Jan 7, 2016, 1:57 pm
Last edit by: PHXflier
For travel on or after October 1, 2016, the new low level awards apply:
NA-SW Pacific (incl. Australia) 45k economy 95k business each way
NA-Japan 35k economy 80k business each way
NA-Europe 30k economy 62.5k business each way (J has increased to 70K each way in late summer 2016)
NA-Middle East 35k economy 70k business each way
NA-South Africa 40k economy 95k business each way
NA-Southern South America 30k economy 75k business each way
NA-Africa 40k economy 80k business each way
HNL-N.Asia 30K X, 60K O (was 50K, was 35K) ow
HNL-S.Asia 35K X, 60K O (was 50K, was 35K) ow
HNL-SW Pacific (incl. Australia) 45K X, 95K O (was 80K) ow
N.Asia-S.Asia 22.5K X, 50K O (was 40K) ow (yes 50K for a short 2~3h "domestic first" type of flight!)
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/S/H/Q/K)
For all other markets, S/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)
Domestic (except JFK-LAX/SFO, Hawaii, etc.):
Y/B/M: 15,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 20,000 miles
L/U/T: 30,000 miles
Domestic Premium Routes (JFK-LAX/SFO)
Y/B/M: 25,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 35,000 miles
L/U/T: 45,000 miles
US-Hawaii
Y/B/M: 30,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 45,000 miles
L/U/T: 55,000 miles
US-Canada
Y/B/M: 15,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 20,000 miles
L/U/T: 30,000 miles
US-Puerto Rico, Mexico, Bermuda, Caribbean
Y/B/M: 15,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 20,000 miles
L/U/T: 30,000 miles
US-Northern South America
Y/B/M: 30,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 45,000 miles
L/U/T: 55,000 miles
US-Southern South America
Y/B/M: 60,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US-Europe:
Y/B/M: 60,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US-Northern Asia (Japan/Korea/China):
Y/B/M: 60,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US-Southeast/Southwest Asia, Micronesia, Southwest Pacific:
Y/B/M: 80,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 115,000 miles
US-Africa (incl. South Africa)
Y/B/M: 80,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 115,000 miles
US-Middle East
Y/B/M: 80,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 115,000 miles
NA-SW Pacific (incl. Australia) 45k economy 95k business each way
NA-Japan 35k economy 80k business each way
NA-Europe 30k economy 62.5k business each way (J has increased to 70K each way in late summer 2016)
NA-Middle East 35k economy 70k business each way
NA-South Africa 40k economy 95k business each way
NA-Southern South America 30k economy 75k business each way
NA-Africa 40k economy 80k business each way
HNL-N.Asia 30K X, 60K O (was 50K, was 35K) ow
HNL-S.Asia 35K X, 60K O (was 50K, was 35K) ow
HNL-SW Pacific (incl. Australia) 45K X, 95K O (was 80K) ow
N.Asia-S.Asia 22.5K X, 50K O (was 40K) ow (yes 50K for a short 2~3h "domestic first" type of flight!)
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/S/H/Q/K)
For all other markets, S/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)
Domestic (except JFK-LAX/SFO, Hawaii, etc.):
Y/B/M: 15,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 20,000 miles
L/U/T: 30,000 miles
Domestic Premium Routes (JFK-LAX/SFO)
Y/B/M: 25,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 35,000 miles
L/U/T: 45,000 miles
US-Hawaii
Y/B/M: 30,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 45,000 miles
L/U/T: 55,000 miles
US-Canada
Y/B/M: 15,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 20,000 miles
L/U/T: 30,000 miles
US-Puerto Rico, Mexico, Bermuda, Caribbean
Y/B/M: 15,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 20,000 miles
L/U/T: 30,000 miles
US-Northern South America
Y/B/M: 30,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 45,000 miles
L/U/T: 55,000 miles
US-Southern South America
Y/B/M: 60,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US-Europe:
Y/B/M: 60,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US-Northern Asia (Japan/Korea/China):
Y/B/M: 60,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US-Southeast/Southwest Asia, Micronesia, Southwest Pacific:
Y/B/M: 80,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 115,000 miles
US-Africa (incl. South Africa)
Y/B/M: 80,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 115,000 miles
US-Middle East
Y/B/M: 80,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 115,000 miles
New SkyMiles Award Pricing For Travel On or After October 1, 2016
Jan 8, 2016, 7:17 pm
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
If you're getting a value of $0.08/mile on DL metal, I would like to know the routes and award prices.
IMHO, DL has been de facto revenue-based redemption for a while (60K domestic coach awards, min adv purchases broadly in effect for the lowest award redemption levels), and there's no (business) reason that long-haul Business should be different. It's tough to make the business case to sell miles to Amex, Starwood, and Hertz and half a penny and then allow them to be redeemed at a nickel a mile for long-haul Business.
IMHO, DL has been de facto revenue-based redemption for a while (60K domestic coach awards, min adv purchases broadly in effect for the lowest award redemption levels), and there's no (business) reason that long-haul Business should be different. It's tough to make the business case to sell miles to Amex, Starwood, and Hertz and half a penny and then allow them to be redeemed at a nickel a mile for long-haul Business.
I get people save miles for the honeymoon to Australia or whatever but I'd rather pay cash for the ticket and bank the miles -- not for redemption but for status. For the last three years, all I've cared about is status. I use miles as quick as I collect them as there's no point to banking hundreds of thousands of miles with Delta's constant Sky Miles devaluation. I use the miles either to re-position domestically for unbeatable international fare sales that never include Detroit or as part of pay-with-miles reservations.
A quick search in just the outbound direction shows there are still plenty of 70k DTW-PVG dates available in the 2nd half of 2016 even restricting to DL-metal nonstop flights, and 80k/95k (depending on pre/post-10/1) using that DL flight to connect to a partner to continue to SYD or AKL.
Just because the exact, high-demand flights you want aren't pricing out at the bare-bottom levels doesn't mean that there are no flights available at those levels. Just as with cash fares, flexibility helps when searching for low mileage awards, but they do still exist.
Thread Alert
Jan 8, 2016, 9:42 pm
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward
Posts: 38,326
Jan 8, 2016, 11:12 pm
#68
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,510
Jan 8, 2016, 11:58 pm
#69
Join Date: May 2013
Location: LHR
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,033
But yeah, it's a bit nuts.
Jan 9, 2016, 11:22 am
#70
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: TK E+, WY, Radisson R
Posts: 2,360
Booked Asia - US ow Business (O) on Jan 2nd for Nov 27th, 2016 with 70000 miles (midnight 331 days ahead when they opened up), I knew I had to pull the trigger immediately, not just because everyone wants to fly Thanksgiving weekend, but also knowing DL is notorious at raising miles redemption at any moment.
Now the new rate is 80000 miles, that's if you can find any, those O fares are scarce and need to be on the lookout constantly. They usually come from CZ, MU, CI, KE, and occasionally from AM (NRT-MEX-JFK routing).
Now the new rate is 80000 miles, that's if you can find any, those O fares are scarce and need to be on the lookout constantly. They usually come from CZ, MU, CI, KE, and occasionally from AM (NRT-MEX-JFK routing).
Last edited by vincewy; Jan 9, 2016 at 3:33 pm
Jan 9, 2016, 11:51 am
#71
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
I'm surprised that no one here has pointed out the obvious: this is likely in preparation of W (Premium Economy) being made available as a separate class for awards, on DL and the other SkyTeam airlines who also have that product (where usually, unlike Delta, it is a real separate class and not just the same tired old seats with slightly more legroom). That is sure to come, likely sooner than later given this recent move, and is a great excuse ("reason") for DL to further jack up the O pricing.
Another troubling trend: the screws are being really tightened up on SkyTeam availability, some by the actual airlines, some by DL. Case in point, now CI also does, a-la-KE, 1O/2X consistently from the moment it becomes available (it didn't until very recently) - but thankfully just on some flights/dates and not all yet, or notice how DL seems to have blocked VN A350 operated flights (such as HAN-CDG and SGN-CDG) entirely: they are available via AF/KL FB (and presumably other ST programs), but are N/A and blocked out by DL, whereas until recently used to be wide open available. It's not unique to DL or SkyTeam, though. Altogether alliance award availability is really being tightened up, along with massive price increases across the board. Look at how over in *A, CA awards have been completely gone from UA for a few months entirely and from most other *A airlines CA has also completely blocked for awards many/most (possibly all) of their long-haul flights entirely as of late (and, worse, how any existing award tickets booked before this are not being honored by CA).
So, it's a very dire time for award travel...especially bad at DL - patient 0 - of course.
Another troubling trend: the screws are being really tightened up on SkyTeam availability, some by the actual airlines, some by DL. Case in point, now CI also does, a-la-KE, 1O/2X consistently from the moment it becomes available (it didn't until very recently) - but thankfully just on some flights/dates and not all yet, or notice how DL seems to have blocked VN A350 operated flights (such as HAN-CDG and SGN-CDG) entirely: they are available via AF/KL FB (and presumably other ST programs), but are N/A and blocked out by DL, whereas until recently used to be wide open available. It's not unique to DL or SkyTeam, though. Altogether alliance award availability is really being tightened up, along with massive price increases across the board. Look at how over in *A, CA awards have been completely gone from UA for a few months entirely and from most other *A airlines CA has also completely blocked for awards many/most (possibly all) of their long-haul flights entirely as of late (and, worse, how any existing award tickets booked before this are not being honored by CA).
So, it's a very dire time for award travel...especially bad at DL - patient 0 - of course.
Jan 9, 2016, 3:06 pm
#72
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
When the DL management scam artists change the mileage ticket prices to further gut the value customers get from redeeming SkyMiles for award tickets, don't expect advance notice of the price hikes. We're talking about Delta.
Jan 10, 2016, 9:24 am
#73
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 132
I sort of suspect those are actually RT UG prices. It used to be 25K to UG to Asia from YBM, now it's 60K? That's a huge increase. It would make a lot more sense if it were 30K OW and 40K OW for SHQK fares.
Jan 11, 2016, 6:46 am
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,198
Reports are those upgrade prices are OW.
And it should be pretty obvious whats going to happen to the lower level award availability with the upgrades going up that high....
And it should be pretty obvious whats going to happen to the lower level award availability with the upgrades going up that high....
Jan 11, 2016, 11:18 am
#75
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
You mean what has happened already as of Jan 1, 2015? As of Jan 1 last year, award availability was massively reduced. Instead of 1O/1X seat being available per DL flight at the normal level from 331 days out and on until it's booked, now there is practically none - ever (at least on all the flights I've checked and care about). E.g. what used to be 35K normal level before one-way (70K RT w/ stopover and open jaw) now is 375K one-way many, if not most, dates (or 750K RT - yes, more than 10 times higher - with no stopover). That happened already as of Jan 1, 2015, and ever since then DL has kept tightening the screws more and more. The gullible DL customers are like the lobster in a pot where the temperature is gradually turned up, and up, and up..