How do recent SkyPass mileage redemption rate changes affect premium cabin award costs?
50% One Mile at a Time
28% Eye of the Flyer
22% Live from a Lounge
SkyPass mileage redemption rates have been adjusted, impacting premium cabin award costs for United and partner airlines. These changes reflect broader trends in frequent flyer program devaluations.
United MileagePlus Changes
- United has made MileagePlus miles more valuable for elite members and co-branded cardholders by restricting award availability and increasing redemption costs for partner flights.
- As a result, premium cabin awards on United’s long-haul routes are now more accessible through MileagePlus, especially for those with elite status or specific credit cards.🔗
Flying Blue Award Pricing Shifts
- Flying Blue introduced a tiered award pricing system (Light, Standard, Flex) effective September 8, 2026, effectively devaluing standard awards.
- A 60,000-mile award now costs 75,000 miles in the new Standard tier, representing a 25% increase in cost despite unchanged headline pricing.🔗
Delta SkyMiles and Industry Trends
- Delta’s SkyMiles program maintains a consistent award pricing model, with premium cabin redemptions costing around 1.1 cents per mile.
- Despite high mileage costs—such as 990,400 miles for a Delta One round-trip—these redemptions reflect dynamic pricing based on cash fares, not devaluation.🔗
Overall Impact
- The combination of reduced award availability, increased redemption costs, and tiered pricing across programs has made premium cabin awards more expensive and less accessible for average travelers.
- Elite members and cardholders remain the primary beneficiaries, as they retain access to better pricing and availability.
One Mile at a Time 23%
Are United MileagePlus Miles Increasing In Value, For All The Wrong Reasons?
With United having significantly devalued MileagePlus miles, I think it’s only fair that I adjust my valuation of this currency. I’m coming to a strange conclusion — are United MileagePlus miles and Delta SkyMiles now worth roughly the same? In this post: I publish my valuation of loyalty program points currencies, though I always acknowledge that this is subjective, and that there’s no right or wrong way to go about it. I try to be balanced in my valuation of various currencies, and also try to be conservative, so that people don’t hoard their points too much.
Live from a Lounge 22%
Flying Blue Is Devaluing Its Award Tickets From September 2026, But It Is Hiding The Increase
Flying Blue will keep its headline award prices intact, but from September 8, 2026, members will have to pay more miles to get the benefits that have traditionally come with those awards. Flying Blue has found a rather clever way to devalue its award programme without actually increasing the headline price of its cheapest awards. From September 8, 2026, Air France and KLM award tickets booked through Flying Blue will be split into three fare families — Light, Standard and Flex. At first glance, this might not look like a devaluation. Flying Blue is keeping its lowest award prices
One Mile at a Time 9%
Flying Blue Award Pricing Changes: New Tiered Fares Amount To A Devaluation
Flying Blue is one of my favorite frequent flyer programs for redeeming miles, as the program is useful for redemptions in premium cabins on Air France and KLM, as well as for travel on SkyTeam and other partner airlines. Flying Blue has just revealed updates to its award pricing. Essentially, awards will come in three “tiers,” matching what you’ll find on revenue fares. For most people, this will translate to a meaningful devaluation… though if it’s any consolation, I feel like the changes could’ve been worse? Flying Blue Platinum and Ultimate members are also largely spared from the worst
One Mile at a Time 18%
Do Airlines Want You To Get Amazing Deals With Your Points? The Complicated Truth…
I’ve written in the past about the general state of miles & points, and about how it’s the best of times, and the worst of times. Big picture, things are better than ever before when it comes to all the ways we can earn points, while they’re worse than ever before when it comes to the ability to efficiently redeem them. All the time we see airlines devalue their award pricing, limit who can redeem for awards, etc. It’s super frustrating, of course, especially for those of us who still remember “the good old days.” The most recent thing
Eye of the Flyer 28%
Delta Austin to Paris: What the New Nonstop Costs in 2027
Tickets are now on sale for Delta Air Lines’ new nonstop between Austin (AUS) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG), which means we can finally stop talking about this route in the future tense and start talking about what it actually costs. Short version: a summer Main Cabin round trip runs about $1,872, and Delta One will run you $11,564 — or 990,400 SkyMiles. That is not a typo. (Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.) Quick refresher if you missed the