Delta Eliminates Free Drinks for Elites in Coach, Effective Immediately

Four and a half years ago Delta introduced Sky Priority.

This big marketing initiative consisted of a whole bunch of signage, existing elite benefits, and the introduction of a free drink coupon for Gold elites and higher that don’t get upgraded and check-in online.

They’d be able to print a ‘Have One On Us’ coupon along with their boarding pass.

Now — effective December 6 — the Have One on Us coupons have been eliminated and thus the only actual new benefit that came with the introduction of Sky Priority in April 2010 is now gone.

Already-printed coupons will be valid through their expiration date.


About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. Waiting for the United match. Oh wait UA can’t pull a monkey see monkey do on this one. Maybe in the 2015 elite kit for the excessive number of 1K members they can take back another thing (drink chits) for the over entitled members.

  2. Can’t say this surprises me. Why does everyone think that revenue miles earning is the last step to tightening frequent flyer programs? Or, how much does Delta really want to go to alienate frequent flyers or potential frequent flyers? For Delta, this economy had better keep improving, or Delta will have to lower fares to attract discretionary flyers. “But they ran all the numbers”…just keep saying that…

  3. All of the public dealing and trading of these coupons that your affiliate Rene did certainly didn’t help matters.

  4. In other news, United quickly introduces their “HOOD” program – Have one on Delta. Discontinues program the following day in keeping their business operations in sync with Delta. This will make their 2016 merger with Delta easier.

  5. Delta is categorically the airline flying backwards. How about Northwest find a way to come back.

  6. Good news elite members! If you are flying domestic in economy comfort you will get your free drink! This does not start until March!! Until then just suck it up…

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