Weekly travel between two locations with Delta
Sep 28, 2018, 4:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Corning, NY
Posts: 9
Weekly travel between two locations with Delta
For work reason, I will travel between STL and ELM almost weekly and since ELM is only serviced by delta, so I take delta.
In this case, I am wondering whether you guys have some tips regarding how I can get good ticket prices or additional benefits.
Currently, I am a silver medallion and hold amex platinum credit card and amex delta gold credit card. Thank you!
In this case, I am wondering whether you guys have some tips regarding how I can get good ticket prices or additional benefits.
Currently, I am a silver medallion and hold amex platinum credit card and amex delta gold credit card. Thank you!
Sep 28, 2018, 5:10 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: DL PM, UA PG
Posts: 59
There's not much price variation on that route, so if saving $20 each time is important to you, then leaving on Saturdays or Tuesdays (instead of Sun-Mon) is about it. Benefits come with higher status levels. Probability of upgrade depends a lot on the route and day of week, but generally odds are low until you reach PM and DM.
Sep 29, 2018, 5:35 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: JFK/LGA
Posts: 1,423
If you are renting a car anyway there are sort of nearby airports that you can look at for lower fares, ITH & BGM being the closest. SYR is further out but will get you larger aircraft and the drive isn’t terrible except during the winter.
Sep 29, 2018, 6:16 am
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
This is a route where BE might make some sense. It is 2 roughly 1 hour flights on aircraft with 2-2 seating in Y, so no middle seats. Neither F nor C+ present a significant benefit, but the BE savings is roughly $50 on the round-trip.
That is a greater savings than pretty much anything else you might achieve other than subjecting yourself to driving to other airports. Even then, you could likely achieve BE savings as well.
For all the rants on this board about BE, there are places where it makes sense and micro-hops in 2-2 seated aircraft are one of them.
That is a greater savings than pretty much anything else you might achieve other than subjecting yourself to driving to other airports. Even then, you could likely achieve BE savings as well.
For all the rants on this board about BE, there are places where it makes sense and micro-hops in 2-2 seated aircraft are one of them.
Sep 29, 2018, 7:21 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Formerly at PIT, now planted near MSP.
Programs: No flights since April 2019 (Medical Issues). Lost all my status.
Posts: 1,483
Sep 29, 2018, 8:08 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,371
a more relevant question here would be “Who out there can not tolerate two short flights on two-cabin jets with (per the rules, at least) absolutely no chance of riding in either C+ or F?”
a couple of STL-DTW trips (at least in Nov) use 717s which are 2-3 in Y
a couple of STL-DTW trips (at least in Nov) use 717s which are 2-3 in Y
Sep 29, 2018, 9:45 am
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Personally, I would not book into a middle seat in a non-emergency situation. I would certainly book a BE seat on a 2-2 aircraft for a <1 hour flight in order to save $50. Especially where OP is expressing concern about the cost of typical Y tickets on the route which are running in the $280-300 range if booked in advance.
Sep 29, 2018, 10:08 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
I have well over 1600 flights in a row without a middle seat. Won't do it. Too tall, too stocky. I don't even like a window seat in coach because of the curvature of the fusalage, but I'll do it in C+ if needed.
This is the number one reason I have status on DL/BA (so AA) and WN.
This is the number one reason I have status on DL/BA (so AA) and WN.
Sep 30, 2018, 10:27 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
Sep 30, 2018, 11:51 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
This is a route where BE might make some sense. It is 2 roughly 1 hour flights on aircraft with 2-2 seating in Y, so no middle seats. Neither F nor C+ present a significant benefit, but the BE savings is roughly $50 on the round-trip.
That is a greater savings than pretty much anything else you might achieve other than subjecting yourself to driving to other airports. Even then, you could likely achieve BE savings as well.
For all the rants on this board about BE, there are places where it makes sense and micro-hops in 2-2 seated aircraft are one of them.
That is a greater savings than pretty much anything else you might achieve other than subjecting yourself to driving to other airports. Even then, you could likely achieve BE savings as well.
For all the rants on this board about BE, there are places where it makes sense and micro-hops in 2-2 seated aircraft are one of them.
Oct 1, 2018, 12:15 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Diamond, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,356
A Silver on DL booking BE will still have access to the preferred seats at the 24 hour checkin window. You'd be surprised how many are still left.