Flights are expensive these days. Can you guess the best way to book this flight (assuming your goal is to save as much money as possible)? Your answer will determine everything- whether you’re a flight booking expert or a mere mortal beginner.

The options

When it comes to booking flights, there are lots of options. For someone like me, it’s overwhelming. It takes me 10 minutes to pick what ice cream flavor to get… Let alone what expensive flight to choose.

Speaking of ice cream, that’s what I’m craving right now. We’re going to look at booking the same flight three different ways. These flights are all on Delta, on the same date, same time, and in the same cabin. In other words, these flights are equal in every aspect EXCEPT their money saving potential.

We are going to the best ice cream shop in America- Moomers. In the great state of Michigan. So which flight option would you choose? Let’s take a look.

• Option 1: Book through Expedia for $418.18.

Source: Expedia

• Option 2: Book through Delta for $418.18.

Source: Delta

• Option 3: Book through Delta for 28,500 miles + $116.

Source: Delta

Which option should you pick?

Your answer determines more than you think. This is more than just flights, this is whether you get the small ice cream float or the large ice cream float. Toppings or no toppings. Not just for you, but your entire lineage. Let’s see why.

What if you choose option 1, booking through Expedia?

• What happens if you need to change your flight at the last minute? It’s not going to be fun. If you book through Expedia, or any other Online Travel Agency like Expedia for that matter, it’s a hassle to change or cancel your flight.

• Everyone knows airline prices are dynamic, what happens if the price drops to $300 later on? You will have overpaid by more than $118 because Sky Key won’t be able to save you money.

• What happens to your loyalty rewards on Delta? Nothing. You lose the opportunity to build up your Delta loyalty and miss out on complimentary seat upgrades, and free checked bags.

What if you choose option 2, paying $418.18 directly through Delta?

• Need to change your flight last minute? No problem. You can easily do this.

• Price of your flight drops to $300 after booking? Beautiful! Sky Key can get you a $118.48 eCredit to offset the cost of your next flight.

• And what about your loyalty rewards? They go up and to the right like Nvidia stock (don’t jinx this please). When you book directly through Delta, or any airline, you build loyalty with that airline and get can get free seat upgrades, checked bags and many other perks in the future.

What if you choose option 3, booking through Delta by paying 28,500 miles and $116?

• Gotta change your flight last minute? No problem. Again, you can easily do this.

• What about your loyalty rewards? Just like option 2, you increase your loyalty rewards because you book directly through Delta. Bingo.

• But wait a second… What happens if the price of your flight drops to 20,000 miles after booking it. You get caught red handed… You’re out of luck because Sky Key won’t be able to save you the difference. You will have overpaid by 8,500 miles. Ouch.

• One other thing. Pay careful attention to your redemption rate because it ain’t good. When you book a flight using a combination of money and miles, like you are here by paying 28,500 miles plus $116, you get a horrible redemption rate. Airlines treat money + mile flights, like this one, at 1 cent per mile. If you convert 28,500 miles into dollars using this rate, it’s $285. So you are paying a total of $285 + $116 = $445. In other words, from the very beginning, you are losing $26 (compared to option 2).

The moment of truth

So which option did you pick? Are you getting the large float or the small float? Coconut toppings or no coconut toppings? Victory or defeat in the air? Expert or a mere mortal beginner?

If you want to save the most money, you are best off choosing option 2, paying $418.18 directly through Delta.

Option 2 gives you the highest savings potential and the most flexibility. By choosing this option, you can easily change your flight, build up your airline loyalty and get free perks in the future, and save money both up front (because you don’t have to worry about redemption rates) and when prices drop after booking because Sky Key can save you money when this happens.

How do I save money when flight prices drop after booking?

Take two minutes to upload your tickets to Sky Key. We do the hard work of monitoring your flight prices and automatically saving you money, miles, and credits when they drop. You only pay for Sky Key if we automatically save you money. Learn more about our pricing.

– Billy Bund. Co-Founder @ Sky Key