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-   -   Using Skymiles or buying a ticket? (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta-air-lines-skymiles/1133593-using-skymiles-buying-ticket.html)

DawnCt Oct 5, 2010 11:43 am
Using Skymiles or buying a ticket?
 
We are late planning our cruise, thus late planning the airfare. There are three of us. I can't use my $99 companion ticket to get back home (no afternoon flights). The RT fare is about $288 pp. The mileage cost is 40K. Would you purchase with $$$ or miles? thanks.

akonradi Oct 5, 2010 11:50 am
Most here tend to value their miles at around $0.01 each. At that rate, you could probably do better in finding ways to redeem them. Of course, if you're happy with that price in miles, it's ultimately your call.

For 40k miles, one could redeem over $300 in gift cards from the skymiles marketplace (provided that you have medallion status).

DawnCt Oct 5, 2010 11:58 am
Originally Posted by akonradi (Post 14891331)
Most here tend to value their miles at around $0.01 each. At that rate, you could probably do better in finding ways to redeem them. Of course, if you're happy with that price in miles, it's ultimately your call.

For 40k miles, one could redeem over $300 in gift cards from the skymiles marketplace (provided that you have medallion status).
I have medallion status, I am just not sure I need or want gift cards at this time. I also have 85K of USAir miles so perhaps getting rid of those and buying one ticket might be a solution. I tend to save my Delta miles for Hawaii.

samonyc Oct 5, 2010 12:00 pm
I'd buy the tickets, for the reason akonradi explained. Sounds like you have a Delta AmEx, which means those 40,000 miles could get you as much as $400 in gift cards from the Marketplace.

Also, if you are getting travel insurance for this trip, it usually doesn't cover award tickets.

Denolloyd Oct 5, 2010 12:00 pm
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Pay for the flight.

fti Oct 5, 2010 12:22 pm
Originally Posted by DawnCt (Post 14891392)
I have medallion status, I am just not sure I need or want gift cards at this time. I also have 85K of USAir miles so perhaps getting rid of those and buying one ticket might be a solution. I tend to save my Delta miles for Hawaii.
I think you just answered your own question. Why use 40K miles for a ticket that costs $288 when you can use those same miles for a trip to Hawaii, the cost of which is way more than $288 (depending of course where you are flying from, etc, etc).

Seems like a no-brainer to me.

keeton Oct 5, 2010 12:36 pm
Another option would be to use Pay With Miles to defer some of the cost of the ticket(s). 25.000 miles + $38 isn't that awful a deal compared with 40,000 miles + $5.

Hint: Pay for your own ticket fully in cash so you will get full mileage/MQM credit.

DawnCt Oct 5, 2010 12:52 pm
Originally Posted by keeton (Post 14891662)
Another option would be to use Pay With Miles to defer some of the cost of the ticket(s). 25.000 miles + $38 isn't that awful a deal compared with 40,000 miles + $5.

Hint: Pay for your own ticket fully in cash so you will get full mileage/MQM credit.
Good ideas. We accumulate USAIR miles at a lot slower pace, so we will either take your advice of "pay with miles" or use up the US Air Dividend miles.


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