Delta frequent flyer changes

By Charles Edwards

Atlanta, GA – For some Delta Airlines passengers, frequent flyer miles will turn into free domestic round trip flights a lot sooner staring in September.

Delta says the change will benefit passengers. But an expert says the Atlanta airline might also cash in.

Delta is changing its SkyMiles program from two tiers to three. The first free flight will still come after earning 25 thousand miles. But the next level won't be as high as it was. It will be 40 thousand miles instead of 50 thousand.

The goal is to make collecting SkyMiles more attractive to passengers and more miles could mean more money for Delta. Chris Lopinto co-founded Expert Flyer dot com.

LOPINTO: Airlines make money off of the sale of miles to their partners. Like when you use your credit card and you buy flowers of whatever the case might be you earn miles. Well, those people, those credit card companies buy the miles from the airline and that's how they make money off of the frequent flyer program.

High fuel costs have forced airlines to find as many money makers as possible. Delta also this week raised the fee for checking a second bag to 50 dollars.