SkyTeam - Skyteam for SFO - GIG Award

I have never done this before, but how easy/difficult is it to get a Skyteam award between SFO and GIG or GRU in business class? Is my only option Delta ? I have miles in OK Plus that I am trying to redeem.

Is my only option Delta ?
Aeromexico via MEX ?

Or Korean through LAX?

Anyone knows how easy or difficult this is?

Korean or Aeromexico will get you to GRU... You probably access to ExpertFlyer to see what seat availability is like - http://www.expertflyer.com/

Korean or Aeromexico will get you to GRU... You probably access to ExpertFlyer to see what seat availability is like - http://www.expertflyer.com/
EF won't do any good here, as it doesn't have KE award inventory (reliably) outside of Korea/Japan routes. EF also doesn't have AM inventory. Better bet to check AM is via the FlyingBlue engine on the AF site. Calling is going to be the most reliable way to check KE inventory, but I've heard it's very scarce on the LAX-GRU flight.

The OP is going to see some very long layovers if he tries for SFO-MEX-GRU or SFO/OAK/SJC-SLC-MEX-GRU. It may not be worse than going via ATL, however. SFO/OAK-LAX-MEX-GRU also could work as there are DL Connection operated SFO/OAK-LAX flights sufficiently early to catch AM LAX-MEX-GRU.

Great advice , guys! Although I am sorry to hear that the KE flight has little award availability in C.

What are the best routes for C award availability? I cannot find much on the Dl routes through ATL.

Great advice , guys! Although I am sorry to hear that the KE flight has little award availability in C.

What are the best routes for C award availability? I cannot find much on the Dl routes through ATL.
Basically anything not operated by DL is infinitely better than anything operated by DL when it comes to award inventory, unless you're looking at the last minute. It's worth a call to ask about the KE flight, but check the blackout dates first (I have no idea how the ones OK imposes align with what DL imposes) and don't get your hopes up too much. If you're only looking for one seat, you may be in luck, especially if you can be flexible with your dates.

In any case the OP needs to talk to CSA. Because they have very strict routing rules on redemptions, flights that might seem perfect and available, might very well not be bookable through OKPlus.

Basically anything not operated by DL is infinitely better than anything operated by DL when it comes to award inventory, unless you're looking at the last minute. It's worth a call to ask about the KE flight, but check the blackout dates first (I have no idea how the ones OK imposes align with what DL imposes) and don't get your hopes up too much. If you're only looking for one seat, you may be in luck, especially if you can be flexible with your dates.

"last minute" - does Delta open up inventory at the last minute???

Also, please suggest the best redemption options for about 68 - 75k OK Plus miles....

What are the best routes for C award availability? I cannot find much on the Dl routes through ATL.

Delta operates about 60 city pairs USA-Europe alone in peak season, plus non-stops to ~16 Asia airports, S America, Africa, and Australia. Your question is way, way too broad.

(I don't know if I can agree with mtkeller's pronouncement that partner carriers are infinitely better; typically easier, yes.)

Delta operates about 60 city pairs USA-Europe alone in peak season, plus non-stops to ~16 Asia airports, S America, Africa, and Australia. Your question is way, way too broad.

(I don't know if I can agree with mtkeller's pronouncement that partner carriers are infinitely better; typically easier, yes.)

My question was for award availability for Brazil.

I cannot seem to find a single r/t in the next year SFO-GIG in C on DL! Suggestions?

I wouldn't advise you to try connecting through MEX.

Have you been searching by segment, first ATL to GIG or GRU? When you find the long hauls, you then try to add domestic connections. You might have to compromise on routings or schedule. You also might want to consider paying for the domestic connecting flights if necessary, if you can get the long hauls as a low award ticket.

I wouldn't advise you to try connecting through MEX.

Have you bee searching by segment, first ATL to GIG or GRU? When you find the long hauls, you then try to add domestic connections. You might have to compromise on routings or schedule. You also might want to consider paying for the domestic connecting flights if necessary, if you can get the long hauls as a low award ticket.

Good idea. What is the best way to search for DL inventory that can be used with OKPlus?

My best guess is that you need to find award inventory at the low level for using DL miles. Typically low award buckets are made available to partners within SkyTeam, but the inventory might not be identical.

There's a sticky in the Delta SkyMiles forum here on FT that has lots of information about searching for low level international award tickets on DL. You basically need to find one segment at a time by looking for one way awards at the low level, which IIRC should be 100,000 miles for BE between the USA and GIG or GRU, probably 60,000 for coach but you can check this on the DL award charts on delta.com, also in the SkyMiles area of the website under something like spending/using miles.

Once you have identified the segments you want, try to put them together using multi city search by schedule to check that it prices at low. Then you would contact your own FF program to have them issue an award ticket using the space you have found; you'll need to tell them the exact flight numbers and dates for your trip.

This will require some time and work on your part. Good luck!

My best guess is that you need to find award inventory at the low level for using DL miles. Typically low award buckets are made available to partners within SkyTeam, but the inventory might not be identical.

There's a sticky in the Delta SkyMiles forum here on FT that has lots of information about searching for low level international award tickets on DL. You basically need to find one segment at a time by looking for one way awards at the low level, which IIRC should be 100,000 miles for BE between the USA and GIG or GRU, probably 60,000 for coach but you can check this on the DL award charts on delta.com, also in the SkyMiles area of the website under something like spending/using miles.

Once you have identified the segments you want, try to put them together using multi city search by schedule to check that it prices at low. Then you would contact your own FF program to have them issue an award ticket using the space you have found; you'll need to tell them the exact flight numbers and dates for your trip.

This will require some time and work on your part. Good luck!

Thanks a lot. Is this possible in ExpertFlyer or any other program?

Thanks a lot. Is this possible in ExpertFlyer or any other program?
IIRC EF has DL upgrade inventory (only) and KVS has DL award inventory (only), I believe designated as low, medium, and high. Some prefer to search for DL inventory on the AF site. I'm not sure what DL space is currently on the Wandering Aramean tools.

However, for this problem my personal instinct--and I know some who use some of these programs regularly would strongly disagree--would be to work with the DL site because there are so few DL flights to Brazil that you need to check for long haul and by now I'm familiar with delta.dumb. In my case, I have sufficient elite status to reach some good DL phone agents and I take advantage of this also to find upgrade and award space.

IIRC EF has DL upgrade inventory (only) and KVS has DL award inventory (only), I believe designated as low, medium, and high.

That is correct -- KVS Tool supports all 12 DL Award Booking Classes:

http://Help.KVSTool.com/#DL

IIRC EF has DL upgrade inventory (only) and KVS has DL award inventory (only)

DL upgrade inventory can only be found on ExpertFlyer, whereas DL award inventory can only be found on Delta.com or Airfrance.us. Others may scrape DL award inventory from the airline websites, but the airline websites are the source.

How would that help?
If DL has low awards, it does not mean that Flying Blue customers can beneft from it. There are actually very few seats that are available from FB on DL.
A shame.

As I mentioned in another thread, I was looking for a domestic flight on DL on Feb 14th 2013. From Atlanta, the only major metroplex that had flights available at that time was MCI, for just one flight in the morning. Award availability on DL for FB customers is a joke...
Minos

If DL has low awards, it does not mean that Flying Blue customers can beneft from it.

Yes, actually it does. Delta's Low band inventory is what's available for partner redemption, unless FB is blocking it. And that really wouldn't be Delta's fault, would it?