Delta Air Lines announced this week that it has updated its 2015 SkyMiles program with several notable improvements.
As of March 9, SkyMiles members will have access to lower one-way awards and more convenient ways to book award travel as well as the ability to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars on qualifying partner airlines.
"We continue to adjust the SkyMiles program to give members more value and options, including making it easier to redeem more award travel at lower prices," said SkyMiles Managing Director Karen Zachary in a statement. "Delta is committed to providing industry-leading operational performance and on-board product and services, while remaining innovative in meeting our customers' needs."
Delta's new one-way awards are good for travel in select U.S., Mexican and Caribbean markets and will begin for as low as 10,000 miles plus additional taxes and fees.
Terry Maxon of the Dallas Morning News points out that "previously, the cheapest award took 12,500 miles."
The new one-way awards are available through the end of 2015 with a 21-day minimum advance purchase.
It will now also be easier for program members to redeem those rewards. That's because Delta has expanded the number of airline partners that SkyMiles members can select to redeem for award travel on their website. The airline has also updated its Fly Delta app, providing customers with the ability to book award travel conveniently from their smartphones and other mobile devices.
Finally, customers can now earn Medallion Qualification Dollars regardless of the ticketing carrier for travel on a majority of Delta's airline partners. As a result, those customers who set out to reach Medallion status can do so much faster.
Keep in mind that earnings vary based on the carrier, percentage of distance flown and fare class paid.
Delta also announced that, since the start of the year, it's made 50 percent more award seats available and that, "in 2014, program members redeemed more than 296 billion miles in the SkyMiles program for 12.5 million award redemptions."
This week's SkyMiles announcement comes a week after Delta revealed new branded fares designed to provide passengers with more choice and better options.
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