Frequent Flyer Strategy-Delta
 

One strategy we always use when booking any award ticket with Delta is to book my award ticket separately and then make my wife's ticket immediately after. The reason: When you book both together not only will you not receive credit for mileage, which is standard, but the second ticket will not receive frequent flyer miles, as well. We just keep a second window open online and then book her ticket as soon as my reservation is complete. Following this strategy she will receive her ff credit because the ticket was purchased separately. A day or two later we call Delta and ask them to link our tickets together for the free baggage perk and priority boarding.

Buon viaggio,

I've never had this problem. You simply give both FF numbers and get credit for the miles. Flying internationally, the first bag is always free ! Who would want Priority Boarding ?? For us, boarding last would be a real perk. No, we don't do carry-on luggage; we always check our bags.

Not understanding this at all. If you book with FF miles you get MORE miles for the flight?

I think one of the OP's tickets is being purchased with miles and the other ticket is being purchased with money.

When a ticket is purchased with miles, the trip does not earn mileage. The OP is suggesting that if booked together, one with mileage and one with money, the money ticket would not earn the mileage it deserves.

So by purchasing them separately, the mileage is earned on the money ticket.

<i>The OP is suggesting that if booked together, one with mileage and one with money, the money ticket would not earn the mileage it deserves.</i>

Mileage redemption and paid tickets can't be on the same reservation. The only way to book them is separately.

Of course, one must realize that there is a risk that the party might not be traveling together. The many successes so far does not guarantee future success. The airline can spike up the fare between two purchases. They can also choose to suddenly block the remaining seats unlike some time in the future.

We like priority boarding, but when we fly domestically we do carry-on and have no problem finding overhead space close to our seats. As planes fill and overhead space is taken passengers must find space wherever they can.

Buon viaggio,

ellenem,

You are correct. They ticket obtained with ff miles does not earn any new ff miles. The other ticket purchased separately and paid in full earns the miles.

When I called Delta a few days later to link the tickets the reservationist told me I was on-point with this strategy.

Maybe other airlines are different, but we fly Delta because we have a skymiles credit card, which has other perks, as well.

Buon viaggio,