Transferring Delta SkyMiles to UAL
Aug 14, 2012, 1:55 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Littleton, CO
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 18
Transferring Delta SkyMiles to UAL
I know this has been a thread in the past, but I'm looking for help on moving ~300K dormant SkyMiles into MileagePlus. I have no real way to utilize this quantity of miles, and I am planning some big mileage spends with MileagePlus, for which this would be a huge benefit.
Any and all options would be considered - I am Denver-based, HHonors member... Thanks gang!
Any and all options would be considered - I am Denver-based, HHonors member... Thanks gang!
Aug 14, 2012, 3:19 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: DEN
Programs: United Premier 1K, Marriott Platinum, Frontier, Delta, Hertz Gold, National Emerald Club
Posts: 928
I know this has been a thread in the past, but I'm looking for help on moving ~300K dormant SkyMiles into MileagePlus. I have no real way to utilize this quantity of miles, and I am planning some big mileage spends with MileagePlus, for which this would be a huge benefit.
Any and all options would be considered - I am Denver-based, HHonors member... Thanks gang!
Any and all options would be considered - I am Denver-based, HHonors member... Thanks gang!
If it was anywhere near 1 for 1, every DL medallion would trade every sky peso they had for the greatly more valuable UA miles.
I have 160k DL miles to put my money where my mouth is. Would trade them straight up for UA miles in a heartbeat.
Aug 14, 2012, 4:32 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: N Charleston South Carolina
Programs: UA PM (by 2MM), DL GM (by 3.5MM), Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,655
It's not so much the desire to go somewhere on DL's route map but the inability to find award space without having to pay exorbitant rates.
It's so much easier to find award space on UA compared to DL. And the one way awards are so much more flexible than just round trips.
Billy
It's so much easier to find award space on UA compared to DL. And the one way awards are so much more flexible than just round trips.
Billy
Aug 14, 2012, 4:43 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
Aug 14, 2012, 4:45 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
It's not so much the desire to go somewhere on DL's route map but the inability to find award space without having to pay exorbitant rates.
It's so much easier to find award space on UA compared to DL. And the one way awards are so much more flexible than just round trips.
Billy
It's so much easier to find award space on UA compared to DL. And the one way awards are so much more flexible than just round trips.
Billy
Aug 14, 2012, 4:50 pm
#7
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,855
believe Delta's program is the same as UA's program, miles can not be transferred out. Nicknamed -- blackhole programs.
Aug 14, 2012, 4:50 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA 1K MM | Marriott LTT | National Car EE
Posts: 694
i was doing some award booking research for my folks who still have a ton of miles on DL for a month long trip to Asia in Y (HKG + SIN) with rates like 140 miles per pax, and 2 stop routings. then i went to UA and found better routings for 65K per pax.
i have about 70K+ DL miles that i don't plan on using any time soon. i thought about going down to ATL to see some friends and realized i would burn nearly all of those miles on one RT with DL in Y whereas I could theoretically get 3x RT in Y with UA for a similar amount of UA miles.
i have about 70K+ DL miles that i don't plan on using any time soon. i thought about going down to ATL to see some friends and realized i would burn nearly all of those miles on one RT with DL in Y whereas I could theoretically get 3x RT in Y with UA for a similar amount of UA miles.
Aug 14, 2012, 5:39 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Littleton, CO
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 18
Just to clarify, I am 1K on United and have ZERO status on DL.
It is not so much the choice of destinations between UA & DL; with my UA 1K, I have zero fees and complete ability to change/redeposit miles, etc as I see fit.
It is not so much the choice of destinations between UA & DL; with my UA 1K, I have zero fees and complete ability to change/redeposit miles, etc as I see fit.
Aug 14, 2012, 6:07 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,482
The only way is via www.points.com. Exchange rates is variable. Current rate is DL 2K to UA 1K with $50 fee. Your DL 300K will become UA 150K with fee of $7,500.
Some airlines, not DL and UA, allow transfer via hotel or credit card programs without fee. However, you usually end up with 5-20% of miles.
For example, if you have AA 300K, you can transfer them to UA via Diners and Marriott at AA 50K to UA 10K. Your AA 300K will become UA 60K miles.
Last edited by TerryK; Aug 15, 2012 at 4:36 am
Aug 14, 2012, 6:10 pm
#11
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,855
... The only way is via www.points.com. ...
Aug 14, 2012, 7:03 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
Aug 14, 2012, 7:09 pm
#13
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 1,627
Aug 14, 2012, 7:32 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Programs: UA GS, AA Exec Plat, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 348
There isn't going to be a good way of turning DL pts into UA pts, but I would say the best value you can get out of your 300k Skymiles is 3 J tickets to Europe. If your flexible it's not that hard to find some destinations to Europe with low award availability. For Asia you can try CZ's new LAX-CAN route and KE during non-blackout days. In general finding Asia awards on DL metal is not easy.
Aug 14, 2012, 7:53 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: LAX IAH AMS
Programs: UA GS 1MM
Posts: 1,267
BINGO!!! I am in the same exact boat... was Diamond on DL a few years ago so I have 200k+ left over.... stopped flying because I relocated for work. I mess around with award tickets every now and then... they want something like 200,000 miles for IAH-MSP-NRT in biz or 150,000 miles to go to hawaii from IAH.
Im not a fool.... there is no way i'd waste the miles on that!