Rapid Travel Chai

The Delta – Alaska Airlines partnership ends on May 1, 2017. Time to take care of last-minute housekeeping.

(sidebar: I write this while en route Seattle – New York JFK on Delta. Just when Seattle becomes part of my regular travels, the split takes effect. Grumble.)

Earning Eligibility:

• Flight booked before 12/19/16 can still reciprocally earn miles
• Flights booked from 12/19/16 will not reciprocally earn miles

Where to Earn:

• Decide where to credit Delta flights if you are an Alaska flyer (Delta SkyMiles, Air France Flying Blue, etc)
• Decide where to credit Alaska flights if you are a Delta flyer (Alaska Mileage Plan, American AAdvantage, etc)

Gardening Reservations:

• If you have elite status, get any advance benefits like preferential seat assignment locked in by 4/30/17
• Update frequent flyer numbers on existing reservations

Last Minute Awards:

• You can still redeem awards through 4/30/17 for travel as far as the respective booking calendars allow
• Delta awards on Alaska are subject to the new, increased partner pricing (e.g. 15k/30k economy/first for US domestic)
• I have not seen definitive proof of how changes to existing awards on the other airline will be handled from 5/1/17, presumably you will only be able to keep as is, change to the home airline, or cancel

Interlining Survives:

• Delta and Alaska will continue to interline for through-ticketing and checking baggage
• In irregular operations you should still be able to get the airlines to rebook on the other, if you are persuasive

Readers, what are your last minute Delta-Alaska plans?