Delta and Starwood: Ready for Takeoff with the Introduction ofCrossover Rewards TM

Today, Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) announced a comprehensive new partnership, which offers exclusive new benefits to Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) elite members and Delta SkyMiles Medallion® members. The first programme to debut from this strategic partnership is Crossover Rewards, which gives elite members of both loyalty programmes reciprocal benefits such as priority check-in and priority boarding. In addition, SkyMiles Medallion members will earn miles when staying at Starwood hotels and SPG elite members will earn Starpoints when flying with Delta "´ this in addition to the current Starpoints and miles earned as a member of each programme, making rewards ever richer.

"Crossover Rewards allows Starwood and Delta to extend loyalty outside of our hotels and beyond the window seat by giving our respective elite members reciprocal benefits and earning power," said Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO of Starwood. "This enriches the experience for our most valuable travellers, and gives both Delta and Starwood an opportunity to target frequent travellers who aren´t already part of our programmes, enabling us to capture greater share of the global, high-end traveller."

Rewarding Most Loyal Members with More Benefits and Points
Crossover Rewards creates a common currency between Delta and Starwood that both companies´ most loyal members can appreciate. SkyMiles Diamond and Platinum Medallion members can now take advantage of perks including priority check-in, 4pm late checkout and free high speed Internet access when staying at any of Starwood´s more than 1,100 hotels in nearly 100 countries. Meanwhile, SPG Platinum members will also receive one free checked bag, priority check-in and Priority Boarding when flying Delta. Additionally, when staying at a Starwood property, Delta SkyMiles Medallion members will earn one mile per every dollar (or currency equivalent) spent on eligible room rates in addition to the miles received for the flight, and when flying Delta, SPG elite members will earn one Starpoint for every dollar (or currency equivalent) spent on eligible flights in addition to the points received for the stay.

"Crossover Rewards is another example of Delta´s commitment to make the travel experience more beneficial and enjoyable for our customers," said Tim Mapes, Delta´s Senior Vice President of Marketing. "This industry-first partnership is the first time that Delta and SPG are extending benefits to members for travel with another brand. For our loyal customers, hotel accommodations are a vital component of the travel experience, which makes this new alliance with an innovative brand like Starwood a strategic addition to the SkyMiles programme."

"SPG continues to invest in one-of-a-kind benefits to truly reward those who reward us with their unwavering loyalty and business," said Mark Vondrasek, Senior Vice President, Distribution, Loyalty and Partnership for Starwood. "More and more we look to extend our relationship with our guests beyond the four walls of our hotel, which we believe is a way to cultivate "˜loyalty beyond reason.´ Delta shares with Starwood a spirit of innovation and a truly global reach that aligns with our global footprint, and we are thrilled to welcome their most loyal Medallion members as our own."

According to Starwood and Delta, the companies´ global alignment was key to uniting the two organizations for the creation of Crossover Rewards. With flights to more than 300+ destinations and hubs in markets like Tokyo, Paris, Amsterdam, NYC and Atlanta, Delta´s growing global reach compliments Starwood´s leading global hotel footprint in 100 countries around the world and fast-growing pipeline, particularly in emerging markets.

Beginning March 1, travellerscan register for Crossover Rewards, to link their Delta SkyMiles and SPG accounts at delta.com/crossoverrewards or spg.com/crossoverrewards and will begin to receive benefits as soon as they qualify for Delta Medallion or SPG elite status. For those new to the SkyMiles and Preferred Guest programmes, travellers should enroll in both the Delta SkyMiles programme and Starwood Preferred Guest Programme prior to linking accounts. For additional information on Crossover Rewards and to view a complete list of benefits, please visit delta.com/crossoverrewards or spg.com/crossoverrewards.

About Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. During the past year, Delta won 33 airline industry awards sweeping the major corporate travel surveys including Business Travel News, Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, Recommend Magazine and The Beat. Delta was also a recipient of the Secretary of Defense Freedom Award for exceptional support of National Guard and Reserve employees. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to nearly 318 destinations in 59 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry´s leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline´s service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier programme, a world-class airline loyalty programme; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Delta is investing more than $3 billion through 2013 in airport facilities and global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.