Skymiles
 

Is there any advantage to using AMEX and accruing Skymiles? One article I read is of the opinion that the only value they have is for purchasing Delta tickets (poor value on other purchases.)

1) We can always (even in retirement) purchase Fly Confirmed for 20% off. Do Skymiles wind up beating this?
2) Most other cards offer at least 1% cash back: Is using the Skymiles Amex for everyday purchases a wise use of plastic vs any other card?



Thoughts?

One of the better reviews of all things cards, miles, points, etc. It all depends on how you use it.

www.thepointsguy.com

I’ve used my sky miles to reduce the price of a full fare ticket on us. I checked the fly confirmed for less, but with the miles used on that particular flight the full fare was was cheaper. I would say it is city pair/fare dependent.

Also check the delta vacation website. You can get just tickets there also. Usually cheaper then fly confirm for less.

If you have access, USAA limitless rewards is 2.5% cash back on everything, no limits.

I’ve yet to find a better deal

The no fee helps. I use the miles if I (or my pass riders ever get stuck) also sometimes daughter in law and grandson. In low season I’ve gotten some smoking good deals for them. Once got RT from Colorado for like 14000 miles.

I use the AMEX Platinum. It does have a $550 annual fee but I promise I get 2-3x that back in deals, offers, benefits. I would use it over the other D branded AMEX cards for one reason. If you buy tickets (full price or confirmed for less) you get 5x the points per dollar spent. You can keep them in your AMEX account and use them just like Skymiles or you can transfer them to your Skymiles account. If you choose option 2, you will pay a tax offset fee. With the Platinum, you get a $200 airline credit per year. My wife and kids and I are going to Grand Cayman next spring break and I will but confirmed for less. Take $200 off whatever that price is. You can find some really good deals on Skymiles for points for upgrades and last minute deals. I sent my son to Orlando in July and got him main cabin on RJ’s two legs and 1st class on us to/from MCO. Originally I got him comfort plus, but I got a notification to upgrade both mainline legs for 5,000 points. 43,000 points round trip. That’s a steal.

One other thing to mention about AMEX. You can tie your AMEX account to Rakuten. (Formerly Ebates). You can set it to deposit your cash back as points into your AMEX account. Stuff that we buy normally every week and things we get on occasion, if I can buy it through Rakuten, I will. Usually cheaper and get the cash back. I have $98 cash back sitting in my account right now. That is equivalent of 9,800 AMEX points (or Skymiles).

I didn’t know that, I’ll have to google how that works.

That card is no longer offered as of a year ago or so. Glad I was able to get it when I did...I use it for every day spend. As an alternative, the fidelity 2% cash back card is pretty close (it’s what I used to use). I do also have a chase sapphire reserve card I use for dining and travel (3x points on those categories) and an Amex plat card I use mostly for lounge access, but I’ll likely drop those 2 now that I’m out of the military and paying the annual fees again, and just use the 2.5% cash back card. I’ll take cash over skymiles or any other branded points/miles any day. I’ve let hundreds of thousands of miles and points sit in accounts unused. At least when I have cash sitting unused I’m earning interest on it or otherwise have it deployed.