Some would argue that any use of Delta SkyMiles is the best use of Delta SkyMiles. I’ve had my frustrations with booking an award ticket on Delta to the point that I just want to get rid of them. I thought I had an 80k business class award ticket booked to Mt. Kilimanjaro only to find out that it was a mixed cabin. Even if it was business the entire way, the AMS to JRO leg was on a KLM flight with angled seats.
Frustrated, I Googled ‘Best Use of Delta SkyMiles’ and came across Lucky’s link. The one that stuck out was Virgin Atlantic from the US to LHR for 62,500 miles. Two years ago, I flew Virgin Upper Class from Detroit to London. It remains the best flight I have taken in terms of fun. While I had no interest in going to Europe, I wondered if Virgin Atlantic flew anywhere else. And that’s when I saw Johannesburg on the route map. Curious, I typed in JNB-SFO on Delta.com. I was surprised by the amount of availability. My excitement grew as I learned that the flight was aboard a 787 from JNB-LHR with an 8 hour layover in the Virgin Clubhouse. From there, it was another 787 long-haul flight from LHR-SFO. In total, the trip is roughly 31 hours of pampering.
The actual retail price is $4,700 which is not that bad in comparison to Delta operated flights which go for $7,800. In points, the flight is 95,000 SkyKyat and $87. That’s a great deal. Now, I have to find a flight to Kili. I’m thinking Qatar in business on AA for 75k.
