Of course you can usually have your miles credited to an alliance partner when you
fly on a paid flight but that's another story.
Status miles are earned to acquire elite status with the airline and give you special travel benefits such as lounge access, free or extra checked bags, and higher award mileage earning
rates on paid flights.
Something like a free checked bag could potentially save you $ 50 or
more on every paid flight — which could mean $ 50, or $ 500, depending on how often you fly.
But while there's no such thing as a «good» devaluation, that devaluation is offset in part by the fact that Delta miles remain among the easiest to earn, since Gold Medallions and higher earn 100 % bonus
miles on paid flights and the American Express Delta Platinum and Reserve cards earn 1.4 and 1.5 miles per dollar, respectively, at their annual bonus thresholds.
In November, American Airlines announced a massive devAAluation of its award chart for awards booked on or after March 22, 2016, negative changes to status, and revenue - based award mile -
earning on paid flights.
Because with Delta Silver elite status you'll get perks like complimentary seat upgrades, companion upgrades, bonus Medallion qualification miles
on paid flights, and free checked bags.
Additionally, if your paid flights are primarily international, so you don't have to worry about missing domestic upgrades, you may want to think about getting elite status with Alaska, which comes with 50 % and 100 % bonus miles
on paid flights, free checked bags, and other benefits.
Delta has also changed the way customers earn frequent flier miles
on paid flights — you'll now earn them based on the money you pay for the fare as opposed to the distance of the flight.
Complimentary upgrades
on paid flights (not award flights), up to 24 hours before departure if available
Finally, this card allows you to earn a companion certificate for one or two additional tickets at $ 99
on paid flights every year more than $ 30,000 is spent using the card.
One long - standing advantage of the Skymiles program over US Airways and United has been that Gold elites, at the 50,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles level, earn 100 % bonus redeemable miles
on paid flights, while only 100,000 elite qualifying mile elites earn that bonus on the two other carriers.
While 1.6 cents is what I regard as a low valuation for points (I prefer to redeem my miles and points for at least 5 cents per point in value, if not 8 or 10 cents or more per point), 1.6 cents isn't horrible given that you'd also be earning miles
on the paid flight.