Delta Announces Upgrades for Starwood and Marriott Rewards Members

Delta Airlines recently announced they would be adding Comfort+ seat upgrades to their list of redeemable benefits for Starwood and Marriott rewards members. The all new perk is available for Starwood Preferred Guest members as well as Marriott Rewards Platinum members. Comfort+ seating joins pre-existing benefits from Delta such as priority boarding and free checked bags.

The announcement comes as welcome news for members of both Starwood’s and Marriott’s rewards programs, as it increases the amount of crossover perks available to travelers. After Starwood and Marriott merged earlier this year, loyalty program members learned they could migrate their rewards points between the two brands. Comfort+ by Delta is just the latest example of growing perks.

United Airlines benefits are also on the line. Because of the unique rewards migration scheme, a top-tier member of United’s Mileage Plus rewards system can register for Gold status within Marriott’s rewards program. Because Marriott and Starwood are now one and the same, those United Mileage Plus points can result in Gold status with Starwood.

The fluidity of the rewards benefits all parties involved. Delta’s rewards program can now reach a wider audience than before, and thus can expand the number of people who seek flights with their airline. The same goes for United, who has made cuts in the past to attract customers with a higher spend amount. By using the crossover system to reach elite-level rewards members with other brands, airlines can make use of a wider target audience with minimal effort, and Marriott and Starwood can provide bigger and better rewards for their members, encouraging more reservations.

For more information on Starwood or Marriott rewards, or what it means for frequent travelers, visit Marriott’s official website.