RTW Award ticket - strategy question
Dec 18, 2014, 9:59 am
#17
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: BIL
Programs: Delta FO
Posts: 786
Dec 18, 2014, 11:25 am
#19
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
Thanks. It appears that you are correct. I called into the RTW award desk and spoke to Keisha. We didn't get very far. I asked whether there was low level award space on my first segment: LAX-CHC. She informed me that that flight was not possible because, even though Virgin Australia is a SkyTeam partner, they do not participate in the RTW program. So, I am back to the drawing board.
I would guess that making changes to awards next year while preserving this year's pricing (both on RTWs and on stopovers) might end up requiring some HUCA, but we will see.
Dec 18, 2014, 12:43 pm
#20
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
Update: I just successfully booked a BE award trip for myself. It was not easy, but I was very flexible with dates, so we made it work. It took about 90 minutes. BE low award space was fairly straightforward to find on partner airlines, but nonexistent on Delta flights. So, my entire RTW is non-Delta.
Now, for the good part:
According to the excellent rep I worked with, you CAN book a dummy trip before 12/31 and modify it later. If you are DM, or book your wife's flight using your DM miles, there are NO change fees for changing flights, right up to the 72 hour window. You will ONLY be charged for taxes. My wife is GM, so I was very happy to hear this. I can't speak for non-DMs, sorry.
I have several more RTWs to book in the next 13 days, so I will try to verify this info by calling into the RTW desk again and speaking to another agent. If some of you can also do it, it would be helpful.
One other caveat: Once you make your RTW booking, you CANNOT change your departure date and airport after 12/31. So, be VERY careful about this one.
Also, remember that the RETURN date of your RTW ticket must not be more than 331 days from the date you book. For today, that means 11/14/15.
Now, for the good part:
According to the excellent rep I worked with, you CAN book a dummy trip before 12/31 and modify it later. If you are DM, or book your wife's flight using your DM miles, there are NO change fees for changing flights, right up to the 72 hour window. You will ONLY be charged for taxes. My wife is GM, so I was very happy to hear this. I can't speak for non-DMs, sorry.
I have several more RTWs to book in the next 13 days, so I will try to verify this info by calling into the RTW desk again and speaking to another agent. If some of you can also do it, it would be helpful.
One other caveat: Once you make your RTW booking, you CANNOT change your departure date and airport after 12/31. So, be VERY careful about this one.
Also, remember that the RETURN date of your RTW ticket must not be more than 331 days from the date you book. For today, that means 11/14/15.
Dec 18, 2014, 12:48 pm
#21
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: BIL
Programs: Delta FO
Posts: 786
That's what I was told and the 11/14/15 end date coincides with 331 days from today.
Dec 18, 2014, 12:49 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: DUS
Programs: DL, HHonors, Bonvoy, Hyatt
Posts: 2,072
I'm debating if RTW miles redemption is even such a good deal anymore. AZ has had two partial-RTW $500 tickets show up this year, making it rather cheap to book a simple RTW (in Y). I guess if you want J and have numerous places you'd like to visit it's worth it. 
I'm more of a go-where-the-deal-is kind of guy.
I'm more of a go-where-the-deal-is kind of guy.
Dec 18, 2014, 4:31 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,204
331 days is how far you can book at any given time, but ticket is valid 1 year and you can change up to one year later (later).
Dec 18, 2014, 8:53 pm
#24
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
Dec 18, 2014, 8:57 pm
#26
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
Dec 18, 2014, 8:58 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: DUS
Programs: DL, HHonors, Bonvoy, Hyatt
Posts: 2,072
Dec 18, 2014, 9:58 pm
#30
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Houston
Programs: UA
Posts: 289
When I booked a RTW award ticket in October, I had to book a dummy flight back to my destination since I could only choose flights 331 days out. I asked the representative when I had to complete the ticket by, and she said I have a full year from when I START the trip. Maybe she or I misunderstood each other... Is it one year from the start of the trip, one year from original booking date, or 331 days from original booking date?
