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I have a number of Delta flights booked to end the year. On one of them, I utilized some extreme stacking with outstanding results and value from both my Delta elite status as well as an old Amex BOGO certificate.
The rest of my flights booked for 2022 are all SkyMiles awards. I am desperately trying to find decent value while I work to unload my way-too-large balance of Delta points that I have amassed and are NOT getting more valuable with time (do a Delta One search to Europe as an example and see for yourself).
The key part of the above is finding value. To that end, one of my bookings I found was not the absolute best value — but it worked for the dates I wanted. That does not mean I cannot get better value and week by week I have been doing just that.
You see, I keep checking, at least once a week to see if the exact same flights I have already booked have gone down in price. Once I find any change in award pricing at all, I just do what Delta.com tells me to do, that is:
- How to Change an Award Ticket
- Find Your Trip or Log In and go to My Trips
- Select the flight you need to change
- Click on ‘Modify Flight’
- Click on ‘Start Flight Change’
- Choose new flight(s)
- Complete check out and pay any fare difference
- Get your confirmation
As Staples commercials would say – “that was easy” and done. It is so simple that I have now changed my flights, to the same flights, and saved a nice pile of Delta points (This is similar to Chris’ strategy for his fall trip he booked using Companion Certificate).
How many? 3000 per person or 6000 all-in for my wife and I after the third rebooking. Again, not a fortune in points but if I can pull this off maybe 2 or 3 more times before the trip the end result will be an award that went from OK value to good value to great value for my hard earned points for just a few clicks of my mouse.
Bottom line is check and check often and save SkyMiles whenever you can! – René
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I sort of do that too. But I book it as a new trip at the lower mileage level, then I cancel my old booking (free redeposit). I don’t trust Delta’s IT to make the changes for me without getting screwed or losing my trip.
Rene – great advice as usual, thank you. Question: is there any benefit from going the route you suggest – “Modify Flight” – versus what I’ve traditionally done, which is “cancel flight” and book a fresh itinerary? I assume your way might save a minute or two of time but any other differences worth considering? Thank you!
@Alex NYC – No difference other than maybe one way or the other way is faster for you and some seat choices stick i.e. exit row etc and are not lost. Some like book new due to possible issues with Modify nuking the reservation. I personally have never had that happen but have had many readers share ugly stories and the fight to get back what they had.
thank you Rene
I do this very often (twice each week). But I frequently have trouble as the flight “cannot be changed online” due to an automatic upgrade to C+ at booking. So I have to call and the agent does it manually.
Note that when there is a schedule change noted in the reservation you definitely want to keep the same pnr and exchange the ticket rather than cancel and book fresh so as to crystallize the flexibility down the road in case you wish to make any changes for free due to the schedule change. I am currently sitting on Thanksgiving and Xmas family flights with schedule changes and might want to change my departure/return flight when the time comes. A brand new ticket/pnr will not allow this.
I’ve done that multiple times and also do it with hotel bookings. With Hilton I can do the modify but with IHG or Bonvoy I have to book new and then cancel prior. I also do the book new and cancel old with Delta as I was not comfortable with doing the re-booking. Now that I know you’ve been able to use that feature I will start to do it.
Thanks as usual.
I have literally used ALL my miles to save for 2,700
. Albeit for a good reason e.g.; to see The Rolling Stones 5 times in Europe !
So if anyone finds themselves with too many miles,
Perhaps think of —>me<—
I’m raising my hand because I’m a good candidate for bestowing some extras upon
And it never hurts to ask.
In the meantime, I’ll keep checking my miles tickets to see if their “cost” went down Which is EXCELLENT
Advice! Thank you
Interesting article Rene!! I did this in a slightly different way recently when I used my delta points to fly from India back home one way. I had a genuine reason to prepone my flight. I just took a chance calling the Delta rep and asking if I could change my dates on this ticket. And she said Yes and not just that, i didnt have to shell out any extra points or $ or penalty, moreover my husband and I were very pleasantly surprised to save some points and get a few $ back from booking the new date at a lower price❗❗