Award Ticket Success - Post It Here
Sep 30, 2017, 9:10 am
#4906
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSN
Programs: Delta DM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,987
Oh, oh. I booked an award ticket for my wife to join me in Athens on a trip half a year from now. I'm not worried about the long haul leg but there's a short regional flight on Alitalia! I specifically asked the DL agent about the risk and he said that once the award ticket is issued then it's like any other ticket and DL will protect the passenger just like a revenue ticket. So if Alitalia ceases operation DL would get her on another flight. I guess Rome to Athens isn't the hardest thing to figure out but now I'm a little worried...
Sep 30, 2017, 11:58 am
#4907
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
Oh, oh. I booked an award ticket for my wife to join me in Athens on a trip half a year from now. I'm not worried about the long haul leg but there's a short regional flight on Alitalia! I specifically asked the DL agent about the risk and he said that once the award ticket is issued then it's like any other ticket and DL will protect the passenger just like a revenue ticket. So if Alitalia ceases operation DL would get her on another flight. I guess Rome to Athens isn't the hardest thing to figure out but now I'm a little worried...
The problem would be a serious one if only one SkyTeam airline flies on the route, and then they cancel the flight/route...then you are in trouble, unless there is through somewhere else (double or triple connection) you can go on SkyTeam AND that has open award availability at the time. Then the best case scenario is a much longer flight and more time wasted in transit, while the worst case scenario is a refund and having to buy an alternate ticket via other means.
In your case though, no worries.
As long as DL flies to there, OR there is other SkyTeam airline availability to get to there, yes, and then you can break the routing rules, etc., as long as ST availability to get to there, or DL has its own flight(s) to the destination.
Sep 30, 2017, 4:02 pm
#4908
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: DL DM MM, IHG Spire, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 112
Just booked 3 D1 tix MBS-MSP-HND over spring break (late March to early April) for 160k each (I think that is "low" these days). There was still some availability on the nonstop MSP-HND and out of LAN and DTW on several days in the second half of March as well. Glad I could use most of my remaining miles without an insane amount of connections.
Oct 16, 2017, 5:20 pm
#4910
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 281
Well after fighting DL.com and the Mobile website over the weekend when they borked the partner award search, I saw that the availability returned. However, the website was conspiring against me and the Delta twitter folks weren't very helpful, but I was able to get some help on the phone. I was trying to book 2 pax in business from ATL to Delhi at the end of December for something less than 120k each. 
Some sleuthing revealed two pieces of the puzzle (ATL-DTW-LHR on DL in what used to be 'low' + LHR-AMS-DEL on KLM at standard partner availability).
Agent wasn't able to see it at first, and then got a sell denied on the LHR-AMS, but she did some magic and then it worked. ^
ATL-DTW: DL 737 F
DTW-LHR: DL 767 J
LHR-AMS: KLM 737 "J"
AMS-DEL: KLM 747 J
Total each: 97.5k DL Skypesos + $43 USD
This may be my last ride on the 747, so even though some of the other KLM planes may have a better seat, I'm pumped.
Some sleuthing revealed two pieces of the puzzle (ATL-DTW-LHR on DL in what used to be 'low' + LHR-AMS-DEL on KLM at standard partner availability).
Agent wasn't able to see it at first, and then got a sell denied on the LHR-AMS, but she did some magic and then it worked. ^
ATL-DTW: DL 737 F
DTW-LHR: DL 767 J
LHR-AMS: KLM 737 "J"
AMS-DEL: KLM 747 J
Total each: 97.5k DL Skypesos + $43 USD
This may be my last ride on the 747, so even though some of the other KLM planes may have a better seat, I'm pumped.
Oct 22, 2017, 2:09 pm
#4911
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Key West
Programs: DL Silver, AA EXP, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 401
A couple of weeks ago I found 2 one-way D1 tickets for next August, Munich-Key West for 87500 +$325 each, all on DL metal. With my obsessive nature, I randomly checked again today and found the same flight for 70000 plus an extra 75 cents. Called in and got it changed without a hitch. Nice rebate.
Oct 22, 2017, 5:23 pm
#4912
Join Date: May 2013
Location: RMS
Programs: DL Plat, UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Credit Card Diamond
Posts: 8,788
A couple of weeks ago I found 2 one-way D1 tickets for next August, Munich-Key West for 87500 +$325 each, all on DL metal. With my obsessive nature, I randomly checked again today and found the same flight for 70000 plus an extra 75 cents. Called in and got it changed without a hitch. Nice rebate.
Oct 23, 2017, 5:56 pm
#4913
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: DL Diamond, SW A List, HHonors Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum United 1K
Posts: 202
Found 10k per person roundtrip (!!!) tix LAX-SEA-LAX for next June Always a competitive route, these particular tix price at USD 199.00 Main cabin. Grabbed 5 of them since we’re doing an Alaska Cruise and assigned exit row seats to everyone.
Oct 24, 2017, 5:19 pm
#4915
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Singapore
Programs: Show me the points!
Posts: 1,224
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Oct 24, 2017, 6:53 pm
#4916
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
Oct 25, 2017, 1:10 am
#4919
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,626
Persistence and patience - I recently retired so have booked several trips for next year:
January — DCA-MVD-DCA in J for 150,000 miles and $71. DL as far as GRU, G3 GRU-MVD.
March — DCA-KUL/SIN-DCA in J for 190,000 miles and $195. DL rt DCA-JFK, CZ JFK-KUL, KE SIN-JFK. The KE flights are on a 777 and 380, so old style business class seats. CZ transPac is 777 lie flat. 4 hour flight CAN-KUL is 319.
April — DCA-MUC/PRG-DCA in J for 140,000 miles and $86. Open jaws increase the fees but are still bookable.
September —DCA-PRG/BUD-DCA in J for 140,000 miles and $116. This has CDG connections both directions while the MUC connection is nonstop ATL-MUC.
January — DCA-MVD-DCA in J for 150,000 miles and $71. DL as far as GRU, G3 GRU-MVD.
March — DCA-KUL/SIN-DCA in J for 190,000 miles and $195. DL rt DCA-JFK, CZ JFK-KUL, KE SIN-JFK. The KE flights are on a 777 and 380, so old style business class seats. CZ transPac is 777 lie flat. 4 hour flight CAN-KUL is 319.
April — DCA-MUC/PRG-DCA in J for 140,000 miles and $86. Open jaws increase the fees but are still bookable.
September —DCA-PRG/BUD-DCA in J for 140,000 miles and $116. This has CDG connections both directions while the MUC connection is nonstop ATL-MUC.
Oct 25, 2017, 3:03 am
#4920
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: DFW or Somewhere Else
Programs: UA Plt /Delta DM/ Marriott Platinum Prem./Hilton Diamond / Hyatt Globalist /Hertz PS / National EE
Posts: 1,107
Well after fighting DL.com and the Mobile website over the weekend when they borked the partner award search, I saw that the availability returned. However, the website was conspiring against me and the Delta twitter folks weren't very helpful, but I was able to get some help on the phone. I was trying to book 2 pax in business from ATL to Delhi at the end of December for something less than 120k each.
Some sleuthing revealed two pieces of the puzzle (ATL-DTW-LHR on DL in what used to be 'low' + LHR-AMS-DEL on KLM at standard partner availability).
Agent wasn't able to see it at first, and then got a sell denied on the LHR-AMS, but she did some magic and then it worked. ^
ATL-DTW: DL 737 F
DTW-LHR: DL 767 J
LHR-AMS: KLM 737 "J"
AMS-DEL: KLM 747 J
Total each: 97.5k DL Skypesos + $43 USD
This may be my last ride on the 747, so even though some of the other KLM planes may have a better seat, I'm pumped.
Some sleuthing revealed two pieces of the puzzle (ATL-DTW-LHR on DL in what used to be 'low' + LHR-AMS-DEL on KLM at standard partner availability).
Agent wasn't able to see it at first, and then got a sell denied on the LHR-AMS, but she did some magic and then it worked. ^
ATL-DTW: DL 737 F
DTW-LHR: DL 767 J
LHR-AMS: KLM 737 "J"
AMS-DEL: KLM 747 J
Total each: 97.5k DL Skypesos + $43 USD
This may be my last ride on the 747, so even though some of the other KLM planes may have a better seat, I'm pumped.
I am never pumped about DL awards. I just use my miles and think "oops" cannot wait to switch back in 2018