No Result
View All Result
Eye of the Flyer
  • BANK & Travel Cards ★
    • Credit Cards
    • Travel Rewards Cards
    • Airline Credit Cards
    • Hotel Credit Cards
    • Cash Back Credit Cards
    • No Annual Fee Credit Cards
    • Small Business Credit Cards
    • 0% Intro APR Cards
    • Balance Transfer Cards
  • Rookie
  • Elite Mileage Runs
  • αbout US ✉
  • BANK & Travel Cards ★
    • Credit Cards
    • Travel Rewards Cards
    • Airline Credit Cards
    • Hotel Credit Cards
    • Cash Back Credit Cards
    • No Annual Fee Credit Cards
    • Small Business Credit Cards
    • 0% Intro APR Cards
    • Balance Transfer Cards
  • Rookie
  • Elite Mileage Runs
  • αbout US ✉
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

Delta Award space & smart to spend miles for upgrades? Time to pick on two of my favorite bloggers!

René by René
May 8, 2014 - Updated on August 15, 2014
in Travel Related
13
Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc. has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Eye of the Flyer and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


 

two great bloggers

I thought I would pick on two of my favorite BoardingArea.com bloggers this afternoon and comment on their posts. Both of my brethren are Platinum Medallions with Delta (can’t get them to mileage run enough with me to make the top level). But, both of them know their stuff about our beloved airline.

chart

First let’s pick on MJ a bit. He talked about the survey that more low level seats are opening up at Delta. Delta does award more space to higher level medallions but the survey he was talking about is for a normal flyer. I have not seen a huge change but then again I know how to work my way to find what I want most times. Is MJ and the survey right? Are you seeing what the WSJ reports above that is more award space opening up at low level?

Next let’s pick on PM&M. His post this afternoon made me go – HUH!?!?! – and jump on Delta.com and see what I could have missed as I am booking or checking seats all the time.

before

He is talking about expanded (really) use of miles for upgrades and that it can be a good move since upgrade space can be hard unless you happen to be a Diamond Medallion (I tend to get about 90% upgrade success). But his slides seemed confusing to me.

after

Depending on the flight you can pay a little or a lot to upgrade in cash or in miles and STILL EARN miles for the trip. How much more, well, not ALL that much more depending on your medallion status. Plus, for crying out loud, you may as in my test case, pay a large part of a low level round trip price in points for the upgrade!

lax-1

And the route and price REALLY matters. Now if the price to upgrade is really cheap it could well be worth it but count the cost. For example, this LAX-JFK one. Not all bad in coach to just buy a ticket in cash but it is coach. What about upgrade with cash or points?

lax-2

Holy COW! 271,000 points to upgrade one way? Really? Yes I am earning a bunch more MQMs but not all that many more Skymiles for flying first this way. Plus look at this:

lax award 1 way

I could just book a coach award seat. Now this price is round trip so next year, hopefully, this would be half as many miles or less. What about a business class award seat?

lax award 2

Ouch! Ouch ouch! But still notice the round trip business class award price is less than the cash+points one way total price. So clearly it would be foolish to upgrade this one.

The bottom line is there can be times either cash or points for an upgrade can be a good choice but for me personally I would MUCH rather save my points for award travel and work for those upgrades the best I can for free!- René
.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by American Express. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express.

➲ Barclaycard Arrival™
World MasterCard®
Earn 2x miles
on All Purchases

. .

Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc. has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Eye of the Flyer and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Related

Previous Post

The good & bad about Delta’s new 757 seats (as they start to roll out).

Next Post

What could cause Delta to backpedal with Skymiles2015

René

René

René de Lambert is a contributing writer for EyeoftheFlyer.com - He is an avid Delta and SkyTeam flyer who has held Delta’s top Diamond Medallion status for many years and flown millions of miles.

Next Post

What could cause Delta to backpedal with Skymiles2015

Comments 13

  1. Lack says:
    8 years ago

    The amount of miles used for an upgrade really doesn’t matter as much as their valuation. No matter how much they ask for the upgrade, you only get a penny per point in value.

    Reply
    • Delta Points says:
      8 years ago

      @Lack – yes great point so it depends or your personal valuation but also the potential value of an award ticket as well.

      Reply
  2. Marc says:
    8 years ago

    How do you upgrade with miles? Can you do it online? Or only over the phone?

    Reply
    • Delta Points says:
      8 years ago

      @Marc – online when booking new.

      Reply
  3. RL says:
    8 years ago

    I usually don’t see the upgrade with miles option. Could it be because I am not choosing an upgradable fare class?

    Reply
    • Delta Points says:
      8 years ago

      @RL – do you have a Delta AMEX card?

      Reply
  4. RL says:
    8 years ago

    Hello,

    Yes I have a Delta Reserve card.

    Reply
    • Delta Points says:
      8 years ago

      @RL – hummm strange. I have reports of those without not seeing miles upgrade option but those with always seeing it. will report back after more data or more reader input. txs again for YOUR feedback as well. helpful.

      Reply
  5. Don in ATL says:
    8 years ago

    I am following several routes for award trips and have noticed that there are less award seats at the low level awards recently than there were last year, or even a few months ago. I am looking 330 days in advance. Whereas there used to be low level awards in BE on certain routes to the EU once or twice a week, now it is down to once a week and seems to be going to every other week on some routes. Similarly, there used to be an abundance of FC seats domestically to just about any city pair available at 50K RT. Now you are lucky if you find one. The rule seems to be that almost all the FC now require 80K RT instead of the low level 50K. Maybe I’m looking at routes that do not give the overall picture, but from what I’m experiencing, the total number of low level award seats is decreasing.

    Reply
  6. Tucsonbabe says:
    8 years ago

    Tested this after reading the post earlier. The option to upgrade with miles comes up on the page just before you purchase the ticket with your CC. I tested Tus to Dca and the cost in miles was 33,000 Each Way. I don’t think so. Perhaps on a routing without connections it is more reasonable. For me it just another useless Delta gesture.

    Reply
  7. jack says:
    8 years ago

    I have not seen the miles upgrade either. Maybe I am missing something but is it better to do this than to buy a FC tix and reduce the price substantially with miles? PM&M seem to imply you get more miles/MQMs with the miles upgrade than pay with miles (FC) but I don’t see how

    Reply
    • Delta Points says:
      8 years ago

      @Jack – you do get more for biz class but again depending on cost it may not be worth it.

      Reply
  8. Pingback: Should medallions fear upgrade with miles - "the sequel" post - Delta Points - Delta Points

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

➤ Search Eye of the Flyer

No Result
View All Result

Subscribe

Subscribe To Our NewsletterJoin our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

GREAT Travel and Cash Back Card Offers!

Eye of the Flyer May Receive a Commission from the links below. See our Privacy Policy

See CardRatings’ Top Credit Cards for This Month!


IHG Business Premier Rewards Credit Card

IHG Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

BRAND NEW CREDIT CARD! Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in purchases within three months of card membership approval. Plus, complimentary Platinum elite status, great points bonuses, and more! Learn now how to apply!


Capital One Venture X Credit Card

Capital One Venture X

The brand new must-have “it” card for travel lovers! Earn 75,000 bonus points (worth at least $750 in travel) after spending $4,000 in purchases within three months of card membership approval. Plus, enjoy up $300 annually in statement credits for travel purchased through Capital One AND 10,000 bonus points every year, after the first anniversary. The $395 annual fee can EASILY be earned back — and then some! Learn now how to apply!


Chase Freedom Unlimited

Chase Freedom Unlimited

NEW WELCOME OFFER! Earn 1.5 bonus points on top of the other points you earn during the first year of card membership. (A $20,000 spending cap applies.) Learn now how to apply!


Chase Sapphire Preferred

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Great card offering Ultimate Rewards points and statement credits! Learn now how to apply!


IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card

IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card

REFRESHED CARD! Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. Plus, earn 5X points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants. 3X on everything else. Learn now how to apply!


The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express

THE classic travel benefits card! Earn 100,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases within six months of being approved. See rates and fees. Terms apply. Learn now how to apply!


American Express Business Platinum

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Earn 35% Membership Rewards rebates when paying with points for an eligible flight booked through Amex Travel! (Capped at 1,000,000 points a year, enrollment may be required.) Terms apply. Learn now how to apply!

  Earn cash back with Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) Earn cash back with TopCashback! RebatesMe Earn cash back with DOSH!

✍ Editors Disclaimer | lock, login, protection, secure icon Privacy Policy | $ Advertisers Disclosure

 

Subscribe

Subscribe To Our NewsletterJoin our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

  • BANK & Travel Cards ★
  • Rookie
  • Elite Mileage Runs
  • αbout US ✉

Copyright © 2021 Eye of the Flyer

No Result
View All Result
  • BANK & Travel Cards ★
    • Credit Cards
    • Travel Rewards Cards
    • Airline Credit Cards
    • Hotel Credit Cards
    • Cash Back Credit Cards
    • No Annual Fee Credit Cards
    • Small Business Credit Cards
    • 0% Intro APR Cards
    • Balance Transfer Cards
  • Rookie
  • Elite Mileage Runs
  • αbout US ✉

Copyright © 2021 Eye of the Flyer

Cleantalk Pixel

Subscribe To Our Newsletter


Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!