Assume the following:
What is the best way for me to secure the three first-class tickets under these conditions? I would (of course) prefer to redeem miles using SaverPass rather than SleazyPass (I would jump on any tickets that had SaverPass available going only one way). I have been searching every day, but there have never been any SaverPass tickets available. (This is true whether I search for one passenger or for three passengers). I am concerned that if I keep waiting for SaverPass tickets to become available, I might get to a point at which there are not three seats available in first class on the flights that we prefer.

What should I do? Should I just book the three tickets now (all on SleazyPass) for 300,000 miles? Since the account I am using is Platinum, I could always cancel the reservation and redeposit the miles for no fee (or has that changed)? They way I see it, I could book the three seats on the flights that we prefer at the SleazyPass rate, and then keep waiting to see if SaverPass seats become available on other flights on (or around) our tentative travel dates (and even hold out hope that one or more SaverPass seats might become available on our preferred flights, which is of course less likely since we already have three first class seats on those flights taken).

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

ClipperCFX

there are plenty of DL flights (connecting in ATL) available for saverpass miles.

Thanks very much, but we also need to fly non-stop (due to the physical limitations of one of the passengers, changing planes would be too much to handle). I should have added that as assumption 5!

ClipperCFX

What I would do is:

1. Book the DL flights via ATL -- this way you get a SaverPass award ticket booked.
2. Waitlist the desired CO flights. This way if one of them opens, you will clear automatically.
3. Continue to monitor other flights (are you open to other airports -- FLL/MIA, or JFK for DL's nonstops?). If something better opens up, switch to that (e.g., DL JFK-FLL even if it's not 100% first choice).
4. Monitor the loads on the desired flights. Remember Elite members can book EasyPass seats so long as there are seats avaiable. So as long as it doesn't look like the desired flighits will sell out, you can book EasyPass flights (though there is a close-in reward fee if you book < 15 days). Keep an eye on this.
5. If you get to about 3 weeks out, I would make a final decision as to which way to go. If you don't get something you're satisfied with by then, redeposit the award. CO should let you hold the EasyPass award at that time (even without enough miles because you have a pending redeposit). Then when the miles post, ticket the EasyPass.

I think the chances of CO opening saverpass F rewards from EWR-PBI over the Easter weekend is next to zero. There was recently a thread on Ivana Trump having to sit in coach from PBI to EWR and raising a fuss.

I would consider buying FC tickets - at least for 2 of the passengers - on EWR-PBI before I would cash in 300K miles. Even at the new levels - a QF FC ticket is 285K miles - a value of about $25K.

Here's a thought:

I have a DL account with slightly over 100,000 SkyMiles.

Is it possible for me to redeem my DL miles for a first class ticket on CO from EWR to PBI (that would be my ticket)? I would then redeem only 200,000 CO miles for the other two tickets. (The 100,000 DL miles have proven to be pretty much useless to me, this would be a good way to burn them, if it is possible to redeem DL miles for a flight on CO).

ClipperCFX

You cannot use DL miles to redeem for EasyPass level tix on CO. Plus there would be the partner ticketing fees.

S.

+1 You are talking about burning a significant number of miles for seats that should cost at most 1000usd each, probably less if "R" class availability opens up. 300,000 miles does not, to many here, = 3000usd. Whether its flying on Virgin Upper Class to London, or QF to Australia or CO to HNL in BF (you get the point), there is likely a better way to realize the value of your miles. Purchase refundable tickets in 'F' (A class) on your desired flights and keep an eye open for 'R' sales or saverpass availability.

In fact, the tickets right now are $998 ($1019 A/I), fully refundable. I agree with everyone here - buy yourself an economy ticket, and buy the other two a first class one. And keep looking for R fares. If you are platinum, you'll most likely be upgraded.

In economy, there is even a Y fare ($743) which is an automatic upgrade on the outbound. The rest are K's and H's.