www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I recently looked a booking a flight on Delta using miles and they wanted 65K for a round trip to CR. I have traveled twice on AA for 30k....

Do you if Delta ever changes/lowers the miles????

From U.S. it's 35k for "SkySaver" and 70k for "SkyChoice" award tickets to CR. Of course around the holidays all that's available is the 70k award tickets.

Much depends on what day and/or flight you're taking. My wingman just booked a flight yesterday for Superbowl weekend. He's flying Delta, and it cost him 30,000 miles. Keep trying different dates or flights....

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

I've never heard of a Delta SkyMiles flight for 30,000. American charges 30,000 for US to CR flights.

The standard on Delta for domestic is 25,000 and international, as long as it's from North America to the nortern half of South America, is 35,000, if you can ever find one.

Mid-week days are better for using FF miles.

Delta is planning in 2007 (or they may have already started it) to allow you to combine Skysaver and Skychoice reservations without sticking you for 70,000 miles. That might be how someone got a 65,000 seat (big savings, eh)?

They are also going to start showing an entire month online so you won't have to keep putting in one day at a time. I believe American's website already has this feature.

I was checking both Delta and American for flights to Colombia in April and May. The only weekend where I could leave home on a Saturday required a Monday return. I could not find any flights at the regular rate that would let me leave on a Saturday and return the next week on Sunday. In fact, I couldn't find ANY flights that would allow a Sunday return using FF miles.

You've gotta be flexible on travel days (and times) and avoid weekends and holidays unless you book WAY in advance. I booked a domestic flight for next July 4th in September just to make sure I could get it. If I have to change or cancel it's only $50 but at least I've got the reservation.

You might also check making connections in different airports (FLL instead of MIA as an example) or accepting a layover from a few hours to overnight. Like I said, you gotta be flexible.

Wit is correct in alll that he wrote.

Delta Sky Miles can be used for a very limited number of flights, dates and destinations. In August of 2005 I was able to spend 35,000 miles plus around $33.00 tax to fly to/from C.R. I had absolutely no trouble once I found open dates...a tough task but not impossible.

You do indeed have to be flexible regarding travel dates. For guys with real jobs, this can be a problem.

WHile we're on the su bject of F.F. miles, does anyone know if miles can be used to upgrade from a paid coach ticket to a subsidized first or business class ticket? Is this even possible? Hey, it's a leg and ass-room thing for me.

I currently have nearly 40K Delta miles; I'm hoping to get enough by next summer to pay not only for my flight, but also to invite a newbie friend to act as my seeing-eye monger!

Regardless of airline, many frequent fliers are having real problems using earned miles. National Public Radio's "Marketplace" segment recently reported that over eight billion (with a B) unused miles are in circulation!

Did you know... Your F.F. miles have cash value and should be listed in your last Will?

One more thing: I gratefully accept donations of the odd unused Delta miles. If you find yourself with a few thousand miles left over after a trip, consider assigning them to me! :winK; Oh well, can't blame a guy for asking!

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

Re El Ciego's question on upgrades: you can upgrade a coach ticket on DL to business class, but the number of miles required depends on the fare class of your ticket. According to delta.com, a full-coach ticket can be upgraded for 7500 skymiles (one way). Other fare classes require 15,000 skymiles.

The comments on the thread are accurate re the scarcity of "skysaver" seats available. My experience is that (because of the volume of tourist package travel on the ATL-SJO route, it's not unusual to find a better deal in business class. Coach is 35,000/70,000 skymiles; business class is 60,000/120,000 skymiles for skysaver and skychoice. When I booked my January trip, my options were 70K miles for coach (skychoice) or 60K miles for business class (skysaver) on the same routing. An interesting little piece of arbitrage.

Osogrande

Thanks for clearing that up Osogrande. I just booked an award ticket leaving in 2 days on Delta's new setup and got skychoice departure (35k) and a skysaver return (17.5k) for a total of 52,500 miles. I wouldn't have spent 70k but 52.5k was worthwhile for me.
Looking forward to their new monthly search for award seats, doing 3 days at a time is a pain. Really it looks like Delta is just copying Continental's more user-friendly website by adding these options.

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

I used 35,000 Delta miles to book a round trip flight to MGA since there was nothing to SJO in January. I then booked MGA-SJO for $150. I'm going to explore Managua for a few days and still get a CR trip for $150. Not a bad deal. Not surprising, there are plenty of rewards seats available to MGA at skysaver rates.