Delta and Starwood’s Open Relationship: Once a Year SkyMiles Cheats with Hilton HHonors

Delta rarely runs promotions anymore, since the lead up to their going to revenue-based mileage earning.

They do have a very tight relationship with Starwood, though — Crossover Rewards — which offers Starwood points for Delta flights and Delta miles for Starwood stays, and even status benefits equivalent to the lowest tier at both companies.

And yet there’s one area in which Delta cheats a bit on Starwood. Every year they continue to run a promotion that lets you earn credit towards elite status with SkyMiles via Hilton stays. For instance, here’s their (more lucrative) 2010 offer, along with 2012 and 2013. They ran it in 2014 and 2015 as well. It usually comes out like clockwork at this time of year, too.

And it’s back (registration required):

  • Note: Make sure to select Delta as your preferred airline partner in your HHonors profile to qualify for this offer and that you have ‘Points & Miles’ selected as your HHonors earning style
  • For each stay, members will earn 250 MQMs after their second night
  • Plus members will earn double standard SkyMiles for their stay
  • When: October 3 – December 31, 2016
  • Sign-Up: Register here prior to check-in

It’s interesting that Starwood status can get you better treatment with Delta, but not help towards Delta status. While Hilton stays can get you help towards Delta status.

Of course this promotion won’t waive minimum spend requirements for that status.

(HT: The Gate)

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 »

More articles by Gary Leff »

Pingbacks

Comments

  1. 250 DL EQM after second night? – You must be kidding. Why waste let’s say 11 night stay for a miserable 2,500 DL EQM and no EQD. Right now hotel programs provide much better return vs. airlines.
    SPG PLT 75 with Starwood for $150+tax stay in Sheraton/Westin etc. will be getting 150×4=600 +500 (PLT gift)+1,000 (promo)=2,100 SPG=$42 (assuming 1 SPG=$0.02).
    AA flight of $150+tax as AA EXP=1,650 AA miles = $20?? if you can find an award. And airline taxes are much greater than for hotel stays.
    DL returns are not much better than AA and HHonors returns are about the same or better than SPG.

Comments are closed.