Redeeming Miles for Award Travel Can Be Challenging

A piece from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution over the weekend highlights the challenges travelers face attempting to redeem frequent flyer miles for free flights. Specifically mentioned is Delta Airlines, recently rated 2nd to last out of 22 airlines, for award travel redemptions at the 25,000 mile level. Read more.

Delta Airlines Adds Min Stay Requirement on Some Award Travel

In yet another disappointment to the Delta Skymiles "useless miles" program comes a minimum stay requirement for certain award travel resumptions. Effective August 2010, customers who redeem award travel within 21 days of departure will now have a Friday or Saturday night minimum stay requirement. According to the Delta website certain elite members, Delta-branded credit card holders, and those willing to dish up extra miles for mid or high tier award travel are exempt from the fee.

A growing number of travel experts believe the Delta Airlines SkyMiles program has fast become the worst frequent flyer program in the U.S. due to mounting fees, strict policies, and lack of low-tier award travel availability.

San Francisco to Honolulu $351 "all in"

San Francisco to Honolulu is available for $351 roundtrip, including all taxes and fees. Valid for travel between August and November on United, Delta and Hawaiian Airlines. Click here, and search using the flexible dates function.

San Francisco to Honolulu $351 RT "all in" Through EOM May

Most of the major airlines continue to offer a pretty decent price SFO to Honolulu; just $351 roundtrip, including all taxes and fees. These are 1-day advance purchase fares! Meaning... you can hop on a plane first thing tomorrow, be on Waikiki or Queens Surf beach by afternoon. Travel must be completed by May 27th. Click here to book - using the "my dates are flexible" option.

San Francisco to Washington D.C - $199 RT "all in"

Fly SFO to Washington, D.C for just $199 roundtrip, including all taxes and fees. Valid for flights through through Spring 2011. Outbound flights: Must depart Friday or Saturday after 7pm. Return flights: Must return on Monday or Tuesday. 4-day maximum stay. Click here and search using the "my dates are flexible" option.

Earn 1,000 Delta Miles for $1.84

(expired)

I've been hesitant to post this deal because Delta Airlines is notorious for blocking members from redeeming miles (one of the worst in the industry), but perhaps you can salvage some value out of it.

Here's the deal: New Shutterfly members earn 1,000 Delta SkyMiles after making their first purchase. Simply buy one photo, add shipping, and the total cost comes to $1.84. Here's the link.

If you are within 1,000 miles of reaching your next "milestone" with Delta, then perhaps this is a deal worth pursuing.

(Edit: Received a note from a reader reminding us that this type of transaction automatically resets the expiration date of Delta SkyMiles another 24 months. Definitely another benefit. Thanks!)

San Francisco to Florida Airfares from $177 RT "all in"

Just in time for the summer travel season...

San Francisco to Fort Myers (RSW) $177 through much of 2010

San Francisco to Tampa (TPA) $184 through May 2010

San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) $177 through much of 2010

Flights are operated by Delta or Continental and availability may be limited, particularly over peak travel days. Click here and search using the "my dates are flexible" option.

Delta Reinstates San Francisco to Los Angeles Flights

Delta and SkyTeam members will appreciate reinstated service between San Francisco and Los Angeles beginning June 10th. Delta had offered this highly competitive route in the past, but was not particularly successful at the time. Now, they are relaunching with five daily flights, staggered throughout the day, in hopes of shuttling passengers between the west coast's two busiest airports. A mix of Boeing 737's and regional jets will operate between the two cities.

Here is the schedule: (thanks to airline route updates blog for this information)

SFO-LAX

• DL4877 SFO0650 – 0815LAX CR9 D
• DL4867 SFO1045 – 1210LAX CR9 D
• DL2990 SFO1500 – 1625LAX 73H D
• DL4857 SFO1700 – 1825LAX CR9 D
• DL2976 SFO1905 – 2030LAX 73H D

LAX-SFO

• DL2989 LAX0700 – 0820SFO 73H D
• DL4877 LAX0900 – 1020SFO CR9 D
• DL4867 LAX1240 – 1400SFO CR9 D
• DL2987 LAX1705 – 1825SFO 73H D
• DL4857 LAX1855 – 2015SFO CR9 D

Strategies on Finding "Free" Award Travel

By Mike Grasso

You've spent months, perhaps even years flying around the country and throughout the world. In return, you've earned yourself a mountain of airline miles. Now it's time to redeem them for "free" award travel. It sounds simple, but rarely is. Consumers, now more than ever, complain the airline frequent flyer programs are limiting availability of "free" seats, forcing customers instead to purchase tickets or fly at inconvenient times. But for the motivated traveler, willing to dedicate time, "free" tickets can still be found. Here are some recommendations:

• If your airline has no award availability, ask them if their alliance partners have any. For instance, if your airline is part of the Star Alliance Network and you want to fly from San Francisco to Frankfurt, check availability on United, U.S. Airways, Continental and Lufthansa. You can even mix and match, such as United to New York-JFK, then Lufthansa onward to Frankfurt. A search for this type of routing and mixed carriers is usually not possible online, therefore you must call your airline to help build you an itinerary.

• Book as far in advance as possible. Many airlines allow award bookings up to 330 days before departure date!

• If at first you don't find award availability, keep on checking. People change their mind and cancel travel plans, which may open up an award seat when you least expect it.

• Be realistic. If you are a family of four and want to redeem tickets on the same flight, your chances are pretty slim. Consider booking two family members on one flight, the other two on a different one. Then, call the airline and ask for the last two family members to be waitlisted on the earlier flight; if seats open up, they can be automatically confirmed - and everyone in the family rides together. Oh Joy!

• Consider First or Business class cabins. People are amazed this is within reach to the masses. The key is to look at your airlines tier system for award travel. For instance, on Delta a "medium" level domestic award ticket in economy costs 40,000 miles, while a "low" level domestic award ticket in First Class can be had for just 5,000 miles more. Although the "low" first class awards are more capacity controlled (harder to find), they are out there, even when coach seats are priced at a premium.

Hopefully these tips are useful and you find a good use for those hard-earned miles.

By the way, the "free" in quotations is intentional. We have long done away with a truly free award ticket. At the very least, most airlines pass on a $10 government fee to customers. Some airlines pass all the taxes, fees and fuel surcharges, which can amount to hundreds of dollars. Nonetheless, it is at least a highly discounted way to travel.

San Francisco to Pittsburgh $150 RT Incl. Taxes

Delta Airlines continues to offer roundtrip airfare from SFO to Pittsburgh, PA for just $150, including all taxes and fees. Fare is available now through the end of 2010. Click here and search by "flexible dates."

Japan Airlines to Partner with Delta, Join SkyTeam

Cash-strapped Japan Airlines announced today they will join in partnership with Delta Airlines and integrate into the SkyTeam alliance. The airline had been negotiating with both American (OneWorld) and Delta (SkyTeam) for a capital partner.

Terrorist Attack Foiled on Detroit-Bound Flight

Breaking News: A Nigerian Man attempted to light a powder aboard a Detroit-bound plane Friday before it made an emergency landing at Detroit International Airport, in what the White House is now calling an attempted terrorist attack. The man had “some kind of incendiary device he tried to ignite” in a bag strapped to his body a U.S. official told NBC news. Two passengers witnesses the attempted attack, and a third jumped and restrained the man. More details from CNN.

Note: The plane includes Delta insignia, but operated by Northwest Airlines.

San Francisco to Madrid $605 Roundtrip w/tax

Fly San Francisco to Madrid, Spain for just $605 roundtrip, including all taxes & fees. Valid for outbound travel through most of March on both Delta and Continental. Click here and search by "flexible dates."

Note - other airlines have lower base fares, but Delta and Continental price out lowest (at time of posting) when adding in taxes & fees.

Redeem 5,000 Delta Miles for a $50 Gift Card

-See updates below-

The most obvious way of redeeming air miles is to use them for "free" award flights. But, if you can't find award availability, or you just don't have the minimum required for a flight, Delta has a new option: Redeem them for gift cards.

You can select a $50 gift card for every 5,000 miles redeemed. That's a 1:1 ratio, a fairly good value for the consumer. Select from a variety of familiar brands, such as Macy's, Barnes and Noble and Old Navy. Visit marketplace.delta.com for more information and to redeem.

Update- Got a few emails on this; the system was down for "maintenance" Tuesday evening, and it's now back up. Surprise: Seems they also upped the redemption's to 8,000 miles for a $50 gift card. Unsure if the discount was temporary, or if they became overwhelmed with redemption's since the deal was posted on sites such as fatwallet and ebates. This is definitely not as good of an offer as before.

How to Request Flight Mileage Credit On Old Itineraries

By Mike Grasso

Even the most seasoned travelers forget to include their frequent flyer number to their flight reservation on occasion (or can place blame on the forgetful corporate travel agent). Or perhaps you included your frequent flyer number but the airline failed to credit your hard earn miles. Either way, fear nothing as you can request mileage credit for previously flown flights up to 24 months in the past, as long as you were a member of the respective airlines frequent flyer program at the time of the flight. The best documentation to have on hand would be your boarding pass or other documentation showing the airline's ticket and flight number.

Here are direct links to major U.S carriers, and information on how to submit your mileage credit request:

United (last 12 months of travel)

American (last 12 months)

Delta (last 6 months)

Northwest (last 9 months)

Continental (last 6 months)

Southwest (last 24 months!)

Virgin America (last 12 months)

Delta Airlines To Roll Out Fourth Level of Elite Status

Coming in early 2010, Delta Airlines will introduce a fourth level of elite status to SkyMiles Medallion, the airline's frequent flyer program.

This highest tiered status - Diamond level, is achieved only after earning 125,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles in a calendar year, or flying a whopping 140 segments. Previously, and typical of other frequent flyer programs, the highest level of elite status officially comes after earning 100,000 flight miles or 100 segments.

So what benefits come your way for flying just a "tad bit" more? A complimentary Sky Club membership, entitling you to visit club lounges around the world; 125% Medallion Miles Bonus on all paid flights; and the ability to rollover Medallion Qualification Miles for status the following year. These benefits are in addition to ones afforded to the next tier down - the Platinum level, such as waived award ticketing & redeposit fees, complimentary upgrades, and a selection of Choice gifts.

Delta is expected to make an official announcement of these upcoming changes later today.

San Francisco to Florida From $170 RT w/Taxes

Fly Delta/Northwest Airlines from San Francisco to Miami for $170 round-trip, including all taxes and fees. Travel permitted through early summer 2010 for outbound flights Monday-Thursday and Saturday. Example dates: September 15-21, 2009. Click here to book.

Earlier tonight on Twitter, we reported on a $187 "all in" fare SFO-Ft Lauderdale on Continental Airlines.

Double Northwest/Delta Flight Miles With Delta AMEX

If you have a Delta SkyMiles American Express Card or are planning on applying for one, consider registering for the double flight miles deal that was just released. Simply sign up for the promo, then book your future travel plans on the card, and you will earn double flight miles for the rest of 2009. Click here for all the details.

San Francisco to Madrid $294 RT Including Tax!!

Unbelievably low fare! Today Delta Airlines is selling flights from San Francisco to Madrid, Spain, for just $294.50 roundtrip, including all taxes and fees. Valid for outbound travel August 17-October 24, 2009, with a Saturday Night stay requirement. Best of all, there is plenty of availability at this low fare. Click here and search using the "flexible dates" option. Book soon - this price will not last.

Delta has slashed prices to several other European cities, including Barcelona, Athens, Paris and Barcelona - all currently priced between $400-$500 roundtrip from SFO for the same travel period.

Earn Bonus Miles With New Netflix Subscription

First time Netflix customers can earn bonus frequent flyer miles when signing up for new service. Netflix offers the convenience of ordering movies online, and having them shipped, usually within 24 hours, directly to your home. Some titles can also be watched online, real-time.
Here are direct links to some of the participating airlines:

American Airlines: 2500 Bonus miles offer
United Airlines: 2000 Bonus miles offer
Delta Airlines: 3000 Bonus miles offer

Tip: Be sure to print out a copy of the offer in the event your miles do not automatically post. This will serve as proof of your registering for the offer.