Whacky award routings honoured?
Jan 3, 2021, 12:41 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Germany
Programs: LH FTL, BA Bronze
Posts: 830
Whacky award routings honoured?
I can see some whacky routings being suggested by the Flying Blue on-line award booking engine. I don't want to go into too much detail for fear of being crucified by those in the know but I am sure the FB pros know what I am talking about. For example, Aegean Miles&Bonus are infamous for offering scenic routings on-line which are then manually cancelled a few days after booking. Does FB have a similar record or are you usually safe once a ticket is issued? I'd like to be reasonably sure before I transfer any MR points. Many thanks, ps
Jan 3, 2021, 1:11 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Posts: 568
If you talk about an award like Region1-Region2-Region1 for the price of an intra-region award, yet, that is totally fine. Got one booked over the phone and the agent even offered an extra segment on top of that.
Jan 3, 2021, 1:28 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,713
Given that we are facing a period of reduced travel that will likely extend for the next few years, just beware that there is at least a greater than usual chance that some of your sectors will be cancelled between the point the ticket is issued and the point you wish to fly, and your rebooking options are likely to be on a different routing given that you appear to be favouring an "out of the way" booking now.
Jan 3, 2021, 3:11 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: ±38,000 feet
Programs: LH HON, BA GGL, AF Plat, EK Plat
Posts: 6,428
I can see some whacky routings being suggested by the Flying Blue on-line award booking engine. I don't want to go into too much detail for fear of being crucified by those in the know but I am sure the FB pros know what I am talking about. For example, Aegean Miles&Bonus are infamous for offering scenic routings on-line which are then manually cancelled a few days after booking. Does FB have a similar record or are you usually safe once a ticket is issued? I'd like to be reasonably sure before I transfer any MR points. Many thanks, ps
Jan 3, 2021, 11:36 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,918
As suggested by Irishguy28, in the current times, it is better to fly direct or with the minimum number of connections. Even if some sectors are not cancelled, you may face issues with PCR tests required for connections with different timings allowed making it impossible to comply with. So choose the most direct route, even if it costs you more in miles.