Question about using Delta Skymiles

[diavolobella]

I've always booked my Disney travel through the Walt Disney World site online. However, this time I have Delta Skymiles that I can use toward my tickets. Can you use Delta Skymiles when booking through Disney, or do you have to book your hotel and park tickets through Disney and then book your airfare separately through Delta to use Skymiles?

Also, if you don't book your airfare directly through Disney, does that mean you can't use Mickey's Magical Express?

Thanks for your help!

 

[clkelley]

Just book your hotel and ticket package through Disney, then book your Delta Skymiles flights separately!!

Yes, you can still use Disney's Magical Express!!!!!!! When you know your flight numbers, just tell the folks at Disney what those flight numbers are.

 

[dopeynme]

Just be careful when using skymiles. We used them for our trip to hawaii last summer and found that it was difficult to find availability, even when booking as early as possible. So it might be wise to book your flight first and then book your package with WDW. Would hate to see you book the WDW package and then find Delta would not let you book the times you needed with your skymiles. I hope you have a better experience with skymiles!

BTW, we have always booked our WDW package separate from the flight and we usually use ME with no difficulty.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Book your SkyMiles on the phone. Yes, there's a fee - but especially if you can be a little/lot flexible, the CSRs can be extremely helpful.

Aside from this advice coming from Conde Nast Traveler Magazine recently, I know from experience. About three years ago, I wanted to go to Disneyland for my birthday. I couldn't find anything online, so I called. I'd been set on Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday; by flying out EARLY on Friday and coming back on the redeye the following Thursday, I got pretty much the same week-long vacation, and was able to 'pay' with miles instead of money.

 

[uva185]

Book your SkyMiles on the phone. Yes, there's a fee - but especially if you can be a little/lot flexible, the CSRs can be extremely helpful.

FYI, you can call Delta and have them find flights with availability and put them on hold. Then you can purchase (or "ticket") the reservation online without paying the phone fee!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh, sure uva - where were you three years ago, when I had to pay Delta $10? No, I'm kidding - I didn't mind at all. Okay, fine. I didn't mind much Thanks for the advice!

 

[uva185]

Oh, sure uva - where were you three years ago, when I had to pay Delta $10? No, I'm kidding - I didn't mind at all. Okay, fine. I didn't mind much Thanks for the advice!

lol, $10 is not too bad....$25 times how many tickets a family needs to buy can really add up!

 

[MAH4546]

If you are somebody that flies more than just once every 2-3 years, I would be weary about using Skymiles to fly from Tennessee to Orlando. That's a terrible conversion rate of miles to dollars, when the same amount of miles can buy you a much more expensive domestic ticket somewhere else, or can get you about two-thirds the way to a free ticket to Europe.

The "value" of miles totally depends on a person's flying habits, though, so YMMV.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Good point, MAH4546. I've used my Delta miles twice - once in 2001 to upgrade to First Class (actually not overly impressed with the pitch, but the filet mignon and ice cream sundaes... mm-mm good, despite having to cut the steak with a plastic knife ), and the other time for that trip to Disneyland. Both trips were cross-country, or effectively so - originating in Boston, with the first destination being Las Vegas.

But I agree - I would tend NOT to use miles even from Boston to Orlando.

 

[uva185]

If you are somebody that flies more than just once every 2-3 years, I would be weary about using Skymiles to fly from Tennessee to Orlando. That's a terrible conversion rate of miles to dollars, when the same amount of miles can buy you a much more expensive domestic ticket somewhere else, or can get you about two-thirds the way to a free ticket to Europe.

The "value" of miles totally depends on a person's flying habits, though, so YMMV.

Good point, MAH4546. I've used my Delta miles twice - once in 2001 to upgrade to First Class (actually not overly impressed with the pitch, but the filet mignon and ice cream sundaes... mm-mm good, despite having to cut the steak with a plastic knife ), and the other time for that trip to Disneyland. Both trips were cross-country, or effectively so - originating in Boston, with the first destination being Las Vegas.

But I agree - I would tend NOT to use miles even from Boston to Orlando.

I totally agree here. I only use my miles for international trips and book First or Business Class to maximize the value of my miles. I would NEVER EVER use miles for domestic coach.

Just for comparison BOS-MCO would cost 25,000 miles for coach and for the sake of argument lets say the fare for BOS-MCO was $400 (though it can be had for much cheaper). That's a redemption rate of 1.6 cents per mile. I flew to Munich this fall and used miles. It cost 125,000 miles for First Class and the fare would have been $15,000. That's a redemption rate of 12 cents per mile (7.5 times better redemption rate than BOS-MCO)

...but then again I don't have children and have low expenses so I can definitely understand that some people with families want to use their miles to go to Orlando.