Delta has revamped its Skymiles loyalty scheme, adding a fourth “Diamond” tier to the programme, and allowing members to roll over excess tier status miles.
The changes, which will come into effect over the next nine months, will add a fourth top tier to the scheme, called Diamond Medallion. Members will gain Diamond status by earning 125,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs), or by flying 140 segments per calendar year, and benefits of the new tier include complimentary Delta Sky Club membership, 125 per cent mileage bonus for purchases, no fees for award bookings or baggage, and “other exclusive rewards”.
In addition the carrier is to allow Medallion members to roll over excess status miles at the end of the year, allowing status levels to be retained more easily. For example, should a Medallion member earn 40,000 MQMs in one year (15,000 above the 25,000 required to retain Silver Medallion membership), the excess 15,000 miles will be rolled over to the next year. There is no limit to the number of miles which can be rolled over, and Delta says it is the first airline to offer this benefit.
Other changes to the scheme include all ticketing fees being waived for Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion members, and a menu of benefits for Diamond and Platinum Medallion members, including bonus miles, the ability to gift Medallion status, and Delta Sky Club day passes.
The changes have been announced as Delta prepares to merge Northwest’s Worldperks loyalty scheme into the Skymiles programme, as part of the merger of the two airlines. Current members of the WorldPerks scheme should note that they have until August 31 to link their accounts with the Skymiles scheme and transfer miles.
For more information visit delta.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
