Mar 6, 2014, 10:11 am
Last edit by: TheBOSman
Direct link at Delta.com: http://www.delta.com/content/dam/delta-www/skymiles/2015-program/2015SMP-award.pdf
New Delta Award Redemption Charts Released
Mar 6, 2014, 10:30 am
#46
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Because they're obviously going to try to closely correlate which "Tier" awards are made available with the cash fares they're charging. They are basing earning on $$$ spend...you can sure as well bet they're trying to match that liability by basing mileage cost on ticket price.
Having more levels allows them to tie it to the fare buckets more closely.
Just speculation, but think about this for an example of how the tiers could map...
Econ: YB/MSH/QKLU/TX/VE
First&Biz: JF/CP(YUP/BUP)/DP/IA/ZG
Mar 6, 2014, 10:35 am
#47
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This. In fact if you look at award availability today, there is a pretty good relation to fare bucket and level. You're almost never going to find saver if they don't have the lower buckets open, and if they're only selling Y or B tickets then its generally high level. Same goes for first/biz.
Having more levels allows them to tie it to the fare buckets more closely.
Just speculation, but think about this for an example of how the tiers could map...
Econ: YB/MSH/QKLU/TX/VE
First&Biz: JF/CP(YUP/BUP)/DP/IA/ZG
Having more levels allows them to tie it to the fare buckets more closely.
Just speculation, but think about this for an example of how the tiers could map...
Econ: YB/MSH/QKLU/TX/VE
First&Biz: JF/CP(YUP/BUP)/DP/IA/ZG
Mar 6, 2014, 10:36 am
#49
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 35
I typically make best use of the miles flying on partners to/within other regions, since there's no guessing or trying to make best use of the 3 (now 5) tiers. Only downside to this is that it typically takes multiple phone calls and having to build a trip manually, which I don't mind doing.
Consequently, the real question (for me, at least) will be where partner redemptions fall. Will they still price at "Low" or the new "Level 1" like they did before? If so, I'd be curious to try my card/status for another year at least...
Consequently, the real question (for me, at least) will be where partner redemptions fall. Will they still price at "Low" or the new "Level 1" like they did before? If so, I'd be curious to try my card/status for another year at least...
Mar 6, 2014, 10:38 am
#50
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Just looked at the new award chart. Its all smoke and mirrors. I wonder if delta hired a magician and/or a psychologist to come up with this. I'm gonna place my bet right now that tier 1, South Asia Business Class travel, will be non existent like it is today. We've been down this road before folks (introduction of tier 3 system). 3 years from now we will be posting on here about the same terrible skymiles redemption policy as we have been for the past XXX years.
Mar 6, 2014, 10:45 am
#53
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'Saver', 'Standard' and 'Peak' are pretty self-explanatory terms. I see no reason to believe that "Level 1" will work like "Saver" fares, nor do I see any reason to believe that Level 1, 2 and 3 fares will available for all destinations. For example, MCO and MIA might never drop below a 'Level 4'.
Heck, "Level 1" might indicate that the destination is in a declared war zone (or Detroit). "Level 2" might only be for one-way flights into *BUF* during January. (Flights *from* BUF in January will obviously be "Level 5" in January, and probably "Level 4" the other 11 months of the year.)
Mar 6, 2014, 10:47 am
#54
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Mar 6, 2014, 10:50 am
#55
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Mar 6, 2014, 10:54 am
#56
Join Date: May 2012
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For example, MCO and MIA might never drop below a 'Level 4'.
Heck, "Level 1" might indicate that the destination is in a declared war zone (or Detroit). "Level 2" might only be for one-way flights into *BUF* during January. (Flights *from* BUF in January will obviously be "Level 5" in January, and probably "Level 4" the other 11 months of the year.)
Heck, "Level 1" might indicate that the destination is in a declared war zone (or Detroit). "Level 2" might only be for one-way flights into *BUF* during January. (Flights *from* BUF in January will obviously be "Level 5" in January, and probably "Level 4" the other 11 months of the year.)
Mar 6, 2014, 10:55 am
#57
Join Date: May 2008
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I worry that the new award calendar and search functions will be so easy to use (they actually do look pretty good from the website LOL) that all the level 1 awards get scooped up quickly.
The only reason I actually am reasonably satisfied now is because no one can search for awards and therefore I can scoop up a low one.
The only reason I actually am reasonably satisfied now is because no one can search for awards and therefore I can scoop up a low one.
Mar 6, 2014, 10:56 am
#59
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If all Delta wanted to do was wring more SkyMiles out of its members for redemptions, all they had to do was quietly turn the knob on its revenue management machine that allocates seats to SkyMiles redemptions already, there would be no reason to put on an elaborate ruse as seems to be the popular opinion here.
How many seats will be allocated to Level 1 compared to Saver? No one knows the answer to that. Not even Delta knows the answer to that because it's over nine months away and I can guarantee you the inputs into their revenue management models, and even the revenue management model itself, will change many times over the next nine months. All I do know is that one-way awards is a big plus, everything else, who knows, we'll see in ten months time.
How many seats will be allocated to Level 1 compared to Saver? No one knows the answer to that. Not even Delta knows the answer to that because it's over nine months away and I can guarantee you the inputs into their revenue management models, and even the revenue management model itself, will change many times over the next nine months. All I do know is that one-way awards is a big plus, everything else, who knows, we'll see in ten months time.
Mar 6, 2014, 10:56 am
#60
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No problems here. I just find it hard to believe that with the addition of two new tiers, some people seem to think that they will actually score low award redemptions. While it remains to be seen, we have been down this road before when DL went from 2 to 3 tiers.