Any way to convert Delta SkyMiles?

[MartDM]

Hi,

After an exceptionally nightmarish experience using Delta last year, DH & I have vowed never to use them again. We have 3,700+ and 3,500+ miles respectively in our accounts and I'm wondering if there is any way to convert them into another program such as hotel rewards, etc.

I'm not really interested in MilePoint or other such sites that make you pay miles to buy an overpriced item. I'd rather just cleanly convert them over to Marriott rewards, Hilton Honors, Best Western Gold, etc. (or better yet to USAirways but I highly doubt that possiblity exists!).

Any advice anyone has would be well appreciated. Also, if you know of any sites that advise on this sort of thing, I'd love the URL.

Thanks!

 

[teri]

Well, in November I flew on United using Delta Skymiles. I had transferred points into the Delta account from a credit card to make it up to 25,000 points from my previous balance, then checked the flight schedule for United, made my reservation through the Delta Skymiles reservation nnumber and specified which United flights I wanted. They issued a paper ticket which turned out to be a bit of a hassle. My United return flight got cancelled and Delta never informed me (???) which they would have done if I had an e-ticket (???), but other than that it was fine.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Teri,
I would have thought United would have been the one to inform you of their cancelled fligiht, not Delta.

 

[MartDM]

Um...I'm not really sure how that answers my question. Sorry you had a difficult experience though.

 

[travelcoupons]

Your options:

1. You can get magazines for free from Milepoint for miles. Everything else is cash+miles.

2. You can transfer Delta miles to Hilton Hhonors points. BUT, names on accounts must match and minumum transfer amount is 5,000 miles for 10,000 points. 10,000 points is enough for a one night hotel stay at many Hiltons, Hampton Inns, Doubletree, etc. See: http://www.hilton.com/en/hhonors/rewards/exchange_1.jhtml for details. You could also transfer those 10,000 Hilton points back into a frequent flier account on a different airline (account names must match again), but you take a real beating on this transfer as you only get 1,500 miles for the 10,000 points.

 

[seashoreCM]

Delta's and United's partner arrangement allows you to use Delta miles to buy a United ticket but your 3,500 or so miles are of no practical use. You cannot mix them with miles in your United account to achieve the total needed to get an award with.

I have so far had no problems with Delta on half a dozen trips to Disney. Any airline can give a bad experience once in awhile, you should write a letter with details and naming names where possible.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[MartDM]

Hmm...looks like I'm probably out of luck unless I can come up with 1,500 Skymiles. Thanks for letting me know about the magazine option...I'll look into that.

As for Delta, I did write detailed letters. Without getting into the major details I ran into a problem when the cut back service. The trip I had planned months earlier was severely effected for the worse by the changes they made and not only was Delta very unaccomodating of any changes to the new itinerary, but we ran into severe delays and aggravation on each leg of the trip due to their disorganization.

I understand that everyone can have a bad experience now and again but, with so many other airlines who have and continue to treat us as though they appreciate our business, we just prefer not to take any further risks with Delta.

 

[jolia]

I also believe you can "donate" your points. There are organizations like Make-a Wish Foundation (for kids) and other non-profit organization that accept those and use them to help deliver their programs. I don't know all the specifics but maybe you can contact Delta.