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Delta SkyMiles aren’t just for flights — you can also redeem them for vacation packages, bundling flights, hotels, and rental cars through Delta Vacations. But is this a good use of your miles? Before you book your next getaway, here’s what you need to know about redeeming SkyMiles for Delta Vacations and whether it’s worth it.
What is Delta Vacations?
Delta Vacations allows you to reserve combinations of (1) flights, (2) hotels, and (3) rental cars from a single portal. You can log in to the portal using your Delta SkyMiles account and password:
Below the main search screen, there is typically a “Top Deals” section in which you can find good deals if you do not have a specific place in mind but want to travel. Also, there is a section for “Recommended Hotels & Resorts” where you can find excellent options for your stay.
Some of the key items for Delta Vacations are spelled out in a very straightforward graphic below:
- One place search: Book your travel itinerary in one portal rather than going to multiple places to sign up for your travel.
- Earn More: Members now earn more SkyMiles and qualifying activity toward Delta Medallion status, as long as flights are included with the vacation package. Once again, this helps SkyMiles members get to their subsequent travel redemption even quicker.
- Travel LifeCycle: Delta Vacations allows you to make most itinerary changes free of charge when your travel is more than 31 days from departure. It also provides two options for travel insurance to protect your trip if something goes wrong.
- Better Booking Experience: Delta Vacations provides many recommendations and will support you throughout the booking and travel experience.
Related: The Top 8 Reasons Why It's Worth Remaining Loyal to Delta Air Lines
Delta Vacations Booking Process
Like flight searches on other platforms, Delta SkyMiles members enter details about their prospective trip to start a search. The example below explores a journey from Chicago to Houston for a five-night stay:
Once submitted, search results populate quickly. For the Flight + Hotel package option, members choose their hotel first.
Below are just two of the many hotel options for the Delta Vacation package.
Results populate with per-person pricing, showing both cash and miles pricing. A toggle at the top right of the page switches pricing between the two:
Both options imply a redemption value of 1.15 cents per SkyMiles — a surprisingly high redemption rate considering Delta SkyMiles typically aren't redeemed for much higher rate for flights.
You can also sort and filter to find specific locations, amenities, and even hotel ratings for the hotels you would like to stay at.
The next step of the booking process requires members to choose their flights. The “baseline” option shows up as “+ $0” to indicate it does not add to the total trip cost. Any other flights increase the price of the trip per person:
Once you have completed your flight information, you will be given optional upgrades such as a rental car and experiences, if available:
Once all travel components are set, travelers have a chance to review the trip summary before completing the booking:
Delta Vacations' booking process offers an efficient and seamless experience regardless of personal preference.
Bottom Line
In addition to using Delta SkyMiles for flights, you can also use them for the rest of your travel itinerary! Delta Vacations provides a solid process for covering your flights, hotels, and car rentals in one easy-to-use website. Delta SkyMiles members earn SkyMiles and qualifying activity toward Delta Medallion status when booking through a modern booking platform.
However, members should look closely before making such a redemption. AwardWallet users redeem Delta Skymiles at 1.34¢ on average, so a redemption of just 1.15 cents per mile does leave some value on the table. If you have many SkyMiles, are trying to spend your way to Delta status, or want to keep all your travel plans in one place, this may be for you! Will you book your next vacation using Delta Vacations?
Related: 7 Best Ways to Use Delta SkyMiles
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