Aeroflot vs Delta mileage
Mar 16, 2018, 11:51 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: LTN
Programs: Aeroflot Bonus, British Airways Executive Club
Posts: 463
Aeroflot vs Delta mileage
I didn't choose a plan wisely when I first took a SkyTeam flight, and have about 2.7 k of miles in Delta SkyMiles.
I'm based in Hong Kong, and among all SkyTeam members I will likely to take Aeroflot the most, for the sole reason it is much cheaper than all other competitors to Europe (I just bought round-trip ticket to Helsinki for less than 6k HKD in Easter when economy in direct Finnair flight has already been sold out!), and for some possible itineraries (e.g. from Hong Kong to Russia then open jaw leaving from EU) Aeroflot is the only choice.
1. Do Aeroflot miles expire in two years without flight activity?
2. If I am sure that I can take a SkyTeam flight every two years, is it better of using the native program of Aeroflot instead of Delta Skymiles because most of my flights in SkyTeam will be on Aeroflot transferring at SVO to Europe (for example, the Easter flight I mentioned are classes N and Q which offers 75% miles in Aeroflot but only 25% in Delta)? Which programme has better value?
I'm based in Hong Kong, and among all SkyTeam members I will likely to take Aeroflot the most, for the sole reason it is much cheaper than all other competitors to Europe (I just bought round-trip ticket to Helsinki for less than 6k HKD in Easter when economy in direct Finnair flight has already been sold out!), and for some possible itineraries (e.g. from Hong Kong to Russia then open jaw leaving from EU) Aeroflot is the only choice.
1. Do Aeroflot miles expire in two years without flight activity?
2. If I am sure that I can take a SkyTeam flight every two years, is it better of using the native program of Aeroflot instead of Delta Skymiles because most of my flights in SkyTeam will be on Aeroflot transferring at SVO to Europe (for example, the Easter flight I mentioned are classes N and Q which offers 75% miles in Aeroflot but only 25% in Delta)? Which programme has better value?
Mar 20, 2018, 6:09 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: AA ExPlat, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,130
I didn't choose a plan wisely when I first took a SkyTeam flight, and have about 2.7 k of miles in Delta SkyMiles.
I'm based in Hong Kong, and among all SkyTeam members I will likely to take Aeroflot the most, for the sole reason it is much cheaper than all other competitors to Europe (I just bought round-trip ticket to Helsinki for less than 6k HKD in Easter when economy in direct Finnair flight has already been sold out!), and for some possible itineraries (e.g. from Hong Kong to Russia then open jaw leaving from EU) Aeroflot is the only choice.
1. Do Aeroflot miles expire in two years without flight activity?
2. If I am sure that I can take a SkyTeam flight every two years, is it better of using the native program of Aeroflot instead of Delta Skymiles because most of my flights in SkyTeam will be on Aeroflot transferring at SVO to Europe (for example, the Easter flight I mentioned are classes N and Q which offers 75% miles in Aeroflot but only 25% in Delta)? Which programme has better value?
I'm based in Hong Kong, and among all SkyTeam members I will likely to take Aeroflot the most, for the sole reason it is much cheaper than all other competitors to Europe (I just bought round-trip ticket to Helsinki for less than 6k HKD in Easter when economy in direct Finnair flight has already been sold out!), and for some possible itineraries (e.g. from Hong Kong to Russia then open jaw leaving from EU) Aeroflot is the only choice.
1. Do Aeroflot miles expire in two years without flight activity?
2. If I am sure that I can take a SkyTeam flight every two years, is it better of using the native program of Aeroflot instead of Delta Skymiles because most of my flights in SkyTeam will be on Aeroflot transferring at SVO to Europe (for example, the Easter flight I mentioned are classes N and Q which offers 75% miles in Aeroflot but only 25% in Delta)? Which programme has better value?
You are better off earning SU miles with SU vs. trying to use other SkyTeam FFPs to redeem on SU flights. SU and DL aren't playing nice in this regard, and I am sure it won't get any better with other alliance "partners". Another thing to keep in mind is that landing fees at Moscow airports have gotten very expensive (in part to pay for the new terminal at SVO). While long-haul J is still worth the redemption, on SH flights, the taxes you'll pay on a redemption can be 50% of what the actual fare would have been, if you paid in $$. I flew from Berlin to SVO using SU miles last year and while the flight would've cost me $140, I ended up paying $80+ in taxes for it (+ the miles).
Mar 21, 2018, 12:32 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: LTN
Programs: Aeroflot Bonus, British Airways Executive Club
Posts: 463
Aeroflot miles do expire. But they may devalue even more rapidly. Earn at your own peril. They also black out certain dates, like holidays, so you can't redeem them 365 days per year.
You are better off earning SU miles with SU vs. trying to use other SkyTeam FFPs to redeem on SU flights. SU and DL aren't playing nice in this regard, and I am sure it won't get any better with other alliance "partners". Another thing to keep in mind is that landing fees at Moscow airports have gotten very expensive (in part to pay for the new terminal at SVO). While long-haul J is still worth the redemption, on SH flights, the taxes you'll pay on a redemption can be 50% of what the actual fare would have been, if you paid in $$. I flew from Berlin to SVO using SU miles last year and while the flight would've cost me $140, I ended up paying $80+ in taxes for it (+ the miles).
You are better off earning SU miles with SU vs. trying to use other SkyTeam FFPs to redeem on SU flights. SU and DL aren't playing nice in this regard, and I am sure it won't get any better with other alliance "partners". Another thing to keep in mind is that landing fees at Moscow airports have gotten very expensive (in part to pay for the new terminal at SVO). While long-haul J is still worth the redemption, on SH flights, the taxes you'll pay on a redemption can be 50% of what the actual fare would have been, if you paid in $$. I flew from Berlin to SVO using SU miles last year and while the flight would've cost me $140, I ended up paying $80+ in taxes for it (+ the miles).
Apr 22, 2018, 2:39 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: AA ExPlat, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,130
You have mentioned that it black out certain days like holidays, does it also applies on redeeming partner's flight by SU points? If I can't find a good value redemption on SU, I may try redeeming CZ or CI flights instead. Does long-haul Y redemption on SU from SE Asia a good value?
Apr 26, 2018, 9:06 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Aeroflot Bonus - Gold, Marco Polo - Silver
Posts: 154
If you fly aeroflot, earn and burn as quickly as you can via Aeroflot bonus.
Earn rates are fantastic for flexible tickets.
Burn by upgrading or flights to small indonesian islands by Garuda.
SU dont seem to have blackout dates - been upgrading for christmas and easter for years. Just need to book before everyone else.
Haven't really seen a devaluation in years as per chart but soft devas are frequent (can only upgrade Flex tickets but the upgrades isn't refundable...).
Earn rates are fantastic for flexible tickets.
Burn by upgrading or flights to small indonesian islands by Garuda.
SU dont seem to have blackout dates - been upgrading for christmas and easter for years. Just need to book before everyone else.
Haven't really seen a devaluation in years as per chart but soft devas are frequent (can only upgrade Flex tickets but the upgrades isn't refundable...).