Booking Partner Award on Delta for South America?
Aug 22, 2014, 5:23 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
Booking Partner Award on Delta for South America?
I travel a lot between the US and Brazil, and noticed that roundtrip Delta flights to South America are listed as only 45000 miles as a Virgin Atlantic partner redemption. Theoretically, this is a great rate and much better than the average of 60K. I could shift my efforts towards getting Virgin Atlantic miles such as the BofA Visa.
However, after reading through the forum it seems award availability may be an issue. I am not looking for complicated itineraries, just GRU-LAX/SAN or GRU-NYC/BOS. So anyone have any experience with this? I can grab the BofA Visa and try it out, but any tips would be great!
However, after reading through the forum it seems award availability may be an issue. I am not looking for complicated itineraries, just GRU-LAX/SAN or GRU-NYC/BOS. So anyone have any experience with this? I can grab the BofA Visa and try it out, but any tips would be great!
Aug 22, 2014, 11:00 pm
#2
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
FWIW, during 6 1/2 months of the year, AA only charges 40K AA miles for the roundtrip in Economy class:
http://www.aa.com/i18n/disclaimers/a...rtnerChart.jsp
FWIW, during 6 1/2 months of the year, AA only charges 40K AA miles for the roundtrip in Economy class:
http://www.aa.com/i18n/disclaimers/a...rtnerChart.jsp
Aug 23, 2014, 7:53 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
Ah, yes, my life would be easier if at least 75% of my travel did not fall on those dates 
I also found Aeromexico at 45K if I fly to LAX and 50K if LAN, but award availability through LAN is very spotty and the same with Aeromexico (and you have to call and book rewards as well).
I'm going to go ahead and get the BofA card and call in and try out some dates in December. Too bad there is no card for Delta like the Citi AA Exec or United Club that gets you real elite benefits!
I also found Aeromexico at 45K if I fly to LAX and 50K if LAN, but award availability through LAN is very spotty and the same with Aeromexico (and you have to call and book rewards as well).
I'm going to go ahead and get the BofA card and call in and try out some dates in December. Too bad there is no card for Delta like the Citi AA Exec or United Club that gets you real elite benefits!
Aug 23, 2014, 12:42 pm
#4
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Aug 23, 2014, 3:00 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
I did miss this. Hmm, a little harder to justify than the others for international travel, especially given I already have the Amex Platnium and its sign up bonus is lackluster.
Even so, it is much better than nothing should booking Delta through Virgin Atlantic works out. Especially for manufacture spend, 1.5 miles per dollar at $90 a year is great if the 45K redemption works out.
I guess not many people have experience with this particular transaction so I will be sure to come back and post my results when I figure it out!
Even so, it is much better than nothing should booking Delta through Virgin Atlantic works out. Especially for manufacture spend, 1.5 miles per dollar at $90 a year is great if the 45K redemption works out.
I guess not many people have experience with this particular transaction so I will be sure to come back and post my results when I figure it out!
Aug 24, 2014, 12:13 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
Well, in case anyone pulls this thread up later, I would not recommend Flying Club for partner rewards between South America and the US. No partner award availability (Delta) was in their system for either LAX or NYC, so I have to assume it is fairly sparse!