Crediting DL flight to FlyingBlue to avoid expiration of miles
Jul 17, 2018, 11:41 am
#1
Moderator: National Car
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SE MI
Programs: Delta PM, National EE, Hertz PC, Hilton DM
Posts: 2,168
Crediting DL flight to FlyingBlue to avoid expiration of miles
I am faced with a looming end of year deadline where a bunch of miles I transferred into FlyingBlue will expire - had to cancel a trip last summer and there are a good chunk of miles sitting there, so I'd prefer not to lose them. I was hoping to simply credit an upcoming short-haul domestic Delta flight to my FlyingBlue account to keep the FB miles alive until I can use them at some point in the future. When I called, the DL Gold desk agent I spoke with was not familiar with how to do such a credit. While this did not seem overly complicated to me, maybe I am missing something. Anyone have any suggestions (including call back and try again)?
Jul 17, 2018, 12:55 pm
#3
Moderator: National Car
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SE MI
Programs: Delta PM, National EE, Hertz PC, Hilton DM
Posts: 2,168
Thanks @FlyerWx. If I were to go that route, I'd lose the Precheck and other information that's tied to my DL profile though, right? And is that something the Gold desk should be able to do, or would I do that on my own on the Delta website? I don't care if I don't earn the miles/MQMs but I would like to still have those other benefits available.
Last edited by dwbf11; Jul 17, 2018 at 1:02 pm
Jul 17, 2018, 1:17 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,279
Thanks @FlyerWx. If I were to go that route, I'd lose the Precheck and other information that's tied to my DL profile though, right? And is that something the Gold desk should be able to do, or would I do that on my own on the Delta website? I don't care if I don't earn the miles/MQMs but I would like to still have those other benefits available.
Edit: You should be able to adjust your FF# your self. Go to your reservation. Under "Passenger Information" look for your name in all capitals. Underneath that is your Skymiles# and there should be an option saying "Remove". Choose that. You should then be able to add your flying blue number. If that doesn't work just call the Gold Line and tell them you need to update your FF# to credit another program.
Jul 17, 2018, 1:23 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Delta has had a long-standing practice of using one FF# per itinerary. Don't plan on changing one segment to FlyingBlue, flying it, and then changing back to Delta. That may not work.
Jul 17, 2018, 1:30 pm
#6
Moderator: National Car
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SE MI
Programs: Delta PM, National EE, Hertz PC, Hilton DM
Posts: 2,168
Thanks all for the replies! And yes, from my research on this question I also read that switching mid-itinerary may be problematic, so I'll run the whole trip through on the FB FF#. As it's a short-haul trip having the SM benefits is of little import here. Much better for me to slum it for an hour than to lose the miles 
Jul 17, 2018, 2:10 pm
#7
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Join Date: Sep 2009
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Thanks all for the replies! And yes, from my research on this question I also read that switching mid-itinerary may be problematic, so I'll run the whole trip through on the FB FF#. As it's a short-haul trip having the SM benefits is of little import here. Much better for me to slum it for an hour than to lose the miles
Jul 17, 2018, 4:30 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,264
I'm also looking at doing this because FB looks like a better value for crediting the occasional cheaper paid C+ domestic ticket. Would I still get my AmEx free bag benefit if I'm crediting elsewhere?
Jul 17, 2018, 8:50 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Skymiles Gold
Posts: 641
Officially, no. But in reality, yes. At check-in, just show your card and ask if you can still get it for free. I've done this several times and not had an issue.