Hey there, you’re reading an outdated post! The updated series from March 2013 can be found here.
This is the twenty-second post in a monthlong series. Each post will take about two minutes to read and may include an action item that takes the reader another two minutes to complete. I am writing this for an audience of people who know nothing about frequent flier miles, and my goal is that by the end, you know enough to fly for free anywhere you want to go.
Delta.com is a frustrating, broken piece of junk, but it’s the first place to start when looking for award reservations with your Delta SkyMiles.
On the Delta.com home page, type your departure and arrival airports into the From and To airport boxes. As you do that, a larger box will pop out with all the itinerary options. Make sure to check the box that says Book SkyMiles Award Ticket. Right below that check box, click on More Booking Options and check My Dates are Flexible.
If you do all that and click Find Flights, you’ll be taken to a screen that shows a calendar of outbound options and a calendar of return options. Since this is Delta, and its availability is horrible, you may find the calendar mostly yellow and blue corresponding to medium and high priced tickets in miles.
Select days with low level priced mile tickets, and you’ll be shown the possible itineraries, ordered from shortest to longest duration. If everything goes according to plan, you can book your tickets online.
Mostly with delta.com, things do not go according to plan. Delta.com is a piece of junk that misdisplays how many miles are needed for certain trips, doesn’t show all partner options, and generally doesn’t work well. When you’re having trouble, call Delta to search availability or make a booking. The number is 800-221-1212.
You have to know about delta.com, and occasionally you have to use it. Be aware of how it works, and what to do when it doesn’t work. And please focus on earning more valuable miles than SkyMiles.
I have earned millions of points, primarily though credit cards, to travel the world in first class for pennies. This blog will show you how to earn and redeem points to do the same!