Delta adds fuel fee to frequent-flier tickets.

Micheline Maynard, The New York Times, 6/28/2008 (excerpted)

In the latest fee to hit the airline industry, Delta Air Lines said Friday [June 27] that it planned to begin charging a fuel surcharge of up to $50 for booking frequent-flier tickets under its awards program.

Delta is not the first airline to charge a fee for previously free tickets, but it is specifically attributing the step to the soaring cost of jet fuel.

The new fee takes effect on tickets booked on or after Aug. 15. Delta will charge a $25 fuel surcharge on tickets booked within the United States, and $50 on tickets booked for travel elsewhere, including the Caribbean, the United States Virgin Islands, Latin America and other international destinations.

Jeff Robertson, managing director of Delta's SkyMiles program, said the increase in fuel was “causing considerable financial stress to Delta's business.”

“We hope this is temporary,” Mr. Robertson said, “and should fuel prices subside from current levels, we will re-evaluate this surcharge.”

Mr. Robertson also said Delta would introduce a “new, multi-tiered award program” in the next 60 days but gave no details. Industry analysts have predicted that airlines may increase the number of miles required for a frequent-flier ticket.

Earlier this month, American Airlines began charging $5 to book frequent-flier tickets. Meanwhile, US Airways will charge up to a $50 processing fee for frequent-flier tickets booked on or after Aug. 6.

From Inside Delta News, 6/20/2008 (excerpted)

SkyMiles Introduces Rolling Mileage Expiration. The SkyMiles program is modifying its existing mileage expiration policy.  Effective January 1, 2009, the expiration policy will change from the existing two-year policy tied to the end of the calendar year to a rolling two-year policy for all SkyMiles members.  Miles will expire two years after a member's last qualifying activity rather than at the end of the year.  For example, if a member's last qualifying activity took place on February 1, 2009, the member's miles will expire on February 28, 2011 – not on December 31, 2011.  

A qualifying activity occurs when a member earns, receives or redeems miles.  Examples of qualifying activities include:  

• Earning miles when flying Delta or a partner airline
• Using a Delta SkyMiles Credit Card
• Earning miles through Delta's more than 100 SkyMiles partners
• Buying  miles
• Redeeming miles for upgrades, Crown Room Club memberships or Award Travel

Manhattan to JFK – In 8 minutes. For Delta's frequent business travelers in New York, time is a precious commodity.  So when it comes to travel, these customers are constantly on the lookout for ways to eliminate hassles and avoid lines.  As a result, Delta has formed a codeshare relationship with US Helicopter in New York.  Customers can now travel from downtown Manhattan or 34th Street to JFK in just eight minutes, skipping airport security lines and arriving at JFK's Terminal 3.