Why are Delta's SkyMiles called SkyPesos?
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: California
Posts: 63
Thanks everyone. I am beginning to understand a bit. However, it seems like a lot of the issue is either getting premium class seats or international travel.
Let's say you just wanted to get a family of 4 across or around the U.S. on a domestic flight if you had 100K miles built-up. Still a bad experience, I presume?
Thanks.
Let's say you just wanted to get a family of 4 across or around the U.S. on a domestic flight if you had 100K miles built-up. Still a bad experience, I presume?
Thanks.
#17
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BZN
Programs: AA:LT Platinum DL:LT Gold UA:1P MAR:LT Titanium
Posts: 8,289
Thanks everyone. I am beginning to understand a bit. However, it seems like a lot of the issue is either getting premium class seats or international travel.
Let's say you just wanted to get a family of 4 across or around the U.S. on a domestic flight if you had 100K miles built-up. Still a bad experience, I presume?
Thanks.
Let's say you just wanted to get a family of 4 across or around the U.S. on a domestic flight if you had 100K miles built-up. Still a bad experience, I presume?
Thanks.
Four people over Thanksgiving on a nonstop transcon would be very difficult on any airline, but two tickets during a "normal" period where you can move your dates a day or three - you should be fine if you know what you're doing. Delta really needs to fix the calendar issue, as it's ridiculous that you'd need to know tricks to get it to work. If you lack Medallion status (or don't believe you can get it easily before your trip), then you might want to post your desired routing and time frame here and let someone help you. Lots of us are kind and helpful and could probably suggest the airline or two that would give you the best chance.
In Delta's favor, the earning of those 100K miles you cite is much easier with Delta than elsewhere. I recently booked eight tickets (albeit not transcon - it was an itin involving two RJ hops), all on the same flights, for my family and another, for 200K Skymiles. I needed the tickets and would have had to pay ~$4,000 after-tax dollars otherwise. Pretty good deal considering that I'm earning 180K Skymiles just for spending $60K on one of my Amex Reserve cards.
#18
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SYD
Programs: |QF Platinum|HH Gold|DL Silver|ALL Silver|
Posts: 1,736
Delta's own accounts quantify the reason for the Skypesos term.
When Delta emerged from bankruptcy in 2007, the accounts valued each mile as a liability worth 0.83 cents.
In their latest accounts, each mile is valued at 0.54 cents.
Devaluation by over one third in 3 years.
You'd still be taking more of a chance than with other airlines. In January I was looking to redeem my remaining SkyPesos for LOS-NYC return in September. Whether logged in as a Gold Medallion or not, the lowest price I was getting, 9 months out, was 40,000 miles. Yet with no status on AA, 25,000 miles as far as the eye could see.
Unless you're heavily invested in flying Delta and plan to continue to be, and have the general spending levels to justify DL branded Amex cards, you're better off looking at other programs.
When Delta emerged from bankruptcy in 2007, the accounts valued each mile as a liability worth 0.83 cents.
In their latest accounts, each mile is valued at 0.54 cents.
Devaluation by over one third in 3 years.
Unless you're heavily invested in flying Delta and plan to continue to be, and have the general spending levels to justify DL branded Amex cards, you're better off looking at other programs.
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DCA
Programs: AMC MovieWatcher, Giant BonusCard, Petco PALS Card, Silver Diner Blue Plate Club
Posts: 22,297
The only reason to accumulate Skymiles is if you live in a Delta hub city and are earning elite status for domestic upgrades.
Even if you live in a Delta hub, but aren't going to make status, credit your flying to Alaska.
And if you don't live in a Delta hub, fly a different airline and earn status with them and miles with them instead.
The only reason to earn non-flight miles with Skymiles is if those miles help you towards status. If your credit card spend isn't going towards status, it makes no sense to accumulate Skymiles at all. And other non-MQM earning activity? No way.
Even if you live in a Delta hub, but aren't going to make status, credit your flying to Alaska.
And if you don't live in a Delta hub, fly a different airline and earn status with them and miles with them instead.
The only reason to earn non-flight miles with Skymiles is if those miles help you towards status. If your credit card spend isn't going towards status, it makes no sense to accumulate Skymiles at all. And other non-MQM earning activity? No way.
#20
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
Thanks everyone. I am beginning to understand a bit. However, it seems like a lot of the issue is either getting premium class seats or international travel.
Let's say you just wanted to get a family of 4 across or around the U.S. on a domestic flight if you had 100K miles built-up. Still a bad experience, I presume?
Thanks.
Let's say you just wanted to get a family of 4 across or around the U.S. on a domestic flight if you had 100K miles built-up. Still a bad experience, I presume?
Thanks.
#21
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,659
I can't even get 25000 award tickets MEM to CLE. Six months ago I could. I'm so glad I switched to CO.
#22
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BZN
Programs: AA:LT Platinum DL:LT Gold UA:1P MAR:LT Titanium
Posts: 8,289
A quick look shows that Medallion inventory over the next several months is wide open... ~80% dates have flights available at the 25K level, usually several options within the day and for 2+ passengers.
For non-Medallions, it's still quite open... ~50% of days for one ticket.
#24
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 698
Is there an explanation, on FT or elsewhere, of the "calendar bug" referred to above? Thanks.
#26
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BZN
Programs: AA:LT Platinum DL:LT Gold UA:1P MAR:LT Titanium
Posts: 8,289
The bug that causes this initial color load failure causes many Medallions to incorrectly assume that there are no low/saver awards available, when indeed there are.
#27
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BGM
Programs: HHonors Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Platinum, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 771
I'm not going to pretend that I'm a frequent flyer or that I know much about redeeming miles, but the one time that I wanted to use DL miles was this spring to go to Las Vegas and it was pretty easy and not ridiculously overpriced points-wise. This booking was also only about 2 months in advance.
I know that many will say that these points shouldn't be used for this kind of domestic flight, but it worked great for me since I live near a regional airport and not a hub. If I were to buy the ticket, it would've cost about $350 and I used 32.5k miles for it. So, to me, I got more than the $.01/mile that is the baseline for "value" of my AMEX MR points (which I transferred to DL) and it was free. But, if I waited another week before I booked, there were flights available for the 25k level on the same exact flights that I booked for 32.5k. So, I just happened to get unlucky with my timing. If I was booking for something like 6 months or more in advance I would've waited longer and done more research, but I wanted to book ASAP to be able to assure myself a free ticket.
Basically, I'm saying that it all depends on what your needs/desires are. My goal was to not actually pay any $ for my ticket, but I wasn't going to use miles if it came out to less than $.01/mile. Lots of people look for a much higher return, but since all of my miles & points come from credit card spend, my desired return varies depending on the current situation. Sometimes just over $.01/mile is ok with me and other times I want it to be much higher.
I know that many will say that these points shouldn't be used for this kind of domestic flight, but it worked great for me since I live near a regional airport and not a hub. If I were to buy the ticket, it would've cost about $350 and I used 32.5k miles for it. So, to me, I got more than the $.01/mile that is the baseline for "value" of my AMEX MR points (which I transferred to DL) and it was free. But, if I waited another week before I booked, there were flights available for the 25k level on the same exact flights that I booked for 32.5k. So, I just happened to get unlucky with my timing. If I was booking for something like 6 months or more in advance I would've waited longer and done more research, but I wanted to book ASAP to be able to assure myself a free ticket.
Basically, I'm saying that it all depends on what your needs/desires are. My goal was to not actually pay any $ for my ticket, but I wasn't going to use miles if it came out to less than $.01/mile. Lots of people look for a much higher return, but since all of my miles & points come from credit card spend, my desired return varies depending on the current situation. Sometimes just over $.01/mile is ok with me and other times I want it to be much higher.
#28
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,020
IMHO, I respectfully disagree with SkinFans0521.
The problem with Delta is not that is not possible to get some value out of the SkyPesos, because it is--but, that it is much, much more difficult and each mile is generally worth much less than miles in other programs; evidently as part of Delta's business plan which includes rapid and large devaluation of miles, somewhat concealed by various devices such as the purported three tier redemption levels.
The problem with Delta is not that is not possible to get some value out of the SkyPesos, because it is--but, that it is much, much more difficult and each mile is generally worth much less than miles in other programs; evidently as part of Delta's business plan which includes rapid and large devaluation of miles, somewhat concealed by various devices such as the purported three tier redemption levels.
#29
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Programs: DL Skymiles (silver) & AA Advantage
Posts: 190
Clearly since DL got their mits on NWA, the FF ticket inventory has dramatically declined. I have been able to work the schedule, however to take advantage of some 25k tickets to Alaska in coach.
I'm most disappointed that in the old days, I could be assured on the first day of availability booking a 75k RT first class ticket to Hawaii . . . 150k for two. That option is long gone, as are the upgrades to first class. Now you aren't even eligilbe for them if you're a mere silver medallion member.
I'm most disappointed that in the old days, I could be assured on the first day of availability booking a 75k RT first class ticket to Hawaii . . . 150k for two. That option is long gone, as are the upgrades to first class. Now you aren't even eligilbe for them if you're a mere silver medallion member.
#30
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BGM
Programs: HHonors Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Platinum, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 771
IMHO, I respectfully disagree with SkinFans0521.
The problem with Delta is not that is not possible to get some value out of the SkyPesos, because it is--but, that it is much, much more difficult and each mile is generally worth much less than miles in other programs; evidently as part of Delta's business plan which includes rapid and large devaluation of miles, somewhat concealed by various devices such as the purported three tier redemption levels.
The problem with Delta is not that is not possible to get some value out of the SkyPesos, because it is--but, that it is much, much more difficult and each mile is generally worth much less than miles in other programs; evidently as part of Delta's business plan which includes rapid and large devaluation of miles, somewhat concealed by various devices such as the purported three tier redemption levels.
So, while I do agree that I'm not actively trying to accumulate more miles on DL (like I am with others), they have their place. The whole reason for using DL on that trip was because they had the best options availble of any of the partners I could transfer to from AMEX MR. All the others either didn't have availability or cost more miles.