Fly Delta Business Class for 40,000 fewer miles; and All Nippon First for 55,000 fewer miles—or save enough for a free domestic First Class round-trip for every long-haul booked.
Many FCF readers are Delta-focused travelers. Maybe you live in Atlanta, Detroit, or another city where Delta holds sway. That’s fine. But many of you use Delta co-branded credit cards well beyond your elite-bonus spend level. That’s where I draw the line. Why? Because you have too many miles as it is with the airline—and don’t need any more because they can’t be used elsewhere and they are only losing value by the day. And you know it.
Here’s a better idea—if you insist on flying Delta: Earn Amex Points or Starwood Starpoints, and transfer them to a Virgin Atlantic mileage account. It makes a lot more sense because it gives you a better value per mile.
The Devil’s in the Delta Details: Virgin Atlantic’s mileage program often has lower mileage award rates for Delta operated flights than Delta’s own rate. Plus, award availability using Virgin Atlantic’s mileage program is often the same as Delta’s.
Furthermore, award taxes using Virgin Atlantic’s mileage program are the same as those Delta charges for travel to Asia, many European cities (apart from London), and South America.
Bondage Buster Proof:
How to Saves 25% / 40,000 miles to Europe
Our sample trip to Asia (below) saves 40,000 miles when booked with Virgin Atlantic miles instead of Delta miles, while the taxes are the same. For Los Angeles-Tokyo in Business Class, use Delta miles and the lowest price is 160,000 miles round-trip and $45 in taxes. Book the same flights using Virgin Atlantic miles, however, and you’ll only be out 120,000 miles and the same $45 in taxes.
Delta.com @ 160,000 Miles…
Virgin Atlantic.com @ 120,000 Miles...
Bondage Buster #3
Sample trip to Europesaves 40,000 miles when booked with Virgin Atlantic milesinstead of Delta miles. On New York-Dublin Delta’s lowest Business Class award costs 140,000 miles and $46 in taxes. However, booking the same flights using Virgin Atlantic miles is 100,000 miles round-trip and $46 in taxes.
Delta.com @ 140,000 Miles...
Virgin Atlantic.com @ 100,000 Miles...
It’s not perfect. Not all cities can be booked online with Virgin Atlantic, given its weird booking engine (some cities aren’t loaded). So, you may need to call Virgin Atlantic (1-800-365-9500) to check for partner space. A bit annoying, but not a deal-breaker.
For example, we found mileage award space for Atlanta-Santiago with Delta in June for 148,000 miles round-trip and $53 in taxes. But, we weren’t able to search for those same flights online with Virgin Atlantic—we had to call. Happily, the rate was 90,000 miles round-trip and $53 in taxes. It was worth the phone call.
Another Bondage BUSTER
Great award hold with Virgin Atlantic miles, even for Delta flights. Virgin lets you hold a mileage award booking for two days at no charge. Check here for more on why that’s so great. Delta does not even offer this perk for its own flights.
Bonus BIZ CLASS Bondage BUSTER
Throughout the year Virgin Atlantic and Amex Membership Rewards offer transfer bonuses. The most recent one was 30%, while Delta’s co-branded credit cards never offer a transfer bonus.
First Class Bondage BUSTER
Fly First Class for up to 50,000 fewer miles than Delta Business Class (aka “Less than Free Upgrade”).
Virgin Atlantic gives you access to First Class awards; Delta does not: When booking premium award space using Delta miles, they can only be used to book Business Class, even for partners, since Delta has no First Class cabin and its partners don’t share their best with them.
Using Virgin Atlantic miles, however, you have access to airline partners that do offer a First Class cabin; for example, All Nippon. For travel from the U.S. to Japan, All Nippon charges 150,000 to 165,000 miles round-trip, however using Virgin Atlantic miles the cost is only 110,000 (Western U.S.) to 120,000 (Eastern U.S.), a savings of up to 55,000 miles. With a recent 30% Amex transfer bonus, you’re flying international, three-cabin First Class for only 15,000 miles more than Delta in coach!