Delta SkyMiles Earning Will Be Revenue-Based in 2015 (The Sky is Not Falling!)

Earning Delta miles will be revenue-based starting January 1, 2015. Instead of earning miles based on the distance of your ticket, you will earn based on the price you paid.

 

Though earning miles is changing drastically for Delta flyers, redeeming them might not change so drastically.

What do we know so far and what do we still not know?

I stumbled on this change while researching the Delta award chart for another post. The new change is being teased there. I've supplemented that information with information from this Wall Street Journal article.

Value in First Class on the United Chart

On February 1, United miles became much less valuable for premium cabin flights.

Not only did all first class awards outside of the western hemisphere go way up in price, but partner first class awards went way, way up.

Since people who want to fly first class awards want the swankiest, most aspirational flights, the increase in the partner award price is a big problem.

United Global First is good.

United Ends Free Holds Online, But You Can Still Use This Trick

Update 3/6/14: This post is outdated. See Master Thread: Holds on United Awards

In What You Need to Know about United Award Holds, I ran through the two ways to hold a United award online:

Any award that contains a partner segment can be held for free if your account does not have sufficient miles to ticket the award immediately.

United Reserves Right to Cancel Awards Booked at Erroneous Mileage Amount

I noticed a new addition to United's interactive award chart today.

At the bottom of the page, United has added the sentence: "United reserves the right to refuse or cancel any awards redeemed for travel listed at an incorrect or erroneous mileage amount."

What does it mean?

Hurry! Book Frontier Flights by Wednesday with a 10% Discount for Travel Until June

Frontier has announced a 10% discount on domestic flights purchased by February 26, 2014 and flown by June 12, 2014 with promo code PLAYBALL.

This 10% discount does not apply to Frontier’s international destinations like Jamaica, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic.

To get to those places, your best bet is to redeem 15k Frontier miles each way.

I Lost My Passport Today in Macau

I rushed out of my taxi, flashed my boarding card at the Taipa Ferry Terminal, and fished through my pocket for my passport to exit immigration.

My first reaction was surprise: My passport wasn't in the pocket I expected it to be.

Annoyance: It wasn't in my other four pockets either.

Sinking feeling: It wasn't in my bag either.

I had lost my passport in Macau!

I spent last night at the Grand Hyatt Macau--review forthcoming--and had a 6 AM wake up call to make my 7 AM ferry to Hong Kong International Airport this morning.

My things were strewn

Buy Lufthansa Miles for 1.6 Cents and Get The Economist Subscription

Lufthansa is currently offering a whopping 10,000 Miles & More miles for a one-year print + digital subscription to The Economist. The offer details and sign-up page can be found here.

A one-year print & digital subscription to The Economist is $160 through the Lufthansa portal.

The Miles You Want to Go to Australia, Part 2

In part 1, I discussed the economy award options to Australia with American Airlines miles.

Australia is one of the hardest awards with frequent flyer miles.

Free Giveaway Friday: Five American Airlines Systemwide Upgrades

A very generous reader who came to the MileValue Happy Hour in New York City this week is donating five (5) American Airlines Systemwide Upgrades that expire Friday February 28, 2014 to MileValue readers.

Follow generous Tom on twitter to show your appreciation.

An American Airlines Systemwide Upgrade entitles you to an upgrade of one class of service on all flights on a one way itinerary that are operated by American Airlines or American Eagle if upgrade space is available.

This giveaway has tremendous value to you if you have a trip booked that meets the following conditions:

paid itinerary

United Airlines 787-9 Will Debut on Direct Los Angeles to Melbourne Route

United's first flight on the brand new 787-9 Dreamliner is set for October 26, 2014 between Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia.

Currently United serves Melbourne as a tag flight from Sydney after a brief layover.

Official word of the route is expected later today, but we don't need the announcement because we can see the flights loaded onto the calendar at united.com and up for sale right now.

What's the award space picture? What are the flight times? What is the difference between the 787-8 and 787-9?