DL: BDL-ATL-SFO-JFK RT $505 ai, 4.62cpeqm

Hi all,

This is my first post. I have quite a few stories to share about TSA vs. my NEXUS ID (which I will post in the appropriate forum). Be on the lookout for them.

Just to give you some background Hartford (BDL) is a Cat 2, smaller airport. Getting anywhere near a 3.5CPEQM is difficult. 4.5CPEQM is the best I am typically able to do, especially since I can only fly on the weekends.

Booking:
Booked: BDL->SFO (X: ATL/CVG/DTW/MSP)
Booked: SFO->JFK (NS)
Booked: JFK->SFO (NS)
Booked: SFO->BDL (X: ATL/CVG/DTW/MSP)

No overnight stay needed, although you will have a 6 hour layover in SFO. Perhaps a nap. Otherwise pretty much constant flying. Decent chance of Medallion Upgrade due to weekend/odd time travel, not many business travelers are out flying on a Saturday.

For maximum miles you *must* book through ATL. This adds another 300-400miles per a segment going through ATL rather than DTW, MSP, or CVG.

Flight Information:
Flight # Class Date From/To Fare Basis Coupon Status
DL1724 U 02MAR12 BDL-ATL UR07A0WP OPEN
DL1649 U 02MAR12 ATL-SFO UR07A0WP OPEN
DL1210 T 03MAR12 SFO-JFK TA14A0SP OPEN
DL1565 T 03MAR12 JFK-SFO TA14A0SP OPEN
DL1880 U 03MAR12 SFO-ATL UR07A0WP OPEN
DL4872 U 04MAR12 ATL-BDL UR07A0WP OPEN

Cost:
Without the rebate affiliated w/ Discover & Orbitz the booking costs of $505 USD net about a 4.4 cents per an EQM.

Miles:
Total elite qualifying miles for the trip is ~ 11200. (Assuming ATL connection)

Booked via Orbitz. If you use ShopDiscover (through discovers site) and your DiscoverCard you will get 5% back from Orbitz.

Nice first post and welcome to FT!

What happened to my post? Are we not permitted to include pictures in it?

Redacted

Ah, okay. I just put a screenshot of the route so that people could check some of the timings. Thank you.

Thats not a bad one! Id be going with you but ill be just back form a MR to SFO the day before! Is it bookable other weekends?

Agree that BDL is often a viable alternative mid-sized departure point, and a decent alternative to BOS, especially for AAdvantage flyers -- BDL may show similar or even cheaper fares to some AA BOS destinations.

Parking is cheaper and less of a hassle at BDL than at BOS, and flight availability sometimes better. Routing may sometimes require an RJ to ORD for long-haul itineraries.

Biggest problem for me is limited public transportation access, though better to southern CT than to Mass. west or east. This limits OJ opportunities with BOS.... too bad.

WOW! Great find. BDL based here and been trying to book the $239 RT BDL-SFO on DL for mileage run. But the dates are mid-week Tues-Wed and I can really use the miles to keep my DL Gold status this year.

I was only considering those flights out to SFO afternoon/evening and return on the overnight so I can minimize time off from work. Trying to avoid red-eye and then rolling into work.

Did you book that MR for that weekend? I know that ATL is best mileage for the SFO run on DL. If I could swing that MR might be worth it? BDL is not MR friendly...

Was this only via Orbitz or did you try DL.com?

I had to look at the routing again to see that it's not a single roundtrip. Good one.

Pricing at 491.80 on DL.com. Seriously thinking of booking!

jeromyers, if you do let me know we'll meet up see if we can't pull some seats together on the flight.

Should be a trip.

It's hard to find that exact routing but it is bookable on other weekends. The ATL route is the hardest to line up. I'll be running that route again in April and May.

Booked! Price has gone down on DL.com. PRICE REDUCED! Was $494 ai last night when I checked and just got it for $446 ai brings it down just under 4.0cpm.

Last chance at that fare would be tonight- JFK/SFO legs are 14 day advance.

Definitely should be a trip- not sure about the 6 hour overnight nap at SFO

I've slept in SFO's parking lot before.
You should be OK.

Heh, ditto.

Agreed that BDL is not the best starting point. The alternative for me is a 2 hour train ride to NYC. Potato/potatoh.