If you fly on Delta and live in ATL I can't believe you don't have a skymiles card already. The benefits are real, companion ticket, free bags, can get into skyclub for reduced amount. Think you get a break on shopping and drinks on board (20% off?), combine with skymiles dining for more miles.

The miles can be hard to spend for airfare but if you book early enough you won't have a problem. I too my kids to London for 60k miles each round trip and that was on Virgin Altantic which is better service than Delta. I'm looking to go to europe again and I see that I can get a one way trip to some cities for 30k miles, I'd fly standby coming back if I did that.