Airlines Are Quietly Killing Miles — Here's What Replaces Them
· Trovlr
Delta just announced that starting January 2027, SkyMiles earned on flights will convert to 'Delta Travel Credits' at a fixed rate of 1 cent per mile — no more dynamic award charts or last-minute redemption games. United and American are reportedly testing similar models, with United's version expected to launch by summer 2027.
The shift is driven by accounting: airlines can't keep carrying billions in unredeemed miles as liabilities. Under the new system, a $500 flight earns roughly $5 in credits — a steep devaluation from the old 5x mile earning that could be worth $25 or more on a good award redemption.
For travelers, the message is clear: burn your miles now if you have a specific trip in mind. After the switch, your balance becomes a fixed-value wallet, not a lottery ticket. If you're sitting on 100,000 miles, that's $1,000 in credits — enough for a domestic round trip, but not the business-class sweet spot you might have been saving for.
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