Delta, El Al launch strategic partnership with frequent flyer perks and more
Delta Air Lines and El Al Israel Airlines are officially partners.
The two carriers announced in June the start of a so-called strategic partnership, and now, nearly six months later, the airlines have unveiled the full suite of perks and codeshares that flyers can expect.
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, the two airlines will kick off a codeshare agreement on all flights between the U.S. and Israel. This means you'll be able to purchase El Al flights to Israel via Delta and vice versa.
You'll also be able to combine an El Al long-haul flight with a domestic Delta ticket to destinations beyond El Al's U.S. gateways. If you book one of these connections, you'll receive your boarding pass for the entire trip and have your bags checked all the way through to your final destination.
Delta SkyMiles members will be able to earn miles for all eligible El Al flights, but the earning charts aren't live yet.
El Al's Matmid frequent flyers can also earn miles and elite qualifying credit for Delta flights, with the full details available on this dedicated website.
The same is true for mileage redemptions: Matmid members will be able to make one-way and round-trip mileage redemptions on Delta flights with a distance-based award chart shown below.
Unfortunately, for most U.S.-based travelers, accruing Matmid points is quite hard — the program doesn't have a credit card transfer partner anymore — so these redemptions might not offer much utility.
That said, Delta SkyMiles members will also have access to booking El Al awards; however, since the airline doesn't publish award charts (and award flights haven't been loaded to the Delta website yet), there's no telling how high the pricing might be.
Finally, elite members of both programs will also receive a slew of perks depending on their status. Though the details vary based on the elite tier, most mid- to top-tier elites of both airlines will have reciprocal lounge access when flying on eligible flights, free preferred seat selection, extra checked baggage allowances, priority airport handling and more.
You'll be able to input your SkyMiles or Matmid number when booking with Delta or El Al.
Perhaps most interestingly, El Al wrote in a regulatory filing that it has enlisted Delta’s help in joining the SkyTeam airline alliance, of which Delta is a founding member. El Al’s SkyTeam application is probably still years away, though.
“Working closely with EL AL will further strengthen Delta’s connection to Israel by offering more customers unrivaled access to destinations across the U.S. Enhanced partnerships are integral to our long-term strategy to better connect Delta customers around the world,” Matteo Curcio, Delta’s senior vice president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said in a statement.
While the launch of the partnership is overshadowed by the ongoing war in Israel, the tie-up between two rivals on routes between the U.S. and Israel might’ve been unthinkable just a few years ago.
Though Delta recently suspended flights to Tel Aviv through March 29, 2024, the airline has spent the past few years building up its presence in Israel.
For Delta, this includes a new route from Boston to Tel Aviv, along with the resumption of service from Atlanta to Tel Aviv. The carrier also flies daily service from New York to Israel, a route that’s been operated consistently since 2008, Cirium schedules show.
El Al goes head-to-head with Delta on routes to Boston and New York, but the two airlines will instead codeshare in these markets in the future. Furthermore, as the flag carrier of Israel, the airline also connects Tel Aviv with other destinations in the U.S. that are unserved by other airlines, including Los Angeles and Miami.
Combined, Delta and El Al will become the market leader for flights to Israel — a move that’s likely to irk American Airlines and United Airlines.
How to get in: Best credit cards for airport lounge access
Newark is United’s main international gateway on the East Coast, and it’s home to two daily flights to Israel operated by the airline (before the war).
Aside from its Newark connectivity, United has made a big play for the market between the U.S. and Israel, starting service from Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., in recent years.
Meanwhile, American reentered the Israel market in May 2021 with flights from New York.
Before the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) flight launched, American hadn’t flown to Tel Aviv since January 2016, when it had flights from Philadelphia. In addition to the JFK service, the airline was planning to connect Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Miami International Airport (MIA) with Israel.
The latter route launched in June 2021 but was cut earlier this year. And American never moved forward to launching the DFW flight, canceling it in May 2022 before it even launched.
While the new partnership might be good for Delta flyers, it does spell the end of El Al's existing tie-ups with Alaska Airlines and American Airlines.
El Al will cease partnering with American on March 30, 2024, and will cut ties with Alaska Airlines on June 30, 2024.
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- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
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- What are points and miles worth? TPG’s monthly valuations
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.