I agree with you on the value of SkyBonus points--I've had the worst luck using the points. I have several upgrade certificates and have not had much success in using them. I get the impression that they came out of a different inventory than a RUC--My success rate with a RUC is much better than with a SB certificate.

What inventory class do they require?

They rebook into OY/O so I’m a bit skeptical that they would pull from different inventory.

SkyBonus points are so worthless. 42 million of them gets you what, a couple upgrades and a couple free drinks? Is it even possible to redeem an intercontinental F award using SkyBonus?

Total waste of time IMO.

I have no sympathy for Delta, but I also don't blame them for protecting their interests. They know they're not going to get any meaningful money out of this guy, but it sets a necessary example that they won't allow people to take advantage of them.

Calling the SkyMiles program corrupt is extreme. If you don't like it, find a new airline.

So you think getting rid of the award calander and giving no stated value for skymiles are ethical business practices? Hell, even the neighborhood grocery store even does better with their x amount of $$$ spent = x amount in rewards cash/fuel discounts. There's no excuse for Delta to behave in such a shady manner.

lol!
The actual, general redemption value is 1 cent for 6 miles so it is $20K worth of flights.

If you've read any of my posts on the topic, you know that I'm actually a proponent of getting rid of award charts. It gives airlines needed flexibility in pricing to regularly offer reasonable award redemptions on all routes. Sure you had predictability in the award price with the award chart system, but I'd be damned if I could ever find inventory. And even without award charts, you can still find great redemption values on saver inventory. Just this year I've booked 5 J tickets with redemption values ranging from 2 - 8 cents per mile (with 3 of those over 5 cents per mile).

Yeah, I bet he did. He stealing with those 42 millions miles. He should be too ashamed for what he did. He going to prison forever. He will never be allowed to flying on Delta ever again!

Well, if what you wish happens to him he won't be flying Delta because he is in prison. Or any other airline.

These aren't Skymiles but Skybonus, so I guess very different.
But I wonder if they will actually file this number (greater than $1.75 million) in court. Because then they should get prosecuted for perjury.

When I read the instructions, the booking class for C+ is SY, but it can only be performed by a Delta agent, so I don't know if there is an internal inventory control. For a first class upgrade it says OY for delta agent and O for a regular agent. If there is O inventory available, then upgrade goes through.

The bottom line is that I'm skeptical of valuation. You can redeem 10000 points for 10 beverage/headset coupons. That values the points at 0.009 $/point, putting the case at $378K. The only way I could see the stated valuation is if they are using F/Y fares as the fare basis and not the booking class (e.g. T for a regular SB main cabin or Q for an enhanced availability). Even if they did use T/Q for a main cabin, I wouldn't put the effective valuation at that amount because there is no guarantee that you would be able to book--the SkyBonus website explicitly recommends calling and checking for availability before ordering the reward. If it is less reliable than cash, the value has to be discounted. Thus, the only reliable value metrics are the drink coupons, single visit passes, and sky club individual membership. That puts the valuation at 0.0015 $/point to 0.009 $/point

Wire fraud or mail fraud is what they charge you for when they can't come up with a real crime. No doubt this guy was unscrupulous and he stole from Delta (I suppose the real theft, and probably the basis of Delta's claim of the damages, would be when he redeemed the points for something), but IMHO they shouldn't make a federal criminal case out of it.

I think Delta, have "list" all the usage of this SkyBonus account and calculate the cost of each transaction.

They guy are a travel agent, he must "optimize" the usage of the account.

I use the SkyBonus voucher only in peak period,
Example: In high season, the fare class are available, but the price is more high than normal. I use the voucher in this situation (I use Trans Pacific at 180K).

I think you missed the joke that 42 million miles (or SkyBonus points, as it were) is only good for a one-way J ticket to Europe...

I'll bet that guy is wishing he had used the 42 million miles to buy a one-way ticket to Ukraine (or any other country that doesn't have an extradition treaty with the U.S. for that matter).