Jul 14, 2015, 4:38 pm
Last edit by: Zorak
Summary of SkyMiles Upgrade Changes
Effective Aug 1, 2015, DM's on paid fares and no companions will no longer receive complimentary upgrades JFK-LAX/SFO. Delta's reps failed to disclose this in their June 14 announcement.
For travel on or after June 1, 2016, additional fare classes are eligible for SkyMiles upgrades:
Within North American and northern South America, L/U/T fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M/H/Q/K)
For all other markets, H/Q/K fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M)
SkyMiles Upgrade Awards will also require more miles. Prices for the following markets as quoted by multiple reservations agents: (Pricing is one-way)
(current chart based on observations has been moved to this thread: Upgrading with miles)
Effective Aug 1, 2015, DM's on paid fares and no companions will no longer receive complimentary upgrades JFK-LAX/SFO. Delta's reps failed to disclose this in their June 14 announcement.
For travel on or after June 1, 2016, additional fare classes are eligible for SkyMiles upgrades:
Within North American and northern South America, L/U/T fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M/H/Q/K)
For all other markets, H/Q/K fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M)
SkyMiles Upgrade Awards will also require more miles. Prices for the following markets as quoted by multiple reservations agents: (Pricing is one-way)
(current chart based on observations has been moved to this thread: Upgrading with miles)
SkyMiles July Announcements
Jul 14, 2015, 1:17 pm
#61
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 736
It's like them telling us, "Hey we are out to screw you with the mileage redemption thing, we won't tell you by how much, but it will start in July 2016"
Gee, thanks for the advanced notice, keeps people like me confused as to whether I should keep or get rid of my miles.
Vague news is bad news...
Gee, thanks for the advanced notice, keeps people like me confused as to whether I should keep or get rid of my miles.
Vague news is bad news...
Jul 14, 2015, 1:21 pm
#63
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: midwest
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 920
Miles for C+ purchases
Good! I have been thinking for some time that we should earn miles for C+ purchases, glad to see they've made that improvement. Not that it matters hugely, but it seemed annoying to get 0 RDMs when we spent $120 each for C+ on a longhaul, but I would earn 820 miles for 120 dollars of fare (not tax...) on an L,U,T,X,V ticket to Denver.
Jul 14, 2015, 1:22 pm
#64
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
Programs: Newly minted free agent; MR LT(!)TE, HH SE, BA SECM, DL MM, UA PS, 2V Fanboi, CBP GE
Posts: 5,108
RUCs on TCON are a great enhancement, says this PM who will be DM again in a month. I used the old SWUs on these routes when traveling with someone. I suspect this has something to do with the heavy competition on these routes (AA, B6, VX), sort of the SM version of $600 fares.
Mileage UGs on lower fare buckets could be good... depending on the number of miles required. If it's absurdly high then what's the point? Also assumes some reasonable amount of OP/RP inventory, and/or mileage UGs clearing at the gate.
Dynamic award pricing... TBD... let's see how the numbers turn out.
Mileage UGs on lower fare buckets could be good... depending on the number of miles required. If it's absurdly high then what's the point? Also assumes some reasonable amount of OP/RP inventory, and/or mileage UGs clearing at the gate.
Dynamic award pricing... TBD... let's see how the numbers turn out.
Jul 14, 2015, 1:34 pm
#67
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Orlando, FL
Programs: Delta GM/1.5MM ~ United Silver ~ Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,434
I'm impressed that the upgrade changes are getting most of the discussion and not the shift to officially call reward pricing dynamic. It isn't even tied to fare necessarily (akin to other revenue-based programs) but to some vague and unclear concept of "demand" for certain destinations. That's going to be interesting to track.
The beginning of the end of int'l J on mileage redemption. A bunch of times we've already seen ATL-SYD searches show up at 325k miles - that's going to be the price of a saver award soon.
Only real question here is partner awards and if they still allow them or if that goes bye-bye as well or if that becomes our only way of int'l J award redemption.
Jul 14, 2015, 1:37 pm
#68
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: DL Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, Hertz Prez Circle, National Exec
Posts: 1,357
Business Elite Mileage Redemption
ATL-JNB
Saver: 80k
Max prior to enhancement: 175k (5/31/16 JNB-ATL)
Max after enhancement: 375k
(6/1/16 JNB-ATL)
ATL-DXB
Saver: 70k
Max prior to enhancement: 162.5k (5/26/16 DXB-ATL)
Max after enhancement: 375k (6/2/16 DXB-ATL)
SYD-LAX
Saver: 80k
Max prior to enhancement: 162.5k (5/30/16 SYD-LAX)
Max after enhancement: 375k (6/3/16 DXB-ATL)
Keep climbing!
ATL-JNB
Saver: 80k
Max prior to enhancement: 175k (5/31/16 JNB-ATL)
Max after enhancement: 375k
(6/1/16 JNB-ATL)ATL-DXB
Saver: 70k
Max prior to enhancement: 162.5k (5/26/16 DXB-ATL)
Max after enhancement: 375k
(6/2/16 DXB-ATL)SYD-LAX
Saver: 80k
Max prior to enhancement: 162.5k (5/30/16 SYD-LAX)
Max after enhancement: 375k
(6/3/16 DXB-ATL)Keep climbing!
Jul 14, 2015, 1:38 pm
#69
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
AMEX will face the wrath of the angry credit card holders.
You really wanna collect Skypesos for hundred years so can redeem JFK-LHR for 500,000 miles in J? Think not. AMEX will be the big loser in this.
When the annual fee comes due on my DL credit card, AMEX will be required to fork over tens of thousands of Skymiles. If they refuse, I will cancel.
You really wanna collect Skypesos for hundred years so can redeem JFK-LHR for 500,000 miles in J? Think not. AMEX will be the big loser in this.
When the annual fee comes due on my DL credit card, AMEX will be required to fork over tens of thousands of Skymiles. If they refuse, I will cancel.
Jul 14, 2015, 1:40 pm
#70
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 736
I checked a few partner routes I plan on taking and I see no change to those prices for early June 2016. Who knows what the price will be like during "demand" times or how that will work. I'm hoping that Saver level continues to be standard floor and the dynamic pricing up is more like what it already seems to be (with a 100 different price levels).
Jul 14, 2015, 1:43 pm
#71
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Jul 14, 2015, 1:44 pm
#72
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: DL Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, Hertz Prez Circle, National Exec
Posts: 1,357
This ALL DAY LONG.
The beginning of the end of int'l J on mileage redemption. A bunch of times we've already seen ATL-SYD searches show up at 325k miles - that's going to be the price of a saver award soon.
Only real question here is partner awards and if they still allow them or if that goes bye-bye as well or if that becomes our only way of int'l J award redemption.
The beginning of the end of int'l J on mileage redemption. A bunch of times we've already seen ATL-SYD searches show up at 325k miles - that's going to be the price of a saver award soon.
Only real question here is partner awards and if they still allow them or if that goes bye-bye as well or if that becomes our only way of int'l J award redemption.
Jul 14, 2015, 1:45 pm
#73
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta DM/1.3MM, Marriott PP/LTP, Natl EE, Etihad Guest, FT FNG
Posts: 662
Jul 14, 2015, 1:46 pm
#74
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: DL Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, Hertz Prez Circle, National Exec
Posts: 1,357
AMEX will face the wrath of the angry credit card holders.
You really wanna collect Skypesos for hundred years so can redeem JFK-LHR for 500,000 miles in J? Think not. AMEX will be the big loser in this.
When the annual fee comes due on my DL credit card, AMEX will be required to fork over tens of thousands of Skymiles. If they refuse, I will cancel.
You really wanna collect Skypesos for hundred years so can redeem JFK-LHR for 500,000 miles in J? Think not. AMEX will be the big loser in this.
When the annual fee comes due on my DL credit card, AMEX will be required to fork over tens of thousands of Skymiles. If they refuse, I will cancel.
Jul 14, 2015, 1:48 pm
#75
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 736
I wonder how the price of SkyMiles to Amex has changed over the last two years. Surprising that sign-up bonuses really haven't come close to keeping pace with the inflationary value of SkyMiles. Although we did see Amex offering 10k referral bonus on SkyMiles, which I don't believe they'd done in the past. Maybe the result of fewer sign-ups.