The Mexican Hat Dance (or How to book Delta One Awards for Cheap)

[kangarooflyer88]

Just thought I'd share an interesting insight I heard on a travel podcast earlier today. Anyone who holds Delta SkyMiles (affectionately known as SkyPesos) knows darn well how hard it is to find award availability at a good price. For instance, consider flying from Sydney to Los Angeles in Delta One (their business class) in December this year:


As you can see the redemption prices are very high with Main Cabin (Delta's economy offering) costing a whopping 150,000 miles. However, what if we were to set the destination to Mexico City instead?



As you can see you can fly in Delta One for considerably less (95,000 points) than even the economy offering. Mind you, you are travelling on the same flights between Sydney and LAX, it's just the change in destination to Mexico City that causes the price to collapse! Whilst those less scrupulous would simply "skip" the AeroMexico portion of the ticket to take advantage of this award pricing, even if you have to continue on to Mexico City it can be particularly good value!

Anyway, food for thought for those sitting on SkyPesos!

-RooFlyer88

 

[docjames]

Useful insights to know this is possible with the sky peso and probably reflects a "conversion" on equivalent paid fares. The US seems particularly prone to this pricing problem where filed through fares to "less popular" destinations price out less (cash or FF) than one leg of the longer journey.

 

[levelnine]

I recently discovered this hack, and had mulled whether to share it. Hope it doesn't get shut down. I guess the risk is low because most people in Australia are unable to collect loads of SkyPesos.

The big question I have is how many times could you skip the LAX-MEX leg before Delta shuts down your account? Being able to go straight on from LAX to your final destination without diverting to MEX would be a huge win. And you don't have to worry about bags going to MEX because you clear customs at LAX. Obviously Delta does not want you to do that given the enormous points discrepancy between SYD-LAX and SYD-LAX-MEX flights.

 

[bam71]

You’d totally risk having the rest of the booking cancelled, assuming it was a return ticket. One way however could be different… who’s to say you didn‘t get suddenly ill in LAX en route, and need to stop?

 

[levelnine]

You’d totally risk having the rest of the booking cancelled, assuming it was a return ticket. One way however could be different… who’s to say you didn‘t get suddenly ill in LAX en route, and need to stop?

Oh yes, you couldn't do it return. Indeed, I'd fly with a different carrier back to Australia just to be safe.

And yes, you can definitely play the illness card, but how many times. Once, sure. Twice, maybe. Three times?

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I recently discovered this hack, and had mulled whether to share it. Hope it doesn't get shut down.

Given this was mentioned in passing on the recent Frequent Flyer Miler podcast, I hardly doubt my announcing here will make much of a difference!

The big question I have is how many times could you skip the LAX-MEX leg before Delta shuts down your account? Being able to go straight on from LAX to your final destination without diverting to MEX would be a huge win. And you don't have to worry about bags going to MEX because you clear customs at LAX. Obviously Delta does not want you to do that given the enormous points discrepancy between SYD-LAX and SYD-LAX-MEX flights.

In my case I'm actually interested in taking the whole thing and then buying a cheap AC red-eye up to the big lemon (Toronto). Also important to note that you can fly to Cancun, which I hear can be nice.

-RooFlyer88

 

[SYD]

Also important to note that you can fly to Cancun, which I hear can be nice.

Just avoid “Spring Break”!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Just avoid “Spring Break”!

Meh everyone goes down to Fort Lauderdale or the Big Easy on Spring Break. Also which spring break are you referring to (Northern or Southern Hemisphere?)

 

[SYD]

Meh everyone goes down to Fort Lauderdale or the Big Easy on Spring Break. Also which spring break are you referring to (Northern or Southern Hemisphere?)

Ah, northern (we don’t have a “spring break” concept here).

Meanwhile, pretty sure they stopped going to FLL in the 1960s? CUN for lots of under age (read sub 21 yrs) for a very long time….

Spring Break Cancun 2025

Spring Break Cancun 2025 - indulge in the Spring Break Experience. None stop party from mid February right through to April 2025.

www.feelsummer.com

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Meanwhile, pretty sure they stopped going to FLL in the 1960s? CUN for lots of under age (read sub 21 yrs) for a very long time….

Spring Break Cancun 2025

Spring Break Cancun 2025 - indulge in the Spring Break Experience. None stop party from mid February right through to April 2025.

www.feelsummer.com

Not sure about that one. Florida still remains a very popular destination for spring break for Americans (along with Santa Banana and the usual party cities in the Caribbean). For Canadians, on the other hand, Cuba is a popular. After all, where else can you spend $500 CAD on flight, hotels and meals at an all inclusive resort?

 

[SYD]

Not sure about that one. Florida still remains a very popular destination for spring break for Americans (along with Santa Banana and the usual party cities in the Caribbean). For Canadians, on the other hand, Cuba is a popular. After all, where else can you spend $500 CAD on flight, hotels and meals at an all inclusive resort?

Having left on a cruise from FLL and then flew to CUN (and onto HAV) in Feb/Mar one year, I can assure you there were many more spring breakers in CUN.

Schoolies on steroi_s!

Hardly rated a mention in FLL and Cuba.

Re Cuba - US citizens couldn’t go at the time. Canadians probably did because they could - fare enough. We did!

Obviously, staying in a CUN resort not on the Spring Break circuit should be otherwise fine.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Re Cuba - US citizens couldn’t go at the time. Canadians probably did because they could - fare enough. We did!

Obviously, staying in a CUN resort not on the Spring Break circuit should be otherwise fine.

Canadians can go but you certainly wouldn't want to get your passport stamped there, lest you want to have interesting questions interacting with US CBP officers!

 

[SYD]

Canadians can go but you certainly wouldn't want to get your passport stamped there, lest you want to have interesting questions interacting with US CBP officers!

They don’t. They stamp a seperate card but even non US citizens get the standard question “Are you bringing in cigars”…(which are contraband).