Delta Award Builder - Allows you to pay to earn bonus miles on trips
Jan 14, 2011, 4:14 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
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 15, 2011, 12:53 pm
#50
Join Date: May 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: DL ♦M MM|HH♦|Marr Slvr|CO UA AA US|Pri Cub Plat|SPG|Avis 1st|Htz 5*
Posts: 5,044
Jan 15, 2011, 12:55 pm
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
Jan 15, 2011, 2:36 pm
#52
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,365
Because many people are clueless at math and simply do not realize how bad the rate is.
Same people who buy all those $5 a month extras on services w/o even thinking; because it is just $5.
Same people who buy extended warrentes on electronics that they will likely replace in a couple years anyway.
Seriously, there is a large subset of the modern consumer that is really clueless.
Same people who buy all those $5 a month extras on services w/o even thinking; because it is just $5.
Same people who buy extended warrentes on electronics that they will likely replace in a couple years anyway.
Seriously, there is a large subset of the modern consumer that is really clueless.
Jan 16, 2011, 6:40 pm
#53
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: - On 763 (or a CRJ wishing for a MaDDog)
Programs: - DL DM, HH Gold
Posts: 325
Because many people are clueless at math and simply do not realize how bad the rate is.
Same people who buy all those $5 a month extras on services w/o even thinking; because it is just $5.
Same people who buy extended warrentes on electronics that they will likely replace in a couple years anyway.
Seriously, there is a large subset of the modern consumer that is really clueless.
Same people who buy all those $5 a month extras on services w/o even thinking; because it is just $5.
Same people who buy extended warrentes on electronics that they will likely replace in a couple years anyway.
Seriously, there is a large subset of the modern consumer that is really clueless.
2,000 bonus for next 3 flights @ $168 is 6,000 miles.
Buying 6,000 miles costs ... er... $168.
So as far as I can see, the only benefit is that you can (if not a FF and who desperately needs to hit an award) is that you can buy miles (for that is all this truly is) in an odd number. Whereas buy miles is in multiples of 2000 only.
There was lots of talk about people being short of an award ticket and it being helpful ... the question to which I would please like a short answer is this:
Why is it any more helpful than the regular "buy miles" when they cost the same?? The only answer is flexibility in the exact amount of miles needed?
I am asking for help (not criticizing previous posts .. not my style
). If I look like an idiot (a possibility 
) it is simply because I have NEVER bought miles .. I have a lot of BIS miles and MQMs and use other products where I collect them for free....(eg needed to spend $300 at homedepot anyway so used amex (gets 1Mp$) to buy a GC from Skymilesshopping when 4 miles were on offer. Cost? 0. Miles = 1600 plus 300 on amex bill at month end).
Please let me know if I have missed an awesome deal to "build" rather than "buy" miles. The prominence of the offer on dl.com suggests I have not.
Advice gratefully received.
Jan 16, 2011, 6:45 pm
#54
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: New York, NY USA
Programs: DL DM/ 2MM, BA Silver, Amtrak Select Executive, SPG Life Plat/Amb, Fairmont Preferred
Posts: 1,056
I wonder if the implied target market is really people who would be comfortable billing the ticket cost (including the Miles Builder or whatever it's called) to their expense account / client.
Note that I think this would be unethical, but for those who might be inclined to do this, it renders the relative value of buying miles through this channel vs. the normal buy miles option somewhat irrelevant.
Note that I think this would be unethical, but for those who might be inclined to do this, it renders the relative value of buying miles through this channel vs. the normal buy miles option somewhat irrelevant.
Jan 16, 2011, 6:55 pm
#55
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: DL DM; DL AMEX Reserve; HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,984
Jan 16, 2011, 7:58 pm
#56
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: - On 763 (or a CRJ wishing for a MaDDog)
Programs: - DL DM, HH Gold
Posts: 325
I wonder if the implied target market is really people who would be comfortable billing the ticket cost (including the Miles Builder or whatever it's called) to their expense account / client.
Note that I think this would be unethical, but for those who might be inclined to do this, it renders the relative value of buying miles through this channel vs. the normal buy miles option somewhat irrelevant.
Note that I think this would be unethical, but for those who might be inclined to do this, it renders the relative value of buying miles through this channel vs. the normal buy miles option somewhat irrelevant.
Clearly, rather than "Driving Every Loyal Traveller Away", DL is Satan's plaything, corrupting us MilesJunkies with ways to sell our souls for skypesos. Please count me in
Jan 17, 2011, 12:14 pm
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
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Jan 17, 2011, 12:18 pm
#58
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: - On 763 (or a CRJ wishing for a MaDDog)
Programs: - DL DM, HH Gold
Posts: 325
Feb 21, 2011, 8:59 pm
#59
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM+1MM; Marriott PP; Hertz PC
Posts: 19
I read thru the T&C and it seems there may be another difference. If you use Award Builder, and your plans change, they will expire after 12 months. Miles you Buy, don't seem to expire.