What's Going On With Delta Skymiles?
Mar 13th, 2006, 02:26 PM
#22
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It appears to me that the Delta Skymiles (Skysaver) program is a bit of a scam. Last fall the following scenario also happened, but I will speak only about the current situation this spring. I have 50,000+ skymiles (THEORETICALLY enough to get to Europe). Delta is unable to offer even ONE Skysaver Skymile seat on ANY of their, nor their code-sharing partner flights between Salt Lake City and Rome, Italy. Not ONE seat from the first of June thru September on any flight (I am retired and totally flexible on dates and times-still not ONE seat). And get this, I am seeking reservations in mid-March (3 to 6 months in advance) for travel over a 4 month period. I was told in order to increase my chances, I really need to book 330/331 in advance. Get this, even when I attempt this online 330 days out there is NO Skysaver seats available. This is like next February in the dead of winter - not ONE seat. Delta tells me, however, there is Skymiles-Skychoice availabilty for 100,000 skymiles. And I can, of course, purchase up to 30,000 skymiles for $825.00+. Clearly Delta's marketing is not honest when they say you can redeem skymiles for award tickets and there is no availabilty even 330 days out. The degree of advertising and encouragement in the media and in the mail to earn more and more Delta skymiles is a setup for foolish people. The word needs to get out that accumulating skymiles with Delta is clearly a farce when there is so little or no availabilty particularly on international travel unless you are really really LUCKY like some of the posts indicate. Successfully redeeming Delta skymiles that are heavily marketed as easily redeemable should not be a matter of luck, but instead honestly available as a benefit of honestly participating in the program. When I spoke with a reservation supervisor, she could give me no explanation for why this is the situation. She said, however, I could "send a letter to corporate." I am instead writing this to alert potential Delta victims instead.
Mar 13th, 2006, 03:29 PM
#23
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Having seen a similar discussion in Hawaii tripadvisor -- it seems that many recommend using the FF for first class upgrades on long flights. I know for myself I am pickey about flying non-stops -- and at certain times during the day/night when I want to go and like many of the posters alluded to -- FF seats are seldom there when you want to use them. So that's was I chose to do -- take the low cost coach fare and upgrade to FC using your milage upgrade option.
Mar 13th, 2006, 04:16 PM
#24
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<Get this, even when I attempt this online 330 days out there is NO Skysaver seats available. This is like next February in the dead of winter - not ONE seat>
delta.com doesn't list all award flight options. Call the partner award desk instead. I'm finding plenty of availability to Europe in November and I suspect next February would be similar.
Summer award seats to Europe are very limited and usually booked far in advance.
delta.com doesn't list all award flight options. Call the partner award desk instead. I'm finding plenty of availability to Europe in November and I suspect next February would be similar.
Summer award seats to Europe are very limited and usually booked far in advance.
Mar 14th, 2006, 03:52 AM
#25
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"The word needs to get out that accumulating skymiles with Delta is clearly a farce when there is so little or no availabilty particularly on international travel unless you are really really LUCKY like some of the posts indicate."
It's not a farce, and my success at redeeming SkyMiles for SkySaver seats likely has little to do with luck, as it's unlikely that I could be so lucky so many times.
One thing to consider is that customers with Medallion status (like me) have better access to these seats.
Also note that being able to use SkyChoice is actually a great option for those of us who accumulate miles quickly.
It's not a farce, and my success at redeeming SkyMiles for SkySaver seats likely has little to do with luck, as it's unlikely that I could be so lucky so many times.
One thing to consider is that customers with Medallion status (like me) have better access to these seats.
Also note that being able to use SkyChoice is actually a great option for those of us who accumulate miles quickly.
Mar 14th, 2006, 05:47 AM
#26
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Therese -
The majority of us Delta customers who don't have preferred Medallion status and don't accumulate miles quickly are not comforted and consoled by your success in getting Skysaver seats.
I don't begrudge your success, but to us, it's still aggrevation when turned down for FF seats.
The majority of us Delta customers who don't have preferred Medallion status and don't accumulate miles quickly are not comforted and consoled by your success in getting Skysaver seats.
I don't begrudge your success, but to us, it's still aggrevation when turned down for FF seats.
Mar 14th, 2006, 06:40 AM
#27
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Casual travelers who don't qualify for Medallion/Elite levels really shouldn't expect to get award tickets when they want to travel, period. Regardless of airlines.
You can call the programs whatever you like, and I don't object to that; but afterall, these are called frequent flyer programs. If you don't fly frequent enough to collect 25K EQM on a single program, then don't expect to get anything out of them. Instead, just buy the cheapest airfare on whatever airline each time.
You can call the programs whatever you like, and I don't object to that; but afterall, these are called frequent flyer programs. If you don't fly frequent enough to collect 25K EQM on a single program, then don't expect to get anything out of them. Instead, just buy the cheapest airfare on whatever airline each time.
Mar 14th, 2006, 07:08 AM
#28
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Whatever the programs are called, there are millions of 'casual travelers' who have been promised free flights if they collect enough points. If they get the required amount, whatever it is, then the airlines should keep their promise.
Saying that only 'Medallion/Elite' fliers should get award tickets is high-hat and boggles the mind.
Saying that only 'Medallion/Elite' fliers should get award tickets is high-hat and boggles the mind.
Mar 14th, 2006, 08:11 AM
#30
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From the very start, airlines have said there's limited availability to award tickets and that they can terminate a FF program anytime. And today, you can still get an award anytime with or without Medallion level - just use double miles.
Hey, I'm not saying the airlines aren't misleading the consumers, because they probably are. But savvy customers should understand what they're getting into. Just like car commercials showing maneuvers that are "by stunt drivers" on "non-public roads".
I am the first one to tell everybody that do not play the FF game unless you know what you're getting into.
Hey, I'm not saying the airlines aren't misleading the consumers, because they probably are. But savvy customers should understand what they're getting into. Just like car commercials showing maneuvers that are "by stunt drivers" on "non-public roads".
I am the first one to tell everybody that do not play the FF game unless you know what you're getting into.
Mar 14th, 2006, 10:00 AM
#31
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"Whatever the programs are called, there are millions of 'casual travelers' who have been promised free flights if they collect enough points. If they get the required amount, whatever it is, then the airlines should keep their promise."
Nobody's been promised free flights to any specific destination. SkySaver seats on transatlantic flights are by no means a sure bet even for Medallion customers on Delta, particularly during the summer months. I prefer traveling to Europe in off-peak seasons and so have a much better chance of redeeming my points for transatlantic flights.
The same 50,000 miles that it takes to travel RT to Europe will buy two RT tickets in the continental U.S. Those seats are considerably easier to obtain, and the dollar value may actually be higher.
My husband does not have Medallion status, and yet still manages to redeem his miles, usually (though not always) for SkySaver domestic seats.
Nobody's been promised free flights to any specific destination. SkySaver seats on transatlantic flights are by no means a sure bet even for Medallion customers on Delta, particularly during the summer months. I prefer traveling to Europe in off-peak seasons and so have a much better chance of redeeming my points for transatlantic flights.
The same 50,000 miles that it takes to travel RT to Europe will buy two RT tickets in the continental U.S. Those seats are considerably easier to obtain, and the dollar value may actually be higher.
My husband does not have Medallion status, and yet still manages to redeem his miles, usually (though not always) for SkySaver domestic seats.
Mar 14th, 2006, 08:54 PM
#33
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Jed – you are the only one who got what I was saying
Judyrem – I am also preparing to shred my AMEX card
I am talking about bogus and overblown marketing by Delta. I just received my January Delta SkyMiles Insider newsletter and statement that includes my current SkyMiles activity. As many of you may know, your SkyMiles activity used to be sent to you monthly as a simple statement. About two years ago Delta began ‘conveniently’ imbedding your SkyMiles activity statement in a lovely marketing brochure. The headline on this issue: “Enjoy Award Travel With Only 25,000 Miles.” And the publication is just chock full of ways for you to accumulate “more miles, more often”: open up more credit card accounts; buy phones and walkie-talkies; open some stock investment accounts; double miles for this and double miles for that, hotels, rental cars, home equity accounts, restaurants, magazines, and even flowers. It just makes me giddy. The sky’s the limit and it is SO easy – except for when it comes to redeeming those skymiles. It’s then you learn about limited or no availability on MANY flights; or you learn that you need to book nearly a year in advance and be really, really lucky at that; or learn how to wheedle some benefit out of this morass per some posters’ suggestions:
Call code-sharing airlines yourself and see what you can get out of them;
Aim for accumulating double or triple skymiles to reach Medallion status or Skychoice seat availability;
Pay for coach and use your skymiles to upgrade to first class;
Realize realistically that you can only count on the possibility of domestic flights, not international;
Realize that you are just one of those unlucky schmucks (not savvy) who got fooled by the hype.
So I took the time to examine the fine print of the Terms and Conditions on my statement this time: “Delta may also limit the seats available for Award Travel to any or all destinations (including, but not limited to, allocating no Award seats on certain flights).”
Well that explains it now, doesn’t it, except the Terms and Conditions of this SkyMiles program really need to be the headline, and the benefits of ‘Award Travel’ needs to be the fine print.
I STILL SAY BOGUS, DISHONEST MARKETING!!
Judyrem – I am also preparing to shred my AMEX card
I am talking about bogus and overblown marketing by Delta. I just received my January Delta SkyMiles Insider newsletter and statement that includes my current SkyMiles activity. As many of you may know, your SkyMiles activity used to be sent to you monthly as a simple statement. About two years ago Delta began ‘conveniently’ imbedding your SkyMiles activity statement in a lovely marketing brochure. The headline on this issue: “Enjoy Award Travel With Only 25,000 Miles.” And the publication is just chock full of ways for you to accumulate “more miles, more often”: open up more credit card accounts; buy phones and walkie-talkies; open some stock investment accounts; double miles for this and double miles for that, hotels, rental cars, home equity accounts, restaurants, magazines, and even flowers. It just makes me giddy. The sky’s the limit and it is SO easy – except for when it comes to redeeming those skymiles. It’s then you learn about limited or no availability on MANY flights; or you learn that you need to book nearly a year in advance and be really, really lucky at that; or learn how to wheedle some benefit out of this morass per some posters’ suggestions:
Call code-sharing airlines yourself and see what you can get out of them;
Aim for accumulating double or triple skymiles to reach Medallion status or Skychoice seat availability;
Pay for coach and use your skymiles to upgrade to first class;
Realize realistically that you can only count on the possibility of domestic flights, not international;
Realize that you are just one of those unlucky schmucks (not savvy) who got fooled by the hype.
So I took the time to examine the fine print of the Terms and Conditions on my statement this time: “Delta may also limit the seats available for Award Travel to any or all destinations (including, but not limited to, allocating no Award seats on certain flights).”
Well that explains it now, doesn’t it, except the Terms and Conditions of this SkyMiles program really need to be the headline, and the benefits of ‘Award Travel’ needs to be the fine print.
I STILL SAY BOGUS, DISHONEST MARKETING!!
Mar 15th, 2006, 07:03 AM
#34
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“Delta may also limit the seats available for Award Travel to any or all destinations (including, but not limited to, allocating no Award seats on certain flights).”
This is no different than any other airline frequent flyer program. My suggestion since you seem to be primarily interested in economy awards is to get a cash rebate card instead. With that rebate you'll have cash in hand to purchase any ticket on any airline with a schedule most convenient for you.
Personally, I'm happy with the Skymiles program and with some flexibility have been able to get the tickets I needed. I do tend to travel in the off season and redeem my miles for international premium class travel where I get the most value out of them. I rarely use my miles for domestic travel unless it's a last minute trip where the ticket cost would be very high. I've been doing this for over 12 years and have yet to use a Skychoice (double miles) award and never booked an award 331 days in advance. But I realize that everyone's travel needs are different and what works for me may not work for you.
This is no different than any other airline frequent flyer program. My suggestion since you seem to be primarily interested in economy awards is to get a cash rebate card instead. With that rebate you'll have cash in hand to purchase any ticket on any airline with a schedule most convenient for you.
Personally, I'm happy with the Skymiles program and with some flexibility have been able to get the tickets I needed. I do tend to travel in the off season and redeem my miles for international premium class travel where I get the most value out of them. I rarely use my miles for domestic travel unless it's a last minute trip where the ticket cost would be very high. I've been doing this for over 12 years and have yet to use a Skychoice (double miles) award and never booked an award 331 days in advance. But I realize that everyone's travel needs are different and what works for me may not work for you.
Mar 15th, 2006, 05:01 PM
#36
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Patty-
<My suggestion since you seem to be primarily interested in economy awards is to get a cash rebate card instead...Personally, I'm happy with the Skymiles program and with some flexibility have been able to get the tickets I needed.>
If I wanted to use a cash rebate card, or some other form of award travel, I certainly could. What I am simply driving at here is Delta is not coming thru with what they offer specifically in their SkyMiles SkySaver "economy award" program (this does not include Medallion, SkyChoice, or some other form of preferred status from which possibly you benefit?). This is a program that is heavily marketed toward your average Joe.
Perhaps you didn't read my first post. I am totally flexible. Regarding Italy, I can go any time, any flight, any date, etc. as far out as can be booked. With your 12 years of success, perhaps you can find a SkySaver seat as far out as you can book from Salt Lake City to Rome, or even JFK to Rome (any time, any day in the next year would be fine). Try it - I think you might find the results interesting.
<My suggestion since you seem to be primarily interested in economy awards is to get a cash rebate card instead...Personally, I'm happy with the Skymiles program and with some flexibility have been able to get the tickets I needed.>
If I wanted to use a cash rebate card, or some other form of award travel, I certainly could. What I am simply driving at here is Delta is not coming thru with what they offer specifically in their SkyMiles SkySaver "economy award" program (this does not include Medallion, SkyChoice, or some other form of preferred status from which possibly you benefit?). This is a program that is heavily marketed toward your average Joe.
Perhaps you didn't read my first post. I am totally flexible. Regarding Italy, I can go any time, any flight, any date, etc. as far out as can be booked. With your 12 years of success, perhaps you can find a SkySaver seat as far out as you can book from Salt Lake City to Rome, or even JFK to Rome (any time, any day in the next year would be fine). Try it - I think you might find the results interesting.
Mar 16th, 2006, 07:12 AM
#38
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LOT,
Did you call Delta's partner award desk and ask about flight availability from Salt Lake City to Rome for the next 11 months? What did they say? I'd be surprised if they couldn't find anything.
Is this for 1 person in economy class? How long would you like to stay? Would you be willing to take more than one connection? That's part of what I mean by flexibility, not just dates but flight connections/routing. If you're willing to make multiple connections, I'm positive I can find you flights some time over the next 11 months to go to Rome.
Jed,
Nope. I'm working with the same inventory as everyone else. And because I often travel to destinations that Delta doesn't serve, the majority of the flights that I redeem are on partner airlines where having or not having Medallion status makes no difference at all.
I do spend a great deal of time researching flight availability, routing, etc. and I think that's one of the keys to being successful. For those who don't have the time or inclination to do so, I still think a cash rebate card is a better/easier option. But for me, it's fun, it's a challenge. These award tickets have afforded me the opportunity to take many trips over the years that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to take.
Did you call Delta's partner award desk and ask about flight availability from Salt Lake City to Rome for the next 11 months? What did they say? I'd be surprised if they couldn't find anything.
Is this for 1 person in economy class? How long would you like to stay? Would you be willing to take more than one connection? That's part of what I mean by flexibility, not just dates but flight connections/routing. If you're willing to make multiple connections, I'm positive I can find you flights some time over the next 11 months to go to Rome.
Jed,
Nope. I'm working with the same inventory as everyone else. And because I often travel to destinations that Delta doesn't serve, the majority of the flights that I redeem are on partner airlines where having or not having Medallion status makes no difference at all.
I do spend a great deal of time researching flight availability, routing, etc. and I think that's one of the keys to being successful. For those who don't have the time or inclination to do so, I still think a cash rebate card is a better/easier option. But for me, it's fun, it's a challenge. These award tickets have afforded me the opportunity to take many trips over the years that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to take.
Mar 16th, 2006, 07:54 AM
#39
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I just wanted to add, that for my trip to Marseille, I had 330 day date marked on my calendar and called at 9am that day. How could they not have had an opening hmmm,,,,could not do a return flight so waited till the valid day came and sucessfully booked my return trip. It is a game with these airlines IMO. As I stated before, I am worried about Delta's viability..and have been rethinking an alternate airline for Provence.
Mar 16th, 2006, 10:34 AM
#40
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LOT,
In my spare time this morning, I found some flights for you for late Nov/early Dec (I searched for one seat in economy class).
The following flight combination is available for departure on Nov 26, 27, or 29 -
Delta 344 SLC-ATL 10:10am-4:05pm
Delta 70 ATL-FCO 5:20pm-8:50am+1
If you'd feel more comfortable with a longer layover at ATL, there's also Delta 410 SLC-ATL 8:30am-2:15pm or Delta 398 SLC-ATL 7:00am-12:45pm on the same days.
I didn't know how long you wanted to stay, but assuming a week to 10 days, coming home you have these options -
KLM 1596 FCO-AMS 5:50am-8:35am
KLM 621 AMS-ATL 10:20am-2:20pm
Delta 520 ATL-SLC 5:45pm-7:54pm
The above flight combination is available on Dec 6, 7, 9, or 10.
If that flight out of FCO is too early for you, you can also take -
Air France 1405 FCO-CDG 11:55am-2:05pm
Air France 304 CDG-ATL 3:55pm-7:35pm
Delta 577 9:30pm-11:30pm
If you want a longer layover at CDG, there's Air France 1205 FCO-CDG 10:20am-12:30pm. You may also be presented with the option of taking Air France 1505 FCO-CDG 1:00pm-3:10pm, but I would NOT advise such a short connection in CDG.
Those flights are available on Dec 6, 7, 8, and 10.
I only checked a limited set of dates and only flight availability on Delta, Continental, KLM and Air France. For KLM and Air France, I only checked connections via Atlanta.
There are other possibilities involving different connections and carriers that I didn't check. In addition to ATL, KLM operates flights to/from Amsterdam and Boston, Newark, Dulles, Houston, JFK, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Miami, and Air France flies to/from CDG and Boston, Detroit, Cinncinati, Houston, Miami, Houston, Dulles, JFK, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco. I probably left out a few cities. I didn't check Northwest, Alitalia, or Czech Air at all.
My point is there are endless combinations of carriers and routing and partner awards would be able to look into these other options and reserve them for you. If you're completely open as far as dates and routing, there shouldn't be any reason why you can't get to Rome using 50,000 Skymiles within the next year.
An excellent primer on obtaining a Skyteam award to Europe is available on flyertalk - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ferrerid=18562
For anyone having trouble booking award flights using Delta Skymiles, particularly to Europe but the same advice applies to many other destinations, PLEASE read through that flyertalk thread.
In my spare time this morning, I found some flights for you for late Nov/early Dec (I searched for one seat in economy class).
The following flight combination is available for departure on Nov 26, 27, or 29 -
Delta 344 SLC-ATL 10:10am-4:05pm
Delta 70 ATL-FCO 5:20pm-8:50am+1
If you'd feel more comfortable with a longer layover at ATL, there's also Delta 410 SLC-ATL 8:30am-2:15pm or Delta 398 SLC-ATL 7:00am-12:45pm on the same days.
I didn't know how long you wanted to stay, but assuming a week to 10 days, coming home you have these options -
KLM 1596 FCO-AMS 5:50am-8:35am
KLM 621 AMS-ATL 10:20am-2:20pm
Delta 520 ATL-SLC 5:45pm-7:54pm
The above flight combination is available on Dec 6, 7, 9, or 10.
If that flight out of FCO is too early for you, you can also take -
Air France 1405 FCO-CDG 11:55am-2:05pm
Air France 304 CDG-ATL 3:55pm-7:35pm
Delta 577 9:30pm-11:30pm
If you want a longer layover at CDG, there's Air France 1205 FCO-CDG 10:20am-12:30pm. You may also be presented with the option of taking Air France 1505 FCO-CDG 1:00pm-3:10pm, but I would NOT advise such a short connection in CDG.
Those flights are available on Dec 6, 7, 8, and 10.
I only checked a limited set of dates and only flight availability on Delta, Continental, KLM and Air France. For KLM and Air France, I only checked connections via Atlanta.
There are other possibilities involving different connections and carriers that I didn't check. In addition to ATL, KLM operates flights to/from Amsterdam and Boston, Newark, Dulles, Houston, JFK, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Miami, and Air France flies to/from CDG and Boston, Detroit, Cinncinati, Houston, Miami, Houston, Dulles, JFK, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco. I probably left out a few cities. I didn't check Northwest, Alitalia, or Czech Air at all.
My point is there are endless combinations of carriers and routing and partner awards would be able to look into these other options and reserve them for you. If you're completely open as far as dates and routing, there shouldn't be any reason why you can't get to Rome using 50,000 Skymiles within the next year.
An excellent primer on obtaining a Skyteam award to Europe is available on flyertalk - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ferrerid=18562
For anyone having trouble booking award flights using Delta Skymiles, particularly to Europe but the same advice applies to many other destinations, PLEASE read through that flyertalk thread.
