How Best to Increase Miles in my SkyMiles account
#16
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: Flying Blue, Hilton Honors, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 2,342
Both Flying Blue and Virgin are pretty promiscuous when it comes to credit card transfer partners and can have some Delta metal redemption options that can be far better values than using Skymiles. Example-mainland to Hawaii tickets with FB can be great deal though you may need to call in to find availability rather than searching on the website.
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: san francisco
Programs: No airline status whatsoever, Chase URs, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 567
This is all good to know ... I already have the DLAmEx and am looking for non-AmEx solutions. AFAIK, you only get one AmEx sign-on bonus, so that's a non-starter. I've never paid attention to the shopping portal thing ... now's a good time to start. Many thanks for all the good info.
#18
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,819
This is all good to know ... I already have the DLAmEx and am looking for non-AmEx solutions. AFAIK, you only get one AmEx sign-on bonus, so that's a non-starter. I've never paid attention to the shopping portal thing ... now's a good time to start. Many thanks for all the good info.
#19
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: MCO
Programs: AA,DL,F9,UA,WN
Posts: 576
Other ideas:
1) Book an air/hotel package via Delta Vacations and earn up to a 70,000 bonus Skymiles. Use Promo Code: SMBONUS Miles earned depends on the amount of your package.
2) https://www.skymilesshopping.com/p/extra-rewards.htm page shows extra bonus offers through shopping at that portal. For instance, a subscription to Motley Fool earns 9000 SkyMiles.
Last edited by SUPERTRAVEL; Mar 5, 2021 at 1:17 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,210
If you have an AmEx card that earns unrestricted MR points, even a no annual fee Everyday one, you can set your Rakuten account to earn MR points instead of cash and a decent number of times Rakuten will be a better deal than Delta's shopping portal. It doesn't matter which card you actually pay with from the Rakuten portal as long as the MR earning card is active.
I typically pay for transactions made through Rakuten with my Delta Platinum Skymiles card but save up the MR points generated via Rakuten until there's a 25% transfer bonus to Flying Blue, which generally happens for a month or so every year, rather than transferring to Delta at a 1:1 ratio.
I typically pay for transactions made through Rakuten with my Delta Platinum Skymiles card but save up the MR points generated via Rakuten until there's a 25% transfer bonus to Flying Blue, which generally happens for a month or so every year, rather than transferring to Delta at a 1:1 ratio.
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: san francisco
Programs: No airline status whatsoever, Chase URs, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 567
Zorak is correct. You don't say which DL AMEX card you have but obtaining the next level up (such as Gold to Platinum) allows you to earn the initial sign-up bonuses that get you to your described earning goal in the time it takes you to make sufficient purchases (typically $3000 in spending) during the first 90 days.
Other ideas:
1) Book and air/hotel package via Delta Vacations and earn up to a 70,000 bonus Skymiles. Use Promo Code: SMBONUS Miles earned depends on the amount of your package.
2) https://www.skymilesshopping.com/p/extra-rewards.htm page shows extra bonus offers through shopping at that portal. For instance, a subscription to Motley Fool earns 9000 SkyMiles.
Other ideas:
1) Book and air/hotel package via Delta Vacations and earn up to a 70,000 bonus Skymiles. Use Promo Code: SMBONUS Miles earned depends on the amount of your package.
2) https://www.skymilesshopping.com/p/extra-rewards.htm page shows extra bonus offers through shopping at that portal. For instance, a subscription to Motley Fool earns 9000 SkyMiles.
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,334
1. If you've had the Gold DL AmEx card for less than a year, you can't upgrade to Plat, but you might be eligible to get the DL AmEx Plat credit card as a new card.
2. Pay attention to the bonus terms associated with upgrading Gold to Plat card versus applying for a new card. The terms are generally different.
2. Pay attention to the bonus terms associated with upgrading Gold to Plat card versus applying for a new card. The terms are generally different.
#23
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,677
1. If you've had the Gold DL AmEx card for less than a year, you can't upgrade to Plat, but you might be eligible to get the DL AmEx Plat credit card as a new card.
2. Pay attention to the bonus terms associated with upgrading Gold to Plat card versus applying for a new card. The terms are generally different.
2. Pay attention to the bonus terms associated with upgrading Gold to Plat card versus applying for a new card. The terms are generally different.
#24
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: MCO
Programs: AA,DL,F9,UA,WN
Posts: 576
I agree, do not upgrade. Apply for the Platinum card as a new card and once approved, cancel the old card. I don't see any reason to be paying annual fees on both.
New bonus out today, get the Platinum Skymiles Amex and get 90,000 Skymiles: https://apply.americanexpress.com/de...age_url=1#plat
New bonus out today, get the Platinum Skymiles Amex and get 90,000 Skymiles: https://apply.americanexpress.com/de...age_url=1#plat
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: san francisco
Programs: No airline status whatsoever, Chase URs, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 567
Oh this bonus sounds wonderful. I do know that I can't "upgrade" my gold AmEx, I have to get the new platinum card ... but I thank you all for all the good advice. Now I just gotta go see when I last had the Platinum, it's been a few years I think.
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 22,930
It's officially once per lifetime. Unofficially, they might give it to you again if it's been quite a few years (7 years was mentioned upthread) and they no longer have a record of it in their system.
#28
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,819
Two related threads from the AMEX forum:
Amex lifetime is really 7 years
How common are targeted offers without once-in-a-lifetime language?
Amex lifetime is really 7 years
How common are targeted offers without once-in-a-lifetime language?
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: san francisco
Programs: No airline status whatsoever, Chase URs, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 567
I just signed up for the Delta Platinum AmEx. It's been a long time since I had that particular card. I'll report back on the points bonus, laughing or crying.