AMEX Delta Companion certificate Consolidated Thread
May 31, 2017, 4:56 pm
#1666
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
Good thoughts. Not trying to get to PVG, just to MLE. Though I'd rather have a sub 24 hr layover in PVG than CAN. I agree, mixing DL fights with partners seems to mess stuff up. Unfortunately with DL ditching routes on DL metal in APAC and also killing partners over the years (SQ/MH) options are limited with you seemingly having to go with CZ or MU. I don't mind CZ and MU's product is ok, I just hate MU YQ fees and also the difficulty in booking on MU with DL SM.
Sadly I have forgotten how mind numbing and infuriating booking DL awards with partners can be. Trying to book as well BKK-DEN (option 1: BKK-CZ-CAN-CZ-LAX-DL-DEN or option 2: BKK-FM-PEK-DL-SEA-DL-DEN). Availability exists in O class on CZ and FM legs but DL agents get sell denied. Used to this for sure on MU, but not on CZ. Still can't believe what a joke it is to book a ST itin compared to say *A or OW. I can easily go to UA's website and search partner awards and book it. With DL, DK.dumb cannot search for barely any partners, then when I call DL agents they tell me there is no seats on the one itin that shows up on their screen. I have to tell them what flights I want and of course they come back and say "there is no flights". So I have to deal with a crappy DL.dumb, horrible DL award engine/IT, and agents that insist I am wrong. Oh the joy.....
Sadly I have forgotten how mind numbing and infuriating booking DL awards with partners can be. Trying to book as well BKK-DEN (option 1: BKK-CZ-CAN-CZ-LAX-DL-DEN or option 2: BKK-FM-PEK-DL-SEA-DL-DEN). Availability exists in O class on CZ and FM legs but DL agents get sell denied. Used to this for sure on MU, but not on CZ. Still can't believe what a joke it is to book a ST itin compared to say *A or OW. I can easily go to UA's website and search partner awards and book it. With DL, DK.dumb cannot search for barely any partners, then when I call DL agents they tell me there is no seats on the one itin that shows up on their screen. I have to tell them what flights I want and of course they come back and say "there is no flights". So I have to deal with a crappy DL.dumb, horrible DL award engine/IT, and agents that insist I am wrong. Oh the joy.....
Jun 1, 2017, 11:16 pm
#1668
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: 17,423
Thanks everyone for your help, esp RealHJ. Here's what I have so far:
1. Outbound - all in F/J for 97.5K
DEN-DL-LAX-DL-PVG-MU-MLE
2. Return:
BKK-CI-TPE-CI-LAX-DL-DEN all in F/J for 80K
Has anyone ever booked a US-MLE award with DL recently? I still think and am insisting with DL agents that 97.5K is incorrectly priced (ie additive pricing) even though many ST carriers (eg MU) have published (revenue) fares for DEN-MLE. Not sure if I should just keep calling the DM desk and demanding a supervisor and/or the ST desk look at it. Sadly I feel like every call to DL that involves partners (esp in Asia) is a minimum 30-45 minute call.
Fare code is as follows:
DEN DL X/LAX DL X/SHA MU MLE0.00CSM975/FFO21 USD0.00END
I read that being a single fare and not necessarily additive, so I'm stumped.
That being said, I booked BKK-CI-TPE-CI-LAX-DL-DEN and it originally booked in as 95K miles. Fare is as follows:
BKK CI X/TPE CI X/LAX DL DEN0.00CSM950/FFO21 NUC0.00END ROE1.00 EXEMPTXF
After 3 calls to DM desk, 3 different departments, and multiple supervisors, the ST desk fixed the fare and the new fare code is as follows:
BKK CI X/TPE CI X/LAX DL DEN 0.00CSM800/FFO21 NUC0.00END ROE1.00
Given that it's identical except the "950" vs "800" pricing tells me that DL still has some funny pricing stuff going on. So much for transparency.
1. Outbound - all in F/J for 97.5K
DEN-DL-LAX-DL-PVG-MU-MLE
2. Return:
BKK-CI-TPE-CI-LAX-DL-DEN all in F/J for 80K
Has anyone ever booked a US-MLE award with DL recently? I still think and am insisting with DL agents that 97.5K is incorrectly priced (ie additive pricing) even though many ST carriers (eg MU) have published (revenue) fares for DEN-MLE. Not sure if I should just keep calling the DM desk and demanding a supervisor and/or the ST desk look at it. Sadly I feel like every call to DL that involves partners (esp in Asia) is a minimum 30-45 minute call.
Fare code is as follows:
DEN DL X/LAX DL X/SHA MU MLE0.00CSM975/FFO21 USD0.00END
I read that being a single fare and not necessarily additive, so I'm stumped.
That being said, I booked BKK-CI-TPE-CI-LAX-DL-DEN and it originally booked in as 95K miles. Fare is as follows:
BKK CI X/TPE CI X/LAX DL DEN0.00CSM950/FFO21 NUC0.00END ROE1.00 EXEMPTXF
After 3 calls to DM desk, 3 different departments, and multiple supervisors, the ST desk fixed the fare and the new fare code is as follows:
BKK CI X/TPE CI X/LAX DL DEN 0.00CSM800/FFO21 NUC0.00END ROE1.00
Given that it's identical except the "950" vs "800" pricing tells me that DL still has some funny pricing stuff going on. So much for transparency.
Jun 2, 2017, 1:13 am
#1669
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
Thanks everyone for your help, esp RealHJ. Here's what I have so far:
1. Outbound - all in F/J for 97.5K
DEN-DL-LAX-DL-PVG-MU-MLE
2. Return:
BKK-CI-TPE-CI-LAX-DL-DEN all in F/J for 80K
Has anyone ever booked a US-MLE award with DL recently? I still think and am insisting with DL agents that 97.5K is incorrectly priced (ie additive pricing) even though many ST carriers (eg MU) have published (revenue) fares for DEN-MLE. Not sure if I should just keep calling the DM desk and demanding a supervisor and/or the ST desk look at it. Sadly I feel like every call to DL that involves partners (esp in Asia) is a minimum 30-45 minute call.
Fare code is as follows:
DEN DL X/LAX DL X/SHA MU MLE0.00CSM975/FFO21 USD0.00END
I read that being a single fare and not necessarily additive, so I'm stumped.
That being said, I booked BKK-CI-TPE-CI-LAX-DL-DEN and it originally booked in as 95K miles. Fare is as follows:
BKK CI X/TPE CI X/LAX DL DEN0.00CSM950/FFO21 NUC0.00END ROE1.00 EXEMPTXF
After 3 calls to DM desk, 3 different departments, and multiple supervisors, the ST desk fixed the fare and the new fare code is as follows:
BKK CI X/TPE CI X/LAX DL DEN 0.00CSM800/FFO21 NUC0.00END ROE1.00
Given that it's identical except the "950" vs "800" pricing tells me that DL still has some funny pricing stuff going on. So much for transparency.
1. Outbound - all in F/J for 97.5K
DEN-DL-LAX-DL-PVG-MU-MLE
2. Return:
BKK-CI-TPE-CI-LAX-DL-DEN all in F/J for 80K
Has anyone ever booked a US-MLE award with DL recently? I still think and am insisting with DL agents that 97.5K is incorrectly priced (ie additive pricing) even though many ST carriers (eg MU) have published (revenue) fares for DEN-MLE. Not sure if I should just keep calling the DM desk and demanding a supervisor and/or the ST desk look at it. Sadly I feel like every call to DL that involves partners (esp in Asia) is a minimum 30-45 minute call.
Fare code is as follows:
DEN DL X/LAX DL X/SHA MU MLE0.00CSM975/FFO21 USD0.00END
I read that being a single fare and not necessarily additive, so I'm stumped.
That being said, I booked BKK-CI-TPE-CI-LAX-DL-DEN and it originally booked in as 95K miles. Fare is as follows:
BKK CI X/TPE CI X/LAX DL DEN0.00CSM950/FFO21 NUC0.00END ROE1.00 EXEMPTXF
After 3 calls to DM desk, 3 different departments, and multiple supervisors, the ST desk fixed the fare and the new fare code is as follows:
BKK CI X/TPE CI X/LAX DL DEN 0.00CSM800/FFO21 NUC0.00END ROE1.00
Given that it's identical except the "950" vs "800" pricing tells me that DL still has some funny pricing stuff going on. So much for transparency.
That is, unless DL has recently changed how the fare calculation is displayed to just show the total price and always show it as a through fare, though in the background it's additive pricing (but to no longer show that in the fare calculation, thus one more layer of obfuscation, rendering the fare calculation essentially useless). That would sure seem like a move right up DL's alley, so that very well could be it...and if so then another step closer to DL's goal of segment-by-segment price, a la Avios, likely to be here sooner rather than later.
Jun 2, 2017, 9:39 am
#1671
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: 17,423
@mnredfox hmmm... I have RDU-DTW-PVG priced at 160K (F/J) oneway on delta one (DL743/DL583). looks like I grossly over-paid.
Keep in mind that PVG-DTW is a hard route to get in low (or get a GUC to clear). I've done it with a GUC (not exact, but about the same class availability I think) but I've always had to WL.
DL is charging 160K OW for flying DTW-ICN or DTW-NRT just because it's a 747 in my opinion for lots of fall dates. I checked the loads and J looks totally empty.
Jun 4, 2017, 12:36 am
#1672
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 315
Every route I check contains at least 1 leg that is P or G. Nothing is A all the way. After a lot of reading, I think what I'm hearing is that there is A inventory even if it is not shown on Delta.com search. Is that correct? If you have a certificate loaded, you can search for A. But I don't have a certificate yet, I'm just trying to figure out if I would be able to use one. So can I call Delta and give them some sample routing and see if they can come up with all A fares?
Jun 4, 2017, 8:23 am
#1673
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Every route I check contains at least 1 leg that is P or G. Nothing is A all the way. After a lot of reading, I think what I'm hearing is that there is A inventory even if it is not shown on Delta.com search. Is that correct? If you have a certificate loaded, you can search for A. But I don't have a certificate yet, I'm just trying to figure out if I would be able to use one. So can I call Delta and give them some sample routing and see if they can come up with all A fares?
But, that will just give you a narrower window of possibilities. AFAIK the Amex certs are still valid only on a subset of the AILUTXV fares.
That said, I've not had the issues using my certs that other folks seem to have.
Jun 4, 2017, 9:27 am
#1674
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: MCO
Programs: Delta - PM, HH - Gold, SPG - Gold, Marriott - Plat
Posts: 1,060
You can also use the advanced search to specify an A or higher booking class. Or use ITA matrix to get really specific.
But, that will just give you a narrower window of possibilities. AFAIK the Amex certs are still valid only on a subset of the AILUTXV fares.
That said, I've not had the issues using my certs that other folks seem to have.
But, that will just give you a narrower window of possibilities. AFAIK the Amex certs are still valid only on a subset of the AILUTXV fares.
That said, I've not had the issues using my certs that other folks seem to have.
I agree that I think you need to enter the certificate to see what is actually eligible at that time.
I haven't had any problems with the certs either and now if it's only giving me coach on the short leg, say MCO-ATL, I'll take it because I would expect at least upgrade to C+ (usually buying far in advance).
Jun 7, 2017, 1:19 am
#1675
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 315
Of course I didn't like the answer. It doesn't do what you said it does. You said an "I or higher" search would give me the fare codes that qualify. It does not. In one case I just tried, it gives APP and FPP fares. Neither qualifies if it has to be an A or an I fare, right?
I am just following up on other people's replies that said there are more fares that show; they won't show you one if it costs more than another, unless you have a certificate on file. Again the "I or higher" does not seem to help at all.
I am just following up on other people's replies that said there are more fares that show; they won't show you one if it costs more than another, unless you have a certificate on file. Again the "I or higher" does not seem to help at all.
Jun 7, 2017, 3:11 am
#1676
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: USA
Programs: DL Gold / AA Gold
Posts: 609
Of course I didn't like the answer. It doesn't do what you said it does. You said an "I or higher" search would give me the fare codes that qualify. It does not. In one case I just tried, it gives APP and FPP fares. Neither qualifies if it has to be an A or an I fare, right?
I am just following up on other people's replies that said there are more fares that show; they won't show you one if it costs more than another, unless you have a certificate on file. Again the "I or higher" does not seem to help at all.
I am just following up on other people's replies that said there are more fares that show; they won't show you one if it costs more than another, unless you have a certificate on file. Again the "I or higher" does not seem to help at all.
The certs will work ONLY with AILUTXV nothing above.
Searching "I or higher" just helps narrow down but will still give more than you need (I is likely D1 too). I guess it should be "A or higher" so it will force the "first class" to show but still "P" will show so it is still not a 100%.
The EASIEST way is you use the cert# to search.
Jun 7, 2017, 4:01 am
#1677
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Jun 7, 2017, 9:33 am
#1678
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: MCO
Programs: Delta - PM, HH - Gold, SPG - Gold, Marriott - Plat
Posts: 1,060
To clarify, he does not have a certificate so he cannot actually check. He's trying to decide if the certificate will work by looking for flights. It's a different set of flights from the certificate, but it's the best you can do. Since he wouldn't have the certificate for another year, you can't even check flights for a possible date.
So there is no "exact" answer. As I and others have posted, we have been successful with buying FC with the Reserve certificate. I have used mine for later this year and will use my wife's for another flight.
Jun 7, 2017, 10:05 am
#1679
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: USA
Programs: DL Gold / AA Gold
Posts: 609
Successful for the past few years on both first and cattle.
This is a weird case to be asking. Inventory changes all the time, even with cert in hand but no booking would do you no good. If one gets a DL reserve card ONLY for the cert, then I would say DON'T GET THE CARD.
Jun 7, 2017, 11:21 am
#1680
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Part of the problem is that he posted on two different threads so all the info is not in one place.
To clarify, he does not have a certificate so he cannot actually check. He's trying to decide if the certificate will work by looking for flights. It's a different set of flights from the certificate, but it's the best you can do. Since he wouldn't have the certificate for another year, you can't even check flights for a possible date.
So there is no "exact" answer. As I and others have posted, we have been successful with buying FC with the Reserve certificate. I have used mine for later this year and will use my wife's for another flight.
To clarify, he does not have a certificate so he cannot actually check. He's trying to decide if the certificate will work by looking for flights. It's a different set of flights from the certificate, but it's the best you can do. Since he wouldn't have the certificate for another year, you can't even check flights for a possible date.
So there is no "exact" answer. As I and others have posted, we have been successful with buying FC with the Reserve certificate. I have used mine for later this year and will use my wife's for another flight.