Delta will no longer give Medallion complimentary BusinessElite upgrades on flights between New York's JFK and Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO) and Seattle (SEA), all flights that feature Delta BusinessElite fully flat beds with Westin Heavenly Bedding.
This change was effective March 1, 2014 and is listed in Delta's Medallion Program benefits:
“Complimentary Upgrades are not available on flights that are serviced with our BusinessElite® product including travel between New York/JFK and Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle.”
And here's the language that was sent to me, as a travel advisor:
“As of March 1, 2014, Medallion Complimentary Upgrades will no longer be available for flights between New York – JFK and Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle.
This is a result of our product and service investments on those flights — including BusinessElite fully flat-bed seats with Westin Heavenly In-Flight Bedding, and premium dining –which is coming in the next few months, we are no longer able to offer Complimentary Upgrades on these routes.”
For some time now, Delta Medallion elite have complained of Delta selling upgrades to BusinessElite, taking away potential Medallion upgrades. Well, you won't have to wonder any longer whether, even as a Diamond Medallion, you'll be able to snag an upgrade to BusinessElite from JFK to LAX, SFO or SEA any longer, since the answer is crystal clear: you won't. At least not a complimentary upgrade.
While this change doesn't affect me personally as I don't fly Delta or collect SkyMiles, it's yet another bit of bad news along with the Delta Devaluation since SkyMiles Will be Revenue Based as of January 1, 2015. We don't of course know what the new Delta award chart will look like, but how favorable do you think it will be to frequent flyers, given Delta's already devalued SkyMiles program, history of devaluing with no notice, and now changes such as this, eliminating Medallion complimentary upgrades altogether on the best BusinessElite transcon routes.
What do you think of Delta's recent SkyMiles and Medallion upgrade changes?
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