15% off all SkyMiles awards for Amex cardholder
Feb 18, 23, 10:58 am
#167
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 21,772
While you need to book as roundtrip to get lowest rate to/from US/Canada, EU to/from Caribbean/Mexico awards are still all one-way awards. Strategy for finding lowest levels to/from Mexico/Caribbean involves searching as one-way's to start, rather than roundtrip searches. While there is decent availability outbound in October, there's not much in the return direction until November. Awards on AM metal will get hit with carrier surcharges (even when booking as roundtrip ex-MEX).
You can have different departure and return airports. While you can book these separately as one-way awards, they will all get hit with carrier surcharges on ex-EU one-way awards. With AF/KL/DL metal, you can avoid carrier surcharges by booking as a roundtrip.
Last edited by xliioper; Feb 18, 23 at 11:14 am
Feb 18, 23, 11:08 am
#168
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 18,324
Always wondered what the Dos & Donts of positioning were. Wasnt successful finding much on a search. I lost out on some good redemption opportunities last week because I was on the fence about driving to LAX.
Nesting an international trip in between a domestic round trip isnt violating any COC rules? Or are you supposed to do a one-way, then the trip you actually want to take, and a final one way to get home from your positioning airport.
If the nesting thing is okay, are there any other things not to do so you dont violate anything to where they cancel your ticket?
Nesting an international trip in between a domestic round trip isnt violating any COC rules? Or are you supposed to do a one-way, then the trip you actually want to take, and a final one way to get home from your positioning airport.
If the nesting thing is okay, are there any other things not to do so you dont violate anything to where they cancel your ticket?
Lets say passenger Y, a grad student in archaeology, buys a round trip ticket to Cancun to spend a semester crawling around Mesoamerican pyramids. During that time she buys a separate round trip ticket to fly from CUN to CAI to compare Egyptian pyramids to those in Yucatan. Nothing in the COC prohibits this. Indeed, I think an airline would be shooting itself in the foot to prohibit this since the obvious workaround is to buy one or the other ticket on another airline.
The COC specifically calls out hidden city and back-to-back ticketing designed to circumvent the stay rules as well as throwaway ticketing.
Feb 18, 23, 12:01 pm
#170
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 21,772
FYI, on Thursday, DL loaded some $3K seasonal roundtrip D1 fares to various EU cities (AMS, CDG, MUC, BRU, etc.) from a number of US cities (NYC, WAS, PIT, CLE, BNA, CHI, AZO, GRR, LAN, and others). D1 award rates have been adjusted accordingly to 280K before discount, 238K after 15% discount (on all DL metal itins). Good for travel April 20th to Sep 17th. 7-day min stay, 50-day AP, and Tue-Thu outbound, Mon-Thu returns required. Note that the revenue fares have sales restrictions and the awards will likely disappear when the revenue fares end.
Last edited by xliioper; Feb 18, 23 at 12:07 pm
Feb 19, 23, 6:02 am
#171
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: DL DM 2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium/Ambassador Elite , Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 465
It's interesting to scan different areas of southern Europe to utilize the 15% off rewards. Obviously today, going to Greece with 15% off is foolish. On the other hand, I'm seeing D1 or partner business redemption in the 300k+ range for several cities in Italy at the same time in the fall. Maybe this is the year of greatest demand to Greece despite having the largest amount of inventory ever with direct flights across the industry from the US
Feb 19, 23, 6:48 am
#172
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 21,772
It's interesting to scan different areas of southern Europe to utilize the 15% off rewards. Obviously today, going to Greece with 15% off is foolish. On the other hand, I'm seeing D1 or partner business redemption in the 300k+ range for several cities in Italy at the same time in the fall. Maybe this is the year of greatest demand to Greece despite having the largest amount of inventory ever with direct flights across the industry from the US
There are seasonal D1 awards to ATH for late Fall (travel commencing on/after Oct 30th) starting at 350K miles from some cities (before discount). The challenge is that there are few flights with bucket availability in lowest award bucket right now. They may open up more availability in lower level buckets as flights get closer.
There are less restricted seasonal D1 fares starting at around $3600 roundtrip. This is a case where seasonality on award fares doesn't currently align with what is available on revenue fares. It's possible they will adjust seasonality requirements on awards to match revenue fare seasonality requirements at some point (mismatch could be intentional, or it could just be an oversight).
Last edited by xliioper; Feb 19, 23 at 7:35 am
Mar 2, 23, 11:31 am
#173
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MYR
Programs: spirit elite, MRgold Hilton Gold
Posts: 454
Looking to apply and book a Skypesos flight. I've got the miles in my acct but want to apply for the card to get the bonus miles and 15% off. How long does it take from the time I'm approved for the 15% off to show up in my acct.
Mar 2, 23, 12:39 pm
#174
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 21,772
Should be linked to account fairly shortly after approval (I would expect within a day or two) and qualify for discount at that point. Card will appear in Delta App under "Account" menu and "Skymilles" tab at bottom of screen once linked. Just be aware that award must not include in any partner flights in order to qualify for discount.
Mar 2, 23, 1:58 pm
#175
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AA Gold
Posts: 145
Mar 5, 23, 12:18 pm
#176
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: Back to 0
Posts: 1,904
No surprise: Rep this AM confirmed no goodwill redepsoit of 15% of redeemed miles for those of us who redeemed DL miles just ahead of the promo announcement. Unless,of course, someone wanted to redeposit all their recently redeemed miles and then re-select the same ticket again (at hopefully 15% less than originally priced).
Mar 5, 23, 12:23 pm
#177
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
Programs: DL PM & 2MM™, Lifetime HHonors Diamond
Posts: 20,757
No surprise: Rep this AM confirmed no goodwill redepsoit of 15% of redeemed miles for those of us who redeemed DL miles just ahead of the promo announcement. Unless,of course, someone wanted to redeposit all their recently redeemed miles and then re-select the same ticket again (at hopefully 15% less than originally priced).
Mar 5, 23, 8:37 pm
#178
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 4,396
No surprise: Rep this AM confirmed no goodwill redepsoit of 15% of redeemed miles for those of us who redeemed DL miles just ahead of the promo announcement. Unless,of course, someone wanted to redeposit all their recently redeemed miles and then re-select the same ticket again (at hopefully 15% less than originally priced).
Mar 7, 23, 3:00 pm
#179
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,188
Every second January I pay the IRS $245,000 plus a 1.89% fee on my Reserve card and immediately file a tax return for a refund. I get 1.5 SM on the amount over $150,000 plus 60,000 MQMs plus 2 FC companion certs. Then I put the card in a drawer for 2 years. This gives me 2 years of DM status but CBs only every second year. This has been the best way for me to maintain my DM status and not having to stress over getting 40,000 MQDs (20,000 MQDs per year).
Mar 7, 23, 3:02 pm
#180
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 9,562
Actually, all of the Delta Amexes are true credit cards, not charge cards. They have specified credit limits.
