Delta Extends Benefits and Offers More Flexibility on Awards
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the limited travel options, Delta is giving customers more time to enjoy their benefits. Delta is extending benefits for some Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members, Delta Sky Club Memberships, waiving award fees and more.
Amex Delta Cards Benefits Extended
Delta already extended Medallion Status and Club Memberships for its customers back in April. Now Delta is once again providing more time to use befits. The following extensions will happen automatically in the coming weeks, with no action needed from customers.
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card Members who earn a $100 Delta flight credit will have the expiration date for that credit extended to Dec. 31, 2021.
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve Card Members with unused Companion Certificates will receive an additional extension to book and travel using the Companion Certificate by Dec. 31, 2021.
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members with unused Delta Sky Club guest passes will have expiration dates for those passes extended to Dec. 31, 2021.
These extensions are for eligible Card Members with benefits issued Jan. 1 – Nov. 30, 2020.
Delta Sky Club Membership
Delta Sky Club Memberships (that were active as of March 1, 2020) will be extended again for Members to enjoy through June 30, 2021.
Diamond and Platinum Medallion Members who selected Upgrade Certificates, Delta Sky Club Memberships, Delta Sky Club Guest Passes, or Delta Travel Vouchers or gave Medallion Status through Delta’s exclusive Choice Benefits for the 2020 Medallion Year will get to select new Choice Benefits starting on Feb. 1, 2021 (the start of the 2021 Medallion Year) or as they earn Medallion Status (like they normally would).
Additionally, SkyMiles Select Members will receive an additional six-month extension to the benefits, including any unused drink vouchers.
Change and Redeposit Fees
Delta eliminated most change fees a few weeks back, right after United started the new trend. Delta has now announced that it is removing change and redeposit fees for domestic awards. Effective immediately, Delta is making the following permanent changes for travel within the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands):
- Eliminating the $150 redeposit fee to cancel an award ticket and the $150 reissue fee to change an award ticket for all SkyMiles Members. This covers travel on all tickets, excluding Basic Economy fares.
- Allowing changes and cancelations on award tickets before departure for all SkyMiles Members, excluding Basic Economy fares. No longer will changes and cancelations made within 72 hours of departure result in the loss of miles on domestic award tickets.
When considering future travel, both SkyMiles Members and all other customers can already take advantage of the greater flexibility and peace of mind that Delta offers today:
- Delta has waived change fees for all travel on all tickets purchased from March 2020 through the end of the year. This means a customer considering purchasing a ticket for U.S. domestic or international travel right now, will incur no change fees even if they are scheduled to travel next year.
- Looking beyond 2020, Delta also permanently eliminated change fees for tickets purchased for travel within the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands). This excludes Basic Economy fares.
Customers can also use their travel credits through December 2022 for travel originally scheduled to depart before March 31, 2021 (if the ticket was purchased before April 17, 2020).
More Flexibility and Increased Safety
The elimination of change fees does not change Delta’s current policy of allowing customers to use the remaining balance of their ticket toward future Delta travel.
For customers with award tickets, miles will be redeposited into their SkyMiles account upon cancellation as they are today. For any changed award tickets, the difference in miles will be collected if the new ticket price is higher, or excess miles redeposited back to the SkyMiles account if the new ticket price is lower.
As for safety, Delta Air Line is blocking middle seats through Jan. 6, 2021, ensuring more space for safer travel, on all flights. Additionally, the Atlanta based airline has developed a multi-layered approach to customer health and safety, known as the Delta CareStandard, which includes more than 100 measures to ensure a safe experience.
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