording like it's a change we ask for.
So my $210 DTW/LGA trip last week would have gotten me 231 miles with the 10% diamond bonus (probably less since they aren't going to include tax) and before it was 2,250 RDM's with the diamond bonus. That's a 90% drop in miles!
Delta is REALLY screwing their elites with only a 10% bonus for diamonds and nothing for anyone else.
I use to use my RDM's for FCM fares. This is going to really screw me now
So my $210 DTW/LGA trip last week would have gotten me 231 miles with the 10% diamond bonus (probably less since they aren't going to include tax) and before it was 2,250 RDM's with the diamond bonus. That's a 90% drop in miles!
Delta is REALLY screwing their elites with only a 10% bonus for diamonds and nothing for anyone else.
I use to use my RDM's for FCM fares. This is going to really screw me now
Last edited by jamesteroh; Feb 26, 2014 at 7:13 am
Feb 26, 2014, 6:54 am
#80
Company Representative - Delta Air Lines
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 83
Good question. I had automatically assumed not, but when I think about how and when the AmEx miles post, it's not at all obvious to me that we should expect this. Also, I don't think AmEx and DL would want to almost penalize those who travel on BE or extremely expensive long haul coach for having DL AmEx cards.
Feb 26, 2014, 6:59 am
#82
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: 45° North
Programs: DL DM MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 10,196
So my $210 DTW/LGA trip last week would have gotten me 231 miles with the 10% diamond bonus (probably less since they aren't going to include tax) and before it was 2,250 RDM's with the diamond bonus. That's a 90% drop in miles!
Delta is REALLY screwing their elites. At least give more of a bonus like southwest does.
Delta is REALLY screwing their elites. At least give more of a bonus like southwest does.
Now were it gets tricky is whether the $210 is one way or round trip. If one way you come out ahead. If the $210 was the round trip fare you would earn the following (as a DM):
2014 = 4508
2015 = 2310
Feb 26, 2014, 7:04 am
#83
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Tell me if I am doing this wrong, but it seems like you could actually get high status for significantly cheaper.
On my typical route which consists of Minneapolis-Amsterdam-Berlin, I could technically hit diamond in 3 flights by spending $15k (3 first class tickets). It takes nearly $30k just to make Platinum as it stands.
On my typical route which consists of Minneapolis-Amsterdam-Berlin, I could technically hit diamond in 3 flights by spending $15k (3 first class tickets). It takes nearly $30k just to make Platinum as it stands.
Feb 26, 2014, 7:07 am
#85
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Meechigan
Posts: 1,006
Today:
-typical TPAC J grosses ~35k Skymiles (14k RT + 7k class of service + 17.5k DM)
-typical TATL J grosses ~22k Skymiles (8k RT + 4k class + 10k DM)
Next year both trips will earn 75k Skymiles. A roughly 2x factor for TPAC and >3x for TATL.
Are they really going to double/triple my redemption power? I direct a lot of $ to DL but I have a hard time believing it.
Feb 26, 2014, 7:12 am
#88
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL SM, CX GREEN
Posts: 235
2014 = 4508
2015 = 1980 DM (-56%), 1620 PM (-64%), 1440 GM (-68%)
Let's assume a 25k low award ticket, so rough rounding, as a GM, you previously needed 5 flights for a free flight. With the new plan, you need 16 flights for a free flight.
Feb 26, 2014, 7:15 am
#89
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
I've noticed with the calculator, with the current mileage they also don't include the DM bonus of 125%.
Feb 26, 2014, 7:18 am
#90
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,266
I just did a few routes that I am likely to fly on Delta and those of us who fly those short routes up and down the East Coast are going to be better off, especially those flying out of non-hub airports. Transcontinental flights definitely take a hit and I notice that traveling on discounted First/Business distance routes will take a big hit since you also had received the Premium class multipler. The taxes/fees not included when calculating is definitely material.
