Delta free ticket---choices!!!

[clhcpaca]

Delta has gotten rather stingy with the use of their miles. It use to be 25,000 for coach and 40,000 for first class. Then, Delta made two classes of award tickets, with the cheaper award tickets few and far between.

My choice: I want to do an inexpensive vacation in May, so I am looking at a free ticket. From San Jose to Orlando, I can leave at 6:45 am and arrive in Orlando at 4:30 on Coach for 47,500 miles...OR I can leave at the same time arriving in Orlando at 9:45 pm on FIRST CLASS for 45,000 miles. Return flights would be the same.

What would you do? Just wanted some opinions. With the first class flight I would end up spending 2 hours in Salt Lake City and 3 hours in Atlanta.

Thanks for any opinions, Cindy

 

[kaytieeldr]

Ew, that's tough. My first choice would be for First Class - given the comfort and amenities and all. But balance that against the fifteen clock-hours of travel time, I don't know.

Are you researching this online, or have you called Delta? When I wanted to use my miles at a somewhat peak travel time, I found it was worth the $10 to book through a live person.

I guess, though, I'd ultimately go for the (apparently) non-stop coach flight. It's a long trip, and arriving at 9:45 seems TOO late, given that you'll probably have been awake since about what, 3 that morning?

 

[CarolA]

First class for less miles and only a 2 or 3 hour delay. It's a LONG flight.

 

[clhcpaca]

I do have another option. For 67,500 miles I can get the first class version of the coach times. It would be worth it to go first class and also not have to spend so much time at airports. (And, two airports at that). I was just trying to get it "cheaper" I also prefer to do it through a live person and will probably do the 67,500 mile option.

Thanks for your opinion, Cindy

 

[clhcpaca]

First class for less miles and only a 2 or 3 hour delay. It's a LONG flight.

Actually it is 2 hours in the Salt Lake City airport and 3 hours in the Atlanta airport. But, I DO like the amount of miles. I am going to think about it this weekend and see how I feel about it Monday morning.

Cindy

 

[ncbyrne]

I don't understand why the ticket is so many sky miles. I booked 4 tickets from Newark, NJ (EWR) to Orlando (MCO) Aug 22-28, 2007 using Delta Sky Saver miles and they were 25,000 each. For 100,000 sky miles, 4 of us are flying round trip. Have you checked into the partner airlines using the Delta miles? Last year DH and I flew nonstop round trip on Continental and used 40,000 each for first class. (Delta was 50,000 for first class). If I were you I'd call and speak to them directly. You will probably be routed to India, but if you can't understand them, or they don't seem knowledgeable, just hang up and call back. I did that three times before I got someone who took their time and got me the seats we wanted for the 25,000 miles each.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Actually it is 2 hours in the Salt Lake City airport and 3 hours in the Atlanta airport. But, I DO like the amount of miles. I am going to think about it this weekend and see how I feel about it Monday morning.

Cindy

I don't understand why you like the amount of miles. You don't earn skymiles on flights when you are flying using skymiles.

Just FYI.

 

[dudspizza]

I don't understand why you like the amount of miles. You don't earn skymiles on flights when you are flying using skymiles.

Just FYI.

I am sure she meant she likes the amount of miles it will cost to fly first class to MCO....

Duds

 

[CarolA]

Actually it is 2 hours in the Salt Lake City airport and 3 hours in the Atlanta airport. But, I DO like the amount of miles. I am going to think about it this weekend and see how I feel about it Monday morning.

Cindy

Did you put it on hold? Because if not by Monday morning those options could be GONE. I was playing around on DL. com the other day and in the 20 minutes while I juggled tickets I lost one SkySaver option!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I am sure she meant she likes the amount of miles it will cost to fly first class to MCO....

Duds

Well THAT would make sense.