InsideFlyer Magazine Advises Delta SkyMiles Members to Stay the Course

Leading authority on frequent flyer programs cautions members against wasteful redemption of miles.

(PRWEB) September 14, 2005 -- News of Delta Air Lines bankruptcy filing has members of the Delta SkyMiles frequent flyer program concerned about the future value of their miles and already booked award tickets. But InsideFlyer magazine publisher and editor, Randy Petersen, is cautioning SkyMiles members to guard against panic.

"Though I have some issues with a few of the decisions Delta management has made, I can state with confidence that I do not believe that the SkyMiles program is in any imminent danger," Petersen said.

According to Petersen, research conducted by InsideFlyer has concluded that Delta Air Lines maintains strategic partnerships and possesses several valuable assets, such as an abundance of European gates, which should provide the airline with the resources it will need to manage its operations for at least the next 12 months. This could well be enough time to begin serious restructuring efforts that could lead to a more competitive and profitable airline.

InsideFlyer is advising its readers to continue to earn and redeem SkyMiles as they normally would and is recommending against a "run on redemptions" by members who want to protect themselves from a devaluation of the SkyMiles currency.

"SkyMiles is one of only three major airline programs, along with the Northwest WorldPerks and Southwest Rapid Rewards programs, that offers no option to convert miles to another program; therefore, redemption opportunities are limited to awards offered by Delta and its partners," Petersen said. "Members could, of course, redeem their SkyMiles for awards on partner airlines, but at this point this is not a necessary step to protect the miles so we recommend against redeeming for awards that members would otherwise not have selected."

InsideFlyer has provided ongoing guidance and analysis to members of the United Mileage Plus, US Airways Dividend Miles, Air Canada Aeroplan, Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles and Varig Smiles programs as the respective airlines have negotiated bankruptcy proceedings. Members of those programs who have followed the advice of the magazine have enjoyed a stable valuation of their miles and, in the case of Dividend Miles, have actually seen the value of their miles increase as a result of the merger with America West Airlines.

As the situation at Delta Air Lines progresses, InsideFlyer will continue to update its advice in both the print edition of the magazine and online at http://www.insideflyer.com.

InsideFlyer magazine is the largest publisher of frequent flyer program information in the world.

# # #