Delta Award Builder - Allows you to pay to earn bonus miles on trips
Jan 14, 2011, 2:10 pm
#32
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: VPS
Programs: DL-DM, 2MM; AA,QF,UA, WN. Every imaginable hotel program
Posts: 2,352
The Latest Twist: "Award Builder"
Hello dlfan2,
We want to help you make the most out of your upcoming flight by giving you the chance to build your mileage balance even faster when you fly. With Award Builder™, you can easily get more miles on your upcoming round-trip Delta flight to quickly increase your mileage balance.
Get an extra 1,000 to 3,000 miles on your flight for as little as $28 (for 1,000 miles). The choice is yours but don't wait. This is the perfect way to get even more miles when you fly so that you can pack your bags for your next Award vacation even sooner.
Make your Award Builder purchase before the beginning of your upcoming round-trip Delta flight to get more miles.
Any Takers?
We want to help you make the most out of your upcoming flight by giving you the chance to build your mileage balance even faster when you fly. With Award Builder™, you can easily get more miles on your upcoming round-trip Delta flight to quickly increase your mileage balance.
Get an extra 1,000 to 3,000 miles on your flight for as little as $28 (for 1,000 miles). The choice is yours but don't wait. This is the perfect way to get even more miles when you fly so that you can pack your bags for your next Award vacation even sooner.
Make your Award Builder purchase before the beginning of your upcoming round-trip Delta flight to get more miles.
Any Takers?
Jan 14, 2011, 2:13 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K (MM), DL, AA, AS, HHonors, SPG, Kimpton, Hyatt, IC PC, Marriott Titanium (LT PLT), Hertz PC
Posts: 7,231
Hm-- $28 for 1000 miles. So, some quick math:
For that 375,000 mile ticket to Sydney, that's $10500.
No thanks Delta!!!
For that 375,000 mile ticket to Sydney, that's $10500.
No thanks Delta!!!
Jan 14, 2011, 2:22 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,275
Same as buying miles the regular way except with no processing fee. I can see how it would be useful to the non-frequent flyer if your next flight will put you 1,000 miles away from an award and you want to pay the $28 to get there quickly and redeem the award, but otherwise it is the same overpriced offering.
Jan 14, 2011, 2:27 pm
#37
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
Posts: 68,928
I got a good break on my last TLV-LAS award ticket -- low one way and medium the other. Total cost: 175,000 SkyMiles for Biz Elite.
Assuming that I would be that lucky again the in the future, if I were to buy enough "Award Builder" SkyMiles to pay for the trip, it would cost me $4900.
Guess what? In either M Class (upgrading with SkyMiles) or I Class (no upgrading needed), I can make the Biz Elite trip for a lot less than $4900, not have to worry about availability, and get both MQMs and SkyMiles for the trip.
Assuming that I would be that lucky again the in the future, if I were to buy enough "Award Builder" SkyMiles to pay for the trip, it would cost me $4900.
Guess what? In either M Class (upgrading with SkyMiles) or I Class (no upgrading needed), I can make the Biz Elite trip for a lot less than $4900, not have to worry about availability, and get both MQMs and SkyMiles for the trip.
Jan 14, 2011, 2:40 pm
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,275
You do have to check for upgrade availability... and you have to worry about your flight being cancelled, leaving you with a refund of your miles but still holding a pricey M fare and traveling in coach.
If you can get a discounted biz fare, then sure.
If you can get a discounted biz fare, then sure.
Jan 14, 2011, 2:55 pm
#39
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
Posts: 68,928
These flights go out between 75% to 100% full, and there are only (I believe) four each week, so Delta can not simply take the passengers from one flight and put them on a later one -- there would be no room for them.
Jan 14, 2011, 3:10 pm
#42
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CT
Programs: DL DM 2MM, MR LTT, Hilton D, Hertz PC. National Emerald Exec, UA Silver(thanks to Marriott)
Posts: 2,026
Jan 14, 2011, 3:26 pm
#43
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K (MM), DL, AA, AS, HHonors, SPG, Kimpton, Hyatt, IC PC, Marriott Titanium (LT PLT), Hertz PC
Posts: 7,231
Jan 14, 2011, 3:41 pm
#44
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: ATL
Programs: AA GLD Skymiles DM MM, a+ rewards lifetime elite, AS, Marriott plat, PC plat, HH gold
Posts: 1,275
This has been reported to work with the regular platinum amex annual $200 airline fee rebate. Some FTers may find that this is a good use of the rebate.
Jan 14, 2011, 3:47 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,309
but 175,000 to TLV is a "good break"
I guess when you are using SkyPesos it is.
The award would be 115,000 with Star Alliance, and there is nearly daily availability in C.