For those who frequently fly with Delta, understanding how to leverage your SkyMiles is key to unlocking significant travel benefits. Delta’s SkyMiles program offers a variety of ways to redeem miles, with Award Travel being a popular and valuable option. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Delta Award Travel, ensuring you, as a savvy Delta Frequent Traveler, can make the most of your hard-earned miles.
Understanding Delta SkyMiles Award Travel
Delta Award Travel allows SkyMiles members to use their accumulated miles to book flights, opening up a world of travel possibilities. Whether you’re planning a domestic getaway or an international adventure, Award Travel can significantly reduce your travel expenses. It’s important to note a few key aspects right from the start. For domestic flights, Award Travel itineraries are limited to two connections per direction, while international journeys can include up to three. Keep in mind that while your miles cover the flight cost, you’ll still be responsible for any applicable taxes and fees, which are payable at the time of booking. Once you confirm your Award Travel booking, the required miles will be automatically deducted from your SkyMiles account.
To protect against potential credit card fraud, Delta sometimes requires members to verify their payment method in person. This might involve visiting a Delta ticket office or presenting your credit card and ID to a Delta representative. This step is usually necessary when the SkyMiles member redeeming the miles is not the one traveling. In such cases, verification can be done at any airport ticket counter or a designated ticket office location before check-in. All SkyMiles Award Travel is governed by Delta’s contract of carriage, outlining the terms and conditions of your flight.
Flexibility and Changes to Award Tickets
Delta understands that travel plans can change, and their Award Travel policy reflects this with considerable flexibility, especially for flights originating within the United States and Canada. If your travel begins in the US or Canada and extends to anywhere globally (including flights operated by Delta’s joint venture and codeshare partners), you can make changes to your Award ticket without incurring redeposit or change fees. This includes modifications to your origin, destination, routing, date, and time. This generous policy excludes Basic Economy fares. However, it’s crucial to remember that while change fees are waived, you will still be responsible for any mileage difference and adjustments to taxes and fees that may arise from your modifications.
For Award Travel originating outside of the US and Canada, it’s important to be aware that restrictions can vary. Some Award tickets may be non-cancelable or changeable only for a fee. For specific details related to your itinerary, it’s recommended to consult Delta’s Baggage & Travel Fees page. Mileage Upgrade Awards offer similar flexibility, allowing for surrender, cancellation, reissue, or changes up to the scheduled flight departure without penalty. Any adjustments to taxes, fees, or additional collections are based on the rules of the originally purchased fare.
Ticketing and Payment for Award Travel
Award Tickets can only be issued directly by Delta Air Lines and must be on Delta ticket stock. If your itinerary involves travel on other airlines, those tickets must be booked and ticketed separately from your Delta Award Travel. For international Award Travel, routings are typically based on published routes between cities. If a direct published routing doesn’t exist, the travel must adhere to maximum permitted mileage guidelines. Completely open tickets, without specified dates or flights, are not issued for Award Travel.
When redeeming SkyMiles for Award Tickets, immediate payment of all applicable taxes and fees is mandatory at the time of ticketing. Delta accepts various forms of payment for these charges, including credit or debit cards, Delta eCredits, and Delta Gift Cards. Delta eCredits are electronic vouchers that can be used towards the base fare and government-imposed taxes and fees on Delta, Delta Connection, and Delta-designated codeshare flights. However, eCredits cannot be used for other fees like baggage or change fees and have no cash value. Each eCredit comes with its own specific terms and conditions, which can vary based on the issue date.
Taxes, Fees, and Responsibility
As reiterated throughout Delta’s Award Travel guidelines, the responsibility for paying all taxes, fees, and government or airport-imposed charges rests solely with the passenger. For every one-way Award Travel ticket, a September 11th Security Fee of $5.60 is applied. International Award Travel, including travel to and from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, incurs U.S. User Fees (APHIS, INCS, and Customs) and the September 11th Security Fee, potentially totaling up to $40.00. Furthermore, foreign user, inspection, security, or other similar charges, fees, or taxes can add up to $400, depending on the specific itinerary.
In general, Award redemption requires a minimum of $11.20 in U.S. government taxes and fees for domestic itineraries. For international itineraries, this amount can increase significantly, potentially reaching up to $600, encompassing foreign government taxes, fees, and carrier-imposed fees. It is crucial to remember that these taxes and fees are the passenger’s responsibility and must be paid when the ticket is booked. In some instances, governments may choose to collect certain fees directly from the passenger. Additionally, some of Delta’s partner airlines may impose their own fees for Award Travel on their flights. These partner airline fees, if applicable, are also the passenger’s responsibility and will be collected during the booking process. Further fees may apply in specific situations, such as award redemptions processed at airport ticket locations or Delta city ticket offices, for ticket replacements, or for tickets issued through Delta Reservation Sales.
Important Restrictions on Award Travel
There are several restrictions to be aware of when utilizing Delta SkyMiles Award Travel. While you can redeem miles for Award Tickets for other passengers, once issued, Award Tickets are non-transferable. Delta strictly prohibits the sale or barter of Award Tickets and other mileage-related benefits. Violating this policy can lead to account termination or mileage deduction. Delta reserves the right to confiscate improperly obtained tickets and deny travel.
For Award Tickets purchased for travel within or originating from specific countries like China, Russia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Brazil, and certain African nations, a 72-hour advance purchase is required. For travel within 72 hours in these regions, tickets, including reissues, must be purchased at the airport. This advance purchase rule applies to all Award bookings in these affected markets with no exceptions.
Award Tickets themselves are not eligible for Mileage Upgrade Awards. However, SkyMiles members can use Global or Regional Upgrade Certificates with Award Travel tickets, as well as Miles + Cash tickets on Delta-operated flights, and Pay With Miles tickets. Medallion members enjoy the benefit of complimentary upgrades on Award Tickets and Pay with Miles tickets, extended to one traveling companion who is also a SkyMiles member on the same reservation. Award seat availability can be limited and may not be available on all Delta Connection or partner airline-operated flights. Award prices and terms are the same for children and infants as for adults. Booking fictitious, duplicate, or conflicting reservations for Award Travel is prohibited and may result in cancellation without notice. Name changes are not permitted once an Award Ticket is issued. Open jaw itineraries are priced based on one-way Award Travel rules. Finally, Award Tickets cannot be issued for travel to destinations prohibited by U.S. sanctions regulations. Routing restrictions also apply to Award Travel, varying based on operating carriers.
Mileage Upgrade Awards are available for upgrades on specific one-way travel markets and carriers (excluding Delta-operated and marketed flights). These upgrades require sufficient mileage to cover each passenger and are valid only with published qualifying fares, excluding certain bulk, companion, group, and promotional fares. Award Travel cannot be upgraded with another award or by paying an additional fee.
Alternative Redemption Options: Miles + Cash, Pay with Miles, and Upgrade with Miles
Delta SkyMiles offers several alternative ways to redeem miles beyond standard Award Travel. Miles + Cash provides flexibility by allowing members to use a combination of miles and cash to pay for select round-trip flights. Tickets purchased with Miles + Cash are still considered Award tickets and are subject to Award ticket limitations, including mileage accrual. Pay with Miles, an exclusive benefit for Delta SkyMiles American Express cardholders, allows you to pay for eligible tickets with miles, cash, or a combination. In some cases, standard Award Tickets might require fewer miles than Pay with Miles. Finally, Upgrade with Miles enables members to use miles to cover the difference between a Main Cabin fare and a premium cabin fare on eligible flights within the U.S. 50. This option allows you to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) on the miles used for the upgrade, in addition to the MQDs earned on the base fare. Each of these options provides different ways to maximize your SkyMiles value, catering to various travel needs and preferences of a delta frequent traveler.
Partner Airlines and Partially Used Tickets
When it comes to Award Travel on Delta’s partner airlines, keep in mind that rules may differ. Prices, benefits, and terms and conditions are subject to change by each partner airline. Some partner airlines may also impose surcharges on Award Travel, which are the responsibility of the passenger. Once travel has commenced on an Award ticket, it is considered used, and miles will not be credited back for any unused portion of the ticket.
By understanding these comprehensive guidelines for Delta SkyMiles Award Travel, every delta frequent traveler can confidently navigate the program and effectively redeem their miles for rewarding travel experiences.
