Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
August 2013 is a long way off. I think the chances of something opening up, especially if you're flexible about connecting through DTW, etc. or taking an early morning flight are very good assuming that DL's FF program doesn't change drastically in the meantime. If you're willing to take coach and hope for free elite upgrades, as DM you get enhanced domestic coach award availability in low, likely even more so if you have a DL AmEx card linked to your account.
We are taking the 1st flight of the day to EWR in coach as 1st was not available. I have the AMEX/Reserve card. I am very flexible but there was nothing else.
Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
However, DL often tends to release a single award seat at a time, sometimes even releasing the second award seat immediately after the first one is taken, so I really think you should reconsider grabbing the first seat you see for your wife and hoping that a seat for you opens up later. IMO the risk of a GM on a separate but linked PNR in IROPs is less significant than the risk, inconvenience, and expense of doing an EWR-JFK connection during a summer afternoon thunderstorm.
Yes I know about their releasing. We arrive at EWR at 10:30 and will taxi to JFK or limo (current plan). I do not want to split PNR given potential issues on the return.
Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
As the trip gets closer, you might want to consider just deleting the MSP-EWR segment from your award tickets and purchasing a cheap one way ticket or two into JFK. This would mean a separate PNR for the purchased ticket, but DL is very likely to protect elites in IROPs, although their ability to do so would be less if the missed TATL flight is on AZ rather than DL metal.
Yes this is on my list. I did in 2006 on NWA when we had a flight in 1st PPT-JFK and could not get a flight to MSP. Got a $109 flight from JFK to MSP. We are not flying AZ but DL metal both ways. MSP-EWR-FCO-CTA return CTA-FCO overnight FCO-JFK-MSP. C TATL both ways. Y to/from CTA and to/from MSP
Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
ADDED. Another consideration is whether you will have expensive hotel reservations it Italy that are too late to be cancelled if you miss the TATL flight. If you're worried, you might want to book a cheap place near the airport for your day of arrival to get over the jet lag and then proceed the following day by the airport train or rental car to where you're going. If you're rebooked to the next day's TATL, you just have your own private arrival lounge (or day room if you have late checkout privileges) near the airport.
I am not worried about missing TATL honestly. Yes it could happen. I am not worried about FCO-CTA. We arrive at 7AM in FCO.
Thanks
Henry