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Delta Leads Pack by Extending Elite Status through 2021

Delta breaks with the competition by offering generous extensions on loyalty benefits during these coronavirus times


April 5, 2020

Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members are now assured they will enjoy the same loyalty benefits throughout 2021 as they have in 2020. The 12-month extension on status earnings is a show of greater flexibility by the airline as coronavirus grounds travel plans all over the world.

• Medallion Members will be able to enjoy their current Status through 2021

• Other program and card benefits will be extended between six months and one year

“While our focus is on keeping customers and employees safe and healthy today and always, you are a part of the Delta family and we know how important these benefits are to you,” said Sandeep Dube, Delta’s Senior Vice President – Customer Engagement and Loyalty, and CEO of Delta Vacations, said in a statement. “That’s why as coronavirus continues to dramatically impact travel across the globe, you don’t have to worry about your benefits – they’ll be extended so you can enjoy them when you are ready to travel again.”

The following updates will happen automatically over the coming weeks, with no action needed from customers.

• Medallion Members:

o All Medallion Status for 2020 will be automatically extended for the 2021 Medallion Year.

o All Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) from 2020 are being rolled over to 2021 to qualify for 2022 Medallion Status.

• Delta Sky Club Individual and Executive memberships with an expiration of March 1, 2020, or later will receive six additional months of Delta Sky Club access beyond their expiration date.

• Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members:

o If you have one of the following in your SkyMiles profile “My Wallet” that is valid now or has expired since March 1, 2020, Delta is extending the expiration dates to give you additional time to enjoy your benefits:

o Delta SkyMiles Gold Card Members with a $100 Delta flight credit will get a six-month extension beyond their current expiration date.

o  Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card Members with Companion Certificates with an original expiration date between March 1 and June 30, 2020, can use them when they book and fly by Dec. 31, 2020, and those that expire between July 1, 2020, and April 1, 2021, will receive an additional six months beyond the current expiration date.

o Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members with Companion Certificates with an original expiration date between March 1 and June 30, 2020, can use them when they book and fly by Dec. 31, 2020, and those that expire between July 1, 2020, and April 1, 2021, will receive an additional six months beyond the current expiration date.

o Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members will also get a six-month extension to use their Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes beyond their current expiration date.

•SkyMiles Members:

o If you have one of the following in your SkyMiles profile “My Wallet” that is valid now or has expired since March 1, 2020, the airline will be extending the expiration dates to give you additional time to enjoy your benefits:

o Upgrade Certificates or $200 Travel Vouchers with an original expiration date between March 1 and June 30, 2020, are extended – now, they can be booked and flown by Dec. 31, 2020. And, SkyMiles Members with Upgrade Certificates or $200 Travel Vouchers that expire after June 30, 2020, will receive an additional six months beyond the current expiration date.

o  SkyMiles Select members will receive a six-month extension to the Priority Boarding benefit and any unused drink vouchers.

“We are continuously monitoring how coronavirus impacts travel and will make additional adjustments to support our customers’ needs as the pandemic evolves,” said Dube.

SkyMiles Members enrolled in a challenge or promotion to earn Medallion Status, such as the Status Match Challenge, Reclaim My Status or a promotion offered through their employer, can restart that promotion when they are ready to travel again. Those Members will receive next steps from Delta in the coming weeks.

Route and Schedule Changes

As is the case with all other airline companies, Delta has drastically cut routes and flights. The following is an update on where Delta is flying currently, at least through April, outside the U.S. However, due to rapid changes and the fluidity of this pandemic, schedules are always in review for change.

TRANS-ATLANTIC

After significantly reducing service from the U.S. to most of Europe and the U.K., Delta will operate the following schedule to Amsterdam:

• Atlanta to Amsterdam (daily operation)

• Detroit to Amsterdam (less than daily operation)

TRANS-PACIFIC

Delta will operate the following schedule to the Asia-Pacific region:

• Detroit to Seoul-Incheon (up to five times per week)

• Seattle to Tokyo-Haneda (up to seven times per week)

• Seattle to Seoul-Incheon (up to five times per week)

CARIBBEAN

Following suspensions in response to government travel restrictions, Delta will continue service to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic:

• Atlanta to San Juan (daily operation)

• New York-JFK to San Juan (daily operation)

• New York-JFK to Santo Domingo (daily operation)

MEXICO    

Delta will continue to operate to Mexico on the following reduced schedule:

• Atlanta to Cancun (less than daily operation)

• Atlanta to Mexico City (daily operation)

• Salt Lake City to Mexico City (less than daily operation)

CANADA

Following recent suspensions, Delta will continue to operate to Canada on the following reduced schedule:

• Atlanta to Toronto (one daily flight)

• Detroit to Montreal (two daily flights)

• Detroit to Ottawa (one daily flight)

• Detroit to Toronto (two daily flights)

• Minneapolis to Calgary (one daily flight)

• Minneapolis to Edmonton (one daily flight)

• Minneapolis to Saskatoon (one daily flight)

• Minneapolis to Winnipeg (one daily flight)

• New York-JFK to Montreal (one daily flight)

• New York-JFK to Toronto (one daily flight)

• Seattle to Vancouver (two daily flights)

Delta is temporarily moving to essential food and beverage offerings on board, while also adjusting in-flight service processes on all U.S. domestic and short-haul international flights, all to reduce the number of physical touch points in flight. Similar steps are being taken on the ground in Delta Sky Clubs, and for long-haul international flying. More information can be found here.