The Definitive "How To Search for Low Tier Business Awards"
Dec 14, 2011, 5:40 am
#691
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
I find Wikipedia very helpful in figuring out (a) where carriers fly and (b) which carriers serve an airport. You'll always want to check the carriers' schedules to verify (especially since some routes run only a couple times per week), but it's a resource that I think too many people around here overlook when trying to figure out how to get somewhere.
Dec 14, 2011, 12:44 pm
#693
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
As recommended by the OP, try searching from the N American gateways (LAX/SFO/PDX/SEA/YVR plus most everything east) to find the overwater segment(s), then build on the domestic portion from/to SAN. If there's any flexibility to travel dates, you can get pretty close.
Dec 16, 2011, 2:23 pm
#694
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: UA/CO Silver
Posts: 121
Thanks for your help! It seems that since HNL is a leisure market, the airlines don't have their best business class seats on those routes.
Dec 17, 2011, 10:52 am
#695
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 61
Help with Business award ticket
Can someone help me put together a trip for 2 business class seats from IAH/DFW to MRU/SEZ/MLE from Dec 23 to Dec 31 +/-. I was able to find C availability to get to Europe, but not able to find anything from Europe to MRU/SEZ/MLE. The only option that comes up is 70k miles+$500 in Economy from CDG to MRU per pax. Any help will be appreciated.
Dec 17, 2011, 11:52 am
#696
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: DTW
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 514
Can someone help me put together a trip for 2 business class seats from IAH/DFW to MRU/SEZ/MLE from Dec 23 to Dec 31 +/-. I was able to find C availability to get to Europe, but not able to find anything from Europe to MRU/SEZ/MLE. The only option that comes up is 70k miles+$500 in Economy from CDG to MRU per pax. Any help will be appreciated.
Dec 17, 2011, 4:40 pm
#697
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
Some airlines do, such as DL's ATL-HNL. Other airlines don't have a special "leisure" product so just put their standard international offerings on the HNL runs as well.
Dec 18, 2011, 2:42 pm
#698
Formerly known as aepehrso
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New Orleans, LA
Programs: DL Silver, UA Premier, PC Platinum, HH Silver
Posts: 14
Honeymoon in Argentina/Uruguay
Hello, I am looking for some advice on how to get business award fare for two to EZE or Monteviedo, Uruguay. I have read through the most of this thread but was unable to use the tricks to find what I wanted. If anyone has any ideas on how to make it happen, I would very much appreciate it!
MSY-EZE-MSY
Depart January 14, 21, 28 +/-2 days, duration 8-10 days.
Thanks in advance for your help!
MSY-EZE-MSY
Depart January 14, 21, 28 +/-2 days, duration 8-10 days.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Dec 18, 2011, 4:46 pm
#699
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Delta flies ATL-EZE. Aeromexico flies MEX-EZE and will be bookable only by phone, but searchable with a Flying Blue account at www.airfrance.us. You may be able to use GOL Airlines (also phone only) to make a connection to MVD after flying Delta to Brazil.
Dec 19, 2011, 7:47 pm
#700
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,516
I've been looking for MSP-SIN tickets for months--on my way to CMB. DL was asking ridiculous amounts (200K, etc) for Economy, even more for Biz. While every time I checked I could get to Asia via various routings using CO miles in both Y and C.
After giving up on DL, I randomly checked last week and what?? Here is what I ticketed:
MSP-NRT-SIN (23DEC) in Business
SIN-NRT-MSP (06AUG) in Economy
Total miles 100K, taxes $81.
The only bad thing about this (yes, I do rag on DL a lot) is that, of course, anyone who wants to plan ahead for their trip is quite often screwed on DL. That said, with flexibility, it can work out.
Finally--I was actually trying to get to CMB, but wow is that an almost-impossible ticket! I (amazingly) got an agent to confirm SIN-BOM in 9W Business but simply couldn't get BOM-CMB. I could have bought a separate ticket on BOM-CMB for about $250, but the taxes/YQ on the 9W portion were like $180 alone. Also possible was MH but also could only get SIN-KUL and not KUL-CMB, at least at this late date--and taxes on DL/MH were also almost $300. Ended up buying a OW on UL for $240.
After giving up on DL, I randomly checked last week and what?? Here is what I ticketed:
MSP-NRT-SIN (23DEC) in Business
SIN-NRT-MSP (06AUG) in Economy
Total miles 100K, taxes $81.
The only bad thing about this (yes, I do rag on DL a lot) is that, of course, anyone who wants to plan ahead for their trip is quite often screwed on DL. That said, with flexibility, it can work out.
Finally--I was actually trying to get to CMB, but wow is that an almost-impossible ticket! I (amazingly) got an agent to confirm SIN-BOM in 9W Business but simply couldn't get BOM-CMB. I could have bought a separate ticket on BOM-CMB for about $250, but the taxes/YQ on the 9W portion were like $180 alone. Also possible was MH but also could only get SIN-KUL and not KUL-CMB, at least at this late date--and taxes on DL/MH were also almost $300. Ended up buying a OW on UL for $240.
Dec 20, 2011, 1:32 am
#701
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,543
It sucks that SQ is gone now. Did most of my CMB runs on SQ or UL. Never flown in anything lower than Biz. At least it's not a super long flight. 4 hours or so from memory.
Dec 20, 2011, 9:11 am
#702
Formerly known as aepehrso
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New Orleans, LA
Programs: DL Silver, UA Premier, PC Platinum, HH Silver
Posts: 14
not for the lack of trying
Delta flies ATL-EZE. Aeromexico flies MEX-EZE and will be bookable only by phone, but searchable with a Flying Blue account at www.airfrance.us. You may be able to use GOL Airlines (also phone only) to make a connection to MVD after flying Delta to Brazil.
Way to go, Delta!
Dec 22, 2011, 8:06 pm
#703
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 149
MKE- LAS next November
I am looking for 2 F award tickets for November 2012. I would like to stay 3 nights ideally during the week. I am willing to use 62,500 miles and so far I have found nothing at a reasonable time. I would like to get out of MKE in the AM and leave LAS late morning or early afternoon. I have found nothing! Any suggestions? I am doing somehting wrong? The calendar is useless. Thanks.
Dec 22, 2011, 9:31 pm
#705
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190