Platinum Choice Benefit Selection
Sep 21, 2015, 11:28 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NYC
Programs: DL GM, RIP SPG
Posts: 69
Platinum Choice Benefit Selection
Debating between choosing the 4 RUC's or the 20,000 bonus SkyMiles as my Platinum "Choice Benefit Selection" for this year. I'd have thought the RUC's are a no-brainer in terms of value, but ThePointsGuy recommends going with the 20k SkyMiles.
Curious what the board thinks? I'm NYC-based so that might make using the RUC's a bit more difficult. Then again, it also makes booking miles itineraries more challenging as well.
Curious what the board thinks? I'm NYC-based so that might make using the RUC's a bit more difficult. Then again, it also makes booking miles itineraries more challenging as well.
Sep 21, 2015, 11:50 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, Delta Reserve, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,775
I've always taken the RUC's and previously SWU's. I tend to use them on leisure trips to the caribbean. Last year I used them for a ski trip DCA-JAC. I've always had pretty good luck with them.
Sep 21, 2015, 11:59 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: AVL
Programs: DL DM MM; Hilton Diamond; Hertz 5*
Posts: 706
Platinum Choice Benefit Selection
I think the RUC is more worthwhile - assuming that you can and do use them for meaningful trips. If you have flexibility in your travel and you will take some trips with significant distance (Hawaii. Puerto Rico etc) then the RUC is far more useful. Call Delta, ask when upgrade seats are available and then build your trip around those dates. But if you must travel over spring break or Christmas etc when there are not likely to be upgrades available then the miles may be more worthwhile.
Also remember that RUCs expire one year from issuance. So delay issuance as long as possible to get the most use.
Also remember that RUCs expire one year from issuance. So delay issuance as long as possible to get the most use.
Sep 21, 2015, 12:07 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NYC
Programs: DL GM, RIP SPG
Posts: 69
Sep 21, 2015, 12:18 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
Sep 21, 2015, 12:20 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
Debating between choosing the 4 RUC's or the 20,000 bonus SkyMiles as my Platinum "Choice Benefit Selection" for this year. I'd have thought the RUC's are a no-brainer in terms of value, but ThePointsGuy recommends going with the 20k SkyMiles.
Curious what the board thinks? I'm NYC-based so that might make using the RUC's a bit more difficult. Then again, it also makes booking miles itineraries more challenging as well.
Curious what the board thinks? I'm NYC-based so that might make using the RUC's a bit more difficult. Then again, it also makes booking miles itineraries more challenging as well.
Do you fly to LAX or SFO? If so, is an upgrade worth (much) over $50? That makes it easy.
If not, are there long flights you take and wouldn't expect to get upgraded on by status, and is upgrading them worth over $50?
Sep 21, 2015, 3:21 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Seattle, 98155
Programs: Now MGM/Hyatt/IHG Gold Previously: DL DM, DL Reserve, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLAT, M Life PLAT, IHG PLAT
Posts: 649
Debating between choosing the 4 RUC's or the 20,000 bonus SkyMiles as my Platinum "Choice Benefit Selection" for this year. I'd have thought the RUC's are a no-brainer in terms of value, but ThePointsGuy recommends going with the 20k SkyMiles.
Curious what the board thinks? I'm NYC-based so that might make using the RUC's a bit more difficult. Then again, it also makes booking miles itineraries more challenging as well.
Curious what the board thinks? I'm NYC-based so that might make using the RUC's a bit more difficult. Then again, it also makes booking miles itineraries more challenging as well.
Sep 21, 2015, 3:22 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, Delta Reserve, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,775
I always wait until I find a trip I want to use my certificates on and then I get them. The codes generate fairly quickly and show up in your account.
Sep 21, 2015, 4:08 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2013
Location: RMS
Programs: DL Plat, UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Credit Card Diamond
Posts: 8,789
FWIW, I haven't selected my 2015 benefit but plan to go with RUCs and use all four for a trip with the wife where companion upgrades would be unlikely.
Sep 21, 2015, 4:48 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
But if you know it's possible, just keep trying and/or ask for a supervisor to check the exact rules.
Sep 21, 2015, 6:07 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Delta Platinum & MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, National Car Executive
Posts: 400
Platinum Choice Benefit Selection
If you fly over 4 hours regularly then RUCs can have great value especially now that NYC transcons are included. As a DM who does not travel international for work I actually will take 12 RUCs this year. Already used 5 BOS-LAX and JFK-LAX this year .