Delta has sneaked in another devaluation into their SkyMiles program, affecting one of the last remaining redemption sweet spots – using miles for drinks (especially Champagne) at the SkyClub.
SkyMiles members used to be able to redeem 1 mile for 2.0 cents (US$) value but Delta has now reduced this value to 1.5 cents or in picture language one bottle of Dom Perignon at 13,000 miles.
With the value of Delta Skymiles being rather low it has become popular among members who like to have a glass of champagne to redeem miles for a nice bottle prior to their flight.
Several blogs (such as Lucky where I first read about it) and members on bulletin boards already talked about the devaluation and the implications this has on the redemption options with Delta (and the liver of their passengers).
You can access the Delta SkyClub website here to find more details.
For comparison, this is the old menu showing the prices for champagne with the ratio of 1 miles : 2.0 cents:
And the new one which must have been rolled out recently but without notice:
This program was rolled out back in 2016 and quickly became popular with those who find the Delta redemption options for air tickets rather lackluster (for a reason) or outrageous in terms of pricing.
I’d argue that it’s a much better value to redeem 13,000 SkyMiles for a $195 bottle of Dom Perignon than a random domestic ticket or even several hundred thousand points for an international award ticket in DeltaOne, all while the same redemption is available for a quarter of the miles through Virgin Atlantic or Flying Blue.
I leave it to you to decide how to value Delta Airlines miles these days. I personally think that after all the cutbacks, devaluations and flexible pricing schemes SkyMiles introduced, redeeming miles for a bottle of Dom Perignon or Premium drinks might not be a bad value after all.
Conclusion
Delta has further devalued their SkyMiles program by taking on yet another sweet spot in their award portfolio, premium alcohol redemptions at their SkyClub. One mile is now worth 1.5 cents, down from the previous 2.0 cents.
Seems like Delta feels emboldened to pull the screws tighter and tighter. After all they have decimated the program over the years and people are still sticking with them. So who is to say the lemon can’t be squeezed a bit more?
You need miles for drinks at a lounge? Seriously? Is this only a Delta ‘benefit’ or more common?
I am asking because, as a oneworld Emerald flyer I have never been asked to pay anything for a drink inside oneworld lounge
Same here with Air France lounges where champagne is of course free, as any other drinks https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/479d13494f7aea5d6072c79a1f0c9421bbaa27467dc9eb0c789fe3c3cdf1e1eb.jpg
Same here with Air France lounges where champagne is of course free, as any other drinks https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/479d13494f7aea5d6072c79a1f0c9421bbaa27467dc9eb0c789fe3c3cdf1e1eb.jpg
Thankfully I have zero’d out my balance of SkyPesos
Looks like Loyalty programmes are treating their elite members like trash in the US??
1) Hilton removes free Breakfast for diamonds
2) Hotel Lounges “only” offer bretzels, pepsi and peanuts as during Cocktail hours
3) Airport lounge food is cheaper than what you would find at Walmart
4) Airlines do not allow their top tier members into their lounge when flying domestically
5) You need miles to order a drink in a lounge
How come so many elite members accept being treated that way
Looks like Loyalty programmes are treating their elite members like trash in the US??
1) Hilton removes free Breakfast for diamonds
2) Hotel Lounges “only” offer bretzels, pepsi and peanuts as during Cocktail hours
3) Airport lounge food is cheaper than what you would find at Walmart
4) Airlines do not allow their top tier members into their lounge when flying domestically
5) You need miles to order a drink in a lounge
How come so many elite members accept being treated that way
Maybe it is just the consequence in the US of the multiplication of promotions, for marketing reasons (it must be remembered that American Airlines earns more money with its loyalty program than with the sale of plane tickets) that allows of non-loyal customers to achieve Elite status.
As long as we may reach the Diamond status at Hilton with an American Express Aspire card whitout staying a single night at a Hilton family hotel, you may see Hilton removing free breakfast for Diamonds and hotel lounges only offering bretzels, Pepsi and peanuts as during Cocktail hours.
Some companies have the opposite strategy and on the contrary upgrade benefits for real loyal customers.
I quite frankly don’t get it and they don’t have any incentives to fix these unless consumers revolt.
Credit card companies give status away like water. Too many Diamond, Titanium and Platinum
Maybe it is just the consequence in the US of the multiplication of promotions, for marketing reasons (it must be remembered that American Airlines earns more money with its loyalty program than with the sale of plane tickets) that allows of non-loyal customers to achieve Elite status.
As long as we may reach the Diamond status at Hilton with an American Express Aspire card whitout staying a single night at a Hilton family hotel, you may see Hilton removing free breakfast for Diamonds and hotel lounges only offering bretzels, Pepsi and peanuts as during Cocktail hours.
Some companies have the opposite strategy and on the contrary upgrade benefits for real loyal customers.
No bretzels with Air France (new Europe and domestic lounge at Charles de Gaule Airport)
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2886fdaf610b1068e685ad6fa9390bdefe4deb4bb698f5d064c0f7517ffc2914.jpg
No bretzels with Air France (new Europe and domestic lounge at Charles de Gaule Airport)
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2886fdaf610b1068e685ad6fa9390bdefe4deb4bb698f5d064c0f7517ffc2914.jpg
@@nicolas_from_paris:disqus Wow. Looks 100 times better than the crap they serve inside KLM lounges. Flan a la creme. Bon Appetit!
Too bad Air France is not part of Oneworld Alliance and is held hostage by unions
Free Clarins spa with Air France (new Europe and domestic lounge at Charles de Gaule Airport)
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9fae1b8046dfbca4a5d204286475f3b7ecd5ae823d3aa01e1759def32baad96e.jpg