Convert Skymiles to Singapore, Cathay, or Thai?
Apr 8, 2013, 12:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 324
Convert Skymiles to Singapore, Cathay, or Thai?
Anyone know of a reasonable way to "backdoor" Delta Skymiles into award seats on Singapore, Cathay, or Thai airways?
Delta is incredibly poor on decent partner airlines to Southeast Asia for some reason.
Delta is incredibly poor on decent partner airlines to Southeast Asia for some reason.
Apr 8, 2013, 8:00 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM, SPG Plat
Posts: 885
The only backdoor I know is to stick around long enough to gain access to Coupon Connection, and then trade SkyMiles for SQ etc miles. Expect a rate of 1.33 SkyMiles per 1 SQ mile.
Apr 10, 2013, 9:15 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/techn...ed-issues.html
However, based on your number of posts, you are not yet eligible to use this FT feature.
However, based on your number of posts, you are not yet eligible to use this FT feature.
Apr 10, 2013, 9:23 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: NY Metro
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,881
Vietnam Airlines generally has good award availability. The hard product and service are nothing spectacular, but it gets the job done. The Delta agents seem to have a hard time seeing their inventory though. I spoke to two who insisted the flights I wanted were unavailable, yet the third agent was able to snag and book the seats. I think the Air France website and/ or the KVS tool show Vietnam Airlines award availability.
Alternatively, China Southern, China Eastern and China Airlines all tend to have very good award availability, however, then you're connecting/ transiting China/ Taiwan which can be inconvenient for getting around Southeast Asia.
Alternatively, China Southern, China Eastern and China Airlines all tend to have very good award availability, however, then you're connecting/ transiting China/ Taiwan which can be inconvenient for getting around Southeast Asia.
Apr 10, 2013, 9:42 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Singapore
Programs: DL Million Miler, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Singapore Airlines Gold and a bunch of others
Posts: 127
And with China Southern's A380 flight from LAX to CAN (Lay flat Business and a great time) we have good options and don't forget China Airlines or Malaysian. I actually think Skyteam has good options to SE Asia
Apr 10, 2013, 1:00 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
Apr 10, 2013, 1:24 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
The third party services are really bad with SkyMiles. I'd stay away from all of them, honestly. You can check CZ on ExpertFlyer (and sometimes airfrance.us). They have flat beds on their A380, while MH doesn't have them on their TPAC aircraft. Fuel surcharges on CZ are also much lower than on MH.
Apr 10, 2013, 1:40 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 177
+1. In my n=1 experience with one of the booking services, I was certainly not wow'd by the person's knowledge or initiative with my DL award. Though, when it came time to booking and dealing with the agents, I am glad he took care of that. There were multiple screw-ups along the way on the part of the phone agents but ultimately it was sorted out.