Delta one-way awards and improved search engine for 2015!

Delta does allow one-way awards, but only for the same price as a round-trip. Getting value from the SkyMiles program in general has been difficult for award travelers.

At least some of this will changes in 2015 when Delta makes one-way awards available for half the mileage of a round-trip. This will suddenly make it possible to use SkyMiles in combination with tickets from revenue bookings or other award programs. In addition, Delta has already introduced a new award search calendar. Whereas the previous award calendar produced results bordering on fictitious, and calculated mileage costs somewhat randomly, the new award charts are a largely accurate representation of what can be booked, at least among the partners that can be booked online.

The changes aren’t entirely positive, as Delta is eliminating stopovers on award flights. Awards with stopovers can still be booked through the end of the year, but only by reaching a telephone representative who is willing to help.