Delta vs Continental: Is one easier for booking awards
May 5, 2008, 11:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Florida
Posts: 151
Delta vs Continental: Is one easier for booking awards
I will be moving 53,000 points into one of these programs. They both use the same partners but do you find it is easier to book awards with Delta or with Continental? Or are they pretty much the same?
May 5, 2008, 11:33 am
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Oakland, CA
Programs: Silver Level: DL, Non-Elite: AS, UA, AA, WN
Posts: 745
Both are pretty crappy. If you don't have to, I'd keep them in whatever program you have them in.
My guess is that you have AMEX Membership Rewards points and you don't want to reup on the annual fee. If this is true, post something on coupon connection and you could probably get a lot more for point that can be traded to any airline than them being on in one specific program.
That being said, if I HAD TO choose a program I'd pick continental. Delta is starting to impose fuel surcharges into its ticket prices so that if you redeem on DL of it's partners from Europe you pay about $250 in taxes where as with CO that same exact ticket would cost $50.
Again, check out CC. You might be surprised about the amount of stuff available.
My guess is that you have AMEX Membership Rewards points and you don't want to reup on the annual fee. If this is true, post something on coupon connection and you could probably get a lot more for point that can be traded to any airline than them being on in one specific program.
That being said, if I HAD TO choose a program I'd pick continental. Delta is starting to impose fuel surcharges into its ticket prices so that if you redeem on DL of it's partners from Europe you pay about $250 in taxes where as with CO that same exact ticket would cost $50.
Again, check out CC. You might be surprised about the amount of stuff available.
May 5, 2008, 11:35 am
#3
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,916
I've always found their availability to be pretty much the same. Skyteam does seem to have less of the "reserved for our own elites" and "preferred relationship" business going on than Oneworld. One thing you might want to consider is the ability to redeem on non-Skyteam partners (DL: Singapore Airlines, CO: Qantas). If you're just looking at a straight Skyteam redemption, I would probably transfer points to CO, because of their better search engine (and the resulting higher likelihood of being able to book an award online), and because of the ridiculous DL fees (you are fairly likely to run into their $25 phone ticketing + $25 partner award fees).
May 5, 2008, 12:16 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Programs: AA EXP and Lifetime Gold, UA LifetMarriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,006
Move to the program in which you have elite status. It will help you to get seats. From my experience as CO Platinum, it really helps.
Delta does have more international partners.
Delta does have more international partners.
May 5, 2008, 1:09 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Florida
Posts: 151
Yes, I am moving them from Membership Rewards since I am not planning to continue with the Amex card.
No, I do not have elite status on any airline.
I am not too familiar with coupon connection but isn't it for when you are ready to get a ticket?
No, I do not have elite status on any airline.
I am not too familiar with coupon connection but isn't it for when you are ready to get a ticket?
May 5, 2008, 2:12 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Oakland, CA
Programs: Silver Level: DL, Non-Elite: AS, UA, AA, WN
Posts: 745
Another question for the poster... are you planing to fly domestically or internationally?
If within the US you might want to consider transferring to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan which can get you tix on DL, NW, AA, and AS.
CC has all sort of different people on it some looking for deals for right now, some for later.
If within the US you might want to consider transferring to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan which can get you tix on DL, NW, AA, and AS.
CC has all sort of different people on it some looking for deals for right now, some for later.
May 5, 2008, 2:28 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
Both have their idiosyncrasies. It's really hard to make a blanket statement. If you are originating your travel in Europe, you definitely want to move to CO because DL has starting collecting fuel surcharge fees for awards ex-Europe.
May 5, 2008, 4:55 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 9,677
If you are planning to redeem a business class award, I would avoid Continental's program.. their redemption levels are deliberately confusing, unlike most other programs (which tend to use a single consolidated award chart).
Alaska Airlines sounds like a safe choice.
Alaska Airlines sounds like a safe choice.
May 6, 2008, 5:46 am
#9
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
I've always found their availability to be pretty much the same. Skyteam does seem to have less of the "reserved for our own elites" and "preferred relationship" business going on than Oneworld. One thing you might want to consider is the ability to redeem on non-Skyteam partners (DL: Singapore Airlines, CO: Qantas). If you're just looking at a straight Skyteam redemption, I would probably transfer points to CO, because of their better search engine (and the resulting higher likelihood of being able to book an award online), and because of the ridiculous DL fees (you are fairly likely to run into their $25 phone ticketing + $25 partner award fees).
May 6, 2008, 11:39 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 9,677
May 8, 2008, 10:04 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Austin, Tejas, USA
Programs: IHG Amb, HH Gold, Hyatt Gold, Avis P'sC, AAA-Plus
Posts: 185
to convert to AAMP, you would lose 23K miles
using this handy-dandy tool:http://www.webflyer.com/programs/mil...rter/index.php
Path #1 Miles/Points
American Express Membership Rewards (US) converts to (starting) 53,000
Continental OnePass (at a ratio of 1:1) converts to 53,000
Amtrak Guest Rewards (at a ratio of 1:1) converts to 50,000
* Choice Hotels Choice Privileges (at a ratio of 5000:15000) converts to 150,000
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan (at a ratio of 5:1) Total: 30,000
using this handy-dandy tool:http://www.webflyer.com/programs/mil...rter/index.php
Path #1 Miles/Points
American Express Membership Rewards (US) converts to (starting) 53,000
Continental OnePass (at a ratio of 1:1) converts to 53,000
Amtrak Guest Rewards (at a ratio of 1:1) converts to 50,000
* Choice Hotels Choice Privileges (at a ratio of 5000:15000) converts to 150,000
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan (at a ratio of 5:1) Total: 30,000