The Definitive "How To Search for Low Tier Business Awards"
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: KUL/TPA/OTP
Programs: UA1k, DL
Posts: 3,138
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Glad this is working out for you guys!
Glad this is working out for you guys!
#17
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Programs: DL DM; UA; AA
Posts: 446
Thanks OP for some great tips!
Last month I utilized a somewhat similar technique (by-segment search) to successfully book JFK-KBP in J for 100,000 on the very dates I needed (booked and flown within December), after hearing "nothing available" on the phone. It has actually never occurred to me to search for Y, and I didn't think of searching for one-way awards either -- only round trips with dummy dates in the other direction.
It looks like things tend to be wide open within Europe (well, they were in my case), so you really need to nail down the TATL segments first, and then add on the rest. That's how I ended up with JFK-SVO-KBP-CDG-FRA-JFK. [At the end of the day, due to multiple WX cancellations, I was actually rerouted to skip FRA and go CDG-JFK on AF.] The SVO-KBP segment was on SU, so availability couldn't be checked online, but I could care less (sure enough, it was available when I called to book).
... The award calendar is broken, sure. But you know what?.. I'd love to see it not repaired. Because if everybody gets to see all the "hidden" possibilities with one click, then the possibilities will go away very soon. The way it is, if only those of us who know a thing or two see them.... you know.
Cynical? My word for this is 'realistic'
Last month I utilized a somewhat similar technique (by-segment search) to successfully book JFK-KBP in J for 100,000 on the very dates I needed (booked and flown within December), after hearing "nothing available" on the phone. It has actually never occurred to me to search for Y, and I didn't think of searching for one-way awards either -- only round trips with dummy dates in the other direction.
It looks like things tend to be wide open within Europe (well, they were in my case), so you really need to nail down the TATL segments first, and then add on the rest. That's how I ended up with JFK-SVO-KBP-CDG-FRA-JFK. [At the end of the day, due to multiple WX cancellations, I was actually rerouted to skip FRA and go CDG-JFK on AF.] The SVO-KBP segment was on SU, so availability couldn't be checked online, but I could care less (sure enough, it was available when I called to book).
... The award calendar is broken, sure. But you know what?.. I'd love to see it not repaired. Because if everybody gets to see all the "hidden" possibilities with one click, then the possibilities will go away very soon. The way it is, if only those of us who know a thing or two see them.... you know.
Cynical? My word for this is 'realistic'
#18
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Fairfield County, CT USA
Programs: AA PLT+2MM / DL DM+1MM / A3 *G / Fairmont LT Plat / Ritz Gold / SPG Gold
Posts: 4,077
OP: Great post. Thank you very much.
Yes - CDG more chaotic than most.
No - Intra-Europe J on AF/KLM is not a joke. The service is different than what we are used to the in the States (some better aspects, some worse), but it is largely consistent with all other carriers (BA, LH, etc) for short/medium call flights within the EU.
In Europe, in J, you do get lounge access and a not bad meal on most flights (two things lacking from most domestic F/J service). In Europe,
you don't get a lot of extra leg room (just a little extra) and typically no AVOD. Most 320s/737s are 3+2 in J, not 2+2 as we know here.
No - Intra-Europe J on AF/KLM is not a joke. The service is different than what we are used to the in the States (some better aspects, some worse), but it is largely consistent with all other carriers (BA, LH, etc) for short/medium call flights within the EU.
In Europe, in J, you do get lounge access and a not bad meal on most flights (two things lacking from most domestic F/J service). In Europe,
you don't get a lot of extra leg room (just a little extra) and typically no AVOD. Most 320s/737s are 3+2 in J, not 2+2 as we know here.
#19
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: DL PM, Starwood Lifetime Plat/Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hertz PresCircle
Posts: 48
So, trying out this system an I can see options that have the Business segments when searching for coach, but seems like it always keeps me in Coach for the domestic segment (i.e., SLC-ATL) and then finds Biz for the TATL segment (i.e., ATL-AMS). Is there a trick to get it into J for the entire trip?
#20
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ATL
Programs: DL - PM (Sky Priority);HH - Gold; Marriott - Silver; National - Executive; DL Reserve AMEX
Posts: 5,231
Hard time finding "low" award tickets...
Anyone else having an extremely difficult time finding anything in the "low" award level for summer 2010 to anywhere??
I've been looking at flying to either San Juan (PR) or Spain and can't seem to find anything in low for the entire summer. I am finding that the entire summer seems to be blocked into "medium".
Thoughts?
I've been looking at flying to either San Juan (PR) or Spain and can't seem to find anything in low for the entire summer. I am finding that the entire summer seems to be blocked into "medium".
Thoughts?
#22
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,055
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: KUL/TPA/OTP
Programs: UA1k, DL
Posts: 3,138
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I've had better luck with searching within 1mo pr less of the travel date.
Originally Posted by MikeyZBT
Anyone else having an extremely difficult time finding anything in the "low" award level for summer 2010 to anywhere??
I've been looking at flying to either San Juan (PR) or Spain and can't seem to find anything in low for the entire summer. I am finding that the entire summer seems to be blocked into "medium".
Thoughts?
I've been looking at flying to either San Juan (PR) or Spain and can't seem to find anything in low for the entire summer. I am finding that the entire summer seems to be blocked into "medium".
Thoughts?
#24
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Franklin TWP, NJ
Programs: Co-Onepass, Delta-Useless Skymiles
Posts: 651
Great trip, would like to do that again this coming Nov 2010, but it will be
NW/DL - EWR to AMS to BOM & return BOM to AMS to DTW to EWR..
Hope to score again for 120k.. Good Luck..!
#25
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Programs: DL DM; UA; AA
Posts: 446
Anyone else having an extremely difficult time finding anything in the "low" award level for summer 2010 to anywhere??
I've been looking at flying to either San Juan (PR) or Spain and can't seem to find anything in low for the entire summer. I am finding that the entire summer seems to be blocked into "medium".
Thoughts?
I've been looking at flying to either San Juan (PR) or Spain and can't seem to find anything in low for the entire summer. I am finding that the entire summer seems to be blocked into "medium".
Thoughts?
YMMV -- but if you absolutely need to plan your trip > 3 weeks in advance (as most people in most situations do, of course), you may be SOL
#26
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: TPA DL GM/ 2.8 MM
Posts: 1,132
The method is to find two one-ways that each price out at 120K, and then assemble the route using multi-city so that the round-trip returns a 120K price. That's a bit of an oversimplification, but you get the idea. For more detail, review Denolloyd's full method.
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: KUL/TPA/OTP
Programs: UA1k, DL
Posts: 3,138
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Y= Coach and J = Business. Start by selecting Coach and performing the search. Next, look for J (Business) fares within the flight options presented. Good luck!
Originally Posted by Hotcarl
When I search the award ticket reservations I can only select coach or business....
How can I specifically search J and Y fares on the award reservsations screen?
How can I specifically search J and Y fares on the award reservsations screen?