You may have seen over the past few weeks a California couple who was remodeling their home when they happened upon some 1 million pennies in bank bags. The only downside of this find is trying to get value out of them because most banks will not accept that many coins. It is funny to me this comparison to Delta points, that is SkyPennies, that I also started, not so long ago, with around 1 million points but have been slowly burning them finding the best value I can along the way.
As many big blogs have posted recently, Delta is, for some strange reason, still pricing SkyTeam partner business class awards at the pre-pandemic level award charts — that is 75,000 points one-way (even with a connection inside Europe) from Mexico City.
It may seem a bit daft to fly many hours west to then fly many, many hours east, but I really am OK with this silliness. Perhaps “silliness” is not the right word and this may really be a good idea to make for a better crossing the Atlantic experience as well as a way to even adjust to the new time zone a bit simpler. Here is why I say this.
My wife hates, I mean hates, getting up early to fly. A departure around lunch is perfect in her world and after nearly four decades of marriage, I am happy when my adorable bride is happy! I was able to get us out of South Bend, our hometown airport, down to Mexico City with a departure just after noon and a dinner flight into Mexico City. I booked in coach for just 24,000 SkyPennies, which included the 15% discount from holding Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, and also used a Regional Upgrade certificate from my Medallion Choice Benefits to upgrade to first class.
Next, I used some Hilton points to stay overnight at the Mexico City Airport Hilton. Yes, I have the pain of jumping on a free shuttle with my bags to the hotel and back to the Terminal 2 the next day. But my wife gets some nice flights and can sleep until she feels like getting up before the next part of our journey. That will include some time getting a massage in the Mexico City Centurion Club after lunch in the lounge.
Next, an early evening Air France business class flight that is just under 11 hours long. For me, this length flight is the perfect night flight as you get to relax a bit before dinner, enjoy a movie, then, if you skip breakfast, have a really long night’s rest. Oh, and I get to enjoy drinkable wines vs. the horrible offerings on Delta nowadays. Lastly, I arrive in my final destination city early evening and can have dinner and then go right to bed and try to, as quick as possible, adjust to European time.
Just to be clear, since some haters around the web are attacking me for highlighting Delta Amex cards while saying I am burning them, I am not against holding or getting some SkyPennies – just not HOARDING them. I would consider anyone holding over 500,000 to be a SkyPennies hoarder. You need an intervention and are have way too many. Delta has proven they are shameless in destroying value. I still feel one day their points will end up worth less than one cent — and it may happen sooner than later. Thus, the reason to only hold the amount of SkyPennies you can burn in a reasonable time and could endure the next “enhancement” sure to come.
For my return flights, after a nice cruise, I have booked flights that will not work; that is, they depart before my ship arrives in port but were the cheapest business class flights. I will simply wait for the mighty schedule change to hit to change to the flights that would cost 2-3x as much later in the day.
Really the funniest part of all of this, now that I have achieved my goal of spending down my Delta points balance, is I will now need to look at what Delta Amex card to go for during my next round of card applications to get a few free points back! 🙂 René
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Back in early 2022, I booked Chicago to Paris via Mexico City on Aeromexico about seven months in advance when Aeromexico had one of their famous sales. I paid under $2000.
There were so many schedule changes that I ended up flying Air France on the 777 from Mexico City to Paris and then Aeromexico back to Mexico City from Paris.
It was really, really enjoyable. I wouldn’t hesitate to do that routing again, whether paying cash or points, since the flight time is long enough that you get your money’s worth. The relatively short flights to Europe from New York or Detroit are too short.
The only downside is the lounge situation in Mexico City. Aeromexico’s lounges have horrible food. Just a miserable place to spend a long layover. There isn’t even much in the terminal.
Of course, with some lead time, such a flight *might* be booked on Air France for 70k points. Backing out the periodic transfer bonus, it would be about 54k Amex points. And, save your Delta points for flights that are 1) wholly in the US or 2) from Paris to other cities in Europe.
Great skymiles article. There is still some value there
@Brent Lee – You just really got work for it but yes there a few small ones left – for now!
@Renewhat was your destination in Europe? We’re you able to book on delta.dumb err .com?
@Bill – A major cruise port in Europe. Yes was able to book on Delta.com with no issues. Paid with my Amex Platinum Business card and it even triggered the $200 yearly Delta credit for the taxes so net-free! 🙂
Cool!
I’m going to look on delta.com for something out of MEX to Europe for early next spring.If I can get there in business a short hop on a budget airline in coach to a final destination is ok.
Thanks
I’ve looked at this routing before, but haven’t been able to make it work for our schedules yet. Great use of SkyPennies!
I’ve recently booked two flights to Columbia and Ecuador from Atlanta on Delta using points and have been happy with the redemption values. For 4-5 hour flights the standard first class recliners are fine for us. I think this is another relative sweet spots in the SkyMiles system.
Delta canned wine in first class is an abomination
@Joe – TRUTH!
How do you ensure that there will be a schedule change? Admittedly it seems likely, but I hesitate to rely on it.
@Lois – There are 3 sure things in this world, Death, Taxes and the Delta Schedule Change!
I booked biz on air france SIN->CDG for 90k skypesos. It was “only” 70k with Air France, but i didn’t have enough points to book all on AF
So you flew to MEX on ?? Delta then AF from MEX????
@dee – Yes I will fly Delta 1st to MEX and the AF in biz the rest of the way. All-in 99k SkyPennies.