Delta is responding to US Airways promotion of 100% bonus on miles purchased. But this is at best an okay deal.

• Delta charges 3.5 cents per mile. So a 50,000 mile purchase would be $1,750 + taxes + fees. With this promotion, its effectively 1.8 cents per mile.
• Delta is the most anti-consumer friendly program out of the big four despite having no mileage expiration. Finding an award at Delta’s low mileage level is incredible difficult. Most awards are priced either at the medium or high level. Making Delta’s award typically 1.5 – 2X more expensive than American, United or US Airways.
• Surcharges for originating outside of the US
• Blanket blackout dates when redeeming on Korean Air, China Southern and China Eastern, because Delta is too lazy to read a simple chart
• Delta SkyMiles are very easy to obtain through other promotions
• This is more expensive than the US Air promotion by over $300

There are some areas that Delta SkyMiles is useful. Award availability on to Australia on V Australia in Business Class is pretty good. And Delta’s SkyTeam partner’s African network is tops. So if you have travel to those places and there’s award availability, this promotion can be a decent and useful deal.

Here’s the link to the Delta promotion if you are interested in learning the terms and conditions. http://www.delta.com/skymiles/buy_transfer/buy_gift_offer/index.jsp?MkCpgn=EM110808PARTBGTAGSTK32-F-A-A. The promotion ends September 30th, 2011.

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