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WOW time flies by. I am thrilled this idea of a “Rookie Wednesday” has been both helpful and a nice way to break down some Delta and travel topics that are sometimes a bit hard to grasp. But this week, I thought, I would break down what has been covered so far and ask for some input on topics you would like to see next.
1 – What is a mileage run – HERE
2 – Understanding MQM’s & MQS’s – HERE
3 – Gettting Skymiles from everywhere – HERE
4 – Understanding FF short terms – HERE
5 – How to Bump on Delta – HERE
6 – Finding low level award seats – HERE
7 – Understanding upgrade – HERE
8 – How to get Delta to help you – HERE
9 – Are you lazy when it comes to points? – HERE
10 – Top 10 year end Q&A about Delta – HERE
11 – How to build a Delta mileage run – HERE
12 – Use @DeltaAssist without a smart phone – HERE
13 – What counts as “official” spend on a Delta card – HERE
14 – Join e-Rewards to earn more points – HERE
15 – Use Hawaiian miles to fly Delta – HERE
16 – Pay with Miles on Delta – HERE
17 – What rules will a Delta agent break for you? – HERE
18 – Understanding Delta routes – HERE
19 – Delta Q&A about Delta you may not know – HERE
20 – All about lounge access – HERE
21 – How to get more upgrades – HERE
22 – All about Skybonus the extra points program at Delta – HERE
23 – When to go for Delta Status match – HERE
24 – How to transfer points to Delta from another program – HERE
25 – Who can get an upgrade from Delta – HERE
26 – Never book a ticket on Delta.com – HERE
27 – How to use BlueBird to get extra Skymiles – HERE
28 – Tips before you get a new passport – HERE
29 – One last tip for the upgrade mix – HERE
30 – Use e-Miles to score extra points – HERE
31 – Ways to use Ultimate Rewards points – HERE
32 – What are elite “Choice Benefits”? – HERE
33 – Why you SHOULD fly Delta Air Lines! – HERE
34 – The basics about “CrossoverRewards” is – HERE
35 – Can a 1 year old earn Skymiles? Or an infant is – HERE
36 – So many ways to AVOID bag fee’s on Delta is – HERE
37 – Earn extra MQMs on your flights is – HERE
38 – Is it smart to BUY, GIFT or TRANSFER Skymiles is – HERE
39 – All the ways to earn elite Delta MQMs is – HERE
40 – Is a “family friendly” mileage run possible is – HERE
41 – What if Delta “Kills” my luggage is – HERE
42 – 6,5,3 & 1 – Days you should watch your seats like a HAWK is – HERE
43 – Things you “should have” done before Delta travel is – HERE
44 – Should you go for a higher Medallion level is – HERE
45 – Who can use the “short line” & board a jet 1st is – HERE
46 – Lot’s of Q&A about Delta elite status is – HERE
47 – Just what is this LINKING of a reservation all about is – HERE
48 – The best ways to contact Delta Air Lines is – HERE
49 – What does Delta OWE you for a weather issue is – HERE
50 – The logic of a Mileage run. Is it worth taking the trip is – HERE
51 – How to use ITA Matrix a 101 class to search for Delta flights is – HERE
52 – What is RSS & all the ways to follow RenésPoints blog is – HERE
53 – What’s an ETV & the different Delta vouchers you can get is – HERE
54 – Who can upgrade on Delta & what routes is – HERE
55 – If you have rookie Q&A you should look – HERE
56 – Preparing for & understanding Delta MQDs – HERE
57 – The importance of keeping your Delta info up to date – HERE
58 – Opportunity cost and the true value of points – HERE
59 – The things you should check 7 days before you fly is – HERE
60 – Rookie tech for flying & some tech tips is – HERE
61 – What counts for MQD EXEMPT spending tested is – HERE
62 – How to complain to a company the right way is – HERE
63 – Searching more than 1 seat on Delta.com can cost $$$ is – HERE
64 – Never EVER call (insert company name here) about deals is – HERE
65 – What happens to your points when say your flight is canceled is – HERE
66 – Just what is a Delta HOOU anyway & how to get one is – HERE
67 – Credit Cards! When? How many? Again? is – HERE
68 – Can you still fly Delta if you forgot/lost your ID is – HERE
69 – How to get a EIN or “Employer Identification Number” is – HERE
70 – Should I do as the blogger does or not? is – HERE
71 – How to use your BOGOF cert & the strange rules is – HERE
72 – All the ways to get into a Delta Skyclub is – HERE
73 – What points will year earn on a split 2014/2015 ticket is – HERE
74 – Is Delta’s “Bill me Later” a good value is – HERE
75 – Can you make a 30 minute Delta HUB connection is – HERE
76 – Dealing w/ fellow passengers who are being inconsiderate – HERE
77 – Should you ever click the word “Change” on Delta.com – HERE
78 – What are the best points to spend on a Delta ticket? – HERE
79 – Reader request – “earn miles that don’t involve credit cards” – HERE
80 – Lot’s of reader questions answers is – HERE
81 – Ensure partner flighs credited to your Delta account – HERE
82 – When & how to status match / challenge with Delta – HERE
83 – Another way to try to avoid bag fees on Delta Air Lines – HERE
84 – Is the Delta “default” choice best? Schedule over price? – HERE
85 – How to avoid Delta Fees of all kind – HERE
86 – All about TSA Pre✓™ & your Trusted/Known Traveler number! – HERE
87 – The “funny” things you should know before FlyerTalk – HERE
88 – How to pick the right Delta “special promo” – HERE
89 – There are NO dumb questions! (only actions) – HERE
90 – All the different kinds of Delta points! – HERE
91 – Medallions careful not to sabotage your own upgrades! – HERE
92 – Q&A about Delta AMEX cards & the current state of the “rules” – HERE
93 – Understanding medallion rollover with MQDs & MQD exemption. – HERE
94 – What if? Do you know the Delta rules? I bet you don’t! – HERE
95 – What is the “perfect” travel “stuff”? Here is mine. – HERE
96 – Medallions, how to avoid Delta’s “SHENA”! – HERE
97 – Be “quick” to get the best Delta seats that are blocked! – HERE
98 – Getting what you want by “default”? – HERE
99 – You help me this time – all about renting cars! – HERE
100 – Delta FOOD! What are all the options on Delta flights? – HERE
101 – Delta Choice Benefits – what and when to pick them – HERE
102 – What Delta AMEX card should you go for before (any) year end? – HERE
103 – Just what is a Charge card vs a Credit card. Does it matter? – HERE
104 – How to pay your taxes to be Delta MQD exempt for $111 net! – HERE
105 – Yes, they all add up! Diversify points for lowest travel costs. – HERE
106 – Is it smart to change to Alaska Air because of #Skymiles2015? – HERE
107 – When do you get your AMEX Buy One Get One Free cert. – HERE
108 – The REAL value of buying with the “right” card. Warranty! – HERE
109 – How I will earn Skymiles in 2015 (since flying is the worst choice) – HERE
110 – All about Delta vouchers – bumps, gift cards & more – HERE
111 – Delta Regional & Global Upgrade certificates for medallions – HERE
112 – Planning for 2015 Delta Mileage Runs – Less is more! – HERE
113 – Why deals die & this is why we cannot have nice things! – HERE
114 – The perks and RULES of the Delta AMEX cards + Q&A – HERE
115 – A company’s IT issues can save you money! – HERE
116 – 15,000 Delta AMEX MQMs – How to claim yours. – HERE
117 – Delta SkyMiles award booking Q&A – HERE
118 – Don’t delete THESE kinds of e-mails from Delta. It could cost you – HERE
119 – “They” are making it so simple, but what is “safe”? – HERE
120 – How do you check your Delta voucher values & if they are still valid? – HERE
121 – NOPE! You are wrong. The Delta Stuff so many get wrong. – HERE
122 – The MOST embarrassing travel mistakes & how to prevent them! – HERE
123 – Avoid Executive Sky Club Membership as Choice Benefit – HERE
124 – Starting as square one with Delta – What to do. – HERE
125 – The craziness of Delta & Skyteam seats. Delta only has two kinds! – HERE
126 – What are the best ways to fight jet lag and best “tricks”? – HERE
127 – NEVER book RT Delta award tickets departing outside the USA. – HERE
128 – Managing family Delta award accounts & AMEX cards – HERE
129 – Bonus points is it “apply by” or “approved by” date that matters? – HERE
130 – Delta Regional Upgrade Certificate Gifts from Delta – HERE
131 – Never hang up with a Delta rep until… – HERE
132 – Even low air / hotel / car status is better than no status! – HERE
133 – Tip change frequent flyer number on partner award tickets? – HERE
134 – How and when will you know your Regional Upgrade has cleared? – HERE
135 – Delta OPEN JAW award tickets to save on taxes + fees (sometimes). – HERE
136 – SkyMiles value. At what point are you flushing points? – HERE
137 – These folks should not “play” with frequent flyer points! – HERE
138 – Collect 1M SkyMiles & 1M Membership Rewards points? – HERE
139 – Delta Medallion year: When does it end & earning Medallion status. – HERE
140 – If you don’t HOLD a card due to fee, you are not doing it right! – HERE
141 – Why “paper” still trumps so much with Delta #KillTreesForPerks! – HERE
142 – Testing & playing with Delta Regional Upgrade certificate options. – HERE
143 – Using Bluebird in the manner it was intended, who knew?! – HERE
144 – What should you redeem your Delta SkyBonus points for – HERE
145 – Trying to simply explain Delta seat choices – “Let’s play ball” – HERE
146 – When or if you should cancel a travel card? Are there other options? – HERE
147 – PLEASE don’t do these Delta things before 31DEC (or forget to do). – HERE
148 – Delta “survival” tips for medallions & frequent flyers TOP10 for 2016! – HERE
149 – We know more than they do. That can help, and hurt, us! REG: Delta reps & bad info. – HERE
150 – Most times it is not bloggers who kill the deals, it is these guys! – HERE
151 – Is UBER better than LYFT? Is LYFT cheaper than UBER & other Q&A! – HERE
152 – If Mom says NO, go ask Dad! Almost anything is possible with Delta. – HERE
153 – Are there times Delta BASIC E fares are a good choice? Even for Medallions? – HERE
154 – How to track your incoming aircraft with the Fly Delta APP. – HERE
155 – How NOT to cancel a travel card (by accident)! – HERE
156 – Just what is appropriate “aisle seat etiquette”? Are you one of “those” people? A guest post by BOB! – HERE
157 – Tips, thoughts and recommendations for Delta Upgrade certificates (Global & Regional). – HERE
158 – Have you ever used Delta’s ONE TIME notification page? – HERE
159 – Why it’s smart to sign up for Airline, Hotel & Credit cards SPAM (and check it now and then)! – HERE
160 – Can I combine a voucher with AMEX free cert? What about… – HERE
161 – The Top 10 Delta Myths People (and the Press) Just Keep Sharing (sigh)! – HERE
162 – How to mine hidden helpful data Delta does not want you to see? – HERE
163 – What are the TOP / BEST #Android travel “must have” APPs you need to install? #TravelTech – HERE
164 – Are you willing to work a little for points? Will you “beg” for points? – HERE
165 – PLEASE don’t ever make these Delta AMEX mistakes I made that can really cost you in Dec/Jan each year. – HERE
166 – Does the AMEX 4/5 Card Rule Count for Business Cards? – HERE
167 – Understanding the Delta boarding Zones / Groups (all 7 of them)! – HERE
168 – Remember Delta equipment swaps can happen any time – and they DO! – HERE
169 – Is it worth paying THOUSANDS a year for high end travel cards? Why pay for two (or more)? – HERE
170 – Are You Using the Delta 24 Hour FREE Ticket Cancel Rule to Save Money? – HERE
171 – Watch your seats EACH Weekend – Because Delta Will NOT! – HERE
172 – [add link]
That is quite a list of valuable rookie info. I plan to use today’s post as a “bucket” for all the rookie posts so I will come back each week and update this post with the new topics to have them all in one simple place so think about bookmarking this post to come back to for reference!
But there is still much more to touch on. Please comment below (on the blog) about other ideas you want to see blogged about in a rookie way! – René
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I love Rookie Wednesdays; thanks so much for the tutorials, and please keep them coming!
Rene you are the BESt
Do you follow the
“TSAblogteam”
On twitter???
Very interesting!
I’m itching for a mile run !!!!!!!
Rene, Item 27 regarding BlueBird was very helpful. However, it is limited to $5000 in AND $5000 out each month. To use more Vanilla Reloads, I also now use them to reload a MyVanilla VISA card. I use this to pay bills that accept VISA but do not accept Amex. Just a thought.
@John – yes but both you and your wife can EACH have one 😉
Rene, i just stumbled across your site and found it most useful….thank you! Not sure i qualify as a “rookie FF” as i was GS on United for the past years, but a change in jobs this year had me flying with Delta after a decade of not doing so. I just passed PM and will be DM by October based on trips already booked. I was wondering about the value of trying to not hit DM so soon and use rollover, but reality is that my int’l biz class travel will not let me avoid DM in 2013 as Delta seems to be the low cost carrier out of PDX. In any case, your site is refreshingly full of much info for a “Delta rookie” like me…..keep it up!
PS: I still mourn my lost GS status on United and the 890,000 miles that i ran up and have now stranded over there, but so far my Delta experience is better than i thought it would be!
@Kscotty – WELCOME back to Delta! You will love DM status. Maybe not what GS is, but Delta does show a ton of love to their DM’s! – Rene
Thanks Rene! I am now working through the mental logic of obtaining the Reserve card because once I am DM, the card itself seems to offer little additional benefit (and it still has a Foreign exchange. With the advent of MQD and ‘spend’ now coming into play for status, there should be some thinning of the herd at the top of the upgrade list and do you still think the Reserve card will make a noticeable difference in terms of my priority for securing upgrades?? Interested to hear your thoughts on that….
@Kevin – yep. As a fellow DM I keep it for:
1) MQD exemption with all the bonus MQMs & RDMs
2) More upgrades as a DM
3) More low level awards
4) Bring 4 guests into Skyclub (2 as DM 2 as Reserve holder)
5) BOGOF cert each year
Is it ever worth it to buy the extra miles that Delta offers on flights?