Yesterday ThePointsGuy (TPG) Brian Kelly had a post about a new Delta Air Lines test program you can read more about HERE. I also reached out to Delta CORP about this program and was told:

“We are testing an Upgrade with Miles option to offer customers the ability to redeem miles for upgrades in select markets on Delta.com. All of the SkyMiles accrual rules apply as currently described on Delta.com.” – Delta CORP

Now that sounds very fishy to me since, as we all know, the use of any Skymiles to pay for a ticket will VOID your chance to earn any Skymiles or MQM’s. And, if we look at the internet “way back machine” we will see this was the wording on Delta.com very clearly.

But, notice a massive change in the wording about spending miles to buy a  first or business class  ticket now with “Pay with Miles” that I first posted about yesterday on FlyerTalk!

“Pay with Miles tickets booked in First or Business Class are eligible for mileage accrual, Medallion Qualification Segments, and Medallion Qualification Miles.” – Delta.com

This alone is shocking and major news. We now must all run the numbers to see if it is worth spending Skymiles to book an award ticket, OR, to use them to pay for a ticket with Pay With Miles, thanks to our Delta AMEX card that you need to have to do this in the first place, and then be able to EARN Skymiles and MQM’s for a trip we paid for WITH Skymiles. It makes the head spin!

Now back to the test upgrade program. With this, a flyer can earn HUGE class of service bonus Skymiles and MQM’s. Notice what TPG said yesterday in his post:

“I wanted to test out some the routes where this was offered, so I randomly checked Atlanta-Cincinnati on April 12. The lowest coach fare was $262 for this one-way flight, and Delta was offering upgrades for either $59 or 5,900 miles. This route can be rough for complimentary Medallion upgrades, but for 5,900 miles I could confirm the upgrade at booking.” – from TPG

Well DUH! And think about this. Say your employer is willing to reimburse you for ONLY a coach class ticket; ANY coach class ticket as long as it is coach. You can sometimes find a full “Y” class ticket for almost the same price as first class. But, your employer will ONLY let you buy coach. No problem, you burn a few Skymiles, ride up front, and earn a bunch more Skymiles and MQM’s on top of that. Easy peasy!

Oh, but one thing, you can do this as a general Skymiles member and you have just taken a “free” upgrade away from a medallion member. Think how many times this will happen each and every day. Now, think about the heavy medallion routes. Can you see a situation where when you are NOT buying an upgrade with Skymiles just about squashes any possible chance for an upgrade?

Notice what else TPG had to say:

“The bottom line is that Delta is trying to sell more upgrades, whether with miles or money, instead of upgrading elites. Over time I expect Medallion upgrade percentages to drop as less seats become available for last minute complimentary upgrades. United has also been aggressively marketing upgrades and I know many elites have been disenfranchised by the process, but I’m curious how much business Delta and United have lost as a result. I’d bet less than the amount of revenue they are bringing in- that’s what I suspect the hacking of elite upgrades will continue as airlines seek to squeeze as much revenue from paid upgrades. Great news for shareholders- frequent flyers? Not so much.” – from TPG

I agree with most of this. I am about as PRO Delta as any blogger in the blogosphere but as of late, it is getting very hard. The MQD move, while unpopular, will, I feel, have the positive affect of opening up some 1st class seats as so many either jump ship and go over to AA or UA or drop down from DM to PM or lower and on down the chain. This, will have the exact opposite effect if it comes into play fleet wide as it is being tested now.

On top of all of this, with many more seats being sold and upgraded with points, just how many less business class seats will this make available for Skymiles redemption at low, medium or high level? I just don’t see this policy resulting in an increase of award seats being opened up by Delta.

This one is a hard one. There will be fliers who are just over the top in love with this one and it will have an impact for Delta as I think many will be happy to burn Skymiles for this perk. But for others, the chance for an upgrade will be even lower than it is now. So what do you think. Do you like this idea? Is it one more potential “enhancement” you love or hate? Comment below please! – René
 

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While not from Delta, being a golf fan, I enjoyed the above clip of some of the big names from the PGA tour. Now most players have or rent private planes (the TOP names anyway) so don’t expect to see a bunch of them on SW Air jets but maybe you have seen some in the front part of Delta jets? I would love to know.

But on to some news. Some is Delta related, that we want to know about, and some that is interesting aviation related news. Take a look:

• Delta is looking to buy new jets is HERE
• Baseball and Delta focus on HUBS is HERE
• Experts say DAL stock is a HOLD is HERE
• Buffet says NO to airline stocks is HERE
• SW Air tickets still cheaper than Delta is HERE
• Delta sells then leases IT Data center is HERE
• Saving gas for Delta could mean more noise is HERE
• Virgin-Delta deal better than Virgin-Singapore is HERE
• Some looks at the new T4 Skyteck is HERE
• PointsGuy about 1st class upgrade with points is HERE
• More TSA Pre is on the way is HERE

That brings you a bit of reading for now. I think, one of the most telling parts from all of this was:

“”I would expect airlines to continue to do well as long as they continue to do the things that got them to this point,” said Andrew Davis, an analyst at Baltimore-based T. Rowe Price Group Inc.,”

If all that Delta has been doing is making them money, are we to expect more “pain” on the way? Or, will all that they are doing now CHANGE the direction from the above as these moves will drive them to not “do well”. Interesting times indeed!

Any other intriguing travel related info we need or should know about? Please be sure to include the link in the “comments” section below. – René
 

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Most of the time Delta has a list of airports where you can get a free change due to a storm. With this one, just states!

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Ohio

So check before you fly today! If you have a long layover, why not sit back and catch up on some Delta Points reading in the Skyclub? – Rene

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First, if this was my 747, I would NEVER want it this close to the ground without gear down (just look at the wing vs ground when he banks off)! Now some more news:

• Gary has a post about Alaska miles and one way awards HERE
• PM&M has a reminder about upgrades near the day window HERE
• Top marks to this Delta pilot who sent for PIZZA’s is HERE
• Delta may greet you by your company name is HERE
• And lastly a chance at a Skyclub pass is HERE

Any other interesting Delta news you have seen you want to share with other Delta Points readers? Shout-out in the comments section below on the blog. – Rene

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I want you all to look very closely at the video in the 1st new bit below. See just how many things these folks got WRONG! We need to understand that, unlike Delta Points readers, MOST, and I fully stand by this as I often ask DM’s in Skyclubs, do not understand what is on the way for Delta in 2014. Now for us, that can be good. But wow do we all need to keep up with Delta news and I will do my best to help you do just that.

• CNBC has lots of WRONG Delta info HERE

• Maybe the VA 49% was not a good buy is HERE

• DAL stock price is “UP” big time HERE

• Delta is growing LAX big time is HERE

• Our CEO is not a fan of METAL onboard is HERE

• I am not the only one who loves lounge time is HERE

• It is hard to drive a jet some days is HERE

• The Chicago Seminares 2013 are OPEN for registration is HERE

• Need 5000+ MQM’s? Sill live MR is HERE

Oh my, these are interesting times to be a Delta flyer. Everyone seems to be saying that soon Delta will go to a fully revenue based system where a Skymile is worth 1 cent period (or less). I think this would be a disaster and would end first class redemption on Delta for almost everyone. Not only that, but the backlash (including yours truly) would never end. What do you think is on the way? – René
 

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If you are just getting up and checking the blog, and about to fly to Paris, you may want to check to make sure you will be flying today. The strike in Düsseldorf should be over today, but you may want to check if flying there as well. Updates are HERE on the Delta.com site. – René

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And the storm continues its march East. Depending on the track, be sure to check and check often with Delta.com, or tweet them, for updates to see if you can get a free change over then next few days! Anyone else ready for summer?- René

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As expected, the weather is going to get real bad real fast in the Midwest (gosh I am happy to be home and not flying)! Even my own home airport of SBN is set to first get ICE in the AM and then up to 8″+ tomorrow!

Better to be home safe than stuck in an airport and Delta will let you change for free (I would guess you can even pick an airport close by that is clear of the weather – ymmv situation – never hurts to ask). – René

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My timing on my flights were perfect returning home yesterday from my mileage run. I landed in MSP 40 min early, and 1 hr after landing, had cleared customs with my Global Entry, been to the Skyclub, done a SDC to the 1PM flight to MDW, got my upgrade, and was flying again. Wow!

But, if you are flying to MSP and airports around there, you had better check for today & tomorrows flights. Plus, this storm will move into the Midwest on Tuesday. If flying via Chicago or Detroit and the area check HERE at Delta before you head to the airport! – Rene

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Considering how lousy the Midwest weather is and hitting Delta hubs, I am sure many of us have some extra time to read some of the latest Delta news goings on. So let’s get to it:

• AF lost “less” money last year. Maybe if they can make money, they will start opening up more Skymiles seats for us again. Anyway, check it out HERE

• Delta Senior Vice President and Controller Mike Randolfi has left Delta for a new job as CFO at Orbitz is HERE

• Delta’s oil refinery is looking to North Dakota’s Bakken crude oil to try to make money. Check it out HERE.

• Good news, for us, that most air fare hikes, including from Delta, are not holding this year is HERE

• Good news for N.D. to MSP, bad news, you get 50 seat CRJ’s is HERE

• OK this one is not from Delta, but you know, I guess we need to get used to stinky planes is HERE

• Lastly, for those who say SkyMall never has anything good for sale to earn 5x Skymiles? Then check this one out HERE!

Travel safe everyone as I get ready for my mileage run to IST (snow snow go away)! – René

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