Major U.S. airlines have had to make a number of changes to flights over the last few years. Some have been to the benefit of passengers, like Delta Air Lines waving fees for Basic Economy ticket changes in 2021. But others, such as American Airlines axing its second beverage service on long-haul flights, may not be such good news for travelers. Now, Delta Air Lines has confirmed that it is making a new change that might upset some of its most frequent flyers. Read on to find out what this airline is cutting from its service at the end of the month.
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Delta is cutting one of its perks for frequent flyers soon.
Colin Hui/ShutterstockDelta Air Lines confirmed that it is removing one of its top-tier elite perks, The Points Guy reported on Jan. 25. According to the news outlet, the airline will no longer be offering Platinum and Diamond Medallion members the option to choose a $200 gift card to Tiffany & Co. through its Choice Benefits. This benefits perk allows frequent flyers to choose from a list of potential rewards upon qualifying for Delta's Platinum or Diamond Medallion status. Current benefits include upgrade certificates, Delta Sky Club memberships and guest passes, bonus miles, traveler vouchers, or a retail gift card from Tiffany & Co.
Members have until the end of the month to choose this reward.
iStockAccording to The Points Guy, Delta Air Lines' partnership with Tiffany & Co. is coming to an end—which is why the gift card will soon be cut from its list of rewards. Platinum and Diamond Medallion members can continue to select a Tiffany gift card through Jan. 31, however. Delta's top members must choose their benefits—one for Platinum and three for Diamond—by this date for the 2021 Medallion Year. For the 2022 Medallion Year, the gift card will no longer be on the list of offerings.
"The SkyMiles program is continuously evaluating benefits and updating them based on partner agreements and demand, as well as SkyMiles member feedback," Delta said in a statement to The Points Guy.
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Some travel experts say the perk won't be missed.
ShutterstockThe Tiffany & Co. gift card can only be shipped to a U.S. mailing address, according to Delta's fine print. And it's valid for just up to 12 months from the issue date, per Nerd Wallet. But these are not the only two stipulations that make it a questionable choice on the benefit's list. According to The Points Guy, "nearly every other choice benefit is considerably more valuable" than the Tiffany & Co. gift card. Other choices like upgrade certificates, bonus Sky Miles, and Sky Club access are all valued at more than $2o0.
"While the move is bad news for those who were planning to redeem one of their choice benefits for the Tiffany gift card, most flyers won’t be phased by the change," The Points Guy said. "Even if you were holding out for a Tiffany gift card, Delta will continue to offer a $200 travel voucher as one of its elite perks. While that won’t save you on a jewelry purchase, it’ll give you $200 off your next Delta trip. You can then use those savings to offset the cost of the necklace or earrings that you were eyeing."
Delta also just changed some of the requirements for its SkyMiles program.
ShutterstockDelta Air Lines flyers can earn towards a Medallion status by being members of its SkyMiles program. But the airline recently made a change to its program requirements that is likely to affect a number of travelers. Delta is no longer allowing passengers to earn SkyMiles or elite status on basic economy fares, Travel + Leisure reported in December. The change took place on Dec. 9, with the airline stating that any Basic Economy ticket booked after this date for travel on or after Jan. 1, 2022 would no longer earn award miles or count toward Medallion status.
