Is it really that bad?
#16
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Two years in a row I've been able to find RT low availability to EU leaving right after xmas and returning Jan 1-3. We purchased in October and November for December/January travel. Key is being flexible on dates. We had to get creative with the return last year, but found LHR-PHL available and added a $100 PHL-ATL on the back side.
We've also had no problems finding cheap flights during flash sales. Went to Italy for 105k last summer, direct from ATL, leaving Thursday returning Saturday.
Europe isn't bad if you are flexible.
We've also had no problems finding cheap flights during flash sales. Went to Italy for 105k last summer, direct from ATL, leaving Thursday returning Saturday.
Europe isn't bad if you are flexible.
Can get to ZRH or GVA for 140k each.
Can get to NRT and try the A350 suites for 265k each.
The extra 250k RDM is nothing to sneeze at, but we have the RDM sitting around and it's a shiny new product so...seriously considering New Years in Japan...
#17
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Was actually just looking for those exact dates (well, sort of - 12/26ish to 1/12ish). Deciding between Europe or Asia. 2 seats in J.
Can get to ZRH or GVA for 140k each.
Can get to NRT and try the A350 suites for 265k each.
The extra 250k RDM is nothing to sneeze at, but we have the RDM sitting around and it's a shiny new product so...seriously considering New Years in Japan...
Can get to ZRH or GVA for 140k each.
Can get to NRT and try the A350 suites for 265k each.
The extra 250k RDM is nothing to sneeze at, but we have the RDM sitting around and it's a shiny new product so...seriously considering New Years in Japan...
If you've never been in Asia around this time of year, it can be a bit strange. At least in big cities, you'll find extensive beautiful decorations that can disappear promptly by dawn on the 26th. Christmas Day might not be a national holiday, for instance in Japan IIRC. If you're accustomed to colder climates, Christmas and New Year's in the tropics can seem weird.
#19
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You might want to check hotel prices before deciding. Tokyo can be expensive around NYE weekend, with Christmas less so. However, some hotels don't really start taking reservations until three or four months in advance of arrival, so it can be a bit hard to interpret the availability you might find now.
If you've never been in Asia around this time of year, it can be a bit strange. At least in big cities, you'll find extensive beautiful decorations that can disappear promptly by dawn on the 26th. Christmas Day might not be a national holiday, for instance in Japan IIRC. If you're accustomed to colder climates, Christmas and New Year's in the tropics can seem weird.
If you've never been in Asia around this time of year, it can be a bit strange. At least in big cities, you'll find extensive beautiful decorations that can disappear promptly by dawn on the 26th. Christmas Day might not be a national holiday, for instance in Japan IIRC. If you're accustomed to colder climates, Christmas and New Year's in the tropics can seem weird.
The dates are firm. We will staying home with family for Christmas as we're gaining a new nephew right around Thanksgiving, but we've been itching for a vacation for a while so trying to get out right after the holidays. I would be worried if someone told me many things will be closed during the Christmas/New Year's week. We're not going especially for the holiday, so if it's just business as usual, that's actually a plus for us.
As Mrs. Lee is telling me to go ahead and book this, it looks like I will be headed to DL.com shortly. Can always redeposit if we figure out the trip won't be what we want it to be (favorite part of being a PM for me).
Last edited by gooselee; Jun 23, 2017 at 11:25 am
#20
Join Date: Jan 2014
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Good call. Might be better suited for the Destinations boards, but for a 2 week trip, could we potentially do a few days in Tokyo and then spend more time elsewhere in Japan? Would prefer that over Europe simply because we've been to Europe a ton lately (yes, yes...first world problems and all). Extended family is from SE Asia, so December in the tropics isn't news. But...is Japan really even the "tropics"? I'm used to Singapore/Malaysia...an 8 hour flight south of there.
The dates are firm. We will staying home with family for Christmas as we're gaining a new nephew right around Thanksgiving, but we've been itching for a vacation for a while so trying to get out right after the holidays. I would be worried if someone told me many things will be closed during the Christmas/New Year's week. We're not going especially for the holiday, so if it's just business as usual, that's actually a plus for us.
As Mrs. Lee is telling me to go ahead and book this, it looks like I will be headed to DL.com shortly. Can always redeposit if we figure out the trip won't be what we want it to be (favorite part of being a PM for me).
The dates are firm. We will staying home with family for Christmas as we're gaining a new nephew right around Thanksgiving, but we've been itching for a vacation for a while so trying to get out right after the holidays. I would be worried if someone told me many things will be closed during the Christmas/New Year's week. We're not going especially for the holiday, so if it's just business as usual, that's actually a plus for us.
As Mrs. Lee is telling me to go ahead and book this, it looks like I will be headed to DL.com shortly. Can always redeposit if we figure out the trip won't be what we want it to be (favorite part of being a PM for me).
Anyone have any success routing to Australia via Asia? I just tried to get a JFK - TPE - SYD Both segments opened but they couldn't price as 1 award. I have thought I heard others saying that JFK to PVG to SYD was still doable
?
#21
#22
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I successfully did DTW-PVG-AKL/MEL-PVG-DTW last year (the return ended up being SYD-LAX-DTW thanks to a schedule change). However, this was before the switch to make routings via Asia additive. Since then, I haven't found anything via Asia that isn't over 400k RDM.
#23
Join Date: Feb 2008
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You need to be aware lots of places shut down (especially restaurants) for the first 4 days of the new year. Also, it can be chilly and windy then. It snowed when I was there the middle of December.
This will give you some idea of what might be closed (scroll down for the chart)
This will give you some idea of what might be closed (scroll down for the chart)
#24
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That's true if one looks on O&D routes and searches a wide timeframe. Still not easy, and have to check several routes to ensure checking on one that has actual normal availability. But sure, that is somewhat easier than actually booking it.
#25
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You need to be aware lots of places shut down (especially restaurants) for the first 4 days of the new year. Also, it can be chilly and windy then. It snowed when I was there the middle of December.
This will give you some idea of what might be closed (scroll down for the chart)
This will give you some idea of what might be closed (scroll down for the chart)
Ended up booking the trip just to have it. We'll do some research over the next few weeks and decide whether or not to keep it (plus I'm assuming we'll get a schedule change or five between now and then).
I had a moment on the seat map screen where I was going to search for an A350 Best Seats thread, and then I realized that was probably a pointless exercise right now. :P
#26
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I'll be curious to hear reviews on the D1 suites once the A350s are active. My initial impression is that the D1 Suite is nothing impressive - that it's basically the 767 D1 suite with a flimsy "door" on it that DL is branding a suite. The actual seat doesn't even look that great - while the suite has a decent amount of space, the pictures make the seat look small - barely wider than an economy seat. As I said, I'll wait for reviews to come in before really beginning to judge but right now, my impression is that it doesn't appear to be worth paying any kind of premium for.
#27
Join Date: Mar 2010
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However, Switzerland is one of the most expensive places in the world, and Zurich one of the most expensive cities IME. I've never been to Japan, however.
#28
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And you should go to Japan!!
#29
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I'll be curious to hear reviews on the D1 suites once the A350s are active. My initial impression is that the D1 Suite is nothing impressive - that it's basically the 767 D1 suite with a flimsy "door" on it that DL is branding a suite. The actual seat doesn't even look that great - while the suite has a decent amount of space, the pictures make the seat look small - barely wider than an economy seat. As I said, I'll wait for reviews to come in before really beginning to judge but right now, my impression is that it doesn't appear to be worth paying any kind of premium for.
FWIW, I'm one of the few that really doesn't mind the 767 D1 seats. And if you trust DL.com specs, they have the A350 seat listed at 22" wide, vs. 20.5" on the beloved 744, and 21" on the 767/777/330. Bed length appears to be smaller (76"-81" range - I wonder which ones are the short ones), but I'm not that tall so it's not an issue for me.
...
But I really didn't mean to hijack this thread with me booking a trip. So back OT: Yeah! DL redemption rates suck! Rage! :P
#30
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http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...ta-s-a350.html