topic Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value? in Credit Cards

Amex Delta Gold miles value?

Gmood1 — Thu, 25 May 2017 20:55:50 GMT

I wanted to know from you sky miles guru's. How much is 60,000 miles valued? I've never owned one of their travel cards. And was wondering just how much the 60,000 miles is in real world cash savings?

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

Anonymous — Thu, 25 May 2017 21:11:34 GMT

It really depends. Some like to joke that they are SkyPesos, but I personally don't think so. Some say Delta miles are worth 1.2 cents each, so you'd be looking at around $600-700 in value from the sign up bonus.

My experience is quite different. I signed up for the Delta card last year with the same 60k bonus, and I like flying Delta but canceled the card last month. However, so far I have redeemed 44k of those 60,000 miles. Combined, if you look at what I would have paid in cash for those tickets...it would have been 790 bucks, way beating that 600-700 estimate. And that's not even accounting for the full 60k miles.

You could take a look on Delta's website and search for some flights you think you might take to get an idea. Generally you should be able to get a domestic round trip for 25k miles, but of course it varies.

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

Gmood1 — Thu, 25 May 2017 21:26:03 GMT

Thanks LAkings for the great detailed information! I saw this offer today and wondered how I could benefit from. Hmmmm🤔, you give me some things to think about.

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

fltireguy — Thu, 25 May 2017 21:33:06 GMT

Skypesos. My sentiments exactly.

IMHO, they are worth about 0.6 cents each. Delta is constantly devaluing them, as well as having a matrix for award miles/routes that is almost impossible to figure out.

Personally, I prefer the Southwest card from Chase - their mileage and points system just seems SO much easier to work with!

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

Peteyglad — Thu, 25 May 2017 21:35:45 GMT

There is a lot of variables, but I try to get 2.5 - 3 cent per mile. I booked a $900 round tripflight to Anchorage this summer for 25,000 points. This weekend I am travelling to Chicago it was a $250 round trip ticket I got for 10,000 miles.

So deals can be had, especially if you are flexible with your travels.

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

Anonymous — Thu, 25 May 2017 21:37:25 GMT

@fltireguy wrote:
Skypesos. My sentiments exactly.
IMHO, they are worth about 0.6 cents each. Delta is constantly devaluing them, as well as having a matrix for award miles/routes that is almost impossible to figure out.

Personally, I prefer the Southwest card from Chase - their mileage and points system just seems SO much easier to work with!

You can't get outsized value from programs like Southwest where the points you need is tied to what the cash fare is. With Delta and many other loyalty programs, you can get outsized value like I did...or redeem for a poor rate. If you redeem smartly, there is insane value to be had.

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

Anonymous — Thu, 25 May 2017 21:38:35 GMT

@Peteyglad wrote:
There is a lot of variables, but I try to get 2.5 - 3 cent per mile. I booked a $900 round tripflight to Anchorage this summer for 25,000 points. This weekend I am travelling to Chicago it was a $250 round trip ticket I got for 10,000 miles.

So deals can be had, especially if you are flexible with your travels.

Exactly my experience. Really the choice is yours.

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

Gmood1 — Thu, 25 May 2017 21:57:54 GMT

Dang Peteyglad, you made out like a bandit on those flights!

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

wasCB14 — Thu, 25 May 2017 22:03:18 GMT

I sometimes travel opportunistically and like that Delta has no close-in award booking fee.

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

Anonymous — Thu, 25 May 2017 22:07:18 GMT

I picked up 5 tickets to LAX from AZ for 55k miles + 56.00. Regular pricing was $206 per ticket - so I ended up with $974 (1.77C per mile)

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

Gmood1 — Thu, 25 May 2017 22:10:28 GMT

Debit2Cash, you guys are making it difficult to over look the current 60k offer.

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

Noctilum — Fri, 26 May 2017 04:02:02 GMT

I can usually squeeze 2 round-trip main cabin tickets, or 1 first class ticket cross country in with 60,000. A lot will depend on days you fly and distance.

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

Anonymous — Fri, 26 May 2017 21:25:41 GMT

skypesos. enough said

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

wasCB14 — Fri, 26 May 2017 22:31:34 GMT

On my routes, American award prices tend to be just as bad or worse.

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

Anonymous — Sat, 27 May 2017 03:20:09 GMT

@Gmood1 wrote:
I wanted to know from you sky miles guru's. How much is 60,000 miles valued? I've never owned one of their travel cards. And was wondering just how much the 60,000 miles is in real world cash savings?

Not rosy, there are reasons for skypesos to be a well known term and I think most have never heard terms like pesosPlus or Advantagepesos (this one though, is quickly becoming the reality, unfortunately).

Some other points:

1. have you considered getting a card that gives 'transferable' points? They can transfer to skypesos but there's the option to do other things with it which makes them more desirable.

2. you can price out award tickets on many routes and times in the future without having 1 skypeso on hand, why not price some possible scnearios for you and see for yourself? (please spread out the time though, neither cash nor award price always confirm to the myth of 'the further the cheaper'.

3. do you always travel in busniess/first class (even if on your own dime for leisure not work)? This in many cases will make the "value" of miles quite a bit higher.

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

Anonymous — Sat, 27 May 2017 11:29:55 GMT

I took advantage of a deal Delta was having in March to buy tickets to travel to Europe this summer. The tickets were so cheap I was able to buy mine and my friend's with my points on hand. Round trip to fly into Zurich was 50,000 points each (for the main cabin fare--I paid to upgrade to comfort plus on the international legs of the trip). I double checked the cash price of the tickets for the same flight the same day I bought them with points, and they were around $1400 each, which is around 2.8 cents per point. Excellent value. If I valued the 60,000 point signup bonus at that value, it'd be worth $1680. Not too shabby. I'm actually thinking of picking up the Delta card myself (but I'm not sure how worthwhile it is to keep it past the first year...)

Re: Amex Delta Gold miles value?

Anonymous — Sat, 27 May 2017 16:12:41 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
skypesos. enough said

Clearly not if you see the responses here.