• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Ask Scott
Travel Codex

Travel Codex

Your Resource for Better Travel

  • Subscribe
  • Credit Cards
  • Reviews
  • Guides & Tips
  • Award Travel

Delta and Alaska Cut Reciprocal Elite Benefits

by Scott Mackenzie
Last updated December 18, 2017

Several readers messaged me this morning that Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines have agreed to limit the reciprocal benefits they provide to elite customers traveling on the other’s flights (HT to Paul). These changes are effective on May 1 and indicate a continuing deterioration in the relationship between the companies as Delta makes an aggressive bid to gain marketshare in the Seattle market.

For Alaska Airlines MVP members:

  • Losing baggage fee waivers for flights ticketed after April 30, 2014.
  • Losing priority baggage handling
  • Losing discount on Economy Comfort Seats

For Alaska Airlines MVP Gold and Gold 75K members, all of the above as well as:

  • Reduced priority check-in and boarding (Zone 1 instead of Sky Priority)
  • Losing priority security line access

Alaska Airlines elite members will still receive some elite benefits when they fly on Delta Air Lines, including:

  • Elite bonus miles
  • Preferred seating
  • Complimentary upgrades on select routes
  • Zone 1 priority check-in and boarding

Worth noting: customers who book their tickets by April 30 will still receive free checked bags for travel after April 30. Delta makes this less clear for its customers flying on Alaska, but a similar policy appears to be in effect for tickets booked b

Alaska reciprocal benefits

Delta has announced similar changes on its Sky Medallion benefits page for its customers when traveling on Alaska Airlines, though to my knowledge there have been no email announcements. Sky Medallion elite members will no longer receive free checked baggage or priority security line access. It appears many other benefits will remain, consistent with what Delta offers Alaska’s elites.

Delta reciprocal benefits

I’m not sure if the timing is coincidental or intentional given yesterday’s news that Delta is using a novel strategy to encourage customers to sign up for its credit cards. However, it certainly doesn’t help the situation from a customer’s perspective.

Hyatt Privé: Addition Perks and NEW Discounts
Trending
Hyatt Privé: Addition Perks and NEW Discounts

  • 5shares
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Read This Next

  • Alaska & Delta Decrease Reciprocal Elite Benefits May 1
    Alaska & Delta Decrease Reciprocal Elite Benefits May 1
  • Delta and GOL Align Their Elite Benefits
    Delta and GOL Align Their Elite Benefits
  • a large airplane parked at an airport
    Delta's Elite Members Get Additional Benefits on Virgin Australia

About Scott Mackenzie

Scott is a former scientist and business student who created Travel Codex to unravel the complexity of travel loyalty programs. After 11 years in Seattle, he now lives in Austin with his wife and flies over 100,000 miles every year.

Primary Sidebar

Over 100K+ Followers

Subscribe to updates from Travel Codex

none

Learn to how to find the cheapest awards.

Search Now

none

Transfer points to get more value.

See Options

none

Compare credit cards to earn more miles.

Explore Offers

Contact

If you have a question or would like to make a press inquiry, please contact:

Scott Mackenzie
Editor in Chief
scott@travelcodex.com

For updates:
Subscribe to RSS
Subscribe to Apple News

Privacy Policy


© Travel Codex, LLC All Rights Reserved.


Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Travel Codex with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.