Delta Airlines has made some big changes in its SkyMiles loyalty program, and they are aimed right at the status of the program’s most elite members, with cutbacks in lounge access and a tougher road to stay qualified for elite status.
The changes, which will take place over the next year, will have little effect on economy flyers who accumulate points to pay for award flights.
But for those who have counted on status earned from big spending or flying, some of the changes may come as a shock. Delta is ending two shortcut ways to status, eliminating waivers based on miles or number of flights flown; status will now be earned based only on dollars spent
And the number of dollars required, called Medallion Qualifying Dollars, is jumping sharply, in two stages. For some tiers, the increase is as much as 133%, although there is some change to make it a little easier to earn those dollars.
Lounge access, an increasingly contentious issue these days as airlines and card issuers have used the benefit as a sales tool, will be even more limited than recent access changes have made it. For those whose lounge access comes through credit cards, there will be fewer visits allowed and no free guests. That’s likely to have a significant effect on the card issuers; for many cardholders the lounge access is a big part of justifying a high annual fee.
