Starwood and Delta introduced a pretty significant new partnership two years ago. It was a close relationship with bonus points-earning and some reciprocal status recognition. United and Marriott slid in behind them.

I’ve expected, at some level, a tie-up with Hilton. Marriott and Starwood were taken. United and Delta were taken. Who was still free on the dance card?

While I’d love to see American and Hyatt, Hyatt’s footprint doesn’t seem large enough for such a relationship with the world’s largest airline. And IHG doesn’t make sense either, since their program has no meaningful elite benefits to start with. American and Hilton are the two big players left on stage.

And yet that hasn’t happened.

Instead, we still see unique Hilton-Delta promotions running, despite the close relationship that Delta has with Starwood.

Delta has been nearly absent from the promotions game for the past two years. They’ve come in with London promotions when others were bonusing it. But their focus has been heavily on their transition to becoming revenue-based.

So it’s somewhat surprising to see Delta promotions. And Delta promotions with Hilton especially. And yet they’re back with another Hilton promotion that helps earn elite status, even.

Register and earn 250 elite qualifying miles on Delta plus double miles when you complete a two-night Hilton HHonors stay by December 20, 2014.

You have to choose Delta as your double dip earning partner with Hilton, and you can earn up to 10,000 elite qualifying miles with the bonus.

I keep expecting the Delta-Starwood marriage to become more exclusive… and not to see elite qualifying mileage earning offers from Delta. And yet here we are.

(HT: Loyalty Lobby)

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