FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Blistering NYT piece on SkyMiles: In DL’s FF Magic Trick, Not Just Rabbits Disappear
Old Aug 7, 2015 | 8:26 am
  #193  
javabytes
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Originally Posted by gigglypug
So true! My sister, who usually flies Delta from Germany to SoCal to come see me, has accumulated quite a few SkyMiles over the years. When she was planning to burn them on overvalued hotel rooms, I howled in protest at the apparent waste, but it became quite apparent that STR-LAX-STR is nowhere near as available/good value as LAX-STR-LAX...
Originally Posted by cestmoi123
Now that the system allows one-ways, why not just book it as two one-ways?
Originally Posted by gooselee
European origin fees.
Originally Posted by davetravels
The problem is the (I forget what we call it here) - European Originating Surcharge?

A coach round trip LAX/STR/LAX is 60,000 miles + $ 95.50 USD

A coach round trip STR/LAX/STR is 60,000 miles + € 427.33

So, it doesn't matter if it's a round trip or 2 one ways.
Sis is already originating in Europe. Booking one-ways is actually cheaper, because only the outbound would be hit with the IOS, while the return would not.

Taxes and fees come out to EUR 234.06 for a one-way STR-LAX and $12.00 for a one-way LAX-STR. Better than EUR 427.33 for a round trip STR-LAX-STR. Also, for cases where dynamic award pricing is in effect, from what we've seen, booking one-ways would result in lower miles for the return portion. However the change/cancellation fees would obviously be 2x if it came to that.
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