Urgent Alert for Delta SkyMiles Members: Hawaiian Airlines Partnership Ends This Month, New Rule for Elite Benefits

Urgent Alert for Delta SkyMiles Members: Hawaiian Airlines Partnership Ends This Month, New Rule for Elite Benefits

The clock is ticking on using your SkyMiles for Hawaiian getaways, and Delta has changed how its most loyal members claim their top-tier rewards. In the dynamic world of airline loyalty, two critical updates from Delta Air Lines demand your immediate attention. Whether you’ve been saving SkyMiles for a Hawaiian vacation or you hold elite Medallion status, these changes will impact your travel strategy.

First, the valuable partnership between Delta and Hawaiian Airlines is officially ending. The final day to book an award trip on Hawaiian Airlines with your SkyMiles is June 30, 2025.

Second, in a major operational shift effective June 1, 2025, Delta now requires that its coveted Medallion Choice Benefits be selected exclusively through the Fly Delta mobile app.

These are not minor tweaks; they fundamentally alter how you redeem miles for Pacific travel and how elite flyers access their best perks. Here’s the insider's breakdown of what you need to know and the actions to take now.

Last Call: The End of the Delta-Hawaiian Partnership

For years, the ability to use Delta SkyMiles on Hawaiian Airlines has been a fantastic route to the islands, opening up more flight options and award seats. This valuable link is now being severed. As Hawaiian Airlines integrates with its new parent company, Alaska Airlines, it is cutting ties with competing carriers. The relationship with Delta is the latest casualty, with all benefits ceasing at the end of this month.

What This Means for Your SkyMiles:

• Booking Deadline: You must book and have your Hawaiian Airlines award ticket issued using SkyMiles on or before June 30, 2025. Your travel can be for a later date, but the booking must be finalized by this deadline [Source: Delta Air Lines News Hub].
• The No-Changes Rule: This is the most critical detail. Any Hawaiian Airlines award ticket booked with SkyMiles cannot be changed after June 30, 2025. If your plans change, your only option is to cancel the ticket and have your miles refunded. You will not be able to rebook, making travel certainty paramount.

Real-World Scenario: The Holiday Vacation

Imagine you have enough SkyMiles for a family holiday trip to Maui on Hawaiian Airlines.

• Action Required: You must book those tickets before midnight on June 30, 2025. On July 1, that award option will disappear forever.
• The Risk: Once booked, your dates are set in stone. If you need to shift your travel, you can't just call and change it. You would have to cancel, get your miles back, and then hunt for new award flights on Delta, which could cost far more miles or have no availability.

This change also closes a loophole for savvy travelers who transferred American Express points to HawaiianMiles to book flights on Alaska Airlines. That indirect transfer path will also end on June 30 [Source: Hawaiian Airlines Newsroom].

Your Phone is the New Key: Choice Benefits Go App-Only

For Delta’s top-tier flyers, reaching Platinum or Diamond Medallion status unlocks Choice Benefits—a menu of high-value perks. As of June 1, 2025, Delta has mandated these benefits can only be selected through the Fly Delta app [Source: Delta Choice Benefits Page].

Choice Benefits are some of the best perks in the SkyMiles program, including Upgrade Certificates, bonus SkyMiles, gifted Medallion status, and Delta Sky Club access. The ability to choose your preferred reward is a cornerstone of elite status value.

Why the "App-Only" Rule Matters

The convenience of using your desktop computer to select these crucial benefits is gone. This is a deliberate strategy to push all members, especially the most engaged ones, toward deeper interaction with its mobile platform.

Real-World Scenario: The Business Traveler

A road-warrior Diamond Medallion member can no longer use her laptop to select her annual benefits.

• Action Required: Her routine must change. She now must download the Fly Delta app, log in, and navigate to the Choice Benefits section to make her selections for the year. This is the only channel available to claim these high-value rewards [Source: Fly Delta App Information Page].

The Insider's Take: Strategy Behind the Shake-Up

These updates are part of a cohesive strategy from Delta to streamline its operations and deepen digital engagement.

• The Hawaiian Split Was Inevitable: With Alaska Airlines acquiring Hawaiian, dissolving partnerships with competitors like Delta was a predictable business move. For travelers, it reduces choice and highlights the need to diversify your points across different airline alliances and bank programs.
• The App-Only Push is Strategic: By forcing its best customers to use the app for high-value interactions, Delta increases app adoption and gathers more data, creating a direct channel for marketing and future offers [Source: Forbes].
• The Value of Co-Branded Credit Cards: These changes emphasize the stability of co-branded credit cards. Cards like the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card are crucial tools for earning status and accessing benefits that are becoming more tightly controlled. The perks from these cards are now more valuable than ever [Source: The Points Guy].

Your Immediate To-Do List

• Review Hawaiian Travel Plans: If you plan to use SkyMiles on Hawaiian Airlines, you must book your ticket by June 30, 2025. Be certain about your dates.
• Download the Fly Delta App: If you are a Platinum or Diamond member (or expect to be), download the app now and familiarize yourself with the interface for selecting your Choice Benefits.
• Diversify Your Points Strategy: This is a clear reminder not to keep all your points in one airline's basket. Flexible points from Chase, Amex, or Capital One provide crucial insulation from these loyalty program shifts.

The window to use SkyMiles on Hawaiian Airlines is closing, and the gateway to Delta's best perks is now in your pocket. By acting on this information, you can navigate these changes without missing a beat.