Using Skymiles to book flights

[Fixfire]

Can someone explain why I get pushback (perhaps my perception) from an AF supported agent when trying to use Delta miles when booking flights for safari?? I don’t quite know the process and am generally unsophisticated when it comes to using an agent and Miles. I’ve always paid full freight on my previous safaris. Thanks!! FF

 

[Fatback]

I had my travel agent, Shawn with Gracy, use miles for my trip to Alaska later this year. This was on Delta and there were no issues at all. Not sure if flying international versus domestics may create issues?? Hope you can get it sorted and use some of your earned miles.

 

[Bandera]

I have had no problems booking delta flights using sky miles.
I mostly book online and use sky miles. Going to Africa due to the amount of miles it takes for an awards flight in the Premium Select, we pay for one tickets with Sky n Miles, again no problems and then one ticket with cash. I then call Delta and get the agent to link the two flights so changes affect both tickets.
I have also had an agent book our flights this way again with no problems.
Best way to book with Sky Miles is to book as early as possible. 11 months out. The Award tickets sell out quick.
Having traveled to 31 different countries, I have never had an airline agents be anything but helpful. I am always polite to the agent. I do not want my luggage to, or me for that matter to end up in whoknowswhereastan. Nothing like being detained on a connecting flight in BFE.
If booking flights and making the trip arrangements is challenging then consider a travel agent.

 

[Fixfire]

Perhaps someone can translate this for my aging brain. Explanation from TA:

Delta has changed their program around, and using that many miles is difficult. They usually only allow a small (5-15% discount) off of the miles tickets. For example, a normal economy class ticket is 200K, or they offer it at 180K plus $900 or something along those lines. The majority of the ticket has to be bought with miles, and they set those amounts.

 

[Buckums]

I had no problem booking my Delta flights into SA using points. Booked the flights last fall for this June's trip to Zambia through SA. I even booked the flight there using points, the return flight out of pocket. Shawn at Gracy also helped me and it was no issue.

 

[wesheltonj]

I have used Sky Pesos to book tickets, myself. To my knowledge a Travel Agent does not make any commission or very little. Agents generally charge a higher fee to book trips with miles to make up for the lost commission.

It gets harder and harder to book ticket with miles, you still have to pay for taxes, and some airlines surcharge milage tickets. They all keep increasing the award amount to decrease the miles liability on their books.

From your question it looks like to are trying to use Sky Pesos to book an Air France flight. My suggestion is to look at the AF website and check availability for the flight you want for an award ticket and then use Delta to book the AF flights. You could certainly have an Agent help with that but you are going to be paying for that privilege.

It also appears that you may not have enough miles to cover the whole trip and are trying to use miles and cash. IMO thats a waste of miles, you spend a lot of miles and cash. If you cant get 2 cents a mile, I would pass using miles.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

There is one drawback to using miles for purchasing any airline ticket. If for whatever reason your travel plans change, you run the risk of not being able to switch your ticket. Example: One of my daughters flew to RSA on United, with a ticket I got her with miles. This was during the COVID days. She got delayed on her return trip by one day, due to waiting on test results. We looked at the United website and there were plenty of empty seats on the same flight, the next day. No problem, until there was. United, like all airlines, lists only a limited number of seats for purchase with miles. United wouldn't allow us to switch the ticket for the next day, so I ended up having to buy a one was ticket.

 

[towserthemouser]

My understanding is that Air France is a Partner/Affiliate airline with Delta; they do not honor Delta miles on an Air France flight. You have to use them on an actual Delta flight. This particularly comes into play when flying through Charles de Gaulle on a Delta-affiliated AF flight.

If you go on the Delta website to book a flight, there is a button you can click to "Pay with Miles."

You pay the taxes (small amount), but the rest is paid with miles. I believe you also have the option to pay partly with miles and partly with dollars, and to adjust how much of each.

Flying ATL to JNB in Delta One in a few weeks, all paid with miles and < $100 worth of taxes. I save my miles to pay for a better seat on those long flights..... I think it's the best use of miles. We put all personal and business expenses on an Amex that returns miles, and pay it off every month. It adds up pretty quick and next thing you know you can buy a ticket to Africa.