How can you find the best value for your SkyMiles? Are Delta SkyMiles worthless? Can you book Delta One for cheap? Am I an idiot for caring about SkyMiles? These are the questions we get about the wildly popular (yet maddening) Delta SkyMiles program, so we do our best to answer all of them and more.
Whether you want to book quick, cheap flights within the U.S. or fly business class to Asia (and everything in between), we go over all the best ways to earn and burn Delta SkyMiles.
Tune in now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Be sure to subscribe to get each new episode every Thursday morning.
Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected].
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Show Notes
- 00:00 – What level of Delta status does Kyle have?
- 00:45 – What would we do with 200,000 Delta SkyMiles?
- 05:00 – Some of the best ways to use SkyMiles
- 09:00 – And the worst…
- 14:00 – A word from our sponsor (us): Get the Extra Mile Newsletter to earn more miles
- 15:00 – Delta SkyMiles 101
- 17:00 – Why Delta prices SkyMiles awards differently than other airlines
- 20:30 – Inside the infamous “Sad State of SkyMiles” story from 2023
- 23:15 – Why SkyMiles Flash Sales are like “Clearance Meat”
- 28:45 – The best destinations to target for a good SkyMiles deal
- 34:00 – Where can you find a pseudo-Delta SkyMiles “award chart”?
- 36:00 – American Express credit cards and what Delta’s strategy with its profitable partner
- 39:30 – Delta One SkyMiles deals … are they even possible?
- 42:15 – How to find Delta SkyMiles redemptions outside of flash sales
- 45:30 – Are Delta SkyMiles worthless?
- 47:00 – The #1 key to getting good value from your SkyMiles
- 49:15 – Helping a traveler from SLC earn SkyMiles fast
- 53:00 – What one change would Gunnar make to the SkyMiles program?
Produced by Gunnar Olson & Long Tran
Edited by David Strutt
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot
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Fellow travel enthusiast from the Midwest here!
Just wanted to share my travel social media username/handle – @TravelSizeBudget on Facebook and Instagram. I attended Thrifty Traveler University a few years ago regularly follow TT’s amazing content. I started @TravelSizeBudget last year to offer my own unique spin on travel – from the usual (points and miles, affordable fares) to the less common (savings and convenience on food, souvenirs and more). Thanks for continuing to inspire me, Thrifty Traveler!
Great podcast! Thanks for all the great information.
Hello Gunnar,
I am enjoying and appreciating all you travel savings information. Would you please help us finding an appropriate venue to get results form lost bag by United? In June last yWe re senior citizens 1K United. Last year in June we checked 6 bags from LAX to HNL. One of the bags never arrived and we filled a claim at HNL. There was lack or no communication from United including corporate. We provided photos and invoices for 4 pro racing high end OZONE kites $12,500.00. The bag never made it “downstairs” after being check at 1K counter at LAX. I wrote countless letters , got a lots of lying and contradicting run around or no responses. Now we found out someone is selling our stolen kites on E-Bay because they all have serial numbers and person who bought one of the kites very ‘cheap” called Ozone co. to ask why is someone selling a $4,000.OO kite for $1,500.00 and the company contacted us since they have record of us paying a full price. E-Bay is not taking any responsibility. Now United finally e-mailed us claiming they do not cover “sports equipment”. Our bags were handed to United employees and they should be responsible. Would you have any suggestions how can we recover our losses? I would appreciate any suggestion you could provide. I know its not what you are about but since you have lots of travel experience maybe you know something that can help us. Keep up the good work.