How Frequent Flier Miles Can Now Cost You

If you’re racking up your frequent flier miles to put towards an exotic vacation, you might want to book that flight before airline companies further downsize frequent flier perks. 

Many airline providers already issue fees to offset oil prices. But now airlines are adding booking charges, cutting program benefits and increasing the number of miles needed for award tickets. Luckily, not all of the increases are permanent. Delta Airlines (DAL) hinted in June that the company’s new frequent flier fees were temporary and flexible, depending on the price of oil. However, increases on US Airways (LCC) and American Airlines (AMR), are here to stay. 

Could these new fees spell the demise of frequent flier programs? It’s a question many consumers on message boards like FlyerTalk.com, are asking. One frustrated consumer ever started an online petition – Save Dividend Miles (http://savedividendmiles.com/) -- asking US Airways to bring back bonus miles. The petition – launched two weeks ago – currently has 1,809 signatures.

Here is what’s happening on the major carriers:

US Airways – Effective Now
Elite frequent fliers can say so long to bonus miles, and hello to a $25 to $50 charge for booking award tickets – destination pending, of course. US Airways president, Scott Kirby, believes the changes “are necessary realities of $125-a-barrel oil.”

Delta Air Lines – Effective August 15
A fuel surcharge of $25 will be added to U.S. award tickets -- $50 for Canada and other destinations. Delta is also changing its SkyMiles program come September with a new redemption system. The new Award Travel structure will have three tiers starting at 12,500, 20,000, and 30,000 miles for a one-way ticket in the domestic U.S.  The changes are supposed to give frequent fliers more flexibility, but of course flights falling on the low end of the tier will be limited and subject to availability.

Northwest Airlines (NWA) – Effective September 15
WordPerks tickets issued in North America will cost an additional $25 to $100 fuel surcharge. Northwest’s frequent flier plan, PerkChoice, does have a major setback – cancel a ticket purchased with cash and miles, and you won’t receive the cash portion back.

American Airlines – Effective October 1
Get ready to pay more miles and increased fees for upgrades. You’ll have to pony up $50 and 15,000 miles each way to upgrade from a discounted coach seat. (Previously, there was no additional fee.) And the fees are non-refundable, so if your flight is cancelled your $50 goes with it. Economy class mileage reward tickets remain the same at 25,000 miles, but business class tickets jumped to 50,000 in advance and 100,000 at the last minute,  up from 45,000 and 90,000 respectively. First-class tickets will require 65,000 to 130,000 miles, up from 60,000 and 120,000 miles.