Help from VS travelers re: Delta domestic awards

Hi guys - heck of a resource you have here! I'm pondering crediting my future Delta flights to VS, and am trying to figure out whether or not I can book my desired routes as awards. I've read in a few places that some (but not all) Delta Connections routes/destinations can't be booked as awards - and I've had no luck with the Flying Club folks, possibly because I have no VS miles to 'test' it with.

The route I'd want to redeem on is DAB-ATL-SLC-TWF (and back) and I was hoping someone with miles/status might take pity on me and see if it's even theoretically possible. The segment I'm concerned about is the SLC-TWF leg - it would probably be much simpler to just see if that leg is bookable as an award. Alaska's website indicates that low level awards for this Delta Connection flight are available for literally any travel dates in September of this year.

I know it's a lot to ask, but if anyone is willing to check, I'd be incredibly grateful!

Hi synergistic and welcome to the site.

Straight through or would you be looking at lengthy stop offs in each place? When are you thinking of making this journey too?

I can't see Joslin Field on the VS booking engine, but that doesn't mean much.. This will likely take someone making a phone call to Virgin to scout for you.

Thank you for the welcome =)

I'd be looking to book them straight through - I travel from Florida to Utah/Idaho roughly twice a month. I usually book MCO-SLC in First Class, and drive the ~10 hours to get me to and from DAB and TWF. In the winter, I book the SLC-TWF flights, because if they close the pass it essentially doubles my driving time. Sometimes I do just stay in SLC, but I'd always book that as a paid flight. I'd just be a zillion kinds of thrilled to get to fly 'directly' from one home to another, with only a short uber ride at either end. That route is just usually prohibitively expensive for me, despite there being a surprising amount of low-level award availability.

Theoretically, I'll earn 6TP each MCO-SLC trip (I'll probably try to book a few multisegment FC flights to race my way to Gold) and once I do make Gold, I'll earn 350% of the 3862 base flown miles, or 13517 redeemable miles per trip. It's a very appealing prospect - but I need to make sure those miles are worth as much as I think they are. I can earn almost as many Alaska miles (325% of base miles) but it'd take a lot more flights to make top status with them.

I did see that the VS site doesn't even seem to acknowledge the existence of TWF - I'm glad to know that doesn't necessarily mean that award trips can't be booked to there. When I called the Flying Club folks, I was told it was unavailable because it's a Skywest DBA Delta Connections route. He was unable to explain why a similar Skywest DBA Delta Connections route from SLC-SUN appeared to be available. Hence me posting here - I was hoping someone who knows the right things to ask could point me in the right direction...

If it's a Delta-operated flight (and that includes Delta Connections flights operated by other airlines under the DL banner) it should qualify. It's exactly the same as Little Red (RIP) which, although operated by Aer Lingus, was in all other respects a VS flight.

A DL codeshare operated by another airline wouldn't qualify though.

Unfortunately, despite the consensus being that these flights *should* be available, I am having zero luck with the folks with FC. It appears that even if it's possible, it'll be a lot of hassle to get them booked. It may be easier for elites, but as a no-status person seeking information, it's looking unlikely at best.

It's a shame, as I'd realized that I could hit 120TP in as little as 9 trips if I'm willing to add a connection on the way to SLC. I'll play around and see if there are any other redemption options that are worthwhile - perhaps Hawaii? We can be very flexible with dates, at least.

To convince someone to attempt it for me, I'd be willing to make small donations to mutually agreeable charitable causes...