Evolving Delta SkyMiles with Loyalteez

Delta SkyMiles: where your miles are worth less every year. What if loyalty meant stable value?

Delta generates $7.4 billion annually from selling miles to American Express. Customers redeem those miles at roughly 1.2¢ each. The airline profits on the spread—and every devaluation increases it. The result: "SkyPesos," constant value erosion, and a program optimized for the company, not the customer.

"Delta is essentially a financial services company that operates planes."

Here's how Delta could reward travelers with value they own—without the devaluation treadmill.

The Old Model: SkyMiles

Elite Status Treadmill

The Devaluation History

2015: Shifted from distance-based to revenue-based. 2016: Award chart eliminated (dynamic pricing). 2020: MQD requirements increased. 2022: Partner redemptions devalued. 2023: SkyMiles value dropped ~15% year-over-year. 2024: Lounge access restrictions (partially reversed after backlash). 2025: Basic economy no longer earns miles.

The Math That Doesn't Add Up

For Travelers

1. Unpredictable value — Dynamic pricing means you never know what miles are worth
2. Constant devaluations — Saving miles is risky; they lose value over time
3. Basic economy exclusion — Cheapest fares no longer earn miles (2025)
4. Status stress — MQD requirements favor business travelers, exclude occasional flyers

For Delta

1. Trust erosion — Each devaluation damages brand relationship
2. Liability management — Billions in deferred obligations
3. Amex dependency — Partnership drives majority of loyalty revenue

The Loyalteez Redesign

From Financial Product to Loyalty Protocol

Everyone Earns—Including Basic Economy

On Loyalteez, every ticket earns LTZ. Every class. Basic economy, which earns zero miles today, would earn 1% LTZ. Message: "Every customer matters."

Travel Perks as Acquisition

Delta creates perks redeemable with LTZ. Customers earning LTZ across the ecosystem can access Delta perks. A coffee drinker's LTZ might unlock a Delta lounge pass. That's acquisition, not just retention.

How to Implement It

// Delta flight completion
await fetch('https://api.loyalteez.app/loyalteez-api/manual-event', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    brandId: process.env.LOYALTEEZ_BRAND_ID,
    eventType: 'flight_completed',
    userEmail: passenger.email,
    domain: 'delta.com',
    metadata: {
      confirmation_number: booking.confirmationNumber,
      flight_number: flight.number,
      origin: flight.origin,
      destination: flight.destination,
      fare_paid: booking.totalFare,
      fare_class: booking.fareClass,
      // Crosswalk: Old model = 5x base fare in miles
      legacy_miles_equivalent: Math.floor(booking.totalFare * 5),
      // Loyalteez: 1-2% of fare value (stable)
      ltz_earned: Math.floor(booking.totalFare * 15)
    }
  })
});

See: Custom Events Guide

Before/After Summary

For Delta

For Travelers

The Headline

Delta generates $7.4B from selling miles that customers value at $4-5B.

That spread comes from somewhere: customer trust.

On Loyalteez: No miles to devalue. No liability to manage. No spread to optimize. No trust to erode.

Just value. Transparent. Owned. Portable.

The question isn't whether Delta can afford to change. It's whether they can afford not to.

See Also

• Evolving Marriott Bonvoy — Another $7B liability case study
• Evolving Carnival VIFP — Travel loyalty without the treadmill