What happens to my SkyMiles in 2024?

Can I still redeem SkyMiles on Delta and other partners beginning in 2024?

SkyMiles is Delta’s frequent flyer program, which is also one of the most demanded in the United States of America. SkyMiles is currently a very popular loyalty program, with over 100 million members that have earned miles flying Delta and its affiliates as of 2023. Nonetheless, it seems that many Delta Flyers and SkyMiles members have recently started asking the following question aloud: What will happen to my well-earned SkyMiles once the program enters the dynamic award pricing model starting January 1st, 2024? Here's what SkyMiles members need to know: Here's what SkyMiles members need to know:

Inherent Flaws of the Static Award Structure

By 2024, Delta will be adopting dynamic or variable pricing instead of the current static Award Charts for the SkyMiles program. This tends to mean that the number of miles required for redemption for a flight will change with the demand and the price of the flight. Before, SkyMiles members could refer to the earlier published award charts to determine the exact number of points needed for a free flight with Delta Airlines Flight or the partners depending on the cabin, zone, and time of the year, whether it was off-peak or peak season.

However, beginning in the calendar year 2024, the point price in miles will also change for award seats, as the cash price does. Seats that are available on popular routes and during busy seasons will be likely to be more expensive in terms of the required miles, while seats that are available during low demand will probably require fewer miles. According to Delta, this change is closer to how members earn the redeemable miles based on the ticket cost that is being awarded.

It is important to note that current Membership Rewards and SkyMiles

The one crucial aspect that SkyMiles members should be aware of is that all the miles that were collected before the change of rules in 2024 will remain usable and transferable under the dynamic pricing system. Thus, any miles you currently have in your account or that you could earn by the end of 2023 will remain usable and not decrease in value. Delta has said time and again that it does not let the miles expire, and this will not change because of the new idea to have the award flights’ prices fluctuate.

Traveling when the demand for modes of transport is high

Currently, Delta has not disclosed the number of miles it would require on certain routes and at certain times from 2024, but most analysts have anticipated that this shift would result in higher redemptions per seat, especially during the summer vacation and other festive occasions. These have always been more costly for mileage tickets, though with dynamic award pricing, the last-minute award tickets near popular holidays will probably be pricey in terms of the number of miles.

Perhaps, more often, carriers experiment with the rates for less popular routes and travel dates to make the number of miles needed lower. Therefore, it is quite possible that there are still some unsold and good offers available but they are not likely to be valid for the most popular resorts outside peak school periods. The person who wants to get the highest redemption value should be prepared to make their bookings earlier in advance once the change to the dynamic pricing model is implemented.

Book Your Journey Now for 2023 and Save Money

Since the award rates have been published, one option that regular Delta flyers may want to consider is starting the award booking for 2023 now. If you are planning to redeem miles against the current rates, where miles can be used until the end of 2023, seats might not be available based on dates and routes. Therefore, do check the award availability for the desired routes for the year 2023 and lock in these flights so that you do not end up using too many of your hard-earned points.

You also have the opportunity to earn more MQMs and MQSs now

Assuming a flight now, Delta Flyer will need miles for the flights now, but they will also need as many MQMs and MQSs as they can get in the coming year, 2023. This is because, from 2024, Delta will introduce MQD thresholds that have a connection with the number of MQMs or MQSs earned in a year.

Thus, filling up your MQM and MQS balances by December 2023 will enable you to make it easier to attain Medallion elite status in the subsequent years due to the new waiver policy. The remaining MQMs for any MQMs that are earned, including through partners and bonuses, will remain on record beyond 2023.

The last one is to maximize the partnership before any changes.

Delta has also not stated whether or not, and in what manner, the change to revenue-based award redemptions could affect SkyTeam and other airline partners. Today, there are still quite a few partners who apply the fixed award chart. However, it is possible that some of the airlines could eventually convert to variable pricing together with Delta at some point in the future.

If there are specific partners that you wish to transfer or redeem SkyMiles for, such as Air France, Virgin Atlantic, Hawaiian Airlines, etc, you may wish to use them to book partner award tickets for 2023. This way, redeeming the partner miles at current rates helps one ensure that they always get the best of the deal before any unpredictability arises.

Bottom Line

Thus, although dynamic pricing based on demand has not yet been implemented for Delta rewards, this change is not as drastic a return to basics as it might at first seem, given that flyers accrue miles by the ticket price in the first place. Similarly to the cash price, the mile cost will no longer be a fixed one but will depend on the date and the availability of the specific route.

But if you accept the idea of award tickets that are going to become relatively costly for peak seasons, there is a chance that dynamic rewards can be beneficial for some travel. However, all existing SkyMiles will stay active to be used under the new program rolled out for the selection year 2024 and on. Being able to book 2023 flights now, planning for flights in advance, and possibly earning more elite qualifying miles before the changes occur can all assist Delta regulars in continuing to get the most out of their experiences.

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