Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
I don't see how this is related to PM+ status and the cancel/redeposit fee waiver. If someone books an award and the ticket cannot be issued, the miles would be refunded for free.
1. They can only know is it really available if they have enough miles and try to book. Otherwise, no way to know is the reported availability real or not. Only find out at time of ticketing.
2. Miles are returned to DL account, not AmEx, SPG, or wherever it was transferred in from, if so was done to top off balance for a specific award.
So with DL it really is 'bait and switch' in a way that DL advertises a certain fare and availability, you transfer in miles, try to book and then DL says it's not really available (but if you search again, the flight is there again, just can never complete the ticketing).
It doesn't effect PM+ who can check availability (even if not ready to book) by booking and canceling. It impacts others more, as if one wants to make other travel plans prior to flight, cannot do so witout first booking flight, that then has a redeposit fee, and even worse if miles were transferred in for that specific booking.