Why Stephanie + Scott stopped using Delta for big trips ✈️
Stephanie and Scott were ready to turn the page. As long-time Atlanta residents and empty nesters, they were officially in their pampering era.
They were done with:
- Sore backs from overnight flights in coach
- Sleepless red-eyes to Europe
- Feeling like they needed a vacation after the flight to their vacation
Their new goal?
💎 Fly first or business class on international trips
💸 Spend less out of pocket for more comfort and luxury
And—like many Atlantans—they had been fiercely loyal to Delta and Skymiles for years. Their credit card strategy was built solely around accruing Delta Skymiles on one primary card. But they were stuck in a pattern that just wasn’t working for their big travel goals.
Because Delta wants you to believe:
- They’re your only real option from ATL
- Their domestic and international service is the best
- Travel credit cards = Delta AmEx Skymiles cards
But they’re not telling you what Stephanie and Scott found out 👇
✨ Their Breakthrough: 3 Business Class Tickets to Europe
Instead of cashing in hundreds of thousands of Skymiles for mediocre value, we used just 240,000 flexible points to book:
✅ 3 round-trip business class flights to Amsterdam — in lie-flat luxury.
Their college-age son even got the full suite-door treatment aboard KLM’s business class, complete with:
- Champagne service 🍾
- Multi-course dining ✨
- Doors that closed for full privacy
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💥 The value of that redemption? Over $26,000—and 9 cents per point.
Just to compare, the industry estimates a Delta Skymile to be worth just 1 cent per point.
Stephanie said it best:
✨ Then They Booked a $29,000 Trip to Spain + Paris
Stephanie and Scott didn’t stop there.
They also booked two weeks in Spain and Paris last October. All with points.
Here’s a peek at what they booked:
✈️ Air France’s new business class to Seville, and business class return from Paris.
🏨 12 nights of hotels, including:
- Can Ferrereta in Mallorca
- The Park Hyatt Paris (yes, the one where Madonna and Sting have stayed)
Their total out-of-pocket cost?
Just the card fees.
Their total points value?
Over $29,000.
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💬 So… am I asking you to divorce Delta?
No.
But it may be time to see other people 😉
Stephanie and Scott still fly Delta for quick domestic trips.
But for bucket-list travel, they’ve opened the door to a much more rewarding world of possibilities.
They’re already dreaming up their next trip: Asia.
(And they won’t be getting there with Skymiles.)
🧠 The Moral of the Story?
Open your mind to new possibilities—even if Delta is all you’ve ever known.
Instead of putting all your travel eggs in one airline basket, start building flexible points with travel rewards cards from:
- Chase
- Capital One
- American Express
These currencies can be transferred to dozens of different airline and hotel partners.
So instead of being trapped in one airline’s pricing (and devaluation) games…
You get options.
Options that lead to epic, bucket-list travel—without the epic price tag.
Cheers to you flying in the front of the plane - with a glass of champagne in hand, - Kelly
