MilesBuzz! - Delta Sky Miles-Any way to convert to AA Miles?

Please excuse this newbie if I have missed information on this topic that can be found in other threads.:confused:

Is there any way to convert Delta Sky Miles to American Airlines Advantage miles? My husband has about 50,000 Sky Miles (yes, I know this is a relatively small number) that we'd really like to see if we could convert to AA miles as we're currently planning a 2008 trip from the U.S. to India and sure don't want to travel coach. :( (We did that to South Africa several years ago and both of us almost died.) We will probably end up going to India on American or American and BA.

I know there are web sites where you can pay a fee and then barter (for a fee) your unwanted miles or points with someone else who has the miles or points you're looking for. However, I am uneasy about the fraud potential in such an arrangement plus I just have to think there's another alternative out there somewhere!

Any and all feedback appreciated!

Welcome to FlyerTalk.

According to webflyer (http://webflyer.com/programs/mileage_converter/), you can't convert out of Delta into anything else. I think your only option is to trade tickets for upgrade instruments, but you don't have enough time and posts to do it on this bulletin board.

Welcome to FlyerTalk.

According to webflyer (http://webflyer.com/programs/mileage_converter/), you can't convert out of Delta into anything else. I think your only option is to trade tickets for upgrade instruments, but you don't have enough time and posts to do it on this bulletin board.

Thanks for your feedback. Yes, I'd seen that webflyer page. What do you mean when you say "upgrade instruments"?

Thanks for your feedback. Yes, I'd seen that webflyer page. What do you mean when you say "upgrade instruments"?

I don't know how AA operates, but with UA, you can upgrade someone else with your miles, a CR-1, or a SWU, depending on the flight and fare booked.

Yeah, don't pay services online some silly fees for this... Instead, get creative and assertive and be prepared to deal with people who will communicate with you if you try to trade with them.

I would think you can find someone you know like a co worker, friend or family member who can use your delta miles... for example, a RT coach to europe on partner Northwest will take my wife to see her family from BOS-AMS... or maybe get me a ticket to join them should we be short an award, but hey, that's just our own situation... ;) And we dont mind coach for the 7hr direct trip that crosses the Atlantic.

Then in return, without telling airlines about it, that person kinda owes you mojo... money, karma, miles, fine wine, sex, etc. (:D ) Should they have loads of AA miles, they can get YOUR tickets and then you may owe THEM something else because 50k DL miles is not worth the same as the coveted business class trip to a far off destination such as yours. But who knows what is worth what. Use this site to gauge value and good luck with it all mate! Most of all, welcome to FT!

;)MM

Hi

Well...i wanted to let you know that miles of one airline can not be converted into others if they does not have alliance with each other or any specific group...??Niether Delta nor AA has any sort of network and mostly they operate independently..its possible with carriers having STAR ALLIANCE membership and not otherwise...!!And both Delta and AA are definetly not a star alliance member...

Thank You

miles of one airline can not be converted into others if they does not have alliance with each other or any specific group

There seems to be confusion. American Airlines is a member of the OneWorld alliance, and Delta is a member of the Skyteam alliance. Alliance membership allows you to redeem miles earned on one carrier for an award on another member of the same alliance. However, the subject of this thread is transfer of miles to another program.

Delta does not permit Skymiles to be transferred to any other program, no exceptions. American does allow limited amounts of miles to be transferred to Diners Club, Hilton HHonors, and Intercontinetal Hotel Group, and from these programs the points can be converted to miles in other airline programs. This means it would be possible to convert American AAdvantage miles to Delta Skymiles, albiet with at least 50% reduction in value, but it is not possible to convert Skymiles to any other program.

I don't know how AA operates, but with UA, you can upgrade someone else with your miles, a CR-1, or a SWU, depending on the flight and fare booked.

True but unless I'm mistaken here, "gifting" miles gets real expensive :( when you're flying as far as the U.S. to India and back, which is what my husband and I are trying to sock miles away for.

Yeah, don't pay services online some silly fees for this... Instead, get creative and assertive and be prepared to deal with people who will communicate with you if you try to trade with them.

I would think you can find someone you know like a co worker, friend or family member who can use your delta miles... for example, a RT coach to europe on partner Northwest will take my wife to see her family from BOS-AMS... or maybe get me a ticket to join them should we be short an award, but hey, that's just our own situation... ;) And we dont mind coach for the 7hr direct trip that crosses the Atlantic.

Then in return, without telling airlines about it, that person kinda owes you mojo... money, karma, miles, fine wine, sex, etc. (:D ) Should they have loads of AA miles, they can get YOUR tickets and then you may owe THEM something else because 50k DL miles is not worth the same as the coveted business class trip to a far off destination such as yours. But who knows what is worth what. Use this site to gauge value and good luck with it all mate! Most of all, welcome to FT!

;)MM
Good idea re: trading off miles with a family member of colleague ... I really hadn't thought about that. And like you, we can suck up the stresses of a 7-8 hour flight in coach from the U.S. to Europe but cannot countenance a 14-15 hour flight in coach from this country to India. Several years ago when we flew 15+ hours in coach to South Africa :( :( :( :td: (never again!), I really wasn't sure what my name was :confused: when we got to Jo'burg.

Oh and thanks for your warm welcome ... :)

There seems to be confusion. American Airlines is a member of the OneWorld alliance, and Delta is a member of the Skyteam alliance. Alliance membership allows you to redeem miles earned on one carrier for an award on another member of the same alliance. However, the subject of this thread is transfer of miles to another program.

Delta does not permit Skymiles to be transferred to any other program, no exceptions. American does allow limited amounts of miles to be transferred to Diners Club, Hilton HHonors, and Intercontinetal Hotel Group, and from these programs the points can be converted to miles in other airline programs. This means it would be possible to convert American AAdvantage miles to Delta Skymiles, albiet with at least 50% reduction in value, but it is not possible to convert Skymiles to any other program.

Yeah ... I'm afraid the possibility of transferring SkyMiles like almost anywhere, much less to somewhere I could access them through American, is DOA.

Good idea re: trading off miles with a family member of colleague ... I really hadn't thought about that. And like you, we can suck up the stresses of a 7-8 hour flight in coach from the U.S. to Europe but cannot countenance a 14-15 hour flight in coach from this country to India. Several years ago when we flew 15+ hours in coach to South Africa :( :( :( :td: (never again!), I really wasn't sure what my name was :confused: when we got to Jo'burg.

Oh and thanks for your warm welcome ... :)

your welcome. to stop further confusion and banter, I really think your best (only) bet here is to trade awards with someone you trust/know.

my good friend books me NW flights cuz he has lots of miles with them and never flies them now. I get him back w/AA or other deals.

btw we flew coach from Europe to Australia once. 2 12hr flights...BUT it was Singapore airlines so that's kinda like being in business class!

ohhhh I almost forgot... I THINK Singapore Airlines has a DL partnership still. If someone you know has 50k United, you could book on Singapore and so could they and you both could fly from the States to Europe for a ski trip on the same Singapore airlines plane. An example of this could involve both of you leaving from NY and that way you enjoy the miles and can find other ways to handle your other planned trip across the world. For that one, I'd start by earning TONS of points and miles with a credit card. The AA one gives you 20k on sign up and so does United. The Starwood AMEX is the best though because hotel points from them can be converted to miles and they give the best rates for that sort of thing, plus they are a great chain.

:)MM