Delta is out with changes to its SkyMiles program that are positives for members. They’re building on elimination of domestic change fees by exempting award changes and redeposits as well, excluding Basic Economy fares, and extending airline club memberships and credit card companion tickets and travel credits.

Elimination Of Some Award Change And Redeposit Fees, And The Dreaded 72 Hour Rule

There is no longer a change or award redeposit fee for redemptions made within the U.S. including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However Delta is alone in punishing members making the cheapest redemptions by booking those into Basic Economy and this change does not apply to Basic Economy redemptions.

If you’re spending extra miles to avoid basic economy (or basic economy isn’t offered for your booking) you no longer have to change or cancel within 72 hours of departure to avoid loss of miles on a domestic redemption. The punitive 72 hour rule still applies to international redemptions.

Additional Benefit Extensions

SkyMiles is extending several benefits, on top of extensions that were previously announced.

• Sky Club memberships active March 1, 2020 are being extended to June 30, 2021. (Memberships and Guest Passes selected as a 2020 Choice Benefit were already extended six months to July 31, 2021.)

  Diamonds will be able to make a Choice benefit selection again as part of their status extension starting February 1, 2021 and that can include a club membership. Those club memberships and guess passes will expire on January 31, 2022.

• Delta credit card companion certificates unused as of September 1, 2020, or issued September 1 to November 30, 2020, will be extended for travel through December 31, 2021.

• Delta Gold credit card $100 travel credit issued January 1 through November 30, 2020 will be extended to use by December 31, 2021.

• Delta Reserve Sky Club guest passes issued January 1 to November 30, 2020 will be extended to use by December 31, 2021.

• Delta Select bundle purchasers receive an additional six month extension, on top of the previous six month extension already granted.

These are all reasonable changes and good to see.