Getting Kicked Out of SkyBonus - How Should I Redeem 113K Points?
 

So my travel bookings have reverted to a corporate department and my annual SkyBonus spend is like $2K this year. They've made it clear if I don't hit $5K I'm out. This was originally a Biz Perks account.

I had 199K points but redeemed 85K on an (otherwise) $450 ticket to PHX. Maybe shouldn't have but it's over and done.

So I've got 113,862 SkyPoints left. Any recs on how to redeem? Another free ticket is appealing, but no MQM's and no upgrades makes it less appealing, although I could use it for a friend.

Any experts on SkyBonus point value items? I was thinking

Free Y domestic ticket (not upgradeable) 85K + 2 sets of 10 beverage coupons (2x10K = 20K) for 105K

or

Free Y Caribbean / Central America ticket - 110K

or

1 Year Skyclub Membership + 1 set of 10 beverage coupons = 110K

or

2 Select Fare Upgrade Certs (2 x 50 = 100K) + 1 set of 10 beverage coupons = 110K

or

1 Select Fare Upgrade Cert (50K) + 1 set of 5 Sky Club day passes (60K) = 110K

Any recommendations? I'm torn. The beverage coupons aren't worth much if I get a free drink in C+ (I'm Platinum) so that's why I hate to waste my points on them, although I can give as gifts. The Skyclub day passes expire after 1 year, so it seems like for 40K more to get the whole membership is the best deal.

I guess the Caribbean/Central America ticket may be the most valuable, although I prefer to go to Tobago if I go to that area and DL doesn't fly there.

I need to do it this month! I won't be earning any more points.

If you'll fly enough and use the SC, then I'd say the membership is the way to go and throw in the drink tix as the filler to use up the rest. You can usually get Caribbean tickets pretty cheap especially on sales.

I'd go for the upgrade certs if they're good for international since as a PM you can't get GUCs.

I fly a lot, but my connections are usually pretty slick so rarely have time for SkyClub. But I am leaning that way. Although maybe just the 5 passes and then the upgrade cert. Ahhh, my head spins. Maybe I will put my top 3 into a hat and draw one.

Can someone tell me how the select fares upgrade certs work? I just got a bunch of people at my work place to sign up and I'm still signing up other random travel buddies who don't care.

What is the best benefit for international travel with this?

The select fare upgrade cert is mostly not even as good as a RUC, although it would be valid on a NYC-->SFO/LAX route, which a RUC isn't. But it isn't good for any Hawaii route, just basically contiguous North America and Alaska.

I was coincidentally just looking at this, and can't tell which paid fare classes you can apply the UG certs to (though I do see that you need RP/OP inventory to use them). If anyone's used them before, would love to hear your experience.

In tiny, tiny, print at the top of the award (way before terms and conditions). It took me 3 passes to see this:

"This certificate entitles you to a complimentary one-way first/business class upgrade with the purchase of a published Y/B/M/S/H/Q/K fare for travel within or between US49/Canada, excluding Hawaii."

Don't dismiss the beverage coupons. Exit rows have more room than Economy (dis)Comfort and they won't have the benefits of the new Comfort +(or -).

If you have use of the domestic or Caribbean tickets, those would have the most value followed by the Sky Club.

Ahh - I see it now. They really didn't make it obvious, did they? I buy lots of K+ fares - this could be a nice supplement to RUCs.

Thanks!

Makes sense since PMs can only get four RUCs per year and they're apparently not good on the JFK-LAX/SFO and vv nonstops.

FWIW, I would be careful of that strategy. Random travel buddies, etc., are not a stated earning method. You could stand to lose all your points if audited. They are tightening up SkyBonus (hence the 5K threshold) and others have reported getting dinged for non-business related travelers.

The thing to be careful with the upgrade certs is that according to the T&C you cannot waitlist on them, and no day of departure airport upgrade list... so you have to find availability when you book.

I know well and clear - I wanted to set bait out of curiosity with a comment like this and it looks like it was taken.

I would like the Delta employees who decided to GoogleFu me (3x of them) to message me and explain the trivial searching of my name/likeness on the internet. I have your names guys, not cool at all. I'm not afraid to make this issue larger and public but you guys were pretty blatant.

I really have no idea what that means.

It means that Delta employees were utilizing Google to try to find out who I am via my SN on this forum. The thing is, I did this intentionally as a honeypot and I returned the favor and I know who they all, more so than they can imagine. I called and left a message and I believe someone sent an email to the three figures and I'm patiently waiting for a phone call back.

While I understand that have a certain protocol they need to follow and to try to protect SkyBonus - trying to find people off a forum, accessing private details without consent is just not cool. They also need to understand the danger in leaving their names exposed especially when they take away cookies from people and in no way is this a threat. I just happen to be a security researcher and set out a honeypot that they stumbled upon. I would just like an apology from the manager of the team.

An apology that they possibly researched a possible violation of their program's T&C's?

If you have to google "googlefu" do you have it? :o

I'm not trying to win anything, I'm also wanting to let them know that they did enough and left enough of a trail that I could find their address, DOB, etc., - If you've seen what 4Chan does with that kind of info, you'd understand why I want to let them know the severity of what they are doing.

I think I need a Sky Breeze.

Delta was checking me out :P

You mean catching a scammer and wannabe extortionist?

I don't understand your complaint. You posted on this public forum that you were trying to sign up random travel buddies to use your sky bonus account which is prohibited. It sounds like your post was false so why did you post it here and then complain that Delta investigated? I would think that any company who had information that someone was scamming them, would be remiss if they didn't check it out. I also may be dense but don't understand the terms you used. "honeypot and GoogleFu"

Honeypot is an information security term for a trap designed to lure attackers so you can observe their behavior. For instance, companies will set up fake servers that they want people to try and breach, so they can secretly observe and learn from the techniques used and fortify their actual equipment. Same concept here - OP claims to have baited DL into searching for him so he could study their behavior.

Fu is skill. GoogleFu is skill at Googling.

'

Thank you for the explanation!

Like when teenagers in the sixties put bags of marjoram or oregano in their sock drawers?

OTOH, why we lose nice things. Too many people cheat.

Personally, I don't think catching Delta folks watching for exploiters is big on the applause meter. More a cause to worry one just might be a jerk.

Thanks, something are just normal vocabulary to me :/

I personally would have thought having red-handed proof at how far Delta is going would be something people would like to know.

Yes its shocking that a company would investigate fraud using such incredible technology like Google.

Again - trying to scour the internet and find personal information on people from a forum is not ethical from a business standpoint no matter how you want to spin it.

Why? If they have a reasonable suspicion that you are trying "scam" (for lack of a better word) their system, why wouldn't they do due diligence to investigate?

SkyBonus is a great program but it does have an open door for abuse by relying on the honesty of the users and having a verification for the business connection of travelers associated on your account.

Honestly, I don't understand what you are trying to gain by making the comment in this thread other than trolling.

I went with the free Y ticket and 20 drink coupons, which I will give to friends who travel or use if I'm in an Exit row. My logic was the upgrade certs as Platinum were good enough, I can't be certain I'm going to go to the Caribbean or Central America and at least once per year I want to take a domestic trip with a ridiculous fare and possibly on a CRJ, so this free ticket will be perfect for that. I'll miss the SkyBonus program.

Item description Qty Points Total points
SkyBonus Certificate - US/CA Economy Class 1 85,000 85,000 delete
Beverage or Headset Coupons (10) 2 10,000 20,000 delete
Total points 105,000 [+] edit cart
Total points redeemed: 105,000

It's too bad you can't redeem the remaining 8,000 points for 8 more drink coupons.

I just found this thread, as I am researching what to do with just under 30,000 expiring points.

I did find this in my searches, with regard to the drink coupons:
I was thinking abut ordering coupons and giving them out to servicemen/women but the expiration date (18 days from now) is a show-stopper.

Sky Club coupons are good for a one year from date of issue. Even the gifted Silver Medallion membership is good for 12 full months, not just until the end of the program year. (BTW... nothing says how much you care more than gifting FO status :rolleyes:...:D)

It's strange that the drink/headset coupons are handled differently.

If you order now, the coupons you receive will be valid through 12/31/2015. That wouldn't have been the case if you ordered them two or three weeks ago, but it is now.

I would like to believe that they are not sending out about-to-expire coupons but, based upon the literal working of the T&Cs (below) and keeping in mind past VA Ave behavior patterns, I won't take this on faith.

But, I can call Monday. ;)

Beverage or Headset Coupons (10)

This award entitles you to ten (10) Beverage or Headset Coupons valid for use on any Delta Air Lines flight. Each coupon may be exchanged for your choice of one beer, one cocktail, one headset or one wine split.
Terms and Conditions:
General:

Once points are redeemed on the SkyBonus web site, and the order is placed, exchanges, cancellations and changes to the order are not permitted. Beverage or Headset Coupons will be shipped within one business day via FedEx International (allow 2-5 Business Days for delivery) to the primary administrator at the company's address.
Award:

1. Indicate choice of cocktail, beer, wine or headset on the coupon and present it to the flight attendant when ordering.
2. The coupons have no cash value and are nonrefundable. Coupons cannot be sold, bartered, redeemed for cash or exchanged for any other service item
3. Coupons are valid through December 31st of the current calendar year.

Urgh I didn't read that. I will hope for the best and should have them by Wednesday.

I still have a number of drink coupons that I want to distribute (no... not to FT'ers :D).

Question... can members of the armed forces, traveling in uniform, order adult beverages?

Sorry for naive question, but this will inform my decision of whether I decide to try to order more.

Thanks...

The drink coupons arrived today via overnight air. They do expire on 12/31/2015. Whew! I'm quite sure I will put these 20 bad boys to use in the next 12.5 months.