Heads-up: Delta gift cards 10% off at Costco.com

Costco.com is selling $500 and $1,000 Delta electronic gift cards for 10% off.  $450 for the $500 GC and $900 for the $1,000 GC.

I was not aware that Costco sold Delta gift cards.  This may be a limited time item.

Terms:

• Member only item

• Works on Delta Air Lines Marketed Flights or Delta Vacations Packages that Include Air Transportation

• Limit 3 per Member

• Delivery via email

https://www.costco.com/delta-air-lines-$500-egift-card.product.100523609.html
https://www.costco.com/delta-air-lines-$1,000-egift-card.product.100531773.html

Delta Amex Card - Sign up By 1/29/2020 to Avoid Annual Fee Increases

This week, American Express announced changes to their Delta Amex credit cards.  Among the changes is annual fee increases for all of the Delta-branded Amex cards.  Some benefits have been improved or added, though this post does not delve into all the changes.  This post is a heads-up that signing up now makes sense, to get the card before the annual fee increases take effect.

The changes take effect on Jan 30, 2020.  

Also, this week, Amex announced higher-than-normal sign-up bonuses for its personal Delta Amex credit cards.  (The business versions of the Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Delta Amex cards currently have mediocre sign-up bonuses; only the personal versions are worth signing up for right now.)

These good sign-up bonuses are typically offered twice a year. These offers were previously offered 1st quarter 2019.

The increased bonuses for the Platinum and Reserve card are currently available only via referral from existing cardholders.  The Gold card signup bonus is the same via referral as the public offer.  

Please click my link if you are interested in any of the offers below.

http://refer.amex.us/JASONWc8CN?XLINK=MYCP

After clicking the referral link, click the 'View all Cards with a Referral Offer' link, then click the 'Looking for a Personal Card?' link to see the personal Delta Amex cards.

Background Reading

Frequent Miler and Rene's Points both have decent recaps and analysis of the changes.  Many of the changes are positive and many are negative.

For current cardholders it is really a personal decision as to how the card changes affect your own decision whether to cancel, keep, downgrade, or replace one card with another.  For me, the loss of 15k bonus SkyMiles at $30k and another 15k miles at $60k is a major blow.  That, along with the annual fee increase, has me feeling that the Reserve card is no longer worth it.

My bottom line analysis is that post-changes, the Platinum card makes more sense than the Reserve card for most folks.  More details available in the articles below:

https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/delta-credit-cards-huge-changes-coming/https://renespoints.boardingarea.com/2019/09/30/major-changes-and-higher-fees-coming-to-delta-american-express-cards/https://renespoints.boardingarea.com/2019/09/30/my-thoughts-on-the-new-delta-american-express-benefits-fees-and-more/

Last Day for Increased Delta Amex Credit Card Signup Bonuses

Weds April 3rd - today - is the last day to get higher-than-normal signup bonuses for several Delta-branded American Express credit cards.

The increased bonuses for new customers are available only via referral from existing cardholders.  Please click my link if you are interested in any of the offers below.

http://refer.amex.us/JASONW2rUF?XLINK=MYCP 

After clicking the link, click the View all Cards with a Referral Offer to see the other Delta Amex personal credit cards.  To see the Delta Amex business credit cards, click the Looking for a Business Card? link

Recap of Current Signup Bonuses - Delta Amex Personal Credit Cards

• Gold Delta SkyMiles card:  60,000 SkyMiles + $50 statement credit after $2,000 spend in first 3 months.  Annual fee waived first year, then $95/yr
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles card:  75,000 SkyMiles + 5,000 MQMs (toward elite status earning) + $100 statement credit after $3,000 spend in first 3 mos.  $195 annual fee (NOT waived first year)
• Delta Reserve card:  75,000 SkyMiles + 5,000 MQMs after $5,000 spend in 3 mos.  $450 annual fee (NOT waived first year)
• Blue Delta SkyMiles card - this is NOT a good card.  Signup bonus is only 10,000 miles after $500 spend in first 3 mos.  No annual fee.  Earning rate is only 1/2 SkyMile per $1 on most purchases except Delta purchases - terrible

Recap of Current Signup Bonuses - Delta Amex Business Credit Cards

The business cards have signup bonuses that are in some cases better than the personal cards, although not everyone may be comfortable applying for a business credit card.  For some reason, the increased signup bonuses are not working via referral link, but they are still publicly available.  Click the Frequent Miler article below for links to the application pages

• Gold Delta SkyMiles Business card:  70,000 SkyMiles + $50 statement credit after $4,000 spend in 3 mos.  Annual fee $95/yr waived first year
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business card:  80,000 SkyMiles + 5,000 MQMs + $100 statement credit after $6,000 spend in 3 mos.  $195 annual fee (NOT waived first year)

Background reading

https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/increased-referral-offers-on-delta-personal-cards/
https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/inceased-delta-biz-offers-now-too/

70k SkyMiles + 1 year Delta Sky Club access + 10k MQMs for $450

[This offer was previously 40,000 miles, and in the past has been as low as 10,000 miles, but is offered now at 70,000 miles which is by far the best offer ever on this card.]

American Express is offering a signup bonus of 70,000 Delta SkyMiles plus 10,000 MQMs on the Amex Delta Reserve business credit card.  Signup bonus requires $5,000 spend within first 3 months.

Below is my referral URL for the Business version of the Amex Delta Reserve Card.

http://refer.amex.us/JASONWXtbm?XLINK=MYCP

If you apply, I'd appreciate you using my referral link as I'll earn some free SkyMiles.  The offer via referral is the same as the publicly available offer, so you don't lose anything by using the link.  Referral offer on business version of the card ends on 11/07/2018.

Card also provides free Delta Sky Club access for cardholder when traveling on same-day Delta flight.

This is the first time so many SkyMiles  are included in the sign-up bonus for the Reserve card.  (The *personal* Reserve card signup bonus is still 40,000 SkyMiles.)  in the past, the bonus has fluctuated between 10k and 40k SkyMiles, plus the 10k Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs, aka Delta elite status qualifying miles).

The business version of the card is great because most business credit cards do NOT hit your personal credit report or affect your credit inquiries or credit score.  Anyone can apply for a business credit card; you do NOT need an incorporated business or a company Tax ID number to be approved for a business credit card.  All you need is a legitimate small business or side business with a history of decent amount of revenue and a good amount of expected expenses.

Annual fee on this card is $450, which is steep, but still cheaper than buying a Sky Club membership separately.  Delta Diamond members can choose free individual Sky Club membership (costs one of the member's three Choice Benefits) or an executive Sky Club membership (costs two Choice Benefits).  Diamond elites who have complimentary Sky Club access via credit card such as the Reserve personal or business card, also can choose a Delta Sky Club Guest Pass.  This costs one Choice Benefit and allows two guests to join the member in the Sky Club free.  This is a smarter way to go; get individual SkyClub access by paying $450 annual fee for the Reserve card, and in exchange you free up an additional Choice Benefit instead of using TWO Choice Benefits for the Executive Membership.

Personally, I'd rather choose the 4 global or 8 regional upgrade certificates, or gift Gold status to another person (or use all 3 Choice benefits to gift Gold status to 3 people), and pay for the Sky Club via the Reserve card annual fee instead rather than waste a Diamond Choice Benefit on Sky Club membership.

Basics

• Earn 70,000 Delta SkyMiles and 10,000 MQMs after $5,000 spend within first 3 months of card membership
• Must apply via referral link by November 7, 2018, to be eligible for sign-up bonus
• Earn 1 SkyMile per dollar on all purchases.  Earn 2x per dollar on Delta spending (in-flight purchases, airfare, etc)
• Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product before
• $450 annual fee

How Good is This Deal?

• Outstanding...for $450, signing up for this card is an absolute no-brainer.
• 70k SkyMiles can be used for:
• Award flights (get $800-1,500 value depending on what/when you book); OR
• Revenue flights - cardholders receive the ability to use miles at 1 cent per mile toward paid/revenue flights - Delta calls this feature "Pay With Miles."  The 70k bonus miles are worth $700 toward paid Delta travel - this easily offsets the $450 annual fee in first year
• SkyClub individual membership alone is well worth the annual fee for the card.  Also provides a discounted rate for up to 2 guests per visit
• 10k Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) after meeting the minimum initial spend
• Earn up to 30k additional MQMs and 30k additional SkyMiles per year - Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and 15,000 bonus SkyMiles after $30,000 spend on the card in a calendar year. Earn an additional 15,000 MQMs and an additional 15,000 bonus SkyMiles after $60,000 spend on the card in a calendar year.  So it is possible to earn 40k MQMs in the first year holding this card.
• If you spend right around $30k or $60k per year on the card, you will earn right around 1.5 SkyMiles per dollar
• MQMs with Delta are valuable particularly because any earned beyond a status level MQMs roll over to the following year
• This year, Delta offered a third MQM bonus spend threshold - another 15k MQMs after $90k annual spend
• Companion Certificate - main cabin or first class companion certificate each year on card renewal
• Upgrade tiebreaker - Cardmembership is one of the factors in determining the upgrade list on each flight, so holding this card slightly improves one's chances of first class upgrade on domestic flights.  Specifically, the Reserve card is the upgrade tiebreaker when two passengers have the same Medallion status and booked in same fare class.

Other Card Benefits

• 24/7 Concierge
• 20% off in-flight Delta purchases paid with the card
• First checked bag free on every flight
• Priority boarding (Zone 1) on Delta flights
• Purchase protection, baggage protection, Global Assist hotline, premium roadside assistance, car rental loss and damage insurance, extended warranty - typical benefit suite for many higher-end credit cards

Toronto/Chicago/Detroit to Europe - Sampling of sub-$500 round trip fares

This post is a compilation of good airfare prices from airports within a 5 hour drive of Grand Rapids MI:  Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Detroit (DTW), Toronto (YYZ), Pittsburgh (PIT), Cleveland (CLE).

This post shows how plentiful that sub-$500 roundtrip airfares to Europe are, at various times of the year.

European cities with sub-$500 fares include:

• Munich (MUC)
• Dublin (DUB)
• Frankfurt (FRA)
• London Heathrow (LHR)
• Amsterdam (AMS)
• Lisbon (LIS)
• Porto (OPO)
• Faro (FAO)
• Barcelona (BCN)
• Madrid (MAD)
• Rome (FCO)
• Milan (MXP)
• Reykjavik (KEF)
• Oslo (OSL)
• Paris (CDG)
• Cork, Ireland (ORK)

None of these current airfares are part of any advertised 'sale.'  Prices are just very competitive to Europe and these are just examples.

Portugal:  TAP Portugal is a Portuguese airline that flies nonstop from Toronto (YYZ) to Lisbon (LIS) and 1-stop to Porto (OPO) and Faro (FAO).  TAP has very good prices to Portugal for many different times of year.

Iceland:  Air Canada and Delta are offering very cheap fares to Reykjavik (KEF), in apparent response to WOW Air and Icelandair offering consistently cheap fares to KEF from DTW/ORD/PIT.

Fall 2018:  Sun Oct 7 - Mon Oct 15.  Detroit to Barcelona $445+  1-stop
Star Alliance airlines (United, Lufthansa, Air Canada, etc) (also $328 roundtrip Chicago to BCN on WOW Air)

Late Fall 2018:  Sun Nov 11 - Tues Nov 20.  Various cities < $450
Many of the cheapest flights here are on Icelandair or WOW Air, with 1-stop connections in KEF.

• ORD-DUB $309 (WOW Air) $373 (Icelandair)
• ORD-AMS $380 (WOW Air)
• YYZ-AMS $406 (WOWAir)
• ORD-MUC $407 (Icelandair) 
• ORD-LHR $424 (Icelandair)
• DTW-BCN $448 (Air Canada) $472 (Lufthansa)
• DTW-DUB $450 (United) $480 (Lufthansa)
• YYZ-CDG $406 (WOW Air) $411 (Icelandair)

Late Fall 2018:  Tues Nov 13 - Weds Nov 21.  Various cities < $450

• ORD-CPH $332 (Icelandair) $439 (Swiss) $444 (United/Lufthansa) $453 (Austrian)
• ORD-OSL $349 (Icelandair)
• YYZ-AMS $383 (WOW Air)
• ORD-HEL $357 (Icelandair)
• ORD-AMS $361 (Icelandair)

Year-end Fri Dec 7 - Sun Dec 16.  $356-$400 various cities
YYZ-KEF $356 (Icelandair) nonstop $472 (Delta) 1-stop
DTW-KEF $360 (WOW Air) nonstop

PIT-KEF $399 (Delta) 1-stop

ORD-CPH $412 (Icelandair) $466 (Swiss) $471 (Lufthansa)

ORD-LHR $420 (Icelandair)

Spring Break 2019:  Sat Mar 30 - Sun Apr 7. Nonstop Toronto to Lisbon $502. 1-stop Porto $501
A couple of flights from Detroit in the $550 range sprinkled in here also

School's out 2019:  Fri May 31 - Mon Jun 10.  Toronto to Faro or Porto $448 1-stop
Also $490 nonstop to Porto

Summer 2019 Portugal:  Mon Jun 3 - Tues Jun 11.  Toronto to Porto $418 nonstop, Faro/Porto $443 1-stop

Summer 2019 Iceland  Sun Jun 9 - Sat Jun 22.  $311+ round trip to KEF.

Summer Milan/Rome/Paris/Barcelona Fri Jun 7 - Sun Jun 16 $510-539

Last Call - 70,000 Delta SkyMiles for $195

This offer expires on May 16, 2018.

The offer is still available via referral, but only thru 5/16/2018.  (The public offer has expired.)

Here is my referral link for the personal version of the Delta Amex Platinum card:  http://refer.amex.us/JASONWoAVH?XLINK=MYCP

Delta Amex Platinum personal & business - 70,000 SkyMiles + $100 statement credit

• 70,000 Delta SkyMiles + 10,000 MQMs (elite status miles) after $3K spend in first 3 months
• $100 statement credit after Delta purchase in first 3 months
• $195 annual fee NOT waived in first year
• 10k bonus miles and 10k bonus MQMs (towards elite status) after $25k spend and + second 10k bonus miles and 10k MQMs after $50k spend per calendar year
• Free domestic economy companion certificate after first year.  (Yes, this certificate really works.  Once it is in your SkyMiles account, you can use it regardless of whether your Delta Amex Platinum credit card account is open.)
• Priority boarding and free checked bags.
• Offer expires 5/16/2018
• TIP:  *Any* spend with Delta, such as a $2 headphone or $8 snack box during a flight, should trigger the entire statement credit; you do not need to spend $100 to get the $100 credit
• The personal and business version are two cards with the same signup bonus and benefits.  A person can hold both cards at the same time
• More info here:  http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/2018/03/01/four-new-offers-70k-60k-skymiles  (note that these offers expired in April, unless you apply via a referral link from someone.)

[DEAL GONE] Earn 60 Miles per Dollar Spent on Flowers

This deal has expired

If you don't mind ordering flowers from a big national website - FTD, in this case - this is a great deal.

How to Get the Deal

1. If you don't already have a Delta SkyMiles account, sign up and create one at www.delta.com
2. Register for Delta's promotion to earn 100% bonus with any new provider (from whom you did NOT earn miles in 2017) for any transactions between March 20 and May 31, 2018.  LINK HERE
3. Go to Delta's SkyMiles Shopping site and log in (provide your SkyMiles number or email address; no password needed).  LINK HERE
4. Search for "FTD" to find the link to the FTD website.  LINK HERE
5. Click the SHOP NOW button to be redirected to the FTD.com website.  The banner at the top will confirm you are earning 30 SkyMiles per dollar.  (The extra 30 SkyMiles per dollar is a bonus payout from the promotion you registered for, so it will not say 60 SkyMiles per dollar on the FTD site.)

How Good is the Deal?

Very good.  This is the highest miles earning rate for flowers I've seen in several years. 

15-30 miles per dollar is common on flowers when ordered online thru the appropriate airline shopping portal website.  All of the major domestic airlines offer these deals with FTD or 1-800-FLOWERS or other large flower companies.

This particular deal is 30 Delta SkyMiles per dollar spent from FTD.com.  The deal gets doubly good if you did not earn Delta SkyMiles from FTD.com at all during 2017.

Background Information

Frequent Miler, one of my favorite miles and points blogs, has a good article on this deal - LINK HERE


Miles are NOT earned on shipping, handling, and fees - so you earn 60 miles per dollar on the product(s) you order, but not 60 miles per dollar on every dollar you spend on the order

Credit Card Bonus Offers Worth Signup Now

This is a roundup of several worthwhile credit card signup offers as of March 2018

Several credit cards are currently offering higher-than-usual signup bonuses.  For all cards, to get the signup bonus the cardholder must spend a certain amount within the first few months of holding the card.

These cards are offering bonus amounts at or near their respective highest signup bonus and therefore now is a good time to jump on any of these cards.  At one time or another, I've held all of these cards and personally recommend all of them as solid cards, especially with these increased signup bonuses.

• Citi ThankYou Premier - 50,000 ThankYou points
• Chase Sapphire Preferred - 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points
• SPG Amex Business - 35,000 Starpoints
• Delta Amex Platinum personal and business - 70,000 SkyMiles + $100 statement credit
• Delta Amex Gold personal and business - 60,000 SkyMiles + $50 statement credit
• Mercedes-Benz Amex Platinum - 60,000 Membership Rewards points

Citi ThankYou Premier - 50,000 ThankYou points

• 50,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 spend in first 3 months
• Annual fee $0 first year, $95 per year thereafter
• Earn 3X travel and gas - this is HUGE to get 3 points per dollar on travel and gasoline
• Earn 2X dining and entertainment
• Earn 1x everywhere else
• This is one of the best travel credit cards because of the great bonus categories and travel-related benefits for spending and the flexibility of Citi ThankYou points
• This card had a 50k signup bonus a couple years ago, but then it dropped to 40k and for many months the card had ZERO signup bonus because of its popularity
• More info here:  http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/2018/02/25/50k-points-w-citi-thankyou-premier-back

Chase Sapphire Preferred - 60,000 + 5,000 Ultimate Rewards points

• 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $4,000 spend in first 3 months
• $95 annual fee NOT waived the first year
• Earn 2x on travel and dining
• Earn 1x everywhere else
• Similar to the Citi ThankYou Premier - great all-around points-earning card with excellent travel-related benefits, but not as strong for bonus category earning
• If you do not want to pay the annual fee, use my referral link for 55k points total signup bonus with no annual fee first year.  50k points signup bonus with $4k spend in first 3 months.  Additional 5k points when adding an authorized user (free) and making 1 purchase with AU card in first 3 months  https://www.referyourchasecard.com/6/1LVJ1ZR9X6
• More info here:  http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/2018/02/26/65k-ultimate-rewards-w-new-sapphire-preferred-signup-bonus

UPDATE:  Chase has a targeted offer of 60,000 point signup bonus with $0 annual fee in 1st year.  Check your pre-qualified offers to see if you are targeted for this better-than-the-public offer https://creditcards.chase.com/prequalified-offers

SPG Amex Business - 35,000 points

• Offer ends 3/28/2018
• Spend $7,000 in purchases within first 3 months
• Annual fee $0 first year, $95 per year thereafter
• Starwood (their loyalty program is SPG, or Starwood Preferred Guest) was bought by Marriott, so the SPG-branded Amex credit cards will no longer be offered at some point in the not-too-distant future, so this is probably the last chance to get this card with what is tied for the highest every signup bonus.
• Starpoints are considered the most valuable of all travel points programs anywhere.  Points can be used for Starwood hotel group (Westin, Sheraton, etc) properties and also transferred into most airline mile programs at 20k Starpoints to 25k airline miles
• Earn 2x Starpoints on eligible purchases at SPG and Marriott properties
• Earn 1x Starpoints everywhere else
• Get credit for 2 stays and 5 nights toward elite status
• Sheraton Club Lounge Access when staying at Sheraton properties with a club lounge
• More info here:  http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/2018/03/01/new-35k-starpoints-offer

Delta Amex Platinum personal & business - 70,000 SkyMiles + $100 statement credit

• The personal and business version are two different cards with the same signup bonus and benefits.  A person can hold both cards at the same time
• 70,000 Delta SkyMiles + 10K MQMs (elite status miles) after $3K spend in first 3 months
• $100 statement credit after Delta purchase in first 3 months
• $195 annual fee NOT waived in first year
• 10K bonus miles and MQMs (towards elite status) after $25K spend and + second 10K bonus miles and MQMs after $50K spend per calendar year
• Free domestic economy companion certificate after first year.  (Yes, this certificate really works.  Once it is in your SkyMiles account, you can use it regardless of whether your Delta Amex Platinum credit card account is open.)
• Priority boarding and free checked bags.
• Offer expires 4/11/2018
• TIP:  *Any* spend with Delta, such as a $2 headphone or $8 snack box during a flight, should trigger the entire statement credit; you do not need to spend $100 to get the $100 credit
• The personal and business version are two cards with the same signup bonus and benefits.  A person can hold both cards at the same time
• Referral link:  Please consider applying via my friend's referral link.  The signup bonus is the same, and Nick will earn 10k SkyMiles when you are approved.  http://refer.amex.us/NICHOBlQdJ?XL=tw39
• More info here:  http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/2018/03/01/four-new-offers-70k-60k-skymiles

Delta Amex Gold personal & business - 60,000 SkyMiles + $50 statement credit

• The personal and business version are two different cards with the same signup bonus and benefits.  A person can hold both cards at the same time
• 50,000 Delta SkyMiles after $2,000 in purchases in first 3 months
• 10,000 Delta SkyMiles after $1,000 more in purchases in first 6 months
• $50 statement credit after making a Delta purchase in first 3 months
• Annual fee:  $0 first year, $95 per year thereafter
• TIP:  *Any* spend with Delta, such as a $2 headphone or $8 snack box during a flight, should trigger the entire statement credit; you do not need to spend $50 to get the $50 credit
• More info here:  http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/2018/03/01/four-new-offers-70k-60k-skymiles

Mercedes-Benz Amex Platinum - 60,000 Membership Rewards points

• 60,000 Membership Rewards points after $5,000 spend in first 3 months
• This card is being discontinued Jan 2019, so time is running out on signing up for it
• Annual fee $550.  Very steep annual fee but may still be worthwhile for some folks because of the strong travel benefits
• $200 travel incidental credit - get automatic statement credit for bag fees and other in-flight purchases.  Airline gift cards work as well, if you know what you're doing
• $200 annual Uber credits ($15 per month + $35 in December)
• Includes automatic Hilton Gold status, SPG Gold status, National Executive status
• This card is a good pick for people who can make use of the free airline lounge access - 1) Amex Centurion Club lounges (only a handful of locations in the U.S. but VERY plush lounges) 2) flying Delta same-day for Delta SkyClub lounge access 3) Priority Pass Select program
• $100 Global Entry credit (application fee reimbursed via statement credit)
• TIP:  Add 3 authorized users for $175 total.  All 3 users each get $100 Global Entry credit and lounge access.  Just use the card to pay for any person's (does not need to be the cardholder) Global Entry application fee and receive $100 statement credit.
• This Mercedes-Benz version of the Amex Platinum card is one of several different Amex Platinum personal cards.  Each is a separate product, so you can get the signup bonus on the Mercedes version even if you have had the 'regular' Amex Platinum or other versions of the Amex Platinum such as the Schwab Amex Platinum
• More info here:  http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/2018/03/02/mercedes-benz-platinum-discontinued-get-60k-can/

DISCLAIMER:  Know the rules of the game!

If you have signed up for new credit cards in the past couple years, make sure you understand the rules of each card issuer.  Examples:

• Citi will not give you the signup bonus if you have opened or closed a card within a card family within the past 24 months. This means that if you have opened or closed this card or the Citi ThankYou Preferred or Citi Prestige card within the past 24 months, you are not eligible for the signup bonus.
• Chase will reject all applications for most of their cards, including the Sapphire Preferred mentioned in this blog post, if their data shows that you've signed up for more than 4 new credit cards - from ANY credit card company - in the past 24 months

[Expired] Mainland US to Hawaii from $296 Round Trip

This fare sale has expired

no time to get into all the details, but search from your desired departure cities.  Many large cities - particularly Delta hubs such as Detroit, Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Salt Lake City - have the best fares.

Most of the sale flights are to Honolulu (HNL) but some good fares also seem to be available to other airports in Hawaii including OGG and LIH.

Spring break (first week in April) and summe are EXCLUDED from this sale.

FYI - Toronto (YYZ) has sub-$500 Hawaii flights almost all the time, so check there if you are within reasonable driving distance.

MSP and SLC are cheapest, from $296.  DTW from $515.  Delta fares are basic economy, so add $70 if you want to get an advance seat selection, upgrade eligible, etc.  American's fare is a standard economy.

From GRR, could possibly book separate flights to and from MSP and combine with the $300-310 round trip fares.  Or drive to Detroit.

American, United, and Delta are all participating in this fare war.

Deal popped up earlier today and could expire at any moment.

Advice
Recommend booking flights right away - *even if you are not sure you can go.*  Get the ticket booked and take the 24 hours afterward to figure out if you can keep the reservation or if you need to cancel.

Background articles
Note that prices are cheaper than stated from certain cities mentioned in these articles.

http://faredealalert.com/2018/02/08/united-starting-318-las-vegas-orlando-kansas-city-maui-kona-honolulu-kauai-hawaii-and-vice-versa-roundtrip-including-all-taxes/

http://www.secretflying.com/posts/many-us-cities-hawaii-vice-versa-395-roundtrip/

Sample Searches
April 4 - 16 DTW from $515

May 9 - 17 MSP from $306

[Expired] Widespread Fare Sale US to Europe $450+ Most US Airports to Rome, Milan, Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, Brussels etc.

This fare sale has expired

Big fare sale, apparently started by Delta and matched by United.

Dates:

• Now thru May
• Mid-September thru early December

7-day stay required.  Must book 28 days in advance.

Big airports around the US, including Detroit (DTW) and Chicago O'Hare (ORD) are showing the cheap fares.

So are small airports in Michigan, all showing sub-$500 roundtrips to various European cities.  Includes flights from:

• Grand Rapids (GRR)
• Lansing (LAN)
• Traverse City (TVC)
• Muskegon (MKG)
• Flint (FNT)
• Kalamazoo (AZO)

Destination Cities Available Include:

• Rome (FCO)
• Milan (MXP)
• Paris (CDG)
• Amsterdam (AMS)
• Munich (MUC)
• Brussels (BRU)
• Frankfurt (FRA)
• Dusseldorf (DUS)
• Berlin (TXL)
• Marseille (MRS)
• Zurich (ZRH)
• Geneva (GVA)
• Prague (PRG)
• Krakow (KRK)
• Warsaw (WAW)
• Bucharest (OTP)
• Zagreb (ZAG)
• Barcelona (BCN)
• Madrid (MAD)
• Valencia (VLC)
• Bilbao (BIO)
• Lisbon (LIS)
• Porto (OPO)
• Possibly others

More details here:  https://www.theflightdeal.com/2018/02/05/united-starting-507-united-states-amsterdam-milan-rome-paris-roundtrip-including-all-taxes/

Sample Dates with Cheap Flights:

• Fri Oct 12 - Sat Oct 20.  From GRR/LAN/TVC/FNT/MKG from $453.  Google Flights
• Weds Nov 21 - Sat Dec 1 (Thanksgiving is Nov 22).  From $451.  Google Flights
• Mon Mar 12 - Tues Mar 20.  From $451.  Google Flights
• Fri Mar 30 - Mon Apr 9.  From $503.  (Spring break week).  Google Flights
• Sun Apr 1 - Mon Apr 9.  From $458.  From Detroit.  Google Flights

Google Flights "Explore" View from October showing available prices from GRR

1 year Delta Sky Club access + 40k SkyMiles + 10k MQMs for $450

American Express is again offering 40,000 Delta SkyMiles plus 10,000 MQMs on the Amex Delta Reserve personal and business credit cards.  Requires $3,000 spend within first 3 months.

Below is my referral URL for the Business version of the Amex Delta Reserve Card.

http://refer.amex.us/JASONWHjUT


If you apply, I'd appreciate you using my referral link as I'll earn some free SkyMiles.  The offer via referral is the same as the publicly available offer, so you don't lose anything by using the link.  Referral offer on business version of the card ends on 1/31/2018.

Card also provides free Delta Sky Club access for cardholder when traveling on same-day Delta flight.

Although this offer has been around a few months, it is the first time so many SkyMiles  are included in the sign-up bonus for the Reserve cards.  Typically the bonus has been 10k SkyMiles, or as low as 5k SkyMiles, plus the 10k Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs, aka elite status qualifying miles).

The business version of the card is great because most business credit cards do NOT hit your personal credit report or affect your credit inquiries or credit score.  Anyone can apply for a business credit card; you do NOT need an incorporated business or a company Tax ID number to be approved for a business credit card.  All you need is a legitimate small business or side business with a history of decent amount of revenue and a good amount of expected expenses.

Annual fee on this card is $450, which is steep, but still cheaper than buying a Sky Club membership separately.  Delta Diamond members can choose free individual Sky Club membership (costs one of the member's three Choice Benefits) or an executive Sky Club membership (costs two Choice Benefits).  Diamond elites who have complimentary Sky Club access via credit card such as the Reserve personal or business card, also can choose a Delta Sky Club Guest Pass.  This costs one Choice Benefit and allows two guests to join the member in the Sky Club free.  This is a smarter way to go; get individual SkyClub access by paying $450 annual fee for the Reserve card, and in exchange you free up an additional Choice Benefit instead of using TWO Choice Benefits for the Executive Membership.

Personally, I'd rather choose the 4 global or 8 regional upgrade certificates, or gift Gold status to another person (or use all 3 Choice benefits to gift Gold status to 3 people), and pay for the Sky Club via the Reserve card annual fee instead rather than waste a Diamond Choice Benefit on Sky Club membership.

Basics

• Earn 40,000 Delta SkyMiles and 10,000 MQMs after $3,000 spend within first 3 months of card membership
• Must apply via referral link by April 24, 2019 to be eligible for sign-up bonus
• Earn 1 SkyMile per dollar on all purchases.  Earn 2x per dollar on Delta spending (in-flight purchases, airfare, etc)
• Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product before
• $450 annual fee

How Good is This Deal?

• Excellent...for $450, signing up for this card is an absolute no-brainer.
• 40k SkyMiles can be used for:
• Award flights (get $500-700 value depending on what/when you book); OR
• Revenue flights - cardholders receive the ability to use miles at 1 cent per mile toward paid/revenue flights - Delta calls this feature "Pay With Miles."  The 40k bonus miles are worth $400 toward paid Delta travel - this basically offsets the $450 annual fee in first year
• SkyClub individual membership alone is well worth the annual fee for the card.  Also provides a discounted rate for up to 2 guests per visit
• 10k Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) after meeting the minimum initial spend
• Earn up to 30k additional MQMs and 30k additional SkyMiles per year - Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and 15,000 bonus SkyMiles after $30,000 spend on the card in a calendar year. Earn an additional 15,000 MQMs and an additional 15,000 bonus SkyMiles after $60,000 spend on the card in a calendar year.  So it is possible to earn 40k MQMs in the first year holding this card.
• If you spend right around $30k or $60k per year on the card, you will earn right around 1.5 SkyMiles per dollar
• MQMs with Delta are valuable particularly because any earned beyond a status level MQMs roll over to the following year
• Companion Certificate - main cabin or first class companion certificate each year on card renewal
• Upgrade tiebreaker - Cardmembership is one of the factors in determining the upgrade list on each flight, so holding this card slightly improves one's chances of first class upgrade on domestic flights.  Specifically, the Reserve card is the upgrade tiebreaker when two passengers have the same Medallion status and booked in same fare class.

Other Card Benefits

• 24/7 Concierge
• 20% off in-flight Delta purchases paid with the card
• First checked bag free on every flight
• Priority boarding (Zone 1) on Delta flights
• Purchase protection, baggage protection, Global Assist hotline, premium roadside assistance, car rental loss and damage insurance, extended warranty - typical benefit suite for many higher-end credit cards

Roundtrip U.S. to Beijing - Delta Premium Economy $600+ RT Feb-Apr 2018 21k MQMs

Great mileage run for elite qualifying miles with Delta.

Earn 21,239 Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) from Chicago.

1-stop and 2-stop flights to Beijing (PEK) via Detroit (DTW).  Other routings also available for more $$, via Seattle (SEA) or other cities.

Best fares available March thru mid-April 2018.  Some February fares slightly more expensive.

• O'Hare (ORD) or Midway (MDW) as low as $653 round trip
• Boston from $615
• Other cities also available for similar pricing - e.g. Rochester NY (ROC) $671+
• Columbus (CMH) and Indianapolis (IND) both < $800
• Cleveland (CLE) $875+

Search on Google Flights.  www.google.com/flights

These flights all route thru Detroit to Beijing (PEK).  Most of them are on Delta's new Airbus A350, so you are getting a seat in Delta's new "Premium Select" cabin which is available so far only on their A350.  This is a better experience and seat than Delta's typical Comfort+ cabin on other long-haul aircraft such as the A330, B767, etc.

The connecting flights within the U.S. will mostly be booked into first class with this deal as well, but keep an eye out to be sure.

Sample Searches
CMH/IND March 8-12 from $758.  LINK
ROC April 5-9 from $671.  LINK
ORD/MDW April 5-9 from $658.  LINK
BOS March 18-26 from $665.  LINK

Great for Earning Toward Delta Elite Status

• This fare earns 20,000+ Delta Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs).  From ORD, 21,239 MQMs.  For $650-800 that's a GREAT return, especially considering it's not in the economy cabin.  Note the MQD earnings aren't great because it's 1 MQD per $1 of base fare for Delta flights.  However...
• Anyone can still waive the MQD requirement for 2019 Silver, Gold, or Platinum status with $25k credit card spend during calendar year 2018
• 21k MQMs is most of what you need for Silver (25k).  It also can push someone most of the way from Silver (25k) to Gold (50k), or Gold (50k) to Platinum (75k)
• 21,239 MQM for $653 is 3.1 cents per elite qualifying mile - a GREAT deal especially considering the deal is in premium economy, not regular economy

Michigan to Hawaii $650+ Roundtrip Jan-May 2018

Michigan airports other than Detroit have cheap flights to Hawaii airports from $650 and up roundtrip.

Search on Google Flights.  First week of April - traditional spring break - is excluded from the fare sale.

• Cheap fare found from:  Grand Rapids (GRR), (Lansing) LAN, Traverse City (TVC), Flint (FNT), Kalamazoo (AZO)
• Cheap fares found to:  Honolulu (HNL), Kahului (OGG), Kona (KOA), Lihue (LIH)
• Some 1-stop flights from GRR via Denver on United
• Toronto to Hawaii flights as low as $424 roundtrip!  As is usually the case, Toronto (YYZ) flights are much cheaper than flights from Michigan

Very good price for Hawaii flights from Michigan!

Background Articles

Originally, this deal was from Detroit for lower price, but the Detroit fares are gone.  

http://faredealalert.com/2017/12/29/united-537-atlanta-kauai-hawaii-and-vice-versa-roundtrip-including-all-taxes/

Sample search - Jan 19-29.  DTW from $598, GRR from $678.  Book flights with confidence | Google Flights

Sample search - Feb 1-12.  DTW from $569, GRR from $650.  Book flights with confidence | Google Flights

Sample search - May 3-11 $670 and up. GRR/LAN/AZO/FNT/TVC Book flights with confidence | Google Flights

[DEAL GONE] Elite Status Mileage Run - U.S. to Lima Peru Business Class $513+ RT

{This airfare sale has expired.]

*UPDATE.  Fares as low as $513 round trip.  Original post was for $659 RT from LAX.  Other cities are even cheaper.  Chicago to Lima is under $600 RT.*

Prime example of an airfare that's a great way to earn toward elite status with Delta.

This airfare earns way more elite qualifying miles (MQMs) and elite qulaifying dollars (MQDs) with Delta than people realize is possible for $659

Aeromexico, along with Delta a SkyTeam member, has $659 round trip business class flights in 2018 from LAX to Lima Peru (LIM).

Also available is JFK or Orlando (MCO) to Santiago Chile from $1,012 on Aeromexico (1-stop via MEX) - with a chance to book the 787 with lie-flat business class seats.  12,350 mile roundtrip from JFK = almost 24,700 MQMs and 24,700 Sky Miles, and 4,940 MQDs

Basics

• 8,365 flown miles (Great Circle Mapper DETAILS - LAX-MEX-LIM)
• 16,730 elite qualifying miles (200% MQMs for this business class fare)
• $3,346 elite qualifying dollars (MQDs) - based on this fare class earning MQDs of 40% of the miles flown.  0.4 x 8,365 flight miles = 3,346

How Good is This Deal?

• Very good...
• Earning $3,200 MQDs for a $659 flight is excellent.  Partner flights earn MQDs based on a percentage of miles flown.  Delta's own flights (or Delta-marketed partner flights) earn 1 MQD per mile flown, but only on the main fare - not on the taxes & fees part.  If this was a Delta flight, you'd earn maybe $500-550 MQD.

Background Articles

http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2017/12/15/amazing-fare-business-class-roundtrip-la-lima-peru-just-659/

https://www.theflightdeal.com/2017/12/15/business-class-aeromexico-1012-new-york-santiago-chile-roundtrip-including-all-taxes/

http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2017/12/15/fare-alert-1091-business-class-roundtrip-new-york-santiago-chile/

Amex Delta Reserve Business (and Personal) Card - 40k SkyMiles + 10k MQM Sign-up Bonus

American Express is offering a 40,000 Delta SkyMile plus 10,000 MQMs for the Amex Delta Reserve personal or business credit card.  Requires $3,000 spend within first 3 months.

Card also provides free Delta SkyClub access for cardholder when traveling on same-day Delta flight and 

Although this offer has been around a few months, it is the first time so many SkyMiles  are included in the sign-up bonus for the Reserve cards.  Typically the bonus has been 10k SkyMiles, or as low as 5k SkyMiles, plus the 10k Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs, aka elite status qualifying miles).

Below is my referral URL for the Business version of the Amex Delta Reserve Card.

http://refer.amex.us/JASONWHjUT

If you apply, I'd appreciate you using my referral link as I'll earn some free SkyMiles.  The offer via referral is the same as the publicly available offer, so you don't lose anything by using the link.

The business version of the card is great because most business credit cards do NOT hit your personal credit report or affect your credit inquiries or credit score.  Anyone can apply for a business credit card; you do NOT need an incorporated business or a company Tax ID number to be approved for a business credit card.  All you need is a legitimate small business or side business with a history of decent amount of revenue and a good amount of expected expenses.

Annual fee on this card is $450, which is steep, but still cheaper than buying a Sky Club membership separately.  Delta Diamond members can choose free individual Sky Club membership (costs one of the member's three Choice Benefits) or an executive Sky Club membership (costs two Choice Benefits).  Diamond elites who have complimentary Sky Club access via credit card such as the Reserve personal or business card, also can choose a Delta Sky Club Guest Pass.  This costs one Choice Benefit and allows two guests to join the member in the Sky Club free.  This is a smarter way to go; pay $450 annual fee for the card, and in exchange you free up an additional Choice Benefit instead of using TWO Choice Benefits for the Executive Membership.

Personally, I'd rather choose the 4 global or 8 regional upgrade certificates, or gift Gold status to another person (or use all 3 Choice benefits to gift Gold status to 3 people), and pay for the Sky Club via the Reserve card annual fee instead rather than waste a Diamond Choice Benefit on Sky Club membership.

Basics

• Earn 40,000 Delta SkyMiles and 10,000 MQMs after $3,000 spend within first 3 months of card membership
• Must apply via referral link by April 24, 2019 to be eligible for sign-up bonus
• Earn 1 SkyMile per dollar on all purchases.  Earn 2x per dollar on Delta spending (in-flight purchases, airfare, etc)
• Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product before
• $450 annual fee

How Good is This Deal?

• Very good...
• 40k SkyMiles can be used for:
• Award flights (get $500-700 value depending on what/when you book); OR
• Revenue flights - cardholders receive the ability to use miles at 1 cent per mile toward paid/revenue flights - Delta calls this feature "Pay With Miles."  Bonus miles are worth $400 toward paid Delta travel - this basically offsets the annual fee in first year
• SkyClub individual membership alone is well worth the annual fee for the card.  Discounted rate for up to 2 guests per visit
• Earn up to 30k additional MQMs per year - Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and 15,000 bonus SkyMiles after $30,000 spend on the card in a calendar year. Earn an additional 15,000 MQMs and an additional 15,000 bonus SkyMiles after $60,000 spend on the card in a calendar year.  So it is possible to earn 40k MQMs in the first year holding this card.
• If you spend right around $30k or $60k per year on the card, you will earn right around 1.5 SkyMiles per dollar
• MQMs with Delta are valuable particularly because any earned beyond a status level MQMs roll over to the following year
• Companion Certificate - main cabin or first class companion certificate each year on card renewal
• Cardmembership is one of the factors in determining the upgrade list on each flight, so holding this card slightly improves one's chances of first class upgrade on domestic flights.  Specifically, the Reserve card is the upgrade tiebreaker when two passengers have same Medallion status and booked in same fare class.

Other Card Benefits

• 24/7 Concierge
• 20% off in-flight Delta purchases paid with the card
• First checked bag free on every flight
• Priority boarding (Zone 1) on Delta flights
• Purchase protection, baggage protection, Global Assist hotline, premium roadside assistance, car rental loss and damage insurance, extended warranty - typical benefit suite for many higher-end credit cards