The Delta/Northwest merger will soon have its effect on frequent fliers. The carriers’ loyalty programs are set to merge in October (Northwest’s WorldPerks will become a part of Delta’s SkyMiles program). Delta Air Lines has created a “What to Expect” page to make the transition easier for current members. Here’s an overview from the Delta page:

Key Points for WorldPerks Members

• WorldPerks members will be assigned a new 10-digit SkyMiles account number (which we’ll send you in early October).
• Your existing WorldPerks account information, including all balances, will be transferred into your SkyMiles account.
• You will receive an email from us as soon as your WorldPerks account information is merged into your SkyMiles account.
• After the programs merge, WorldPerks members should use their SkyMiles number for all Delta and Northwest transactions.

Check out Delta Air Lines SkyMiles for more details.

Marriott International and Delta/Northwest are teaming up to offer triple miles:

“As a Marriott Rewards member earning miles with Delta Air Lines SkyMiles or Northwest Airlines WorldPerks, you can now earn unlimited triple miles with Marriott Rewards for stays you make between June 1 and August 31, 2009, beginning with your second stay. That’s up to 6 miles per US dollar spent!”

It’s a good time to keep an eye on “summer specials” the airlines and their partners are launching for frequent fliers. Visit Marriott International for more details.

Delta Air Lines is sweetening the deal for frequent fliers planning a trip out of the country. The carrier’s latest special gives SkyMiles members the chance to save up to 20% on international economy class award travel and up to 25% on first class, “BusinessElite,” and business class award travel.

Book on Delta Air Lines or Northwest Airlines operated flights by April 20 for travel between April 20 and June 15, 2009, and you can save:

“For example, members may redeem a minimum of 48,000 miles for Economy round-trip Award Travel between Atlanta and Barcelona, a 12,000-mile savings, and a minimum of 75,000 miles for BusinessElite round-trip Award Travel between New York-JFK and London-Heathrow, resulting in a savings of 25,000 miles.” (from Delta Air Lines Press Release)

Taxes and fees apply, and there are restrictions. To learn more about this frequent flier offer, visit Delta Air Lines International Award Travel.

Last week, Delta Air Lines announced plans to expand its international route system. June of 2009 will see the launch of non-stop flights from Pittsburgh International Airport to Paris-Charles de Gaulle International Airport. The carrier will also introduce non-stop flights to Paris from Raleigh-Durham. The new routes should further strengthen Delta’s joint-venture agreement with Air France.

Business class travelers will be in luck, as the new non-stop flights will include 16 seats in BusinessElite, which will provide the added room, comfort, and entertainment of Delta’s new business class.

Visit the Observer-Reporter for more on Delta Air Lines’ new nonstop routes.

Ah, the pleasures of long distance travel - when you’re not in coach!

Thanks to Delta, you can now travel to Europe in style, and save, too.

They give you two ways to do this: save by purchasing your tickets 30 days in advance, or really save by purchasing your tickets 50 days in advance. Some sample fares:

Click here for details, and when you’re ready to book - check with FareCompare, to make sure you get the very best deal possible.

Delta Airlines is still offering their BusinessElite Leisure airfares to destinations throughout Europe. As the name implies, these airfares are the carrier’s way of making business class travel more appealing to leisure travelers.

As fuel costs continue to rise and corporate travel departments move more company employees to the back of the plane, airlines will most likely need more leisure travelers to keep their business class sections full.

Delta Airlines BusinessElite Leisure airfares do offer good deals to a range of destinations, but these are still very much business class airfares. However, if you’re looking to fly in luxury and save a bit in the process, you can book your business class airline ticket 50 days or 30 days in advance (50-day advance purchase will get you the cheapest flights).

Keep reading for sample BusinessElite Leisure Airfares from Delta Airlines…

Members of frequent flier programs have managed to remain relatively unscathed during recent fuel surcharge and airline fee hikes. However, Delta Air Lines has brought all of that to an end.

The carrier announced that it will now tack on a $25 fuel surcharge for Award Travel between the 50 states and Canada, and a $50 fuel surcharge for Award Travel between the 50 states/Canada and all international destinations.

For more on Delta Airlines’ latest move and the continuing decline of frequent flier perks, visit RickSeaney.com.

Delta has a sweet perk for travelers from Los Angeles: if you fly Business Class to London Heathrow on Delta’s code-share partner Air France, you get free chauffeur service to and from the London airport.

It’s only good through May 30, but you can still get this service even if you’ve already purchased your tickets. Here’s what you do:

• Book your chauffeur and flight reservations simultaneously by contacting Delta Reservations at 1-800-221-1212
• Coordinate chauffeur service with your existing Business Class flight reservation by dialing the Delta Chauffeur Service Desk at 1-800-268-0555

Unfortunately, the chauffeur service is not available on the Los Angeles end of the trip.

Delta Airlines’ Business Elite airfare sale is still going. You can enjoy all of the luxury, space, and comfort of business class while jetting off to destinations throughout Europe.

The key to this airfare sale is advance purchase. The biggest savings on business class airline tickets are reserved for those who buy 50 days in advance. If you wait until 30 day out, you can end up spending over $1000 more each way.

Keep reading for sample Business Elite airfares from Delta Air Lines…

We see Y-Up (actually H-Up on Delta Airlines) airfares from Baltimore to Cleveland on a fairly consistent basis. The majority of flights along this route don’t even offer first class seating, but if you want to kick back on your way to Cleveland in style, you can fly first class on Delta Air Lines from Baltimore for $372+.

Keep reading for booking details…

The majority of the Delta Air Lines/Northwest Airlines merger talk has focused on how it will affect airline ticket prices, capacity control, and other potential mergers. However, there is concern among longstanding Northwest Airlines WorldPerks members regarding their frequent flier miles and any other benefits they may have picked up along the way.

Chris Elliott was kind enough to post correspondence from Northwest Airlines to its WorldPerks members on his site. In case you missed it, keep reading to see what Northwest and WorldPerks had to say about the future of your frequent flier miles…

It’s time to fly first class for less than coach again with a Y-Up airfare. Delta Air Lines is offering a Y-Up airfare (technically an H-Up on Delta) from Phoenix to Seattle for $426+ R/T for travel dates in mid-March.

As a point of reference, flying coach from Phoenix to Seattle on the same day on Delta could cost you as much as $515+ R/T. So, why not fly in style for less?

Keep reading for booking details and for information on how to fly first class for less than coach from your home airport…

Last week, we took a look at the perks of international business class flights on United Airlines. Let’s keep things going with a look at what Delta Air Lines offers its international business class travelers.

Like many international business class programs, Delta’s BusinessElite service starts before you ever step on the plane. You can enjoy priority check in and spend your time before the flight relaxing at Delta’s Crown Room Club lounge.

One of Delta’s goals is to get their international business class passengers checked in and boarded on the plane quickly. Once onboard, those passengers can start taking full advantage of BusinessElite…

Delta Air Lines is ramping up their business class service, and right now you can find Business Class Leisure airfares at a discount to destinations all over the world.

If you want to enjoy the 160 degree recline, 5-course meal, multi-media entertainment, and all the other joys Delta Business Class has to offer at a reduced price, you have to book 50 days in advance. That’s important to keep in mind, because you can end up spending considerably more money if you don’t book early on these flights.

Keep reading for some sample one-way business class airfares that are currently available on Delta Air Lines…