Delta SkyMiles is at it again. They’ve raised the price of award travel on their partner airlines with no one looking. They’ve done it by a lot. And they’ve done it after just raising award prices in October. During a global pandemic when awards should be easier and cheaper to get than ever. In fact Delta is now charging more than double what United and American charge for the best awards in many cases.
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After 9 Years, Delta Drops Draconian Award Change/Redeposit Rule
Nine years ago Delta started requiring all changes or cancellations of award travel be made at least 72 hours prior to departure. If you had a last minute change of plans, you’d have to forfeit your ticket and buy a new one. If better award space opened up close to departure, you were out of luck.
Delta has finally dropped the 72 hour requirement to change or cancel an award.
Delta Agreed Not To Devalue SkyMiles As Part Of Mortgaging The Program
Delta raised $9 billion, backed by its SkyMiles program. They broke SkyMiles into three new separate Cayman Islands companies: SkyMiles Holdings, SkyMiles IP, and SkyMiles IP Finance.
As part of the deal they had to agree not to start a competing frequent flyer program, and they had to agree to limits on devaluing the program.
After Just 3 Days, Delta Ups The Mortgage On The SkyMiles Program By 38%
On Monday Delta announced that they were mortgaging the SkyMiles program, taking out a $6.5 billion loan secured by their frequent flyer program and its revenue stream As part of the deal they had to disclose a great deal of the inner workings of the program including where members are located and how much they’re spending on Delta American Express credit cards, along with how much they’re generating in revenue selling miles to members.
Just three days after announcing this deal they’ve announced an upsizing. Instead of borrowing $6.5 billion, they’re going to borrow $9 billion.
Delta Opens The Curtain On SkyMiles As It Prepares To Mortgage The Program For $6.5 Billion
Delta and United are raising money in private markets against their loyalty programs. American Airlines is using its AAdvantage program to securitize a subsidized government CARES Act loan. These moves underscore that the frequent flyer programs remain one of the most attractive assets held by airlines, even during the pandemic.
Raising money on the programs though means disclosing much more information than they’re using to offering.
Delta Plans To Mortgage SkyMiles To Raise Cash
Past advance sales of large blocks of miles to credit card partners have on balance probably been good for members, borrowing against the program may not be although it’s far from a foregone conclusion.
You’d expect lenders to want a strong program to secure future member interest and an ongoing revenue stream yet in practice that’s not how things usually work out. Still, while Delta has a strong elite program, there’s really not much left to devalue on the earn-and-burn side.
Delta Extends Elite Status, Club Memberships And Rolls Over Qualifying Miles To Next Year
Everyone pauses in place and gets a do-over. That’s the message from Delta which announced an extension of elite status, club memberships, vouchers and more.
There’s a natural reason why Delta is first among U.S. airlines to do this – and an advantage they have in rollover qualifying miles that better positions them to still take advantage of their elite program when travel comes back.
NBC News Correspondent Losing Delta Elite Status, Blames Trump
NBC News Capitol Hill Correspondent Kasie Hunt lost her Delta elite status, and it’s Donald Trump’s fault.
However if you’re dating problems with SkyMiles, the program really started going down hill in the waning months of Bill Clinton’s second term.
How Come People Are Rushing To Join Delta SkyMiles?
Delta says they are adding Amex cardholders rapidly and the final 2019 total comes to 1.1 million. Delta also shares that they’re adding SkyMiles members at “double the rate of just three years ago” for a total of 6 million new members in 2019.
7+ Business Class Award Seats Per Flight Between Two Of The Most Interesting Places You’ll Visit
>Here’s an interesting opportunity. South American mega-carrier LATAM flies to Easter Island. Easter Island is a Chilean territory, so LATAM Chile operates from Santiago.
Once a week on Mondays, though that Boeing 787 continues on from Easter Isand to Tahiti and returns to Easter Island on Tuesday. And award availability on that flight is really good.









