Delta or UA for miles?
 

I have an upcoming round trip on Delta (STL-ATL-SAV) and need some advice from you wise old owls.

Do I put the miles in my UA or DL account and why? I have a reasonable # of miles in both accounts and am Premier, soon to be PremEx in UA; regular member in DL and unlikely to ever reach elite there.

As far as I can see, the flights are all on Delta proper (thereby avoiding the problem that UA does not give credit for Delta connection). All 4 flights are under 500 miles. I am unaware of any special promotions that may help me.

Does it matter?

Thanks in advance.

Lurker

It does not matter much, given what you have said.

You will not get credit for UA status, or the UA premier bonus if you take the miles on UA. So if you take the miles on UA you get 2K miles and no credit towards status. If you take the miles on Delta you get 2K miles and credit towards elite status (which you say does not help you).

If you booked online on Delta you may get a web booking bonus if you take the miles on Delta.

Other factors to consider are when was your last activity on both airlines (3 year expiration after last activity) and what is your current mileage level on both airlines (are you saving for a big award?).

FWIW, I agree entirely with PG! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Lurker:
[B] (thereby avoiding the problem that UA does not give credit for Delta connection).

I'm not sure what you're saying here. UA definitly gives mileage credit for Delta Connection- 500 mile minimum just like United Express flights, unless something has changed in the last month and a half. Please elaborate.

G'Day Braslvr.

Sounds like you did well (Shhh!)

Here's the details "straight from the horse's" mouth:
http://www.ual.com/site/primary/0,10017,1187,00.html

"Now you can earn Mileage Plus® miles on Delta Air Lines flights within the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico (Delta Connection flights not included). Present your Mileage Plus number when making reservations and you can earn:"


This has been the ruling for as long as I can remember (but I have never tested it like you have, so who knows....)

Lurker


[This message has been edited by Lurker (edited 10-02-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Lurker (edited 10-02-2000).]

Technically, you can't do it.
However,there's nothing lost by asking. I wouldn't "argue." Some agents will let you do it,others won't.

Upon closer examination.......

The flights that I assumed were Delta Connection (because they were turboprops), do in fact appear to have DL flight numbers. This would explain the mileage credits. They are credited at 500 though. Thanks for the info. I will now look more closely when I'm forced to use Delta.

Braslvr,

It seems that it is not even that simple. I beliveve that Delta Connection flights have DL numbers (although they are all (?) 4 digit numbers. I think that you need to look for that fine print comment - "operated by..."


Lurker