Executive Travel SkyGuide

ON BOARD WITH RANDY PETERSEN

EASING WORRIES OVER BANKRUPTCIES AND MILES
August 2004
by Randy Petersen

Question:
I have a Delta SkyMiles award certificate—total mileage: 14,779. In simple English, am I allowed to convert this mileage into the price of an airfare ticket?

Answer:
It looks like you might just be starting out, so let's see if we can give you some of the basics as far as ways to earn and use your miles certificate.

By "certificate," I am assuming you mean your SkyMiles member statement that shows you have a balance of 14,779 miles. Though there are some programs, like Air Miles, that allow members to actually use their points for real distance-related air travel, Delta, much like the other frequent flyer programs in North America, is not one of them. With SkyMiles, you earn miles by flying and using program partners, and you can then convert those miles into an airline ticket, though not on a dollar basis.

Most major programs have a standardized award chart that shows exactly how many miles you need to redeem for free air travel. In the case of Delta, your first general opportunity for an airline ticket comes when you have earned at least 25,000 miles.

So, with 14,779 miles in your account, you can consider yourself just over halfway to your first free ticket. Obviously, if you have any summer travel plans, you'll want to add miles to this account. And you should also be aware that you can probably earn some easy miles through the use of Delta's partners, such as American Express.

Question:
As a frequent flyer of Delta, should I be worried that something negative could happen with my miles if Delta files for bankruptcy?

Also, around the first of the new year, I booked a flight online with Continental. At the end of the online booking process, there is a place to designate if you want your miles to go to another program so I picked Delta and put in my Delta SkyMiles number. I took the flight in March and so far I have not received my credit on Delta for the miles. I have repeatedly contacted customer service for both Continental and Delta with the same patent answer of: "It's not our problem, check with the other airline."

Answer:
First of all, I don't think you have anything to worry about with regard to earning and using SkyMiles. At some point, the many parties that are important to Delta's future will come together and get on with the business of running that airline.

Your second question is a little more complicated.

The first rule of earning is: No matter what the system tells you, the only thing you can trust are your own eyes.

I never assume the correct frequent flyer number has been recorded until I see it for myself on my boarding pass. Also, you should always save boarding passes for purposes of backup should all else fail. I've got a stack of them all in chronological order should I ever need to rely on them for documentation.

You can contact Randy Petersen at randy@insideflyer.com.