Delta Reward Tickets + WorldPerks miles
 

Ok Sorry I didn't check if someone had already posted this but while struggling with Delta yesterday to try and find a skymiles ticket the nice woman informed me that I can supplement my miles for my ticket with my Northwest WorldPerks miles. This is a new change. I got excited and thought someone else would too :)

I posted about it a few weeks ago http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35173101 but it's relatively new and a good reminder.

Sorry Patty! I just found out and was so excited had to share.
Those 17,229 miles are no longer held hostage!

Well as of today you can now link NW and DL accounts and transfer miles regardless of whether you're redeeming an award so there is something completely new!

http://www.nwa.com/worldperks/acctlink/

https://www.delta.com/skymiles/manag...unts/index.jsp

Thanks. Just linked mine.

If done before 3/15, one gets 500 bonus miles.

Those with soon-to-expire DL miles may want to transfer all to NW right now. They'll eventually go back to Skymiles, but you'll get a nice extension of the expiration as NW Worldperks miles don't expire right now.

Just curious...I have 110,000 Delta miles which expire 12/09. Would I gain any time if I transferred my DL miles to my NW account which has 70,000 miles? Today, I signed up for SkyMiles dining. I'm not sure if I dine at a participating restaurant if this starts my DL expiration clock over or not?

Supposedly, once you transfer, you'll have 180,000 Worldperks miles that don't expire. And your 500 bonus.

In a few months, when Worldperks get folded into Skymiles, then you should have a fresh two-year start before all 180,000 miles will expire. At least that's how I understand it.

It that's the case, wonderful. rkkwan, thank you.

Both Northwest and Delta links say the bonus will post to Skymiles.

The bigger question is, when will we be able to purchase NW flights using Delta credits, or visa versa?

mjz_kc - If you dine somewhere and earn miles, your date will activate a reset to the month you earned those miles. So if you dine out today (1/09) you will reset to 1/11.

From the Delta link above:

·The transfer of miles to a SkyMiles account will not reset or extend the mileage expiration date.

·The transfer of miles to a WorldPerks account will reset and extend the mileage expiration date

thanks kybourbon, great information. I appear to be set either way.

Re: the mileage expiration issue. I think the fine print specifically says that transfers do not extend expiration dates.

Now, no guarantees that you wouldn't get lucky, but I wouldn't mess around with that many miles. I would do something to ensure I reset the clock.

travelgourmet - Read the Terms and Condition that kybourbon has already quoted. Moving miles into WP will extend the expiration dates.

You're also not messing with the miles. You can move them back and forth as much as you want right now. You just cannot de-link the accounts, and/or link other accounts.

Assuming I can get the same ex-US award flights for the same amount of miles through either program, is there any advantage of booking through NW other than saving the $25 partner award fee charged by DL (where applicable)?

rkkwan: The problem is that the T&Cs explicitly state that transferring into SkyMiles will not extend the validity. It says it will if transferred to NW, but that doesn't make much sense since NW miles don't expire. It isn't clear that the SkyMiles expiration will reset when the miles are transferred back.

I suspect it would work, I just would feel more comfortable buying a track from iTunes for 99 cents, with 110k miles on the line.

Once I had resolved the expiration, then I say transfer away! I'm planning on transferring 300k miles myself so that I can redeem for some biz tickets on Malaysia to Australia.

Patty: If your trip starts outside of the US, Delta will also hit you with fuel surcharges, if applicable. In general, I would think it cheaper to redeem under NW, rather than under Delta.

How long will NW hold an award reservation?

Another possible advantage for some may be that you can book NW awards 352 days in advance (subject to availability of course) vs 331 days with DL.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like you can hold NW award reservations which is a feature I find really useful (I'm sure DL will take it away soon ;) ).