Originally Posted by
florin
SM int's awards are often VERY difficult. Recently I searched for a month and a half and finally gave up. I agree with the others who say that connector flights are very important. The key is to find availability in individual flights and then piece it together yourself.
+1
OP, many good posts here. I too will echo what many say, International esp J awards are super hard and frustrating with DL. A very unfortunate and sad part of today's FFP called SM - esp to many ex-NWA-ers when NWA was really good about award travel. Hopefully this will change, esp with the upcoming DO event in ATL where hopefully the DL execs can forthrightly address the issue.
In the meantime, piecing parts one by one is the secret and can be painful and long, but if you can get it to work it'll be a great success. Good luck.