Q. Can I get Delta SkyMiles for a flight I paid for but never used? It was cheaper buying a round trip ticket than a one way—I never understood this!

A. No, you cannot claim frequent flyer miles for flight segments not flown. I’m assuming that you bought a round-trip ticket and just used the outward-bound segment in order to save money. You should know that if you do this often, the airlines might wipe out your frequent flyer account since this practice is against most airlines’ rules. So if you do it again, don’t provide your frequent flyer number.