You can keep booking those nonstops to Cancun and Mexico City without panic. On Thursday, a U.S. appeals court vacated the Department of Transportation’s order that would have forced Delta and Aeromexico to unwind their joint venture by the end of 2026. That’s roughly 1.8 million seats per year on U.S.-Mexico routes that remain intact under the immunized partnership. Here is what the ruling actually changes for your wallet, your miles, and your upcoming bookings.
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The short version: nothing about your current ticket changes, but the long-term doom-scrolling about losing your Delta elite status on Aeromexico flights can stop. The court didn’t just delay the breakup—it threw out the DOT’s termination order entirely, sending it back for review. This means the joint venture continues operating as if the last year of chaos never happened. If you were holding off on booking a winter trip to CDMX because you feared a codeshare collapse, you can book now with confidence.
Why This Ruling Matters Right Now
This isn’t a niche legal footnote. The DOT originally moved to strip antitrust immunity in late 2024, citing concerns about the Mexican government’s treatment of U.S. airlines at Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX). Specifically, the U.S. claimed Mexico was favoring Aeromexico by limiting slots at the congested airport. The fallout would have been brutal: Delta would have lost the ability to coordinate pricing, schedules, and revenue-sharing with Aeromexico on cross-border flights.
The court disagreed with the DOT’s process. It ruled the termination order was “arbitrary and capricious” because the DOT failed to adequately consider the public interest—namely, the connectivity and consumer benefits the joint venture provides. The DOJ had backed the DOT’s termination, but the court wasn’t convinced. The practical effect is that the partnership continues while the DOT goes back to the drawing board. That process could take months or years, and the joint venture operates normally in the meantime.
For you, the traveler, this means the seamless experience you’ve had since 2017—when the joint venture launched—remains intact. You can still book a Delta flight that is actually operated by Aeromexico, earn and redeem SkyMiles on both carriers, and check your bags through to your final destination without rechecking in Mexico City.
What the Court Ruling Does and Doesn’t Change
Let me break this down into what actually affects your trip planning. The ruling is a reprieve, not a permanent settlement, but the practical impact is significant.
What stays the same:
- Codesharing and interlining: Delta flights on Aeromexico metal and vice versa remain bookable. You’ll still see AM flight numbers when searching on delta.com and DL flight numbers on aeromexico.com.
- SkyMiles earning and redemption: You continue earning SkyMiles on Aeromexico-operated flights at the same rates as before. You can still redeem miles for award seats on Aeromexico, including their excellent premium cabin on the 787 Dreamliner routes.
- Elite benefits: Delta SkyMiles Medallion members still get priority check-in, boarding, and complimentary upgrades on Aeromexico-operated flights, subject to availability. Same for Aeromexico Club Premier members on Delta flights.
- Baggage through-checking: Your bags still fly through to your final destination on a single ticket, even with a connection in MEX or Atlanta.
What could change (but hasn’t yet):
- The DOT could re-initiate the termination process with a more thorough analysis. That would take months, and the airlines would have another chance to respond.
- The Mexican government could resolve the airport slot issues, which would remove the original basis for the DOT’s complaint.
- A new administration could take a different position on antitrust immunity for international alliances.
The bottom line: for the next 12 to 18 months, you can plan trips with confidence. The court’s ruling is about as close to a “win” as Delta and Aeromexico could have hoped for.
How Your Flights and Routes Are Affected
If you fly between the U.S. and Mexico frequently, you’re in the sweet spot of this ruling. The joint venture covers all nonstop routes between the two countries, plus connections beyond each carrier’s hubs. Here’s what that means for the routes you actually care about.
U.S. to Mexico City (MEX): Delta operates nonstops from Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York-JFK, and Salt Lake City. Aeromexico covers the rest, including from Miami, Chicago, and San Francisco. With the joint venture intact, you get coordinated schedules—meaning more even spacing of departures throughout the day, not two flights departing within 10 minutes of each other.
U.S. to Cancun (CUN): This is the leisure workhorse. Delta flies from Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, and New York. Aeromexico adds frequency from more cities. The joint venture allows both airlines to price these routes jointly, which has historically kept fares competitive with leisure carriers like JetBlue and American.
Beyond Mexico: The joint venture also covers connections to Central and South America via Mexico City. Aeromexico’s hub at MEX is a legitimate gateway to places like Bogota, Buenos Aires, and Santiago. With immunity, Delta can sell you a ticket from Atlanta to Buenos Aires via MEX as if it were a single airline product.
The court ruling doesn’t add new routes. But it prevents the likely scenario where Delta would have had to cut capacity on marginal routes because it couldn’t coordinate pricing with its partner. The 1.8 million seats that were at risk of disappearing or being re-routed through other hubs remain on the schedule.
Mileage Earning and Redemption: The Full Breakdown
The most common question I get is whether you should still credit your Aeromexico flights to SkyMiles or switch to Aeromexico’s Club Premier program. The answer depends on where you live and where you fly.
SkyMiles on Aeromexico flights: You earn 5x miles on base fares for general members, with Medallion bonuses on top (up to 11x for Diamond). This is unchanged. The sweet spot is redeeming SkyMiles for Aeromexico’s business class on the 787. I’ve seen round-trip awards from the U.S. to Mexico City for 75,000 SkyMiles plus taxes—that’s a solid deal compared to Delta’s own transcon business class pricing.
Club Premier on Delta flights: If you live in Mexico, you might prefer Club Premier. You earn points on Delta flights at a similar rate, and you get elite benefits on Delta metal. The joint venture ensures reciprocal recognition of elite status, so your Club Premier Gold gets you Delta Sky Priority benefits.
Transfer partners: This is where it gets interesting. American Express Membership Rewards transfer to both Delta SkyMiles (at 1:1) and Aeromexico Club Premier (at 1:1.6). If you’re flexible, you can sometimes find better award availability through Club Premier for the same Delta-operated flights. The court ruling keeps this arbitrage opportunity alive.
Here’s a quick comparison of the two programs for U.S.-Mexico travel:
| Feature | Delta SkyMiles | Aeromexico Club Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Earning rate on AM flights | 5x base, up to 11x with status | 1 point per mile flown (varies by fare class) |
| Best redemption for Mexico | 75,000 miles RT business to MEX | 45,000 points RT business to MEX |
| Transfer from Amex | 1:1 | 1:1.6 |
| Elite recognition on partner | Yes, full benefits | Yes, full benefits |
| Expiration policy | Never expires | Points expire after 24 months of inactivity |
| Best for | U.S.-based frequent flyers | Mexico-based travelers or Amex point maximizers |
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The pro move: if you have a large Amex points balance, transfer to Club Premier for Mexico awards. You get 60% more points for the same transfer, and award pricing is often lower. The downside is the expiration policy—you need activity every 24 months. If you only fly to Mexico once a year, that’s risky. SkyMiles never expire, which makes them the safer long-term hold.
Booking Strategies in the Current Environment
With the immediate threat gone, here’s how to book your next U.S.-Mexico trip to maximize value.
Book early for winter travel. The court ruling removes uncertainty, so expect demand to rebound. Cancun and Mexico City are already popular for December and January. I’m seeing round-trip economy fares from Atlanta to Cancun around $380-$450 for late December, which is reasonable. Business class on the 787 from Los Angeles to Mexico City is running $1,100-$1,400 round-trip—book that now before the holiday surge.
Use the “cross-border” search trick. When searching on delta.com, check the box for “Aeromexico operated flights” even if you’re booking a Delta ticket. The joint venture means you get the same earning and benefits regardless of which metal you fly. Sometimes Aeromexico-operated flights are cheaper for the same route because their fare classes are priced differently.
Consider positioning flights. If you’re not in a Delta hub, you might save significantly by flying to Atlanta or Detroit first. For example, from Portland, Oregon, a round-trip to Mexico City on Delta via Atlanta might run $700. But if you book Portland to Atlanta separately on a budget carrier and then Atlanta to MEX on the joint venture, you could get the whole trip for around $500. The risk is a missed connection, but with the joint venture’s schedule coordination, the connection times are reasonable.
Award booking windows. SkyMiles award space on Aeromexico opens 330 days out. The best deals—like the 75,000-mile business class redemptions—get snapped up quickly. Set a calendar reminder for 330 days before your target travel dates. Club Premier awards open at the same time, but availability is often better because fewer people know about the program.
What the Ruling Means for Your Existing Bookings
If you have flights booked on Delta or Aeromexico for later this year or 2027, you don’t need to do anything. Your tickets are valid, your seats are confirmed, and your mileage earning is guaranteed. The court ruling doesn’t retroactively change anything.
The one thing to watch: the DOT could appeal the court’s decision. That would go to the Supreme Court, which is unlikely to take it up given the procedural nature of the ruling. The more likely scenario is the DOT re-opens its review, which takes months of public comment and analysis. By the time any new termination order is issued, we’ll be well into 2027 or 2028.
For now, the practical advice is simple: book your trips, use your miles, and enjoy the fact that one of the most functional airline partnerships in the Americas is still operating. The alternative—a fragmented market where Delta and Aeromexico compete head-to-head on the same routes—would have meant higher fares, fewer options, and more headaches. That’s been avoided, at least for now.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Q: Will my Delta SkyMiles still work on Aeromexico flights? Yes, completely unchanged. You earn SkyMiles at the same rates and can redeem them for Aeromexico flights. The court ruling preserves the joint venture, which includes full mileage reciprocity.
Q: I have a flight booked for January 2027. Is it safe? Yes. The court vacated the DOT’s termination order, so there is no pending deadline for the partnership to end. Your booking is valid, and the airlines are operating normally.
Q: Should I credit my next Aeromexico flight to SkyMiles or Club Premier? If you’re U.S.-based and want flexibility, use SkyMiles—they never expire. If you have a large Amex points balance and want to maximize award value for Mexico travel, transfer to Club Premier. Just be aware of the 24-month expiration rule.
Q: Did the court ruling add any new routes? No new routes were added. The ruling preserves the existing network of roughly 1.8 million seats annually between the U.S. and Mexico. You won’t see new cities, but you also won’t see existing routes disappear.
Q: What happens if the DOT tries again? The DOT would need to conduct a new review with more thorough analysis. That process takes months, requires public comment, and can be challenged in court again. The airlines have strong arguments that the joint venture benefits consumers through lower fares and better connectivity.
The Bottom Line
The Delta-Aeromexico partnership is alive and well, thanks to the appeals court ruling. Your miles are safe, your bookings are valid, and your future travel plans can proceed without worrying about a 2026 breakup. The joint venture continues to deliver coordinated schedules, reciprocal elite benefits, and competitive pricing on U.S.-Mexico routes.
Book that trip to Mexico City or Cancun. Use those SkyMiles for a business class seat on the 787. The partnership isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving, and you get to benefit from it.
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Last updated: 2026-08-23