delta Skymiles Loyalty Program We made small but potentially valuable changes to redemption pricing. No additional fees for carrier guidance on delta-operated flights to the US will be paid in Europe.
This means that while the required miles may still be higher, the cash payments required for these flights are currently low. Dan’s deal First I reported the news.
Related: Delta Airlines Economy Review at Boeing 767 from London to New York
Delta Skymiles Europe Surcharges
Skymiles used the uneven pricing structure of transatlantic award flights in the past, operating on its own “metals.”
- One-way and round-trip flights from the US to Europe were not subject to additional charges.
- One-way and round-trip flights from Europe to the US were hit by airline-charged additional charges.
For example, when I searched, I found that one-way basic economic repayment from Brussels Airport (BRU) to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) November 2024 It showed interest rates of 70,000 miles and cash payments of 214.87 euros (approximately $234). This includes fees of 77.37 euros (approximately $84) and taxes and an additional fee charged by the Career Division of 137.50 euros ($150).
However, Delta is currently removing carrier-charged additional charges on one-way and round-trip itineraries launched in Europe, so the same flight from Brussels to New York costs 55.67 euros (about $61) and taxes, in addition to 66,000 miles.
Mileage costs are slightly lower, which is not uncommon. Prices are dynamically redeemedwhich means that the required mileage fluctuates regularly.
This change will not affect bookings for round-trip awards to Europe, but anyone booking a one-way flight will likely benefit from a reduced cash payment for SkyMeal redemptions that will begin in Europe, perhaps due to lack of round-trip availability or because they want to mix and match careers and programs.
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Skymiles still charges additional fees for partner-operated flights from Europe to the US, including bookings by this economy class SkyTeam Partner The Virgin Atlantic, from Heathrow Airport (LHR) to New York, takes on an extra £148 ($191).
What are the extra charges and how can you avoid them?
Additional charges were previously known Fuel extra charge It was also a mechanism to increase the cash payments required when redeeming points and miles when global fuel prices rose. The airline argued that cash payments should be adjusted similarly as the price of transporting passengers booked with points and miles has risen just as much as fuel prices.
The problem was that when fuel prices fell (such as when the pandemic began when global travel and subsequent fuel demand fell significantly), some airlines did not lower fuel surcharge prices. This led to several programs that changed the name of the fee from “Fuel Surcharge” to “Carrier Induced Surcharge.”
Surcharges (whether fuel or carrier imposed) is an unpleasant reality of some airline loyalty programs. Both British airlines Virgin Atlantic and British airlines are notoriously known for charging a substantial extra charge on cash and award tickets.
For example, this summer, on a British Airways economy class round-trip itinerary from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), almost one-third of the total fare will be classified as carrier charges.
The easiest way to avoid extra charges is to redeem points and miles through a non-point-value program. If you have Transferable credit card pointsyou can choose to send them to a Programs that do not charge additional fees Alternatively, at least limit these additional charges to choose a partner-operated flight.
Some programs, like Delta Skymiles, charge Surcharges but generally charge higher redemption rates through dynamic pricing than others, such as the British Airways Executive Club, where the awards are low. Therefore, you need to balance extra fee savings and potentially balance more points, miles and parting.
Related: Dynamic pricing and fuel extra charges – which of the two evils for next redemption is less?
Conclusion
This small but substantial improvement in the Skymiles program means that you can redeem miles on flights operated by Delta operating in Europe without the need for carrier-imposed additional fees.
Skymiles prices remain high and may not be attractive compared to other programs Price delivery at award chart rate.
Still, this means that there is less cash needed to redeem Europe. This is a step in the right direction for the Skymiles program.
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