The Definitive "How To Search for Low Tier Business Awards"
Jan 10, 2012, 11:55 am
#766
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New York, western US
Programs: DM/3MM
Posts: 4,246
Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3G: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)
In addition to 3C's comments, be sure to have the agents search point to point on their end. I have had challenges with them in the past insisting a flight was not available due to an "improper" search on their end.
Good luck.
In addition to 3C's comments, be sure to have the agents search point to point on their end. I have had challenges with them in the past insisting a flight was not available due to an "improper" search on their end.
Good luck.
Jan 10, 2012, 12:05 pm
#767
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: KUL/TPA/OTP
Programs: UA1k, DL
Posts: 3,138
For example, I called DL to book TPA-MSP-LHR-OTP recently. The agent insisted there was no LHR-OTP direct routing available (it was on RO). Although I gave them the flights to search, the Agent instead simply searched TPA-OTP. In doing so, the last leg operated by RO did not display to him as an available option. When I insisted he search via the point to point method (TPA-MSP, MSP-LHR, LHR-OTP), he was able to find the RO flight, and I was good to go.
Jan 10, 2012, 12:08 pm
#768
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New York, western US
Programs: DM/3MM
Posts: 4,246
Point to point would be the same method used in this thread. The DL reps typically search the way most individuals do, Origin - Destination, which for some reason eliminates certain flights.
For example, I called DL to book TPA-MSP-LHR-OTP recently. The agent insisted there was no LHR-OTP direct routing available (it was on RO). Although I gave them the flights to search, the Agent instead simply searched TPA-OTP. In doing so, the last leg operated by RO did not display to him as an available option. When I insisted he search via the point to point method (TPA-MSP, MSP-LHR, LHR-OTP), he was able to find the RO flight, and I was good to go.
For example, I called DL to book TPA-MSP-LHR-OTP recently. The agent insisted there was no LHR-OTP direct routing available (it was on RO). Although I gave them the flights to search, the Agent instead simply searched TPA-OTP. In doing so, the last leg operated by RO did not display to him as an available option. When I insisted he search via the point to point method (TPA-MSP, MSP-LHR, LHR-OTP), he was able to find the RO flight, and I was good to go.
Jan 10, 2012, 12:16 pm
#769
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: KUL/TPA/OTP
Programs: UA1k, DL
Posts: 3,138
Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3G: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)
Thanks much...if I mention point to point, will the agents know to what I'm referring, or should I be prepared to explain it?
Anytime. And yes, I'd be prepared to explain.
Originally Posted by TrojanTraveler
Point to point would be the same method used in this thread. The DL reps typically search the way most individuals do, Origin - Destination, which for some reason eliminates certain flights.
For example, I called DL to book TPA-MSP-LHR-OTP recently. The agent insisted there was no LHR-OTP direct routing available (it was on RO). Although I gave them the flights to search, the Agent instead simply searched TPA-OTP. In doing so, the last leg operated by RO did not display to him as an available option. When I insisted he search via the point to point method (TPA-MSP, MSP-LHR, LHR-OTP), he was able to find the RO flight, and I was good to go.
For example, I called DL to book TPA-MSP-LHR-OTP recently. The agent insisted there was no LHR-OTP direct routing available (it was on RO). Although I gave them the flights to search, the Agent instead simply searched TPA-OTP. In doing so, the last leg operated by RO did not display to him as an available option. When I insisted he search via the point to point method (TPA-MSP, MSP-LHR, LHR-OTP), he was able to find the RO flight, and I was good to go.
Jan 10, 2012, 1:06 pm
#770
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New York, western US
Programs: DM/3MM
Posts: 4,246
Thanks again...that worked! "Point to point" didn't work, but they looked "by segment" and that did...(yes, I know it's the same thing). Again, many thanks.
Jan 10, 2012, 1:13 pm
#771
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: KUL/TPA/OTP
Programs: UA1k, DL
Posts: 3,138
Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3G: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)
Awesome!
Originally Posted by TrojanTraveler
Thanks again...that worked! "Point to point" didn't work, but they looked "by segment" and that did...(yes, I know it's the same thing). Again, many thanks.
Jan 11, 2012, 9:37 am
#772
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,578
Well, I FINALLY got my trip with 2 business tickets. I had to change the dates slightly and many thanks for the tip to search by schedule. After 3 hours of trying and calling and searching, I tried another search by schedule only on specific dates without the calendar, using the available dates per the AF tool. Eventually I got the DL site to bring up the flights that were available in business per AF and got the system to allow me to book them, despite 2 DL agents insisting there was no availability. Apparently forcing a search by "schedule" and by only allowing to search on specific dates did something.
A ton of thanks to you guys here for the tips as I would not have been able to get them otherwise. Adios DL as I finally burned the last 200,000 miles now.
A ton of thanks to you guys here for the tips as I would not have been able to get them otherwise. Adios DL as I finally burned the last 200,000 miles now.
Jan 11, 2012, 11:22 am
#773
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Well, I FINALLY got my trip with 2 business tickets. I had to change the dates slightly and many thanks for the tip to search by schedule. After 3 hours of trying and calling and searching, I tried another search by schedule only on specific dates without the calendar, using the available dates per the AF tool. Eventually I got the DL site to bring up the flights that were available in business per AF and got the system to allow me to book them, despite 2 DL agents insisting there was no availability. Apparently forcing a search by "schedule" and by only allowing to search on specific dates did something.
A ton of thanks to you guys here for the tips as I would not have been able to get them otherwise. Adios DL as I finally burned the last 200,000 miles now.
A ton of thanks to you guys here for the tips as I would not have been able to get them otherwise. Adios DL as I finally burned the last 200,000 miles now.
Jan 11, 2012, 1:40 pm
#774
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,983
I too noticed DL.com cannot get RO availability. Someone please remind me, what is the best way to deal with Delta over the phone to avoid $25 ticketing fee: start an itinerary online and put it on hold then call and have agent add segments, OR start from scratch with the agent and ask them to put the reservation on hold to be purchased later online?
Jan 11, 2012, 1:58 pm
#775
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: JFK/LGA/EWR
Posts: 1,296
I too noticed DL.com cannot get RO availability. Someone please remind me, what is the best way to deal with Delta over the phone to avoid $25 ticketing fee: start an itinerary online and put it on hold then call and have agent add segments, OR start from scratch with the agent and ask them to put the reservation on hold to be purchased later online?
Jan 11, 2012, 1:58 pm
#776
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: KUL/TPA/OTP
Programs: UA1k, DL
Posts: 3,138
Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3G: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)
I make note of The flights I want, call DL, have them place on hold, then "purchase" online after.
Originally Posted by michael_v
I too noticed DL.com cannot get RO availability. Someone please remind me, what is the best way to deal with Delta over the phone to avoid $25 ticketing fee: start an itinerary online and put it on hold then call and have agent add segments, OR start from scratch with the agent and ask them to put the reservation on hold to be purchased later online?
Jan 11, 2012, 2:02 pm
#777
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,983
Thank you!
Jan 11, 2012, 2:04 pm
#778
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: KUL/TPA/OTP
Programs: UA1k, DL
Posts: 3,138
Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3G: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)
Cu plăcere!
Originally Posted by michael_v
Thank you!
Jan 11, 2012, 2:45 pm
#779
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: Curr Noob, Ex Road Warrior
Posts: 492
I knew about the airport taxes but wasn't sure which countries were more tax friendly but read that FRA is also a good choice (no low awards for AMS-JFK in my time frame) and originally thought about spending some time there. So I booked the following:
JFK-LHR stay in london 5 days
LHR-AMS stay in Amsterdam 3 days
AMS-FRA stay in Frankfurt 1 day
FRA-JFK
Still 100k and taxes cut to $168.60 saving me $150 and a train ride. Thanks for the advice!
Now my next step is to book flights on aircraft other than 767s. For the flights I booked just now that would require a connection to another city. However, when I originally looked at JFK-AMS I saw that KLM operates a 777 and 747 but they were not availalble as an award at all (even on FB) and all I could book was DL's 767. Not that I'm complaining but I'd like to try BE in one of those planes.
JFK-LHR stay in london 5 days
LHR-AMS stay in Amsterdam 3 days
AMS-FRA stay in Frankfurt 1 day
FRA-JFK
Still 100k and taxes cut to $168.60 saving me $150 and a train ride. Thanks for the advice!
Now my next step is to book flights on aircraft other than 767s. For the flights I booked just now that would require a connection to another city. However, when I originally looked at JFK-AMS I saw that KLM operates a 777 and 747 but they were not availalble as an award at all (even on FB) and all I could book was DL's 767. Not that I'm complaining but I'd like to try BE in one of those planes.
Jan 11, 2012, 2:51 pm
#780
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,983
But even with FRA not being stopover, there are still 2 stopovers left: LHR and AMS. I thought we were only allowed one stopover per round-trip?