The Definitive "How To Search for Low Tier Business Awards"
#136
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, HH
Posts: 2
Standard tier award is 100K for Bus on DL/AF?
I have used all the methods suggested on this forum/ thread;
DL agent says 100K is the standard tier for Bus - even on AF.
I found seats on AF using the KVS tool for CS+ showing availability.
Am I readng the award charts wrong? They show low tier at 50K and Medium Tier at 100K. I just want to make sure that DL is not misleading me?
Found almost the perfect itin for taking mrs. wnt2run and lil runners to Paris for a surprise anniv vacation.
DTW-YUL-CDG; CDG-IAD-DTW for Sep. Interstingly, they cannot book award mileage on AF partner airline (CityJet) from CDG-FLR.
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wnt2run
DL agent says 100K is the standard tier for Bus - even on AF.
I found seats on AF using the KVS tool for CS+ showing availability.
Am I readng the award charts wrong? They show low tier at 50K and Medium Tier at 100K. I just want to make sure that DL is not misleading me?
Found almost the perfect itin for taking mrs. wnt2run and lil runners to Paris for a surprise anniv vacation.
DTW-YUL-CDG; CDG-IAD-DTW for Sep. Interstingly, they cannot book award mileage on AF partner airline (CityJet) from CDG-FLR.
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wnt2run
#137
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#138
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 170
Noobie here...followed the directions from the OP while looking for a JFK-CDG flight in November. Successfully found 100k J flights on dates that work, all stopping in Madrid.
Upon thinking about it, I said well why not just do a Madrid flight (this is leisure for me and the girlfriend so we're looking at multiple options). When I priced out the direct JFK-MAD flight on same day as originally priced JFK-MAD-CDG flight, it's only listed at 90k and not showing J.
How would I go about getting the JFK-MAD trip for 100k J?
Upon thinking about it, I said well why not just do a Madrid flight (this is leisure for me and the girlfriend so we're looking at multiple options). When I priced out the direct JFK-MAD flight on same day as originally priced JFK-MAD-CDG flight, it's only listed at 90k and not showing J.
How would I go about getting the JFK-MAD trip for 100k J?
First, you try to book for your first choice tickets in coach - just as this thread and others have said. Say that you are flexible. You may get lucky on your dates or near them - searching the options in Business for L-M-H.. If you get something, and then get the dreaded "the flight is no longer available" message, do it again, and get back to the screen. Call Delta. An agent will often force the system to give that deal to you.
Second, book something in the lowest available award category. If getting more than one ticket, do one at a time. You may find you get one for cheaper than the other. Put each on their own record.
Third, keep checking. Award prices go up and down.
In my case, I started at 100k for mine and 200k for my wife. Then I was able to get that to 100 and 150k. This week, 100 and 100k. Prices at one point were as high as 275k.
It appears the Delta prices the tickets up and down just like they do in the market. If there is a fare reduction in $, they lower the award category.
Also, remember to check before you come home. If you see a lower award before you return, Delta will let you switch to it.
#139
Join Date: Mar 2009
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#141
Join Date: Apr 2002
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#142
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I posted this quick guide to Business Award searches in another thread, but after a number of folks mentioned how great it worked for them, I decided to create a separate thread. Also, if anyone else has tips which may be beneficial, please post them as well.
I will be the first to say DL's award engine is horrendous at best, however there are ways around it.
Now for the guide (please note, although this guide was created to assist with travel from the US past AMS/CDG, it is also beneficial for all award bookings):
For awards beyond AMS / CDG in J, the best way to search is the following:
Search for USA - AMS / CDG ONE WAY in Y by Mileage.
In the flights displayed, look for those priced at 100,000, with seating in First / Business.
If you cannot find any 100,000 mile flights with First / Business seating, do another search but search for J this time.
Do this over and over until you find a 100,000 mile one way routing. Generally, it will be Business / First seats within your coach search. I think the problem most have is we tend to search for Business seats by selecting the business drop down. This is a big no no. Always select a coach search first, and seek business within, its often cheaper.
Next, perform another one way search in J for the AMS/CDG - EU. I generally find plenty of EU J inventory available.
Then, perform the same in reverse for your travel back to the US.
Once you find one way itineraries at the low mileage level, you perform a multi-segment award search. Be sure to select the flights you found earlier in the process at the low tiers.
Sometimes you may have to break down the segments even further such as TPA-ATL, ATL-CDG, CDG-OTP, in order to find the lowest available tiers.
One thing I have noticed is that so long as the DL Award Calendar shows J available at the low tier, it is, only you have to search to find it.
This is how I book my award travel in J to OTP. Takes a bit of work, but it can be done.
I am in the middle of packing for my trip tomorrow and will add more details later. Good luck.
Brad...
I will be the first to say DL's award engine is horrendous at best, however there are ways around it.
Now for the guide (please note, although this guide was created to assist with travel from the US past AMS/CDG, it is also beneficial for all award bookings):
For awards beyond AMS / CDG in J, the best way to search is the following:
Search for USA - AMS / CDG ONE WAY in Y by Mileage.
In the flights displayed, look for those priced at 100,000, with seating in First / Business.
If you cannot find any 100,000 mile flights with First / Business seating, do another search but search for J this time.
Do this over and over until you find a 100,000 mile one way routing. Generally, it will be Business / First seats within your coach search. I think the problem most have is we tend to search for Business seats by selecting the business drop down. This is a big no no. Always select a coach search first, and seek business within, its often cheaper.
Next, perform another one way search in J for the AMS/CDG - EU. I generally find plenty of EU J inventory available.
Then, perform the same in reverse for your travel back to the US.
Once you find one way itineraries at the low mileage level, you perform a multi-segment award search. Be sure to select the flights you found earlier in the process at the low tiers.
Sometimes you may have to break down the segments even further such as TPA-ATL, ATL-CDG, CDG-OTP, in order to find the lowest available tiers.
One thing I have noticed is that so long as the DL Award Calendar shows J available at the low tier, it is, only you have to search to find it.
This is how I book my award travel in J to OTP. Takes a bit of work, but it can be done.
I am in the middle of packing for my trip tomorrow and will add more details later. Good luck.
Brad...
Only options are to search by price or schedule and then the menu for either coach or first/business.
Sometimes, searching by price and coach, I get some business and first class flights for SFO-CDG but there's no indication of fare class there.
Has DL.com changed their interface since this guide was written up?
#143
Moderator: Hilton Honors forums
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Marietta, Georgia, United States
Posts: 24,989
How do you search by fare class?
Only options are to search by price or schedule and then the menu for either coach or first/business.
Sometimes, searching by price and coach, I get some business and first class flights for SFO-CDG but there's no indication of fare class there.
Has DL.com changed their interface since this guide was written up?
Only options are to search by price or schedule and then the menu for either coach or first/business.
Sometimes, searching by price and coach, I get some business and first class flights for SFO-CDG but there's no indication of fare class there.
Has DL.com changed their interface since this guide was written up?
Cabin is the default selection. You may change that selection to Fare Class and choose your desired fare class accordingly.
This functionality has existed for quite some time at www.delta.com.
#144
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The Fare Class option disappears when you check the "Book Sky Miles Award Ticket" box towards the top.
So if you search for non awards ticket, the choices returned (which are different than the awards ticket options for the same dates, same routes) aren't necessarily going to be available as awards are they?
For instance, if I search for SFO-CDG awards, the AF nonstops do not shop up at all but if I search without that book awards box ticked, you see the AF flights.
So if you search for non awards ticket, the choices returned (which are different than the awards ticket options for the same dates, same routes) aren't necessarily going to be available as awards are they?
For instance, if I search for SFO-CDG awards, the AF nonstops do not shop up at all but if I search without that book awards box ticked, you see the AF flights.
#146
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: DL, AS, Marriott, Hyatt, National
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http://www.delta.com/skymiles/use_mi...d_travel_fees/
#147
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: DL, AS, Marriott, Hyatt, National
Posts: 862
So if you search for non awards ticket, the choices returned (which are different than the awards ticket options for the same dates, same routes) aren't necessarily going to be available as awards are they?
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#148
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
If you're searching for an award ticket, why do you need to know the fare class? Isn't the mileage level required all that you need to know?
No, but you also won't see every option that's available looking at the search results either. Calling is your best bet for seeing what other options might be available, especially on partner airlines.
No, but you also won't see every option that's available looking at the search results either. Calling is your best bet for seeing what other options might be available, especially on partner airlines.
Or are they saying search for J fares and those should be available as awards?
#149
Join Date: Jan 2009
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see below
Air France 5101 -1
Reservation: Confirmed Zurich, Switzerland (ZRH)
Gate: N/A
Scheduled: 9:55am
Paris-De Gaulle, France (CDG)
Terminal 2E
Gate: N/A
Scheduled: 11:20am
1 Operated By Cityjet
#150
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