Crossover Rewards with SPG and Delta

It's official, the 'rumour' going around the last few days about Starwood Preferred Guest and Delta partnering beyond your standard earn miles for hotel stays is true.  The introduction of Crossover Rewards was made today confirming that elite members in the Starwood Preferred Guest program and Delta SkyMiles Medallion (elite) members will have benefits extended to them from the reciprocal program. In a nut shell Starwood Elites can expect greater benefits when flying Delta and Medallion members will enjoy more benefits when staying a Starwood hotels. As I mentioned yesterday, I had asked the question years ago about earning Hotel points for flights and now it is here, although it isn't open to all SPG members it could just be a starting point as I am sure we will see the Crossover Rewards programs evolve over time as SPG and Delta figure out what works and doesn't work.

SPG Platinum and Gold members earn 1 Starpoint for every dollar spent on eligible Delta flights. Plus, SPG Platinum members enjoy elite benefits when traveling with Delta, such as priority check-in, Priority Boarding and first checked bag free.

SkyMiles Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion^® members earn 1 mile for every dollar spent on eligible room rates at over 1,100 Starwood hotels and resorts globally. Plus, SkyMiles Diamond and Platinum Medallion members receive additional SPG benefits at Starwood hotels and resorts — 4 p.m. late checkout, access to the SPG elite check-in line, complimentary in-room Internet access and an upgrade to an enhanced room at check-in, when available.

Starting March 1, 2013, if you are an active SPG^® Member and have an active Delta SkyMiles^® program account, you may register to participate in Crossover Rewards through spg.com/crossoverrewards or delta.com/crossoverrewards. Phone registrations will not be accepted.

Rather than typing everything out myself, here is the earning structure and elite benefits being awarded to members straight from the Terms and Conditions of the Crossover Rewards program:

2. EARNING DELTA MILES.

2.1 Hotel Stays. Except for a Delta ADD Participant to whom the obligations in Section 2.2 apply, a Crossover Rewards Participant who has Medallion status in the Delta SkyMiles program will earn one mile in the Delta SkyMiles program for every one US dollar or its foreign equivalent denomination spent on Eligible Rates during Eligible Stays at SPG Participating Hotels in addition to earning Starpoints in accordance with the SPG Program Terms.

2.2 Delta ADD Participants. A Crossover Rewards Participant who has Medallion status in the Delta SkyMiles program and is enrolled in the SPG Airline Direct Deposit (ADD) program with Delta will earn one Starpoint for every one US dollar or its foreign equivalent denomination spent on Eligible Rates during Eligible Stays at SPG Participating Hotels in addition to earning miles in the Delta SkyMiles program pursuant to the ADD Program.

2.3 General SkyMiles Members. A Delta SkyMiles Member who does not have Medallion status in the Delta SkyMiles program will not earn miles in the Delta SkyMiles program through Crossover Rewards for Eligible Stays at SPG Participating Hotels.

2.4 Other Hotel Charges. No miles in the Delta SkyMiles program will be earned by a Crossover Rewards Participant for Eligible Charges at SPG Participating Hotels (e.g., food and beverage charges, laundry, valet) incurred by a Crossover Rewards Participant during an Eligible Stay, other than on the Eligible Rate.

3. EARNING STARPOINTS.

3.1 Qualifying Delta Flight. A "Qualifying Delta Flight" is a ticket with flight legs that are both marketed by Delta and operated by Delta or a Delta Connection® carrier and that is eligible to earn miles in the Delta SkyMiles program under the Delta SkyMiles Rules & Conditions, except for flights that are booked through online travel agencies including, without limitation, expedia.com, hotwire.com, priceline.com, orbitz.com, Cheaptickets.com, travelocity.com and each of their subsidiaries. A flight operated by a Delta codeshare partner is not a Qualifying Delta Flight.

3.2 Delta Flights. A Crossover Rewards Participant who is a Gold Preferred Guest or a Platinum Preferred Guest in the SPG Program will earn Starpoints in addition to earning miles in the Delta SkyMiles program in accordance with the Delta SkyMiles Rules & Conditions as follows:

3.2.a. One Starpoint for every one US dollar or its foreign equivalent denomination spent on published and corporate fares (excluding taxes, fees and surcharges) for Delta tickets on Qualifying Delta Flights;

3.2.b. 500 Starpoints per eligible leg on Qualifying Delta Flights: (1) for special fares, often referred to as unpublished fares, including, but not limited to consolidator fares, tour, groups, merchant marine and cruise packages; or (2) for fares where the rate for the flight is unknown; or

3.2.c. Either the amount specified in 3.2.a or 3.2.b for Corporate Sales, Military or Government fares, dependent on the organization's contract with Delta.

All legs of a Crossover Rewards Participant's reservation must be on Qualifying Delta Flights to be eligible for Starpoints under this Section 3.2.

4. ELITE BENEFITS.

4.1 SPG Participating Hotels.

4.1.a. Eligible Stays. A Crossover Rewards Participant who has Diamond or Platinum Medallion status in the Delta SkyMiles program will receive the following elite benefits during Eligible Stays at an SPG Participating Hotels:

• i. The ability to use the elite check-in line that is used by Gold Preferred Members and Platinum Preferred Members in the SPG Program;
• ii. 4 p.m. late checkout, subject to availability at resort and conference center SPG Participating Hotels;
• iii. An enhanced room at check-in, subject to availability and the same restrictions that apply to Gold Preferred Members in the SPG Program under the SPG Program Terms; and
• iv. Complimentary guest room Internet access.

4.1.b. Restrictions. All services, amenities and benefits provided under Section 4.1.a, are subject to availability and subject to the terms and conditions of each SPG Participating Hotel. Not all services, amenities and benefits are offered at all SPG Participating Hotels.

4.1.c. No Incremental Benefits. A Crossover Rewards Participant who qualifies for elite benefits pursuant to Section 4.1.a and who is a Gold Preferred Member or Platinum Preferred Member in the SPG Program will not receive incremental benefits under this Section 4.1, provided that a Gold Preferred Guest may choose a welcome amenity other than complimentary guest room Internet access during an Eligible Stay.

4.2 Qualifying Delta Flights.

4.2.a. Qualifying Delta Flights. A Crossover Rewards Participant who is a Platinum Preferred Member in the SPG Program will receive the following elite benefits with Qualifying Delta Flights if the reservation includes the Crossover Rewards Participant's SkyMiles account number:

• i. Priority check-in at designated Silver Medallion and SkyTeam elite check-in lanes where Delta offers this service (currently, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis, New York City - JFK, New York City - LGA, Salt Lake City, Tokyo-Narita) or at designated Sky Priority check-in lanes at all other airports;
• ii. Zone 1 priority boarding on Qualifying Delta Flights for the Crossover Rewards Participant and up to 8 additional passengers travelling under the same reservation as the Crossover Rewards Participant on. Priority boarding in not offered on Delta Shuttle flights; and
• iii. First checked bag free for the Crossover Rewards Participant and up to 3 additional passengers travelling under the same reservation as the Crossover Rewards Participant. This waiver is only for standard first checked bag fee, if any fee applies, for a bag that is not overweight and not oversize under Delta's applicable rules in Delta's contract of carriage. Additional checked bags will be subject to the applicable baggage fees as outlined by Delta's rules and the purchased fare set forth in Delta's contract of carriage. The first checked bag fee waiver will only be applied on flight segments which originate on a Delta or Delta Connection® carrier when you check-in with Delta for both a Delta marketed and Delta operated flight. Please refer to www.delta.com/baggage for more details.

All legs of a Crossover Rewards Participant's reservation must be on Qualifying Delta Flights to be eligible for elite benefits under this Section 4.2.a.

4.2.b. No Incremental Benefits. A Crossover Rewards Participant who qualifies for elite benefits pursuant to Section 4.2.a and who has Medallion status in the Delta SkyMiles program or is a Delta SkyMiles American Express Cardholder will not receive incremental benefits under this Section 4.2.

What do you think of this new initiative from SPG and Delta? Will you make use of it? I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts! Please do so by commenting below