What the best way to get Delta flights using FF miles?

[lovesdumbo]

I have 70,000 frequent flyer miles on Delta. I am planning a trip this Oct and will be flying Delta's Song. The only way I could get a FF ticket would be to use Skychoice miles and it would cost me 50,000 miles which I don't want to do for a $200 ticket. I am also planning a trip for Oct 2005. Can I book a FF ticket 331 days out? What do you think my chances of getting 3 skysaver tickets (25,000 miles) on the same flight if I book as soon as the dates are available?

I have 70,000 miles now and was thinking of accepting the credit card offer which would give me 10,000 at first use to get me up over the 75,000. I think I'll just be short after this Oct's flight.

Thanks for advice.

 

[pumpkinboy]

If you want to fly direct for the 25,000, you must book at 331 days, or darn close to it. In high demand times like school vacations, even calling the moment the fares go up (at midnight) may not get you one.

Here's an example: We has 100,000 SkyMiles and wanted to get direct flights for April vacation 2005 for all four of us. So I called 331 days in advance @3AM, and there were all of 2 SkySaver awards on one of the Song flights for our flight down (fortunately that one flight was the one we wanted anyway). So I pounced on them both, and calculate the minute I would need to call for the return ticket. For the return, I called @Midnight, and there was 1 SkyMiles ticket available for a direct flight for that whole day!

So here is what we got: 1 SkySaver r-t ticket @25,000 miles, 1 SkyChoice ticket @50,000 and two cash tickets at $580 apiece. With the high price of tix for the better times that week, I didn't have any problem using 50,000 (I usually equate 1 SkyMile = 1 penny). If fares go down after Delta goes into bankruptcy (which I'm am counting on), I'll just get store credit on Song (which is fine bcs we're definately going back soon).

For October '04, you are likely out of luck, unless you don't mind a connection. Fall 2005 might be possible tho. But then, tix are cheap for that time, so you might just want to buy them (on Song or JetBlue or even SouthWest). When pricing things out, use the 1 SkyMile = 1 penny equation, and see if it's worth it.

As for the credit card, there are better deals out there. With Delta so stingy on the award tickets, I think the AmEx Rewards Plus card might be a better deal. With the AmEx points, you can use them in a host of different FF programs and FF awards, including Continental, SouthWest, Air France and my personal favorite, Swiss. You can also use them in frequest guest programs, including Starwood, Hilton and Marriott. Or you could do the no fee AMEx Blue Cash card, which nets you cash rewards, and just pay for tickets when you want them.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Pumpkinboy-thanks for the quick and informative response.

But I'm still a bit confused. Say I call 331 days out for my flight down to MCO and are able to get skysaver tickets (25,000 pts for R-T). Can I hold off booking the return flight til its 331 days out for that? Or do I just wait til its 331 days out for return trip and book the round trip?

I was thinking of getting the credit card and using it just 1 time to get me up over 75,000 miles. I've been using my Disney Visa-yes there are probably better deals out there but I like it.

 

[safetymom]

A great site to learn the ins and outs of accumulating miles, getting award tickets, etc. is www.flyertalk.com

Look under airline programs and then you will find Delta. You will be a wiz before you know it with getting miles.

 

[erikthewise]

I booked a FF flight on Delta last year at 331 days out. I did it shortly after midnight, and got it for 25000 miles. The next morning, less than 12 hours later, I checked again and the flight was no longer available for 25K miles. According to the seating chart my single seat was the only one taken. So apparently there was only one seat on this flight available for standard FF. That's how the major airlines play these days. And that's why I have no interest in a credit card that gives FF miles.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

lovesdumbo,

Yes, you can hold that flight (departing) until 331 days out on your return. They will not deduct the miles or ticket the reservation until you book your return, so you can cancel if you choose without a penalty.

We also had a hard time flying Easter break 2005. We could get seats down to Miami, but nothing back. We finally took seats on a flight leaving from an airport further from our home. We booked both times at 12:05 am 331 days out.

I like the Disney Visa too. You can use the points anytime you want.

 

[seashoreCM]

You may have to book the tickets one at a time, possibly on different flights. If you try to book for the whole family and there is one fewer seat than you need, the system quickly says "not available". For cheap seats the system quickly quotes you a higher price category.

SOme other web site, I forget where, had the suggestion of trying between 12:01 and 1 AM. This is when people tend to forget about paying for the ticket that was being held until midnight. They suggested Wednesday, I don't understand why that day made a difference. This is supposed to be a strategy for cheap seats but it is worth a try for free seats too.

Also try the afternoon or evening of the 332'nd day out.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[PatMcDuck]

We got Delta (direct) flights to MCO by being flexible on the airport......... we usually use Newark (NJ), but also checked Philly, LaGuardia, and JFK. We ended up using JFK to get direct flights. I got 3 tickets on my mile,s and booked 3 on cast (cheap, too, same flight, $180 or so).

We are in central NJ, so we were able to do this.

 

[pumpkinboy]

letsbgoofy and seashorecm are exactly right: Book the outbound seats right as they come out at 331 days, and have them hold them until you secure the return leg 331 days before the return. It also may be worth checking on the afternoon of day -332.

I agree with you about the Disney Visa tho; we love it and use it lots. Our primary card is the AmEx Rewards Plus card, esp where they give us double miles for gas stations, supermarkets and pharmacy purchases. Since we're gonna get APs this year and will be going to WDW a lot, we have shifted many purchases where we would not get double miles over to the Disney Visa.

Good luck with your travel planning.

 

[DaveO]

I have become so disgusted with Delta FF that I just cancelled my AMEX. I have taken 5 trips in the last 16 months and NEVER have been able to use the 'budget' miles - even with being flexible. My recomendation .... SW Card. I charged the same amount as my AMEX and was easily able to book THREE free seats non stop to MCO from PVD. That is only after 1 year of card use! I have 150,000 miles that I basically can not use. I am going to have to bite the bullet and use the expensive miles.

Dave O.