Delta - Using Sykmiles

[luvsvacations]

I am looking at tickets for Feb. The skymile tickets have been 50,000 miles today I see they are 32,500. The question I have is this is they are for connecting flights and don't even show any non-stop. Should I grab these or wait and see. I know nobody has a crystal ball but was just wondering if anyone had any past experience with skymile tickets. Just had to have to swtich planes - the flight to Orlando has a stop in Atlanta with a 50 min layover - does that sound like enough time to switch - I know it is a big airport but I am assuming we are kept in the same terminal?? Thanks

 

[DebbieB]

I am looking at tickets for Feb. The skymile tickets have been 50,000 miles today I see they are 32,500. The question I have is this is they are for connecting flights and don't even show any non-stop. Should I grab these or wait and see. I know nobody has a crystal ball but was just wondering if anyone had any past experience with skymile tickets. Just had to have to swtich planes - the flight to Orlando has a stop in Atlanta with a 50 min layover - does that sound like enough time to switch - I know it is a big airport but I am assuming we are kept in the same terminal?? Thanks

I haven't seen skymile tickets under 40,000 in awhile.

50 minutes should be OK in Atlanta, I wouldn't go less than that. They have 7 concourses in the same terminal connected by underground tunnels (walk or train). You may have to switch, you may not.

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/airports-and-aircraft/airports/atlanta.html

 

[sam_gordon]

Delta I think has 2 1/2 concourses of gates at Atlanta. 50 minutes should be plenty of time to change concourses, even with little ones.

As far as the amount of skymiles, the only lower "bucket" of miles (IIRC) is 25K, but those would be hard to find I think. I would probably snag the ones at 32.5K.

The other option is to check to see how much the flights would cost if you'd pay money. You can use skymiles as "cash" (10K SM = $100 I believe). So if the flight is $250, that would only cost you 25K SM. IMO, that's better than the 32.5K. Just something to consider.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Delta has one of the worst FF programs for redeeming award miles. If I could find a flight for under 40,000 miles RT, I'd take it.

 

[robinb]

I am looking at tickets for Feb. The skymile tickets have been 50,000 miles today I see they are 32,500. The question I have is this is they are for connecting flights and don't even show any non-stop. Should I grab these or wait and see. I know nobody has a crystal ball but was just wondering if anyone had any past experience with skymile tickets. Just had to have to swtich planes - the flight to Orlando has a stop in Atlanta with a 50 min layover - does that sound like enough time to switch - I know it is a big airport but I am assuming we are kept in the same terminal?? Thanks

We live in Wisconsin and we always have to change planes. Sometimes twice. It's really not a big deal. If your plans are set in stone, I would take it. My DH is Plat Medallion so he can cancel award travel without penalty but I'm not sure about average frequent flyers.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am assuming you are working on using miles for some school break. If so it's probably not likely that you will get the 20,000 mile awards. I get them quite often but I am very flexible on dates/times etc.. I have never found the Delta program any worse then any others (and I have used them all LOL!)

However, by the time you go back to book you may discover that the milage is back to 50K. Things move fast.

Also, are you booking more then one seat? If so, make sure you try to book one at a time. It's just like paid fares, if there is one seat at 20,000 and four at 50,000 and you ask for two the system shows you two at 50,000 not one at 20,000 and one at 50,000 or a blended rate.

 

[robinb]

Also, are you booking more then one seat? If so, make sure you try to book one at a time. It's just like paid fares, if there is one seat at 20,000 and four at 50,000 and you ask for two the system shows you two at 50,000 not one at 20,000 and one at 50,000 or a blended rate.

That can be an issue if you have a family member with status. My DH can check 2 free bags and so can everyone else on his itinerary. He can also be seated in Economy Plus for free. We split my reservation off from his on our last trip and I ended up sitting away from my DH & DD and I couldn't check any bags.

 

[luvsvacations]

Thanks for the help. What I would like are direct flights - so maybe I will try the cash and miles and see how that works out.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

I want to add a tip about connecting in Atlanta, the airport is huge! We had a 55 minute connection last week, our first flight landed early, but was late into the gate- making our connection time 30 min. We arrived at gate B18, took off from A2. It was an all out run to make it- thirty people from our first flight were on the second. A bit more than half of us made the connection, even though the first group told the gate agents more people were coming. The next available flight to MCO required a connection in Miami, and added six hours to the trip.
I'll never deliberately choose a connecting flight with delta again after that.

 

[luvsvacations]

That's my thoughts - Michigan - February - if the flight is 1 hour delayed due to weather - I am SOL. So now the direct flight from Michigan is $600, roundtrip. I have to believe that will come down and maybe then I will use miles and cash. Even if it comes down to $450 - but $600 is just so high. And even if it doesn't come down - I cant believe it will go higher ????

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

That's my thoughts - Michigan - February - if the flight is 1 hour delayed due to weather - I am SOL. So now the direct flight from Michigan is $600, roundtrip. I have to believe that will come down and maybe then I will use miles and cash. Even if it comes down to $450 - but $600 is just so high. And even if it doesn't come down - I cant believe it will go higher ????

Why not?

The truth is it is supply and demand driven. And if your trip is over some type of school break it may never go down And yes, it could go up. None of us have a real clue.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

That can be an issue if you have a family member with status. My DH can check 2 free bags and so can everyone else on his itinerary. He can also be seated in Economy Plus for free. We split my reservation off from his on our last trip and I ended up sitting away from my DH & DD and I couldn't check any bags.

Did you mean Comfort Plus seats? UA has E+ seats.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I am assuming you are working on using miles for some school break. If so it's probably not likely that you will get the 20,000 mile awards. I get them quite often but I am very flexible on dates/times etc.. I have never found the Delta program any worse then any others (and I have used them all LOL!)

Delia's FF program is consistently rated at or near the bottom of airline FF programs due to the difficulty in redeeming miles/award availibility. This has been my personal experience as well.

 

[DebbieB]

Delta I think has 2 1/2 concourses of gates at Atlanta. 50 minutes should be plenty of time to change concourses, even with little ones.

Delta has gates on all concourses at ATL. I used to travel a lot for business and have been to all of them except the new International F.

This diagram shows their gates:
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/airports-and-aircraft/airports/atlanta.html

Delia's FF program is consistently rated at or near the bottom of airline FF programs due to the difficulty in redeeming miles/award availibility. This has been my personal experience as well.

USAirways is worse. Hard to find anything under 60,000 miles. One time I lucked out going to California, coach was 60,000, first class was 50,000! I don't know if it was just luck because I only needed 1 ticket.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

But if you actually read the data you realize that between the top and the bottom there is not a big difference.

The days of generous programs are long gone. They are ALL tough now and don't give the free flights they used to


If the grass in another program looks greener my experience has been it is just because different manure is being spread

 

[ain0004]

We use Pay with miles and take the 100 off for 10,000 miles, this seems to be the best bet for non stops for us at least.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

We use Pay with miles and take the 100 off for 10,000 miles, this seems to be the best bet for non stops for us at least.

Don't you have to have an Amex to do this?

I have done it and I agree it's often a good deal especially on cheap fares like Orlando. (And yes folks by comparison MCO is still a pretty cheap airport, you don't want to know what my monthly flights to Southern California cost!)