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A Kiplinger writer reported using Delta SkyMiles to cover flights and hotel bookings for a nine-day trip to Florence, Pisa and Rome with a partner. The writer calculated a redemption rate of 1.5 cents per mile based on the cash prices for the same bookings at the time, and said an American Express card discount and a flight-seat upgrade added value.
A Kiplinger writer says Delta SkyMiles covered the flights and hotel bookings for a nine-day trip to Florence, Pisa and Rome with a partner, leaving the travelers to pay out of pocket for food, museums and some purchases. The writer reported a calculated redemption rate of 1.5 cents per mile for the flight and hotel bookings, compared with a personal target of 1.2 cents per mile.
The writer said the trip was booked after monitoring Delta’s changing award deals for a couple of months and waiting for a Rome offer that fit the intended travel period. The travelers went in late October and returned in November. Their itinerary included Florence, Pisa and Rome, though the report describes the hotels as being in Florence and Rome.
The writer said an American Express card discount of 15% applied to mile bookings for both flights and hotels. The reported 1.5-cent-per-mile calculation compared the miles used with the cash price for the same bookings at the time. It is the writer’s calculation for this trip, not a guaranteed value for other redemptions.
The report also says a Delta SkyMiles American Express Reserve Card upgrade placed the travelers in Delta Comfort. The writer valued the upgrade at $299 per person, based on the price of upgrading on the day of departure. The card’s rideshare credits reduced the cost of airport rides by $10 each way, according to the account. The report does not provide the total number of miles spent or the full cash cost of the trip.
What the Redemption Shows
The account illustrates how the value of travel rewards depends on the specific booking, available award offers and benefits attached to a card. In this case, the writer says flexibility on destination and timing made it possible to wait for an offer, while a card discount lowered the miles required. Those details help explain why the reported 1.5-cent-per-mile result should not be treated as a standard value for Delta SkyMiles.
The report also describes a trade-off for people who accumulate rewards but hesitate to spend them. The writer had built a balance of more than 300,000 miles through card welcome bonuses, flights and everyday spending, then chose to use some for a specific trip. Points can lose value when program redemption prices change, but the report does not quantify any future devaluation or establish that every traveler should redeem at the same threshold.
For readers comparing a points booking with a cash fare, the relevant question is not simply how many miles a trip costs. It is whether the award booking’s value, after applicable discounts and fees, makes sense for that traveler’s plans. Rewards programs and travel-card benefits can change, and points do not have a fixed cash value.
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How the Miles Accumulated
The writer said the balance grew over several years. It began with an 80,000-mile welcome bonus after opening a Delta SkyMiles American Express Platinum card. The writer later closed that card and opened a Reserve card, receiving another reported 100,000-mile bonus. About 120,000 additional miles came from flights and miscellaneous everyday spending, according to the account.
The writer used a monthly valuation page from The Points Guy as a reference point, which listed an average estimated value of 1.2 cents per Delta SkyMile. The writer adopted that figure as a personal minimum for the trip. Such valuations are estimates, not an amount a traveler is guaranteed to receive when redeeming miles. The writer also said that earning the miles used through ordinary spending alone would have delayed the trip by at least two years.
Timing and flexibility shaped the booking. The writer waited for an award deal rather than booking a fixed destination and date, and preferred traveling outside the busiest season. A tour guide at the Vatican told the writer that Italy never really has an off-peak period; the report notes that the attraction was crowded during the visit.
““There really is no such thing as ‘off-peak’ in Italy.””
— The writer’s Vatican tour guide, as recounted in the report
Booking Costs and Award Details
The supplied report does not state the total miles redeemed, the exact number of miles used for each flight or hotel, or the cash prices underlying the 1.5-cent calculation. It also does not identify every hotel, flight itinerary or booking date, so readers cannot independently reproduce the calculation from the details provided.
The account does not say whether taxes, fees or other travel expenses were paid with cash or points, and its description of out-of-pocket spending focuses on food, museums and impulse purchases. The $299-per-person upgrade figure is based on the reported price to upgrade on departure day, not a cash saving received by every cardholder. Award availability, card discounts, credits and upgrade access depend on the booking and applicable program terms.
Future Redemptions Depend on Availability
The report does not announce a further trip or a new rewards booking. Its next-step guidance is based on the writer’s experience: keep an eye on award offers, remain flexible about travel dates and destinations, and compare the miles required with the cash price for the same itinerary. The writer also describes card welcome bonuses and travel benefits as contributors to this particular trip, not as guaranteed savings for other travelers.
Anyone considering a similar booking would need to check current award availability, redemption prices and card terms at the time of travel. The writer’s 1.2-cent benchmark came from an estimated valuation cited in the report; future valuations and program rules may differ.
Key Questions
What did the writer cover with miles?
The writer said miles covered the flights and hotel bookings for a nine-day trip to Florence, Pisa and Rome with a partner. Food, museum visits and some purchases were paid for separately.
What redemption value did the writer report?
The writer calculated a value of 1.5 cents per mile by comparing the miles used with the cash price for the same bookings at the time. That was a trip-specific calculation, not a guaranteed value for future redemptions.
How did the writer find the award booking?
The writer said they monitored Delta award deals for a couple of months and waited for a Rome offer that fit the planned travel period. Flexibility on timing and destination helped make that approach possible.
Did points pay for every part of the trip?
No. The report says flights and hotels were covered with miles, but the travelers still spent money on food, museums and some purchases. It does not provide a full accounting of taxes, fees or all other travel costs.
Can other travelers expect the same savings?
Not necessarily. Award prices, availability, card discounts and benefits vary by booking and may change. The writer’s reported value reflects one set of bookings and should not be treated as a standard rate.
Source: kiplinger.com
