A traveler and their partner spent nine days in Florence, Pisa and Rome using Delta SkyMiles for all their flights and hotels. Cash spending was mainly for meals, museums and unplanned shopping. Based on the cash prices for the same bookings at the time, the flights and hotels delivered about 1.5 cents per mile—above the traveler’s 1.2-cent benchmark. Card discounts and an upgrade benefit further reduced the trip’s cost.
The trip highlights how redemption choices shape the value of travel rewards. The traveler had accumulated more than 300,000 miles and was initially reluctant to see the balance fall. But with miles potentially losing value over time, they decided to use some for a major trip.
Flexible dates helped uncover a better redemption
Before booking, the traveler checked The Points Guy’s regularly updated points valuations. Its average benchmark for Delta SkyMiles was 1.2 cents per mile, a figure the traveler used as a minimum: any itinerary meeting or exceeding that value was worth considering.
Rather than committing to a destination or set dates, the traveler monitored Delta’s mileage offers for several months. A deal for travel to Rome in late October eventually lined up with a long-standing wish to visit Italy. The traveler preferred off-season trips, though a Vatican guide noted that popular attractions can still be crowded even during periods commonly described as the low season.
After settling on the itinerary, the traveler used a 15% discount available on mileage bookings with an American Express card. The discount applied to flights as well as hotel bookings in Florence and Rome. Comparing the awards with equivalent cash bookings at the time, the combined redemption value was about 1.5 cents per mile, above the traveler’s benchmark.
On the day of departure, the Delta SkyMiles American Express Reserve Card also provided a complimentary upgrade to Delta Comfort. A cash upgrade that day would have cost $299 per person. That was the quoted reference price for the upgrade, not an amount the traveler paid.
Card perks added to the mileage savings
The savings went beyond the award bookings. Flexible dates gave the traveler time to wait for a mileage offer. By contrast, someone booking a holiday trip home around Christmas might have fewer options and get less value from their miles.
Card benefits added further savings: alongside the 15% discount on mileage bookings, the relevant cards offered a free checked bag and access to the upgrade waitlist. Uber rides to and from the airport were each $10 cheaper. The trip began in October and ended in November, so the rides used the monthly rideshare credit in two different months.
The traveler said most of the miles used for the trip came from welcome bonuses on the Delta SkyMiles American Express Platinum and Reserve cards. They estimated that earning the same balance through everyday spending alone would have delayed the trip by at least two years. Welcome bonuses can accelerate rewards accumulation, but their value depends on redemption terms, card benefits and the cost of holding the cards. The account did not specify the cards’ annual fees or the trip’s total cash price.
A 300,000-mile balance prompted a change in approach
The traveler had built up Delta SkyMiles over several years. They first earned an 80,000-mile welcome bonus after applying for the Delta SkyMiles American Express Platinum. The following year, they closed that card and applied for the Reserve, earning another 100,000 miles. Flights and everyday spending later added about 120,000 miles, taking the balance above 300,000.
This year, while considering another card application for a new welcome bonus, the traveler reassessed the balance and concluded it was enough to fund a significant trip. The focus shifted from accumulating more miles to using them. The redemption covered visits to the Colosseum in Rome and stops in Florence, Pisa and Rome.
Unlike cash savings, points and miles generally do not earn interest through deposits or investments, and rewards programs can change their redemption rules and mileage requirements. For this trip, the traveler valued flights and hotels at about 1.5 cents per mile, compared with a 1.2-cent benchmark; the cash reference price for the upgrade was $299 per person. Whether a redemption offers good value depends on the cash price and mileage cost for the specific itinerary, as well as the card benefits available.