Cost of free Sky Miles ticket?

[ncbyrne]

I just cashed in 100,000 Delta Sky Miles for 4 sky saver tickets (EWR to MCO rt) I was charged $80. I don't remember have to pay anything last time! Is this correct?!

 

[bavaria]

I've always had to pay taxes and fees on any airline mileage redemption ticket - anywhere from $24 to $173 per ticket depending on routing.

 

[AllyBri]

Last time I used my miles on Delta, about a year or so ago, I was charged $10 a ticket, I guess they went up quite a bit since then.
A month ago I used my miles for Delta, through Vista Credit Union and was charged nothing. I asked the man on the phone about this and he said that it's a service they provide, so no charge.
I also used award tickets on Jet Blue recently, if you do it online, there is no charge and if you call there is a charge of $10. a person.

 

[ncbyrne]

I also used award tickets on Jet Blue recently, if you do it online, there is no charge and if you call there is a charge of $10. a person.

Oh, I'll bet that's the reason....I called this time! Every other time I did it online! Wow, what an expensive lesson! (I bought 4 round trip tickets. They charged $10 per ticket for each way. Hence - $80!!)

 

[cigar95]

Another contributor is that airlines have not been including the 9/11 security fee in the "free" ticket. I think that can add as much as $10 per ticket per round trip.

(Full disclosure - my experience has been with Delta, United, and Northwest.)

 

[QT Pooh]

It's because you called. We just cashed in some of our miles for 2 RT tix to NYC on-line and were only charged $5 each. When we called last August for a trip to Montana in June, we were charged $20 per.

 

[NancyIL]

Oh, I'll bet that's the reason....I called this time! Every other time I did it online! Wow, what an expensive lesson! (I bought 4 round trip tickets. They charged $10 per ticket for each way. Hence - $80!!)

You were probably charged $10 per ticket for the phone call (they charge per ticket and not each way) and $10 per ticket for the security fees. Be glad Delta charges only $10 per FF ticket, because American charges $15.

Or - if your routing was non-stop each way, maybe you paid $5 in security fees ($2.50 per leg) and $15 for the phonecall!