Flying to Buffalo on Delta

Delta 5993
New York (LGA) – Buffalo (BUF)
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Depart: 6:50AM / Arrive: 8:18AM
Duration: 1hr 28min
Aircraft: Embraer RJ-175
Seat: 9D

By the time you're reading this, my father is likely already landed in Buffalo after his early morning business flight. He found out last night that he'd be traveling for work trip to Western New York for a meeting.

This will be his first Delta flight in quite some time, but the United flight to Buffalo (out of Newark) was about 70% more expensive than Delta. Since it was his company paying for the flight, he couldn't justify it to the Expense Reimbursement powers that be.

However, he made the best of the situation by using his two American Express cards and his Starwood Gold status.

• With his Business Gold Amex card, he will receive 3x points on the purchase, including the $9 fee for getting an Economy Comfort seat with 50% more recline and 4" more legroom.
• With his Platinum Amex card, he is able to access both the Delta Lounge at LaGuardia Airport and the US Airways Lounge at Buffalo Airport. 
• Starwood Hotels has a partnership with Delta called Crossovers where SPG Gold members get 1 SPG point for every $1 spent on eligible Delta flights.

Wait a minute...the US Airways Lounge? Yes, with the Platinum Amex, you can get into any US Airways lounge, even without a US Airways ticket. Besides, it's the only airline lounge at Buffalo Airport.