xliioper

The website has a more complete list of changes -- https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles...ws-and-updates

OP didn't list the following change --

Additionally, Delta is introducing a new policy to offer more flexibility for customers with a Basic Economy ticket. Customers who redeem their miles for a Basic Economy ticket departing on or after January 1, 2022 can now cancel their ticket and receive a portion of their miles back, following a cancellation charge that is deducted from their ticket value. Visit our Travel Planning Center to learn more.

The mileage cancellation charge is listed at time of booking for BE awards. Revenue BE fares also now have a cancellation charge and you can get a partial credit back on BE fares that are cancelled. The cancellation charges are also listed in the fare rules (found at the "Fare Rules" link when you price out itins or on EF).

pgh234

Talk about a "soft landing"...my BE flights this year earning 150% MQMs now will earn 0% MQM next year. I am sure there will be a corresponding decrease in price? 😂

I know we called Main Cabin upcharges a "tax" for Medallion Status benefits before, but now there is a tax to even earn status in the first place! I always flew with my family of 4 in BE since there was literally no benefit to me as a PM when traveling with them (lounge access, C+, upgrades). So why should I now pay hundreds of $$$ more to fly us all in Main Cabin to earn MQMs...when there is no benefit afforded to me anyway on most of my flights to begin with?

ATOBTTR

An option is always to book yourself on a Main Cabin fare and book the rest of the family on a BE fare. Then you can at least get MQMs for your ticket.

DL is banking on (or already has data and has done the internal analysis to know) that you're the exception rather than the rule here.

xliioper

VS BE fares are still showing as completely non-changeable and non-refundable. Unlike DL BE fares which will now be changeable and partially refundable for a credit with a fee. So you may be able to continue to earn miles on VS T fares, but you probably won't be able to cancel/change them at all.

For some history, DL did a reduction of BE fare differentials on many domestic routes on August 12th from $40 to $25 each-way which is now pretty much the standard (more competitive routes out of LAX and SEA were generally already in the $20 to $25 each way range). TATL fares also had a reductions from $100 each-way to $75 each way somewhat later in the fall. AA eliminated BE fares on most domestic routes in the Fall of 2020. UA has also been reducing BE fare filings on many routes and DL was likely facing pressure on their BE fares between it's legacy peers and LCC/ULCC competition. Only AS seems to be a holdout at this point and many transcon routes continue to have a $50 differential each-way.

ezefllying

Was this announced today? Because, if so, I have a big procedural problem with this. Cutting a benefit with 0 hours' notice (or, even if they announced the change a couple days ago, 48-72 hours') is unfair to consumers. And so gratuitous.

I seem to recall that Delta pulled a similar devaluation stunt (was it with respect to SkyMiles refundability?) a few years ago. They said, goofily, that they couldn't provide any advance notice for some legal reason. I'm not going to provide any legal advice here or claim to be an expert, but I was very, very skeptical.

ATOBTTR

It only applies to tickets purchased today and onward. If you bought a BE ticket before today, your ticket will fall under the rules which applied when it was purchased (I would recommend one keep receipts to show proof for the date of purchase proof and save a screenshot or printout of the link announcement should the miles not post correctly and one has to go apply for mileage credit after the fact and then has to go back-and-forth with DL)

calmasahinducow

I guess I'm like one of the 5 people whose behavior will be affected by this. I fly ~40 segments a year on DL for work and maybe another 8 or so for pleasure with my family. Whereas before I would usually choose DL Basic Economy for those pleasure routes over WN for domestic travel, that's probably not going to be the case now. For international travel it's pretty absurd that a $1300 Basic Economy fare to AMS isn't going to count towards status. Just picking a random date for next May the difference between Basic and Main is $150. For a family of 4 that's $600. I think I would rather fly UA and at least have it count towards status. C'est la vie.

sydneyracquelle

And also be very careful with schedule changes that result in even exchanges where the date of issue and ticket number (but not pnr) both change.

jamesteroh

Delta has done that several times.

They did it just a little over a month ago with GUC's.and waited until almost the end of the year instead of telling us on 1/1/22 or even doing the announcement for effective 1/23 that GUC's will have a lot shorter life if we wait to chose them and expire 1/31 of the year instead of 12 months after being selected and also having to purchase PS if we want to clear into D1 immediately and if we don't buy PS we only get put into PS and won't clear into D1 until no sooner than t-24 hours.

What Delta did with the GUC's was a lot more unfair than this change seeing the GUC's apply to their most loyal customers and people who already have BE tickets still have the old rules apply to them

DiverDave

But is it really "punishment", or more a case of pay less get less?

David

BudgetJetsetter

I mean even with Spirit and Frontier you get “miles/points” with their cheapest tickets.

DLASflyer

I thought Change Fees were gone forever 😂

ATOBTTR

On Spirit and Frontier's cheapest tickets you also get less legroom, no complimentary carryon to go in the overhead (which DL will check for free if they run out of room while Spirit will charge an arm and leg if you show up at the gate with a carryon that won't go in the overhead bin), generally poorer customer service, far worse IROPs recovery, no complimentary snacks or beverages, and no complimentary entertainment (unless you consider a fight that breaks out in-flight entertainment). If Sprit or Frontier are your cup of tea, have at it, and their model clearly works for a large number of passengers as evidenced by their overall profits. One just has to know what they're getting (and not getting). Me personally, I have yet to buy BE on any airline and I don't plan on buying BE due to restrictions imposed, but even with the recent changes I'd fly BE on DL before flying on Spirit or Frontier, even if NK or F9 would give me a handful of points while DL gave me no points.

flyerCO

Would you rather a change fee or use-it-or-lose-it? BE tickets have only been chargeable due to waiver, one that expires Dec 31.

flyerCO

The original ticket still exists, it's just marked exchanged. Will likely need to call in for manual adjustment but they'll be able to see original ticket.. (it has to be there as the funds for any reissued tickets originate with it)