I've gone a little crazy with my award tickets
Jul 18, 2018, 11:20 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Birmingham, AL (weekdays) and Atlanta, GA (weekends)
Programs: DL Platinum Medallion
Posts: 590
I've gone a little crazy with my award tickets
Because I know I can redeposit, I have almost all of my 500,000 SkyMiles invested in future award tix. I end up taking maybe 1/3 of the trips, but am always looking for low-mileage award opportunities.
I guess the only downside is if I had a stroke or something, and no one else knew how to cancel the tickets.
How many of your miles do you keep unused, and what percentage do you commit to potential future travel?
I know I should cancel something, but they're all such good deals (48,000 to South America, 160,000 DeltaOne to EZE, 21,000 mile tickets to Canada, etc.) that I have trouble making myself cancel them!
I guess the only downside is if I had a stroke or something, and no one else knew how to cancel the tickets.
How many of your miles do you keep unused, and what percentage do you commit to potential future travel?
I know I should cancel something, but they're all such good deals (48,000 to South America, 160,000 DeltaOne to EZE, 21,000 mile tickets to Canada, etc.) that I have trouble making myself cancel them!
Jul 19, 2018, 3:01 am
#2
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
That's really nice of you, thanks for making it harder for the rest of us to find inventory!
Accounts like yours will be the reason they take away the free redeposit in the future.
I hope at least you cancel them with some reasonable amount of time before the flight.
Accounts like yours will be the reason they take away the free redeposit in the future.
I hope at least you cancel them with some reasonable amount of time before the flight.
Jul 19, 2018, 4:29 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Delta - PM, Hilton - Diamond, PriorityClub - Platinum
Posts: 199
I couldn't agree more!
Jul 19, 2018, 5:15 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Birmingham, AL (weekdays) and Atlanta, GA (weekends)
Programs: DL Platinum Medallion
Posts: 590
Jul 19, 2018, 7:32 am
#6
Formerly known as scootr29
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 977
Because I know I can redeposit, I have almost all of my 500,000 SkyMiles invested in future award tix. I end up taking maybe 1/3 of the trips, but am always looking for low-mileage award opportunities.
I guess the only downside is if I had a stroke or something, and no one else knew how to cancel the tickets.
How many of your miles do you keep unused, and what percentage do you commit to potential future travel?
I know I should cancel something, but they're all such good deals (48,000 to South America, 160,000 DeltaOne to EZE, 21,000 mile tickets to Canada, etc.) that I have trouble making myself cancel them!
I guess the only downside is if I had a stroke or something, and no one else knew how to cancel the tickets.
How many of your miles do you keep unused, and what percentage do you commit to potential future travel?
I know I should cancel something, but they're all such good deals (48,000 to South America, 160,000 DeltaOne to EZE, 21,000 mile tickets to Canada, etc.) that I have trouble making myself cancel them!
Jul 19, 2018, 8:36 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: DL Diamond MM, SPG Platinum, Skywards Silver
Posts: 319
I agree with this as well. In today's world, you're crazy not to book so far in advance to capture deals. This is not about "leaving space" for others because everyone should be planning. Maybe I'm old-school, but I get furious every time I see a 300k+ J award to Europe..disgusting.
Jul 19, 2018, 10:56 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 790
Smoke it if you got it. If it fits your lifestyle, and you like tracking things and being detailed oriented, why not?
I lost DL Gold sadly (not that I could do what you're doing with that, anyways), but I still have UA Gold and AA Plat. AA is $$$ for redeposit at Plat so no thanks. But UA Gold is $25 for a redeposit if you do it more than 60 days before the flight, which is nice for some gambling if you think you have a good shot at doing the flight. Within 60 days is $75, but at least that still blows away Delta / American.
I lost DL Gold sadly (not that I could do what you're doing with that, anyways), but I still have UA Gold and AA Plat. AA is $$$ for redeposit at Plat so no thanks. But UA Gold is $25 for a redeposit if you do it more than 60 days before the flight, which is nice for some gambling if you think you have a good shot at doing the flight. Within 60 days is $75, but at least that still blows away Delta / American.
Jul 19, 2018, 11:02 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
People do this with cruises all the time. I get why folks are upset with it (especially if you're reserving prime seats and all), but it is nice, and thus that's why it's a perk for Plat / Diamonds.
Jul 19, 2018, 11:02 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 790
Reminds me of the guy who wrote into Lucky at OMAAT for getting a warning email from SPG. This fool canceled 90% of the reservations he made. He is lucky ALL he got was a warning. Almost as gross as this guy, was that Lucky basically said the guy was pushing things a bit, but did not call him out for the absurdity. I actually like Lucky quite a bit, but I must say I lost some respect for him after that article.
Jul 19, 2018, 11:48 am
#12
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,279
Maybe for the benefit of other PM/DM's, but doesn't really change things from DL's perspective, and plenty of people will be up-in-arms about that being a "devaluation". DL was OK with that ticketing being redeemed at the sale price. If OP uses the ticket then DL had a passenger fly a mileage redemption at a price they wanted to sell the ticket for. If OP cancels then DL has the opportunity to turn that ticket into a revenue ticket or claim a higher mileage redemption from someone else. Either way Delta breaks even with what they expected or ends up ahead.
Jul 19, 2018, 2:44 pm
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
Jul 19, 2018, 3:28 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,042
Maybe for the benefit of other PM/DM's, but doesn't really change things from DL's perspective, and plenty of people will be up-in-arms about that being a "devaluation". DL was OK with that ticketing being redeemed at the sale price. If OP uses the ticket then DL had a passenger fly a mileage redemption at a price they wanted to sell the ticket for. If OP cancels then DL has the opportunity to turn that ticket into a revenue ticket or claim a higher mileage redemption from someone else. Either way Delta breaks even with what they expected or ends up ahead.