What Choice Benefits for 2016
Apr 28, 2015, 4:18 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: DL Diamond and MM, UA 1K, Marriott LTT
Posts: 133
What Choice Benefits for 2016
I started flying Delta last May after 6 year hiatus. I made DM by October and have just made DM again for 2016.
Last year I chose the $200 E certs and the GUC's.
I still have two GUC's left.
What are you guys choosing for your benefits this year? Just looking for opinions on the best way to use them.
Thank you.
Last year I chose the $200 E certs and the GUC's.
I still have two GUC's left.
What are you guys choosing for your benefits this year? Just looking for opinions on the best way to use them.
Thank you.
Apr 28, 2015, 6:52 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Tricoastal - London, New York, Silicon Valley
Programs: DL DM/2.5MM, 20 Years Top Tier on DL, UA 1K, AC E75k, MR/SPG Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 1,309
I used to to GM for wife and the GUCs. For me, the GUCs can be used every year. Since GM is so devalued and since Ms. TFD almost always flies in paid F anyway, I'm just going to go with the ecerts and the GUCs for 2015 and 2016.
Please note that you should wait as long as possible to select the GUCs since they are only good for one year from date of issue. This is why I have yet to select my 2015 benefits on the website.
TFD
Please note that you should wait as long as possible to select the GUCs since they are only good for one year from date of issue. This is why I have yet to select my 2015 benefits on the website.
TFD
Apr 28, 2015, 7:20 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: DL Diamond and MM, UA 1K, Marriott LTT
Posts: 133
I used to to GM for wife and the GUCs. For me, the GUCs can be used every year. Since GM is so devalued and since Ms. TFD almost always flies in paid F anyway, I'm just going to go with the ecerts and the GUCs for 2015 and 2016.
Please note that you should wait as long as possible to select the GUCs since they are only good for one year from date of issue. This is why I have yet to select my 2015 benefits on the website.
TFD
Please note that you should wait as long as possible to select the GUCs since they are only good for one year from date of issue. This is why I have yet to select my 2015 benefits on the website.
TFD
GUC's are by far the best value.
What about miles vs e cert? Since the miles don't expire and could potentially be worth more than the $200 e cert, the miles may be the better choice.
Apr 28, 2015, 10:47 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Seattle, 98155
Programs: Now MGM/Hyatt/IHG Gold Previously: DL DM, DL Reserve, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLAT, M Life PLAT, IHG PLAT
Posts: 649
I did GUC and 25k miles, worth more then $200 for me
GUC is awesome for me and my bf who pay 450 for SFO-SVO RT
GUC is awesome for me and my bf who pay 450 for SFO-SVO RT
Apr 29, 2015, 4:10 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: SEA once more (previously CDG and NRT)
Programs: Former DL DM and UA 1k, now a J class free agent (UA Gold, AS MVP Gold)
Posts: 2,450
For me, everything is transatlantic, so GUC and GM for the spouse were easy decisions to make for DM benefits.
Still haven't figured out what I'll choose for My PM choice benefits.
Still haven't figured out what I'll choose for My PM choice benefits.
Apr 29, 2015, 5:51 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Here
Posts: 224
I used this last year on an AF codeshare through AMEX travel. Since my company paid for my fare, I got my wife in BC for around $1K. And yes, discounted BC fares count - you just cannot buy through an OTA (i.e. Orbitz, etc.)
Apr 29, 2015, 6:22 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, DL MM
Posts: 4,246
One thing to consider: with the Platinum AMEX IAP, you can buy 1 discounted BC ticket and get 1 for the "fees" (i.e., reasonably priced). With planning, you can get a R/T for you and you +1 for premium economy prices and not have to play "upgrade roulette".
I used this last year on an AF codeshare through AMEX travel. Since my company paid for my fare, I got my wife in BC for around $1K. And yes, discounted BC fares count - you just cannot buy through an OTA (i.e. Orbitz, etc.)
I used this last year on an AF codeshare through AMEX travel. Since my company paid for my fare, I got my wife in BC for around $1K. And yes, discounted BC fares count - you just cannot buy through an OTA (i.e. Orbitz, etc.)
Last edited by FlyAO2; Apr 29, 2015 at 11:10 am
Apr 29, 2015, 6:31 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ATL
Programs: 4MM/DM, Marriott Lifetime PM, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,370
I chose the same DM benefits but this year for PM I gifted SM to my daughter. She is going to be flying a little this year so free 1st bag and a small chance of an upgrade was my gift to her.
Apr 29, 2015, 6:39 am
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
I do the GUCs and then debate with myself over the $200 DL voucher or 25,000 miles. The miles are worth more, but I earn miles faster than I can use them, so $200 off a leisure ticket can be nice. For PM choice benefits, it's $200 versus only 20,000 miles, so the $200 DL voucher looks better if I don't take the RUCs, which are much better than 20,000 miles for domestic upgrades.
Apr 29, 2015, 6:45 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Here
Posts: 224
But than again, I have been an AMEX Platinum member for only 19 years, so I could be mistaken.
Apr 29, 2015, 11:11 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, DL MM
Posts: 4,246
Sorry, you are wrong. In my experience, it was honored for an "I" class fare (Discounted BC fare with a change penalty). Even after I clarified that I thought it had to be a fully refundable fare.
But than again, I have been an AMEX Platinum member for only 19 years, so I could be mistaken.
But than again, I have been an AMEX Platinum member for only 19 years, so I could be mistaken.
Are you saying that AMEX gave you a free companian ticket on a discounted I fare class through the IAP? No chance....19 years or not, you are mistaken
http://iap.americanexpress.com/
Apr 29, 2015, 1:43 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Here
Posts: 224
My post said that AMEX requires a "non-refundable fare" when I meant to say "refundable fare."
Are you saying that AMEX gave you a free companian ticket on a discounted I fare class through the IAP? No chance....19 years or not, you are mistaken
http://iap.americanexpress.com/
Are you saying that AMEX gave you a free companian ticket on a discounted I fare class through the IAP? No chance....19 years or not, you are mistaken
http://iap.americanexpress.com/
Try talking to an actual person; it does pay off.
Apr 29, 2015, 3:29 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, DL MM
Posts: 4,246
That is exactly what I am saying. And it happened. Called AMEX with the flights and price for the discounted BC fare (non-refundable) and asked whether it qualified under the IAP. The response was that as long as it was not purchased from an OTA like Expedia or Orbitz, it was legit.
Try talking to an actual person; it does pay off.
Try talking to an actual person; it does pay off.