<\/a><\/p>\n After speaking with Scott and conferring with Susan, I decided I would fly out on Thursday the 31st<\/sup> and back on Saturday the 2nd<\/sup>. That would make it a quick fun trip. I have been a Delta Elite (currently Platinum) for years and I\u2019m always in need of MQMs in order to maintain my Medallion status. I had approximately 3 weeks until my needed travel dates and after I looked at fares I became a bit concerned. They were high, very high. I\u2019m based out of Sacramento California and my outline route was SMF-XXX-NYC-XXX-SMF. Fares were running from $700 \u2013 $900 in coach on delta. Some of the flight segments had only middle seats left. First was $1,500+. Well I guess I could fly another carrier for this trip. When I investigated the other airline\u2019s flights I couldn\u2019t find anything that much better. Holiday travel was going to be expensive.<\/p>\n New York for New Year’s – An unexpected invitation<\/a> For those of you who would suggest I use some points instead, I generally don\u2019t use points for domestics if I can avoid it. I like to save them for the international itineraries as they are more valuable redemptions. So I started playing around with the dates to see if I could find a better deal. I finally decided on SMF-MSP-LGA-MSP-SMF. Out on the morning of the 31st<\/sup> and return on the morning of Sunday the 3rd <\/sup>(the 3rd brought down the fares considerably). Coach was $943, first was $1,229. For the marginal expense of $286 I was going to fly first. Now, some of you might cry that fare is terrible and why would you pay it. I would normally agree, but this opportunity doesn\u2019t come along every day and I was going. Also, I had 1) the extra MQMs of a Delta P fare and 2) I was guaranteed F on a holiday excursion.<\/p>\n
\nGetting There: Delta it is<\/a>
\nReview: Delta Regional First Class \u2013 Sacramento to Los Angeles<\/a>
\nReview: Delta Transcontinental Business Class \u2013 Los Angeles to New York<\/a>
\nReview: Park Hyatt New York, New Year\u2019s Eve<\/a>
\nInterlude: New York<\/a>
\nReview: LGA Centurion Lounge<\/a>
\nReview: Delta Domestic First Class \u2013 New York to Minneapolis<\/a>
\nReview: Delta Domestic First Class \u2013 Minneapolis to Sacramento<\/a><\/p>\n