I’m Loving The Crappy 2014 Miles And Points

Delta:

I don’t know about you, but the SkyPesos that Gary from View From the Wing coined (Delta SkyMiles) and Citi Thank You Points are really growing on me. Check out Andy’s posts on the latest changes that hit the 2015 calendar year on SkyMiles:

Delta SkyMiles 2015: Agonized, Tantalized and Analyzed Part One — What You Really Need to Know!

Delta SkyMiles 2015: Agonized, Tantalized and Analyzed — Part 2: Hub by Hub in Maps and Details

Delta SkyMiles 2015: Agonized, Tantalized and Analyzed — Part Three: SkyPesos and Stopovers

I like the idea of traveling to Australia one of these days and Delta miles seem like the best to redeem on Virgin Australia. Check out Kenny’s post at how awesome Delta miles sound:

Virgin Australia business class – How many seats can you actually get?

I like options and the old, crummy programs of yesteryears have grown into newer and better programs. For once, in our hobby, we can finally say and agree that these enhancements are truly enhancements and not the euphemism of a devaluation. As I commented on Andy’s site, I am seriously reconsidering Delta. I currently have 0 Delta miles. I am in the greater NYC area, and all the coterminal airports are all equidistant to me.

Therefore, it allows me access to the Star Alliance, OneWorld, and SkyTeam. Not only that, if I am accumulating within an airline program, I’ll be able to redeem with their partners. Using Delta as the main point, it would allow me to fly on Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic with little fuel surcharges. Or if I were inclined to go to Tahiti, I now have the option of using Air France and Air Tahiti Nui. As Andy has researched, with Delta’s upgrades, it makes redeeming SkyMiles much easier. Frequent Miler has a great piece on buying status with manufactured spending techniques on Delta.

Really don’t believe me? Here’s another post on how good Delta has become:

Some Delta Skymiles 2015 Award Booking Beta Testing: Good and Bad

See, it’s not an isolated instance of good availability using Delta miles. There are now numerous reports of how easy it is to use Delta SkyMiles and it is not a fluke.

Citi:

With Citi, they’ve published these as their transfer partners:

1. Asia Miles^™
2. Etihad Airways Guest
3. EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
4. Flying Blue Air France KLM
5. Garuda Indonesia Frequent Flyer
6. Hilton HHonors^™
7. Malaysia Airlines Enrich
8. Qatar Airways Privilege Club
9. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
10. Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus

Citi Thank You Points transfer to “obscure” programs like Garuda and Thai Airways and “brand names” like Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles. For me, with the old 5x Citi Forward, I am collecting Thank You Points with ease on all of my dining and Amazon purchases. What’s also great about that list is the fact that some of those airlines are transfer partners to American Express’ Membership Rewards and Chase’s Ultimate Rewards.

American Express Membership Rewards:

• Asia Miles
• Flying Blue Air France KLM
• Hilton HHonors
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Chase Ultimate Rewards:

• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

As you can see, American Express overlaps with Citi more than Chase.

That being said, we can look at the ones unique to Citi.

Citi Thank You Points:

• Etihad Airways Guest
• EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
• Garuda Indonesia Frequent Flyer
• Malaysia Airlines Enrich
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club
• Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus

**Note, I’m not taking into account that Starwood Preferred Guest overlaps with Citi as we are talking only about flexible credit card points

Conclusion:

We are always looking for ways to diversify and Delta and Citi Thank You Points offers that possibility. Delta SkyMiles finally look useful and easy to redeem. Citi finally upgraded their program and can now play with the “big boys.”