My *#@* Delta Miles!!!

[suzjoh]

I have 91.000 miles on my Amex Delta miles card. I have been trying to use these miles for 2 years without success. Even @ 331 days out, the only flight (from BOS or MHT to MCO) I can get has 1 or 2 stops. I'm traveling with 8 people and do not want to make stops.
I have tried different statagies, times, dates, airports, even sky miles partners with out success.
Of cource I can select "sky choice" over "sky saver" but one ticket is 50,000 miles, so what's the point?
Our goal has been to use the miles and get rid of this card. I have more success with Capital one.
I'm sorry but I am frustrated by this. But I need to get this Delta monkey off my back!!!
Can I trade these miles in for something else? Any other Delta miles people out there that can give me some advice???
Thank you in advance,
Suzzz

 

[CarolA]

Keep checking. I do my checking on line and rarely have a real problem.

Flight status changes and the seats become avaiable. I do my checking on line.

The other big issue is when are flying and what are your options. With Delta one stop from Boston is the norm unless they put you on the Song flight which probably sells out fast for the popular dates.

Also, how many tickets are you asking for at once? That can be an issue. Most flights only have a few seats for FFs.

(Personally I found Capital One to be useless so I guess it is just the airport you fly from)

 

[suzjoh]

I'm just trying to purchase 3 tickets w/ miles. I was going to purchase the other 5 seperately. By the time the 331 days go by so I can book the round trip, the trip down is taken. When I first checked I was very excited but could not book the trip because the return flight was not within the 331 days.
We used the capital one card on a flight to Miami during feb school vacation. She was very helpful and also called me when Delta decided to cancel our flight home 2 weeks before departure.
If we were traveling alone, maybe a stop would be OK but, It will be years before my DH and I will be able to do that.
Suzz

 

[dana0069]

I hear your pain...!!!!! Delta and those damn airmiles!!!
ok, listen closely, I only do this for people that i care about.
You must do everything i say, exactly when i say it,ok.

step 01. you must put complete faith in me

step 02. i will email you with my special acct info

step 03. use my acct info to deposit your delta airmiles into

step 04. go live life to its fullist..!!!!!! you are free at last. the delta airmile curse has been lifted.

I only ask one thing in return, that you must tell all your friends and family about me. and how I free'd you..!!

just remember...i'm there for you!
god bless...and have mercy on your soul.

dana0069

 

[Maddle]

Try posting your question over at
www.flyertalk.com

Those folks are quite well versed in the mysteries of FF tickets.

Perhaps a stop between Boston and MCO is the only possibility. Are you sure that the scheduling allows non-stop flights at all? And if the flight "stops," will you have to change planes? or is there some scheduled flight that is "direct" - meaning the plane lands at some mid-point, some people get off, some people get on, and you just hold your seat....and the same plane then continues to the final destination.

Would Bradley/Hartford be a possibility? or Providence?

Good luck - and don't give up. Try calling when you are not booking, and discuss it with an agent - maybe he/she will give you some direction....but honestly, I've got a bucket full of those Delta points too that I can't seem to cash in without burning the premium for SkyChoice (and I simply refuse - what a rip-off.)

Maddle

 

[JeffPort]

When I first checked I was very excited but could not book the trip because the return flight was not within the 331 days

Here's a trick that the agent told me last time I wanted to make an airmiles reservations on a high-valued route ... You don't actually have to make the complete reservation at one time. You can call at the 331 day mark on your departure date and "reserve" space on the outbound flight. You can then call back again on the next week (when the return flight date opens up) and complete the reservation.

I hope this helps.

 

[hercamore]

Isn't Delta part of the Norwest Sky team alliance?

Can you use these miles on another airline that is on the "sky team". Maybe you don't want to since you have so many other people going.

Hope this works out for you.

herc

 

[javaj]

I agree about it being a big pain. I think it depends on where you're flying from because I've heard other people say they haven't had mucy trouble.

I have 110000 miles and have the same problem. All the economy flights available (if any availability of course) have 2 stops (from Colorado to MCO). What I'm trying to figure out now is how to get 25000 more miles so we can get 3 First-Class tickets instead (need 45K miles for each ticket) since first class awards seem to have better routes (only 1 stop) and availability.

Good luck!

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

We had great success last year using miles about 2 months out. Not sure if it was a fluke but I got 4 r/t on our preferred times.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Does Delta even have nonstops for that route? If so, I would get the FF seats w/1 stop and waitlist for the nonstop flights. Also, make sure you call back on a regular basis and see what the status is. Have them check w/all codeshare airlines as well -- Northwest, Continental, etc.

 

[suzjoh]

Delta/song and AA both have several nonstops daily from logan.
I guess they make it easier to buy the ticket @ $155.00.

 

[fac]

I was able to fly Delta using northwest skymiles last month and made the reservation about 1 to 2 weeks in advanced for 4 tickets to Vegas and it was my first time using an airline FF program.

In the Northwest web site, they allow you to enter the date and the time, I found out that it gave me more options if I entered say morning or afternoon, instead of using Anytime. I am not sure how this work in the Delta web site.

 

[dreams91]

Yep, get rid of them an use the Capital One. You can fly any airline with them!

 

[CarolMN]

Orlando and Las Vegas are very difficult to get on most all airlines unless you use the "double miles" option. Here's a recent article published on the CNN website that you may find of interest:


Strategy Key to Frequent-Flyer Game

Best wishes -

 

[goin2disneyagain]

Sometimes it is better to not book 331 days in advance and book it closer in instead. It never hurts to keep checking. Also, just because your return date is not available doesn't mean you can't put your outbound flight on hold while you wait for the return flight date to become available.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yes you can use Delta SM on Northwest as well as, I want to say Continental,--but you have to ask the agent to check for flights with the alliance partners.

Problem with the waiting a week to book the return....a domestic ticket is 25,000 points, whether you do one way or round trip. Once you cash those points on the reservation--I am not sure you can go back and add the return trip a week later.

Most major airlines use the hub and spoke system (in our newspaper today ). They will fly you from origin to hub to destination. Hence your dilemma in flying a direct flight as neither Boston or Orlando are hubs for Delta. Northwest, you most likely will have to connect through Memphis or Minneapolis, not sure what the hub for Continental is. You may just have to face the fact that if you wish to use your miles, you will have to make a connection. Connections don't have to be a headache.

I just hope delta is around by the time I have enough skymiles to cash in for an airline ticket I am so glad we got the Hilton Honors Amex instead of Skymiles. We have been reaping the rewards without any headaches with our HH points. You used to be able to exchange skymiles for points but aren't allowed any longer. You might want to check into other hotel rewards programs if you find you still cannot successfully redeem your miles for points.

One last note--miles seats on flights are not free for alls. They only have limited mileage seats per flight and once they are gone--that's it. Medallion members have better luck as they have higher priority--but I'm not sure how luckier they do get.

 

[fac]

Originally posted by Lisa loves Pooh
Yes you can use Delta SM on Northwest as well as, I want to say Continental,--but you have to ask the agent to check for flights with the alliance partners.

In my case, I did not have too much luck with the agent. When I booked NorthWest about a month ago, the web site showed Delta flight available, but I did not like the schedule, hence I called NorthWest, they told me the NorthWest flight schedule that I already knew, I asked them about any Delta schedule, in fact, specifically pointed to the time that I saw on the web site. The agent told me flat out that no Delta flight was available. I went back to book through the web site.

 

[shoes99]

I was planning on using my Delta miles for a Feb flight to SNA John Wayne Orange County in Feb. Delta only has connecting flight from EWR to SNA, so I booked on the partner airline Continental and got nonstop flights. I used 25,000 for each ticket plus $5.00 security fee.
I really wanted nonstop flights so I am pleased and we are going to the Chip & Dale pin event at Disneyland.

 

[HM]

I read something recently that said it's easier to use your miles if you call closer to your vacation time (not at the year out as we've been told previously).

Also, try calling and talking with a Delta agent and be very flexible with dates. They usually can find something.

My family made flight arrangement for a flight from the US to London a few years ago, about 3 weeks out and were able to get 3 free seats round-trip, the fourth was paid by DH's office.
We had to move the trip about four days from our ideal dates, but we were able to do it. The agent that helped me on the phone really tried hard to get us something and it worked great.

Good luck with your trip. I hope you'll be able to use them.

-HM

 

[suzjoh]

Well, I purchased the tickets through Delta. Got 1000 free miles per ticket purchased so I have 8000 miles. That will bring me close to 100,000. The tx were only 155.00.
We will just use the sky choice for a future flight. Maybe just for the 2 of us.
Thanks for all your ideas. I will keep them in mind when I book tickets in the future.
Suzz