Have a Delta Amex Card? Here’s the Benefit You Didn’t Know About

Delta changed the wording on its SkyMiles News & Updates page to include a heavier discount on annual CLEAR memberships for Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Members.

Usually a CLEAR membership costs $179 per year. If you have one of the following Delta co-branded American Express cards (or the small business version) than you (the primary cardholder) get a $100 yearly discount, reducing the cost to $79 per year.

What's CLEAR?
CLEAR is a means of bypassing TSA security lines.

Wide Open Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Award Space to Europe, Spring + Summer ’17

Virgin Atlantic begins service between London and Seattle at the end of March 2017, and there is a ridiculous amount of flat bed Business Class award space on the route throughout the spring and summer.

Here are the daily flight schedules:

Seattle –> London, 7:10 pm – 2:00 pm
London –> Seattle, 11:00 am – 1:20 pm

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Product
Virgin Atlantic's Business Class, called Upper Class offers a flat bed, Clubhouse access, and access to an onboard bar.

Award Space
Seattle ->

Delta Devaluation for Awards to Australia, Asia, Africa, and South America for Travel October 1, 2016

I am re-publishing this post as a reminder that as of October 1, 2016, Delta Skymiles prices for Business Class awards between North American and Australia, Asia, Africa, and South America are becoming more expensive. Economy awards between the United States and South Africa, the Southwest Pacific, and the Middle East are getting cheaper however. 

If you have been saving your Skymiles for a Business Class award to any of those areas, consider booking so your trip is completed before October 1.

Flying Blue Glitch: 12,500 Miles to Kauai

Flying Blue is the loyalty program of Air France and a 1:1 transfer partner of Chase, American Express, Citi, and SPG. Flying Blue has a number of well-documented sweet spots including 15,000 miles one way to Hawaii from the United States mainland.

Speaking of transferring Citi points, I have to take down the Citi Prestige 50k offer in five days. Last time I had to take down a Citi 50k offer, the sign up bonus went to zero.

Delta Discounting Economy Awards as Low as 5,000 Miles

Delta domestic economy and Delta Comfort+ award tickets are on sale for as little as 5,000 miles one way.

Conditions of the Sale

Must book award within the next week (by July 18, 2016)
Valid travel dates: on or after August 23, 2016 through February 10, 2017
Must book award at least 21 days ahead of travel time
Blackout dates

Listed below are some (but not all) examples of fares on sale:

Discounted Award Price Might Apply for Travel Before August 23
I searched for Atlanta to Chicago and found the sale price widely available in economy and Comfort

Delta 50k/60k Offers End Today, Everything You Need to Know

For about a month, the Delta Gold and Platinum cards have had 50,000 to 60,000 point sign up bonuses.

Book Business Class to Southeast Asia with 50k/60k Delta Offers [One Week Left]

There is great award space to Southeast Asia next January and February (which is peak dry season in many places) in Business Class that you can book with Delta SkyMiles.

If you have Delta miles, book yourself an amazing Southeast Asian escape from winter today.

Delta Gold and Platinum Cards are Ideal for People Who Live in These 9 Cities

Delta domestic award space can be really crappy. But from Delta's hubs, you can take non-stop award flights to tons of enticing destinations without the trouble of finding award space.

Delta hubs in the United States:

Atlanta
Boston
Cincinnati
Detroit
Los Angeles
Minneapolis
New York
Salt Lake City
Seattle

I'm going to show you great non-stop award space from four of these hubs to intercontinental destinations around the world. Why? Because the sign-up bonus offers on the Amex Delta cards are some of the highest they've ever been.

Where to Credit Butt in Seat Miles: Flying Delta Air Lines

In light of the news that American Airlines is changing to a revenue-based award earning structure, and the fact that all three major US carriers now abide by a revenue-based award earning structure, I am writing a series of posts about when and where you should diversify the award miles you earn through paying for airfare.

Fly China Eastern Double (!) Bed to Asia with Miles

China Eastern flies its 777-300ER with flat beds in Business Class and a flat double bed in First Class for two people to share between several American cities and Shanghai with connections throughout Asia.

You can book Business Class for 77,500 Korean miles or 80,000 Delta miles, and you can book First Class for 100,000 Korean miles. If you book two First Class award seats, you can combine your beds into one large double bed.