QUESTION: using my Delta Miles
Apr 21, 2018, 8:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Delta
Posts: 11
QUESTION: using my Delta Miles
Hi all, I have roughly 500K of unused Delta Miles right now. I'm thinking about booking a flight to Japan. Looks like it would use 80K of my miles, which is no problem.
But my concern is if I would book with miles, I wouldn't accrue any travel miles that would help me with my 2019 Delta status.
So, would I be better off to:
a)book with miles
b)not book with miles
c)is there another option that I should look into?
any advice would be helpful, and thank you!
But my concern is if I would book with miles, I wouldn't accrue any travel miles that would help me with my 2019 Delta status.
So, would I be better off to:
a)book with miles
b)not book with miles
c)is there another option that I should look into?
any advice would be helpful, and thank you!
Apr 21, 2018, 9:04 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Somewhere
Programs: Delta Plat
Posts: 3,363
Apply for the Delta Amex card, you can use your miles to pay 100 dollars is 1000 miles. You will earn miles towards status that way using your miles. Each mile may be worth a penny but you get miles refunded the miles you will travel plus any bonuses.
Apr 21, 2018, 10:09 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,013
I would not so cavalierly dismiss PWM as a poor choice. On a longer trip where you can generate significant MQM's on a PWM ticket (vs. none on an award ticket), it can be worth considering if you need the MQM's to make a particular status level. I think most here would value 12K MQM's as worth at least $600 as that's about what you would pay for them with an MR. There's also the additional time and expense of MR'ing above the fare cost itself.
Apr 21, 2018, 1:17 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: DL DM; DL AMEX Reserve; HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,984
I wish! But I think you’re off by an order of magnitude - $100 = 10K miles.
Apr 21, 2018, 1:52 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Kanasas City
Programs: DL DM, 2 MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 358
Hi all, I have roughly 500K of unused Delta Miles right now. I'm thinking about booking a flight to Japan. Looks like it would use 80K of my miles, which is no problem.
But my concern is if I would book with miles, I wouldn't accrue any travel miles that would help me with my 2019 Delta status.
So, would I be better off to:
a)book with miles
b)not book with miles
c)is there another option that I should look into?
any advice would be helpful, and thank you!
But my concern is if I would book with miles, I wouldn't accrue any travel miles that would help me with my 2019 Delta status.
So, would I be better off to:
a)book with miles
b)not book with miles
c)is there another option that I should look into?
any advice would be helpful, and thank you!
Apr 21, 2018, 3:07 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2013
Location: DTW
Programs: AMEX, Ritz LT-Plat Prem, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Delta Plat, United Gold, Sixt Plat
Posts: 866
Hi all, I have roughly 500K of unused Delta Miles right now. I'm thinking about booking a flight to Japan. Looks like it would use 80K of my miles, which is no problem.
But my concern is if I would book with miles, I wouldn't accrue any travel miles that would help me with my 2019 Delta status.
So, would I be better off to:
a)book with miles
b)not book with miles
c)is there another option that I should look into?
any advice would be helpful, and thank you!
But my concern is if I would book with miles, I wouldn't accrue any travel miles that would help me with my 2019 Delta status.
So, would I be better off to:
a)book with miles
b)not book with miles
c)is there another option that I should look into?
any advice would be helpful, and thank you!
Apr 21, 2018, 4:44 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
I would not so cavalierly dismiss PWM as a poor choice. On a longer trip where you can generate significant MQM's on a PWM ticket (vs. none on an award ticket), it can be worth considering if you need the MQM's to make a particular status level. I think most here would value 12K MQM's as worth at least $600 as that's about what you would pay for them with an MR. There's also the additional time and expense of MR'ing above the fare cost itself.
If you have a glut of RDM and need MQM, PWM can be a good option. RDM aren't actually worth anything just sitting in your account - you have to redeem them somehow and not everyone is looking for/able to use the 3+ (or more) CPM deals/routes.
Apr 21, 2018, 4:48 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 790
Hi all, I have roughly 500K of unused Delta Miles right now. I'm thinking about booking a flight to Japan. Looks like it would use 80K of my miles, which is no problem.
But my concern is if I would book with miles, I wouldn't accrue any travel miles that would help me with my 2019 Delta status.
So, would I be better off to:
a)book with miles
b)not book with miles
c)is there another option that I should look into?
any advice would be helpful, and thank you!
But my concern is if I would book with miles, I wouldn't accrue any travel miles that would help me with my 2019 Delta status.
So, would I be better off to:
a)book with miles
b)not book with miles
c)is there another option that I should look into?
any advice would be helpful, and thank you!
Apr 22, 2018, 9:06 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
Programs: DL PM & 2MM™, Lifetime HHonors Diamond
Posts: 20,889
Unless you have something you need these miles for, like a big family trip booking multiple people ... then I would seriously spend these miles soon. Not saying take trips you don't need / want, but uhh, I would not feel comfortable with that amount of miles sitting, especially with Delta.
I fairly often need a few segments on top of work for DM and PWM is invaluable in getting there.
Apr 22, 2018, 11:19 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,032
Apr 23, 2018, 12:00 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: DL Silver, Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle, Global Entry (Former AA Plt/Gold)
Posts: 4,420
How much are the cash tickets; in other words how much are your 80,000 miles worth? How much do you use the benefits of status? These are the questions you have to ask; I decided (on AA) to redeem my miles and lose status for 2020 because I was buying business class either way, so I saved $4600 which can buy me a lot of checked baggage and AA's version of C+ in 2020 (thus also restoring my priority boarding).
As so many others have mentioned, if the value is close to $0.01/mile, then go for the Amex/PWM approach.
As so many others have mentioned, if the value is close to $0.01/mile, then go for the Amex/PWM approach.
Apr 23, 2018, 1:10 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,256
I would not so cavalierly dismiss PWM as a poor choice. On a longer trip where you can generate significant MQM's on a PWM ticket (vs. none on an award ticket), it can be worth considering if you need the MQM's to make a particular status level. I think most here would value 12K MQM's as worth at least $600 as that's about what you would pay for them with an MR. There's also the additional time and expense of MR'ing above the fare cost itself.
Apr 23, 2018, 6:46 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
It's still a poor value. If you need the MQMs, pay cash for the ticket. Then use the miles for something else with a much higher value - international premium cabin travel, one-ways where the mileage price is cheap relative to the cash price, that sort of thing. People who are flush with miles may spend them in ways that sacrifice value, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea.
Due to personal circumstances I haven't been able to take a big intl vacation for the past 18 months, and any work trips I'm on I am required to pay cash. So I think PWM and collecting MQM is an excellent value and the best choice for me on the couple of personal trips I've been taking, especially since the straight award price is comparable.
I'd much rather have a bigger pile of cash saved up for no particular purpose than a bigger pile of airline miles.
