Why are Delta's SkyMiles called SkyPesos?
#151
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Look around a bit more. A few months ago, you couldn't avoid seeing a new thread or more per day that claimed DL miles were "worthless". Most often, the assertion was broad - not specific to international travel. As the vast majority of Delta's revenue and routes are domestic, it is silly to focus on international-only. Both matter.
#152
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I saw this interesting post in this thread and thought we could apply the same logic to DL and see what happens.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...lidated-9.html
For DL to reach DM,
Miles value for 125k = 125,000 miles + 75k bonus from 50k = 200k miles
EVIPs - outside value = zero, to owner, ~1000? due to high M fare
Waived fees, upgrades, F lounge etc = $4000 I think upgrades for GM, PM on DL en route to DM are also much better than to a plat on AA (does not exist)
so a DM is worth about 7-8000$, say 7500$, or 125k MQM = 7500$ or 6 cpmqm.
This is why DL miles are worth less (I agree with not worthless).
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...lidated-9.html
For DL to reach DM,
Miles value for 125k = 125,000 miles + 75k bonus from 50k = 200k miles
EVIPs - outside value = zero, to owner, ~1000? due to high M fare
Waived fees, upgrades, F lounge etc = $4000 I think upgrades for GM, PM on DL en route to DM are also much better than to a plat on AA (does not exist)
so a DM is worth about 7-8000$, say 7500$, or 125k MQM = 7500$ or 6 cpmqm.
This is why DL miles are worth less (I agree with not worthless).
And because you need the stickers, the upgrades have a better chance of happening.
(Except for some EXP heavy routes like LAX-JFK on a Sunday evening!)
#153
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No. WSJ and some other rankings compared apples to oranges, including their failure to differentiate close-in from advance redemption, and international from domestic. Also, UA/CO low/saver inventory has lessened while DL's has lessened to a lesser extent (i.e., DL hasn't improved availability - rather, it has remained more firm than others because of their policy change to prevent sub-72-hour free award changes).
#154
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No. WSJ and some other rankings compared apples to oranges, including their failure to differentiate close-in from advance redemption, and international from domestic. Also, UA/CO low/saver inventory has lessened while DL's has lessened to a lesser extent (i.e., DL hasn't improved availability - rather, it has remained more firm than others because of their policy change to prevent sub-72-hour free award changes).
#155
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Unless you are an elite or spend a ton on your credit card you it is the best you can hope for
#156
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#157
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Flew biz DEN-DUB @ 100K last spring ^. Going to PRG in April.....100K, biz again ^.
FWIW, the best deal I'm seeing is CO awards.
FWIW, the best deal I'm seeing is CO awards.
#158
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Thw WSJ is a reputable group, I'm sure they realize that majority of FF would like both domestic and intl awards. They also realize that intl awards represent greater savings and obviously they will consider that more important than domestic. The only good thing about DL is last minute awards. This is to me the only area in which they sort of exceed others. With the recent rule of no changes 3 days prior to departure, even this aspect is not much to talk about.
So it is natural for WSJ to look at carriers from both the domestic and intl award aspects.
1. You do not have to make any trips, i.e. all your trips are completely optional /leisure.
2. You travel equally between domestic and intl destinations
3. You have the chance to collect only one airline's miles
Which airline would you choose?
Last edited by UA Fan; Feb 16, 2012 at 8:12 pm
#159
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Assuming the following:
1. You did not have to make any trips, i.e. all your trips were completely optional /leisure (i.e. you have no friends or relatives outside of your town),
2. and if you want to travel equally between domestic and intly destinations
3. You have the chance to collect only one airline's miles
Which airline would you choose?
1. You did not have to make any trips, i.e. all your trips were completely optional /leisure (i.e. you have no friends or relatives outside of your town),
2. and if you want to travel equally between domestic and intly destinations
3. You have the chance to collect only one airline's miles
Which airline would you choose?
In reality, my situation is that 90% of my trips are domestic, 50% are leisure (many miles redeemed for friends/family/employees, too), and about 30% are last minute. As a DM, I've never missed an upgrade on a coach award (GMs I redeem for have about 50% success in getting into F), and about 80% of the time I redeem at the 25K level, 15%+ at 32.5K. My cost of acquiring SkyMiles, largely because I use branded credit cards + various promos, is about *half* that of my cost of UA miles, about 2/3 of my AA mile cost, and about 80% of what I spend to acquire US miles. Certainly not everyone has the same situation, but for me, DL is a no-brainer.
#160
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I would choose UA/CO, based on assumption #2 about international destinations.
#161
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We have gone over this time and time again, even in this aspect US matches DL, and with redemptions on Star, going with US is a no brainer.
There you go, for a FF who is part of the majority you admit DL is not the best, so now do you understand why DL deserves to be at the bottom?
#163
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And in honor of Skypesos, FTers have started nicknaming India's Jet Airways as well:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/airli...alue-post.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/airli...alue-post.html
#164
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Then they should be called SkyRubles (Russian Money) there was a time they were 1to 1 with $, after USSR fell apart, they were devalued many times over.
#165
No. WSJ and some other rankings compared apples to oranges, including their failure to differentiate close-in from advance redemption, and international from domestic. Also, UA/CO low/saver inventory has lessened while DL's has lessened to a lesser extent (i.e., DL hasn't improved availability - rather, it has remained more firm than others because of their policy change to prevent sub-72-hour free award changes).
At AA.com, choose the same SEA-ATl and the award is 50K.
This is the norm I see out of Seattle. I rarely see Delta availability. In fact the only way I use Delta awards is using Delta miles for partner redemptions AF/KLM or AS.