My husband and I have wanted to go to Maine in July, but it never fit in with our other travel plans. Delta, United and US Airways all fly from Philadelphia to Portland, Maine. US Airways is the only carrier that flies non-stop on this route. Both United and US Airways charge a fee of $75 per person for award bookings made within 21 days of departure for general members of their frequent flyer programs. This is on top of the $25 award booking fee that US Airways charges on all award tickets. My goal is to avoid as many extra fees as possible.
Delta does not charge a last minute booking fee for award tickets. When searching for Delta awards tickets for travel in the next several weeks, I was pleasantly surprised to find availability for low level award tickets of 25,000 miles per person round trip for several different destinations.
In April my husband applied for the Delta American Express business credit card. It included 30,000 miles after $500 in purchases using the card and a $50 statement credit for any Delta purchase within the first 3 month of cardmembership. Our two tickets cost 50,000 Delta SkyMiles plus $20 in taxes and fees. We are using his new Delta credit card to get the statement credit and will earn $30 for our tickets to Portland, Maine. If you have Delta SkyMiles, I suggest you check for last minute award tickets for 25,000 miles round trip and avoid extra fees other airlines charge.
Looking forward to our first trip to Maine. Our plan is to eat lobster and hopefully enjoy cooler temperatures. Do you have suggestions for our trip to Portland, Maine?
yes drive south to Kennebunkport and to Ogunquit go to Barnacle Billy’s in Perkins cove in Ogunquit walk the Marginal Way. By the way it is only and 1 1/4 drive from Boston to Kittery Maine where all the outlets are and you can also visit in Freeport LL Bean but I have 2.5 million Delta miles and its not necessary to go to Portland Boston is much easier as Logan is on the North shore and you can drive right up route 1. Stop in Glouster Mass or Newburyport.
Portland has great restaurant in the port area do NOT go to Damillo boat too touristy and awful food.
stay local in Portland.
Thank you for all of your suggestions on both what to enjoy and what to avoid!
Great idea, wish we could join you- have a lobster roll for me ! Great way to escape the heat here!
Lobster without the roll for us. We will be thinking of you.
Portland, ME is a really cute city! I live in Boston, but have spent a lot of time in Portland. I suggest going to Duckfat Restaurant – http://duckfat.com/ – the highlight of the menu is “Belgian fries made with local Maine potatoes fried in duck fat” – really delicious! I also suggest a walk up to the Munjoy Hill area. You’ll walk up a hill (follow Congress St up the hill once you’re on the East End of town) and pass the Portland Observatory – http://portlandlandmarks.org/observatory/ – which you can climb for a pretty view. Keep walking up the hill and you’ll get to the Eastern Prom (http://goo.gl/maps/CVUX) for a lovely park by the ocean. Love the blog – enjoy Maine!
Thank you for your suggestions. So glad you enjoy reading my blog!