This week, United joined the ranks of Delta in removing their award chart and switching to dynamically (variably) priced award redemptions. While in some cases consumers may benefit from the change, infrequent but loyal flyers are hurt the most....
Review: Delta 767-300 Business Class Honolulu to Los Angeles
Delta offers a daily 767 widebody service between Los Angeles and Honolulu, featuring fully lie-flat beds in business class. This was the primary reason I chose this particular flight to travel home from Honolulu to LA. I outline the...
Can You Cancel Basic Economy Fares Within 24 Hours?
American, Delta, and United all have some form of a 24-hour courtesy cancellation policy. But does this apply to no-frills “Basic Economy” tickets, which are explicitly non-changeable and non-refundable? In short, yes. But there are limits. Let’s review each...
When Will American and Delta Learn?
Two carriers, two unannounced devaluations effective immediately. Using your miles and points may be easier than ever before but it will cost you like never before. The bottom line is this: don’t trust the airlines and always consider your...
This Delta SkyMiles Redemption Makes No Sense!
Delta has a new SkyMiles promotion out with awards as little as 5,000 miles each way. In some cases these discounted awards may make sense, but make sure you always compare the $ price versus the mileage price (easily...
Delta Slashes Telephone Booking Fee and Business Class Award Prices
Times are good for U.S. airlines and times are especially good for Delta Air Lines, which continues to report surging profit. In this era of low oil prices and profitability, Delta is rolling back some of the odious fees...
Delta Now Shows Only Four Award Booking Classes
Delta Air Lines removed award charts without notice last year, downplaying the need for them by insisting that delta.com would accurately price awards. That news foreshadowed more dynamic award pricing and an aggressive use of fare logic to price...
Keep Your Boarding Pass Close!
I wrote an article this week for Inside Flyer showcasing the compromising personal information at your fingertips with nothing more than a discarded boarding pass. An equal-opportunity problem; American, Delta, and United all have a lot of work on...
Saudia Award Space Now Bookable on Delta.com
Saudia, formerly Saudi Arabian Airlines, is the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a member of SkyTeam. Many are quick to dismiss Saudia because it is a dry airline, but I’ve flown Saudia four times and give...
Korean Air Awards Suddenly Become Much More Attainable
Korean Air offers a treasure trove of first class award availability to Seoul and beyond and is not too stingy in releasing business and economy class award space either. Up until now, booking has required Chase Ultimate Rewards points...
Sorry, This is the Truth About Delta
Frequent Miler sets forward a reasoned defense of Delta, arguing that “the truth…is complicated” and even while loyalty on the redemption side has taken a hit, Delta is great to fly and rewarding to high-value elite fliers. I will...
Humorous New Delta Air Lines Safety Video
Delta is out with a new safety video giving Air New Zealand a run for the money in the humor department. Well actually, the previous one did — I personally like it much better: My favorite part — the...
How Bad is Delta’s Latest SkyMiles Devaluation? Time to Buy Delta Stock!
Delta announced an immediate devaluation of its Skymiles program on the redemption side this week effective for flights on or after 01 June 2016. We are now seeing just how draconian these changes are. Folks, this is a devaluation...
Delta Goes All-In on Dynamic Award Pricing in 2016
Just in from Delta Air Lines, a number of upcoming changes to the SkyMiles program, including a confirmed move to more aggressive dynamic award pricing. Let’s start with the bad news– Dynamic Award Pricing Accelerates for Travel in June...
Special Report: Delta’s Secret Skymiles Devaluation
When Delta Air Lines depublished its Skymiles award charts in February, we were told that we no longer needed charts because the online pricing system would tell us how many miles were required for any given trip. The problem...
The Significance of American Airlines’ Starwood Transfer Bonus
As the mantra goes, miles and points are a depreciating asset and are better burned than stored for future use. American Airlines is offering a generous 20% transfer bonus on points from Starwood Preferred Guest. Essentially, that means instead...
Delta Responds: Mixed Cabin Rewards Remain…Sort Of
Lucky noted (from a post by René) a disturbing change to the wording of delta.com yesterday — it appeared that without notice Delta eliminated mixed-cabin awards, which would have signalled another elephantine Skymiles devaluation. I reached out to Delta and was...
Fighting Cancer with Delta Jet Drag
At FTU Dallas last month, Ed Pizzarello from Pizza in Motion casually asked if I would like to pull a jet in Atlanta to raise money for the American Cancer Society. With plans to be in Atlanta already for the Freddie Awards,...
An Evening With the Most Powerful Woman in the Airline Loyalty Business
Delta Air Lines hosted the Freddie Awards at its Flight Museum in Atlanta last week and extended an invitation to a handful of aviation bloggers for a reception the night before (also hosted by Gogo) at Volare Bistro in Haperville,...
How to Outsmart Delta’s Broken Website and Save Miles
Delta Air Lines unceremoniously removed its Skymiles award charts from delta.com last month, taking with it the accountability inherent in such charts. The only justification Delta offered was, “We’ve launched the new Award calendar which offers an easier search for...
