Delta Now Allows Purchase Of Gift Cards With Miles (~0.7¢ Per Mile)

Delta is now allowing you to purchase Delta gift cards using Delta milesIs it a good deal? Oh, young innocent naive reader. This is Delta we are talking about, of course this is a terrible deal. Below you can see why:

  • $50 gift card for 7,150 miles (0.6993¢ per mile)
  • $100 gift card  for 14,300 miles (0.6993¢ per mile)
  • $250 gift card for 35,700 miles (0.7003¢ per mile)
  • $500 gift card for 71,450 miles (0.6998¢ per mile)
  • $1,000 gift card for 142,850 miles (0.7000¢ per mile)

What makes this a particularly bad deal is the fact that Delta already allows you to use miles to pay for flights (“Pay With Miles” option). You pay 5,000 miles per $50, although you do need to have an American Express Delta card to take advantage of this it’s kind of ridiculous that this option gives you 1¢ per mile and the new gift card redemption is 0.7¢. The majority of people will get even better value just booking normal award flights, although given how often Delta likes to devalue their loyalty program maybe this 0.7¢ per mile valuation is a better indication of where the program is heading.

Hat tip to Laptop Travel

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13 Comments
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TBoston
TBoston (@guest_582247)
April 16, 2018 14:56

At least you’ll earn RDM/MQM/MQD when making the purchase with a Delta Gift Card. Does pay with miles earn miles?

Jason Smith
Jason Smith (@guest_582056)
April 16, 2018 05:37

And remember, Delta gift cards can’t be used for luggage or anything besides paying for a flight.

Charles
Charles (@guest_582064)
April 16, 2018 06:47

This is true with AA as well. Really annoying.

Cupcake
Cupcake (@guest_582034)
April 16, 2018 01:10

Perhaps the only arguable reason to convert miles to GCs through this method is to meet some MQD spending requirement. Otherwise this is a badddd deal.

PhDTravel
PhDTravel (@guest_582098)
April 16, 2018 09:22

“Pay with Miles” also earns MQMs and MQDs. There is no reason to use this.

Abey
Abey (@guest_582007)
April 15, 2018 23:29

Delta is my favorite airline and has good costumer service on and off the field. so i feel embarrassed when they cheat with their loyalty program, it suits better for Spirit or United to do so.

dong
dong (@guest_582006)
April 15, 2018 23:23

I was always wondering that william Charles is of Chinese origin or speaks mandarin. young innocent naive is obviously a phrase that known to Chinese speakers from former President Jiang “The Elder”. And it’s not the first time that William Charles quotes some thing from Chinese pop culture.

Mo
Mo (@guest_582166)
April 16, 2018 12:07

Pretty sure he’s British, considering he always talks of ‘expiry dates’.

Mike L
Mike L (@guest_582003)
April 15, 2018 23:01

I wonder which will be worth more in a year, SkyPesos or Chuck E Cheese tickets?

MarcoPolo
MarcoPolo (@guest_582001)
April 15, 2018 22:58

 William Charles
I like the opening lines 🙂

Matthew
Matthew (@guest_581994)
April 15, 2018 22:44

Not surprising, although normal people do love gift cards, which probably appeal more than miles. At least it’s not 5 cpp? I certainly hope Skypesos doesn’t get any worse than it is. It’s one of my top points program to burn as often as I can.

NN
NN (@guest_581990)
April 15, 2018 22:35

“young innocent naive reader”
lol =))