The Definitive "How To Search for Low Tier Business Awards"
#1216
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,978
I understand that 135k is the required number of miles at low level, my question was how was mtkeller able to convince the agent to price it as such, given that he/she started at 435k.
#1217
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: DL DM, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 2,874
I'm assuming that the low inventory was indeed there, just that each agent had various levels of competency in putting together the award. If done correctly it should have been 135k all along.
#1218
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
I think the big discover in all this is that there is a way for agents to see the pricing breakdown before ticketing, as I had an agent who told me exactly what was being charged for each portion. However, it seems not all agents were able/willing to do this. Still haven't had time to call about the taxes/fees. Hope to do that tomorrow.
#1219
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,978
But how was delta.dumb able to find KE flights? Sorry for so many questions.
#1220
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
- Hold NRT-ATL for seven days (awards originating in Asia can be held online for seven days)
- Call in to have PVG-NRT and ATL-OMA added. Tried to add HKG-PVG on MU, but the flight I wanted that showed available in EF was not something the agent could acquire. Proceeded to ask about LAX-ICN-AKL and agent said LAX-ICN (KE18, the A380 flight) was not available. Thanked her and had award held while I considered options.
- Called again and asked agent to check the KE flight again. She finds the space. Proceed to add OMA-SLC-LAX-ICN-AKL and agent finds an MU HKG-PVG flight she can get. Quoted 435K miles, then 390K, and then I need to go, so we keep it on hold. I can see all eight flights on DL.dumb.
- Agent later in the day gets things down to 230K by pulling the enhanced elite availability in Y on OMA-SLC, but can't beat 230K (and won't call rates desk since she's been booking SkyMiles tickets for 14 years).
- Agent starts and call semi-drops, with me being routed to another (I suspect non-elite) agent. Agent quotes me 310K and can't get anything better.
- I realize hold time is now down to about zero, so I see what DL.dumb prices it at, and it gives me 135K + $700+ in taxes/fees.
#1223
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
By the rules, no. You already have an open jaw.
Might you get a nice agent at JFK to reinstate your itinerary after they cancel it due to the no show? Do you really want to risk it?
If you don't want to fly PHL-NYC on the award, cancel it off of both departure and return, and find another way to get back to PHL.
Might you get a nice agent at JFK to reinstate your itinerary after they cancel it due to the no show? Do you really want to risk it?
If you don't want to fly PHL-NYC on the award, cancel it off of both departure and return, and find another way to get back to PHL.
#1224
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 349
By the rules, no. You already have an open jaw.
Might you get a nice agent at JFK to reinstate your itinerary after they cancel it due to the no show? Do you really want to risk it?
If you don't want to fly PHL-NYC on the award, cancel it off of both departure and return, and find another way to get back to PHL.
Might you get a nice agent at JFK to reinstate your itinerary after they cancel it due to the no show? Do you really want to risk it?
If you don't want to fly PHL-NYC on the award, cancel it off of both departure and return, and find another way to get back to PHL.
#1225
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,412
DL.dumb didn't find them. I had agents put the whole thing on hold. The exact sequence was:
- Hold NRT-ATL for seven days (awards originating in Asia can be held online for seven days)
- Call in to have PVG-NRT and ATL-OMA added. Tried to add HKG-PVG on MU, but the flight I wanted that showed available in EF was not something the agent could acquire. Proceeded to ask about LAX-ICN-AKL and agent said LAX-ICN (KE18, the A380 flight) was not available. Thanked her and had award held while I considered options.
- Called again and asked agent to check the KE flight again. She finds the space. Proceed to add OMA-SLC-LAX-ICN-AKL and agent finds an MU HKG-PVG flight she can get. Quoted 435K miles, then 390K, and then I need to go, so we keep it on hold. I can see all eight flights on DL.dumb.
- Agent later in the day gets things down to 230K by pulling the enhanced elite availability in Y on OMA-SLC, but can't beat 230K (and won't call rates desk since she's been booking SkyMiles tickets for 14 years).
- Agent starts and call semi-drops, with me being routed to another (I suspect non-elite) agent. Agent quotes me 310K and can't get anything better.
- I realize hold time is now down to about zero, so I see what DL.dumb prices it at, and it gives me 135K + $700+ in taxes/fees.
-1 to DL for making you jump through so many hoops
#1226
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: DL DM, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 2,874
And def post it in the award ticket success thread. That's one of the better awards I have seen redeemed. How much was the ticket AKL-HKG? Or are you using a one way award on another airline? That's a loooong flight for to purchase a coach ticket on, and probably not cheap!
#1227
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
And def post it in the award ticket success thread. That's one of the better awards I have seen redeemed. How much was the ticket AKL-HKG? Or are you using a one way award on another airline? That's a loooong flight for to purchase a coach ticket on, and probably not cheap!
Plan #1 to close the OJ is 45K AA miles for QF J to SYD from somewhere in NZ and then on from SYD to HKG in F on the A380. In the event that inventory disappears before I get my AA bonus miles, I'll go with Plan #2: Transfer MR points to SQ and redeem for F on AKL-SIN-HKG with SQ, since they don't yet fly Suites aircraft to AKL and there are aircraft with non-Suite F doing SIN-HKG.
#1228
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 6
SEA-->NBO Award Flight Issues
I posted in the main thread and think it probably should have been moved here, so here's my dilema:
I am trying to book an award flight to Africa and had a quick question. Currently there is not award availability showing for Seattle (SEA) to Nairobo (NBO) for the dates I want, and that is the response I get from the phone sales agent as well. However, when I look at Delta for SEA to AMS I find availability, and then when I look at Air France's Flying Blue I find economy classic award availability for 25,000 miles from AMS to NBO (flight KL565).
Likewise on the return segment I find Air France availability through their Flying Blue calendar for Classic Business award availablity for 50,000 for NBO (KQ104) --> LHR (KL1030) ---> AMS.
Why would the agent not be able to see these seats?
The 'classic' award fares on Air France's website are bookable through Delta correct?
Any help?
I am trying to book an award flight to Africa and had a quick question. Currently there is not award availability showing for Seattle (SEA) to Nairobo (NBO) for the dates I want, and that is the response I get from the phone sales agent as well. However, when I look at Delta for SEA to AMS I find availability, and then when I look at Air France's Flying Blue I find economy classic award availability for 25,000 miles from AMS to NBO (flight KL565).
Likewise on the return segment I find Air France availability through their Flying Blue calendar for Classic Business award availablity for 50,000 for NBO (KQ104) --> LHR (KL1030) ---> AMS.
Why would the agent not be able to see these seats?
The 'classic' award fares on Air France's website are bookable through Delta correct?
Any help?
#1229
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM, AMEX Business Platinum, AMEX Delta Reserve, DL SkyClub Member, Choice PM
Posts: 2,218
Was this correct?
or could it have been done better?
Any advice will save me some bother next time;
After getting a subscription to EF, I searched KLM and found the BE award ORD-AMS-FCO-AMS-ORD at 100k skymiles.
Then I called DL to book the award for Mrs. dd.
I asked whether we could add MSP-ORD to the outbound and ORD-MSP to the inbound, but the rep wanted an additional 25k skymiles.
So, I had to make separate paid reservations for MSP-ORD-MSP.
Is this normal practice?
Or did they rep do something wrong.
I do know that there is 1 stop at FCO only, no stopovers at ORD or AMS.
Now this caused other problems: baggage fees for MSP-ORD + fees for EC seats.
Any help?
Any advice will save me some bother next time;
After getting a subscription to EF, I searched KLM and found the BE award ORD-AMS-FCO-AMS-ORD at 100k skymiles.
Then I called DL to book the award for Mrs. dd.
I asked whether we could add MSP-ORD to the outbound and ORD-MSP to the inbound, but the rep wanted an additional 25k skymiles.
So, I had to make separate paid reservations for MSP-ORD-MSP.
Is this normal practice?
Or did they rep do something wrong.
I do know that there is 1 stop at FCO only, no stopovers at ORD or AMS.
Now this caused other problems: baggage fees for MSP-ORD + fees for EC seats.
Any help?
#1230
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
MSP-ORD-AMS-FCO fits within the MPM of the fare and does not exceed the segment limit. With no stopovers that should have priced as a 100K r/t Business award with all segments in low band.
Last edited by 3Cforme; Aug 1, 2012 at 5:52 pm