Delta Skymiles

[DontRushMe]

We all know the Southwest rates and rewards miles can change on a dime, but does anyone follow Delta Skymiles rewards?
I am searching for a flight in June and there are no Saver Rewards available for that month but vary in all other months.
Does this mean that I have missed my window to book at a good rate or does this vary weekly and I should keep checking back?
I hate to think I looked to book almost 9 months in advance and already missed my window.
Thanks in advance for anyone that follows Delta!

 

[DebbieB]

We all know the Southwest rates and rewards miles can change on a dime, but does anyone follow Delta Skymiles rewards?
I am searching for a flight in June and there are no Saver Rewards available for that month but vary in all other months.
Does this mean that I have missed my window to book at a good rate or does this vary weekly and I should keep checking back?
I hate to think I looked to book almost 9 months in advance and already missed my window.
Thanks in advance for anyone that follows Delta!

I'm a Skymiles member and I would keep watching. I have seen them go down. It's very difficult to get the 25,000 mile roundtrip ticket. I've had more luck with 37,500 or 40,000 to Florida. To the west coast, I haven't seen under 50,000.

Your problem is wanting to go in June, school vacation time. They may not drop.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It has been my experience that it is very difficult to find Delta FF saver awards. They have terrible availibility. Keep checking, but I agree that it's likely you will not be able to find any for June.

 

[Redarrow5150]

Plenty of time to find. I booked my flight for December 23rd in July for 40,000 miles. I would look for Tues or Wed day flights if that's possible.

 

[sam_gordon]

Another option is paying with Skymiles. IIRC, 100 miles = $1 off your flight. So if your flight is $300, that would only cost 30,000 miles (+$10).

The "experts" say that's not a good use of miles, but as far as I'm concerned, if the miles for the flight is 40,000 but you can pay for the flight with 30,000, that makes sense to me.

 

[bumbershoot]

Another option is paying with Skymiles. IIRC, 100 miles = $1 off your flight. So if your flight is $300, that would only cost 30,000 miles (+$10).

The "experts" say that's not a good use of miles, but as far as I'm concerned, if the miles for the flight is 40,000 but you can pay for the flight with 30,000, that makes sense to me.

How do you do that?

 

[sam_gordon]

How do you do that?

I haven't done it since January, but IIRC, when you're looking at the list of flights, those you can do this with have "Pay with miles eligible" under the cost.

You might need to have the Amex card (but I don't know that you need to use the Amex card) to do this.

 

[bumbershoot]

I haven't done it since January, but IIRC, when you're looking at the list of flights, those you can do this with have "Pay with miles eligible" under the cost.

Interesting. I can't say I've noticed that on Delta. If I had, I would havethought it was like those "pay x miles or pay x miles and y dollars", which, on Alaska, are NEVER any sort of deal. It's always 20K miles or 20K miles and $200...and I can't figure out the benefit of paying the same miles AND money, LOL. (though maybe you earn miles on the flight doing that? hmm)


We're having a hard time finding a use for DH's Delta miles because the flights are soooo expensive with miles. But that is something to look for next time!

 

[sam_gordon]

Interesting. I can't say I've noticed that on Delta. If I had, I would havethought it was like those "pay x miles or pay x miles and y dollars", which, on Alaska, are NEVER any sort of deal. It's always 20K miles or 20K miles and $200...and I can't figure out the benefit of paying the same miles AND money, LOL. (though maybe you earn miles on the flight doing that? hmm)


We're having a hard time finding a use for DH's Delta miles because the flights are soooo expensive with miles. But that is something to look for next time!

You don't even need to pay the full price in miles. So if the ticket is $300 but you only have 20K miles, you pay with the miles and that leaves a $100 balance.

Unfortunately, you can't earn miles on the flight.

 

[sjb459]

I think you do have to have a Delta AmEx to "pay with miles" but that could have changed. I find that their prices drop on Sundays, Tues, & Wed. We are still far enough out I would keep checking.

 

[bumbershoot]

You don't even need to pay the full price in miles. So if the ticket is $300 but you only have 20K miles, you pay with the miles and that leaves a $100 balance.

Unfortunately, you can't earn miles on the flight.

I was blathering my thoughts about Alaska, not Delta, in case you're answering for Delta.

I really appreciate the info about paying in miles for Delta!

I think you do have to have a Delta AmEx to "pay with miles" but that could have changed.

Oh drat.

 

[DanInMN]

Delta kept increasing the points needed for a ticket and reducing the available seats - so their program has little value to me anymore.

Instead I use US Bank's Flexperks credit card, where 20,000 points buys a ticket up to $400 on any airline, any day. We use the card for everything, and get 2+ tickets per year.

If a flight is less than $200 we just buy it and save the points for the more expensive trips.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I generally don't use my Delta miles for Orlando as it is so cheap, but I got a 25k ticket in September to go to Disney for the last performance of Off Kilter

I also just booked a 60k round trip to London for next summer. Since that ticket would probably cost $1,500 or so it's a better use for me.


So low mile tickets are available. You do have to look often and be flexible.

 

[Redarrow5150]

We've had this card for over 10 years and really happy with it. After our December trip to WDW I'm cancelling both Dis & Delta CC as the rewards program cannot hold a candle to US Bank. I kept the Disney card for work purchases but there isn't enough to offset the purchase rewards and the annual fee. Also US Bank miles are cheaper than even Delta's own flights (will never figure that one out) when it comes to mileage and the choices of flights are 10x fold.

Delta kept increasing the points needed for a ticket and reducing the available seats - so their program has little value to me anymore.

Instead I use US Bank's Flexperks credit card, where 20,000 points buys a ticket up to $400 on any airline, any day. We use the card for everything, and get 2+ tickets per year.

If a flight is less than $200 we just buy it and save the points for the more expensive trips.

 

[DontRushMe]

Thanks everyone for all the useful tips. I should have been more clear I am needing to fly to Savanna GA for a convention in June. It is not a choice of changing dates although I am flexible a bit on arrival and departure date but that means more nights in the hotel in a vacation town in the summer, which isn't cheap. Southwest doesn't fly to Savanna, although I have actually thought about flying to Atlanta and renting a car for cheaper than the $690 per person for the flight on Delta. I will keep checking for a deal!

 

[Redarrow5150]

Check for flights into Jacksonville Florida.

Thanks everyone for all the useful tips. I should have been more clear I am needing to fly to Savanna GA for a convention in June. It is not a choice of changing dates although I am flexible a bit on arrival and departure date but that means more nights in the hotel in a vacation town in the summer, which isn't cheap. Southwest doesn't fly to Savanna, although I have actually thought about flying to Atlanta and renting a car for cheaper than the $690 per person for the flight on Delta. I will keep checking for a deal!