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What can I do with my load of Delta miles??? (210k worth)

What can I do with my load of Delta miles??? (210k worth)

Old Apr 13, 2012, 4:35 pm
  #1  
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NY - AA 1.8MM EXP, DL 1MM---macmedia1_at_yahoo.com
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What can I do with my load of Delta miles??? (210k worth)

I have been having an absolute horrible time for the past 2 years in using my skymiles. I've had 210k for the past 15+ years (well down from 700k) and every time I have a place I need to go, I can't get a ticket for a reasonable amount of miles. For 2 years I've been trying to get a few tickets to asia but seem to never be able to find a normal low rate of 70k miles the advertised. It's always 120k-200k for a ticket.

I mostly fly American these days instead (since I'm lifetime plat.) and I've been able to "trade" tickets with others from time to time with the skymiles but that's not easy to do with so many miles left and no easy avenue to do it safely.

The closest method I've found is using points.com for a couple small transaction but it hardly seems worth it when I have to pay hefty fees to do a trade of miles.

Anyone have any other reasonable suggestions? I'm getting tired of finding ways every year to extend the expiration date...
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Old Apr 13, 2012, 4:37 pm
  #2  
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If you care to fly, origin and destination cities could allow targeted suggestions.
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Old Apr 13, 2012, 4:38 pm
  #3  
 
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Miles no longer expire
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Old Apr 13, 2012, 4:58 pm
  #4  
 
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If you fly to Asia regularly, I was able to get a ticket S.E.Asia <> ATL BE on DL metal in low (120K). Those will be nearly impossible the other way unfortunately.

Partner airlines are quite easy to get though. You have to miss the blackout dates, but if passing that test they almost always work..You have to call, and even then ask the agent for the specific flights.

As to extending the expiration, I would suggest buying a left handed monkey wrench on DL Sky Market.
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Old Apr 13, 2012, 5:22 pm
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Unfortunately that is not a 'load' of miles anymore. All you can do is keep looking, but if you find a 'decent' deal I would jump on it because they are going to keep devaluing these things. Two years ago you could do a lot more with 210k IMO.
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Old Apr 13, 2012, 5:44 pm
  #6  
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What can I do with my load of Delta miles??? (210k worth)

Far, far less than what you could do with this:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-aa-miles.html

Of course, as EXP you already know this.
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Old Apr 13, 2012, 5:45 pm
  #7  
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Deleted.

Last edited by vasantn; Apr 13, 2012 at 5:46 pm Reason: dupe
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Old Apr 13, 2012, 5:49 pm
  #8  
 
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Originally Posted by macmedia
I have been having an absolute horrible time for the past 2 years in using my skymiles.

Anyone have any other reasonable suggestions? I'm getting tired of finding ways every year to extend the expiration date...
Currently, Delta miles don't expire...

That said, I like to save some for family emergencies .... and

I just used some to rent a car where I got 1.3 cents per mile.

Bob H
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Old Apr 13, 2012, 6:11 pm
  #9  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
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I'd load up Expert Flyer and look to book yourself a nice European vacation for you and a friend or SO. 2 business class tix r/t = 200k Delta Skymiles. Take a trip to Italy (JFK-FCO) (you should be able to find a lot of dates, if they are several months in advance, with 2 business class tix available on a single flight) or go to Paris (JFK-CDG) or both. These are easy redemptions to find and book by using Expert Flyer and calling up Delta. If you're willing to do more work, you can find tons of posts and ideas on FT on what you can do with 200k Skymiles.
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Old Apr 13, 2012, 6:11 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
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do you want to sit in Y or J?

Your best bet for Asia is to fly a partner carrier, but some of them have high taxes.

I would personally fly J.
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Old Apr 13, 2012, 6:15 pm
  #11  
inY
 
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Might be able to get a domestic round trip *duck*.
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Old Apr 14, 2012, 1:02 am
  #12  
 
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My suggestion:

Have a destination in mind and let 0 Hassle Awards help you make them worthwhile.
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Old Apr 14, 2012, 5:31 am
  #13  
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Originally Posted by JimBobDuggarIsABusyMan
My suggestion:

Have a destination in mind and let 0 Hassle Awards help you make them worthwhile.
Are you the person operating and profiting from this service? I've never heard of this blog before and would wonder what expertise this award ticket booking service might have.

MY SUGGESTION would be to look for space on the HND flights if a trip to Asia is desired. BE seems to be much more open than on the NRT flights and you should be able to find 120K BE tickets, especially around holiday periods.
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Old Apr 14, 2012, 6:44 am
  #14  
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Originally Posted by vasantn
Far, far less than what you could do with this:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-aa-miles.html

Of course, as EXP you already know this.
Shall we count destinations available without paying fuel surcharges on that 3-Asian city, 11-European city AA network?
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Old Apr 14, 2012, 10:59 am
  #15  
 
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Put 50k with it and go around the world in Biz class.

My ticket was purchased yesterday.
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