Is this Correct?_500,000 miles one way biz class USA to London?
May 3, 2019, 8:00 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 1
Is this Correct?_500,000 miles one way biz class USA to London?
Id not used my Delta miles in a few years and used 120,000 to go coach r/t to London. Wanted to buy upgrade to biz class. Was told by two different agents, 495,000 miles.
based on this we’re going to cancel our two air miles credit cards and just find the best non air miles deal. Am I missing something or did I make a mistake? Thanks
based on this we’re going to cancel our two air miles credit cards and just find the best non air miles deal. Am I missing something or did I make a mistake? Thanks
May 3, 2019, 8:18 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
No, this is correct. Delta typically has high DeltaOne redemption rates unless you are highly flexible.
If you are flexible you may be able to find rates closer to the "unofficial" saver rates (roughly 82.5K one way for TATL I think?). But those have advanced purchase requirements, round trip requirements, and often only occur on very low demand dates (mid-week departures, etc). You'll be hard pressed to find these rates on - for example - Sunday/Friday/Monday night TATL flights.
Delta also occasionally has Flash Sales that offer good value for D1 redemptions (usually once or twice a year). I had to cancel it, but I was actually able to snag 2 round trip D1 tickets for something like 100K miles each - which is a great, great value - nonstop from Atlanta on an A330.
If you are flexible you may be able to find rates closer to the "unofficial" saver rates (roughly 82.5K one way for TATL I think?). But those have advanced purchase requirements, round trip requirements, and often only occur on very low demand dates (mid-week departures, etc). You'll be hard pressed to find these rates on - for example - Sunday/Friday/Monday night TATL flights.
Delta also occasionally has Flash Sales that offer good value for D1 redemptions (usually once or twice a year). I had to cancel it, but I was actually able to snag 2 round trip D1 tickets for something like 100K miles each - which is a great, great value - nonstop from Atlanta on an A330.
May 3, 2019, 10:20 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,051
Id not used my Delta miles in a few years and used 120,000 to go coach r/t to London. Wanted to buy upgrade to biz class. Was told by two different agents, 495,000 miles.
based on this we’re going to cancel our two air miles credit cards and just find the best non air miles deal. Am I missing something or did I make a mistake? Thanks
based on this we’re going to cancel our two air miles credit cards and just find the best non air miles deal. Am I missing something or did I make a mistake? Thanks
Would be helpful if you could clarify on what you mean by "upgrade". There are currently mileage awards (not upgrades) for D1 flights available for 176K miles roundtrip from select cities for the summer (6/30 - 9/6). These awards have a 60-day advance purchase requirement. They also have a roundtrip and Saturday night stay booking requirement (can't be booked as one-ways). The cheapest one-way awards are 105K miles -- although these have a 90-day advance purchase requirement. The highest award levels are 320K one-way. No real way to combine these with an existing revenue fare (you could just cancel the revenue fare and take a credit for future travel with remaining value).
Last edited by xliioper; May 3, 2019 at 10:38 am
May 3, 2019, 12:44 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,363
OP, if you are serious about asking for help, can you just provide the aprox travel ITN you are looking at?
I can fly RT to Asia up front for under 200K miles. But if you ask for a very specific ticket it might get absurd as you see.
The truth is using DL miles has become a game. If you do not know how to play, you are the one being played.
I can fly RT to Asia up front for under 200K miles. But if you ask for a very specific ticket it might get absurd as you see.
The truth is using DL miles has become a game. If you do not know how to play, you are the one being played.
May 3, 2019, 1:18 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,051
It's a known that the current highest level from US-LHR is 320K one-way as it has a CSY3200 fare basis code. Since it's a 'Y' class award (the third letter in the basis code), there aren't any higher levels. The only way you could potentially produce something higher is through a broken-fare construction. So this is sounding like an upgrade based on cash price difference or FCM price at 1CPM.
May 3, 2019, 1:23 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
It's a known that the current highest level from US-LHR is 320K one-way as it has a CSY3200 fare basis code. Since it's a 'Y' class award (the third letter in the basis code), there aren't any higher levels. The only way you could potentially produce something higher is through a broken-fare construction. So this is sounding an upgrade based on cash price difference or FCM price at 1CPM.
May 3, 2019, 1:31 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,051
The thread title says "500,000 miles one way biz class", so I was assuming the 490K price is one way, but could be wrong. More details needed. The 120K Y ticket was from a few years ago.
May 3, 2019, 2:05 pm
#11
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
My experience (maybe a rule of thumb?) is that business class on Delta1 values a skymile at around $0.01 to $0.013. That is not to say there aren't deals but depending on your departure airport and all the other requirements mentioned above. The round trip, advance purchase, Saturday night stay rules are the same as cash tickets and Delta is trying to push Skymiles as currency.
So yeah, if you want to stay with Delta, going for a 1.5% or better cash back credit card and buying your D1 fares might be easier. Plus you earn medallion status and points on those cash fares. With flexibility though comes options like awards via other airlines and Amex or Chase reward points.
So yeah, if you want to stay with Delta, going for a 1.5% or better cash back credit card and buying your D1 fares might be easier. Plus you earn medallion status and points on those cash fares. With flexibility though comes options like awards via other airlines and Amex or Chase reward points.
May 3, 2019, 2:56 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Definitely need a few more details. I just booked two tickets ATL-AMS-ATL in J for 150k each.
Good redemptions are still out there, but they do require some flexibility and meeting the fare restrictions (RT, minimum stay, etc.)
Good redemptions are still out there, but they do require some flexibility and meeting the fare restrictions (RT, minimum stay, etc.)
May 3, 2019, 4:23 pm
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Just based on seeing the thread title at this time, I knew this had to be about DL SkyMiles, a true leader of customer-unfriendliness in the airline loyalty program game.
May 3, 2019, 4:44 pm
#14
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
May 4, 2019, 3:43 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Admirals Club member
Posts: 419