The Definitive "How To Search for Low Tier Business Awards"
Jan 16, 2012, 12:01 pm
#811
formerly known as daveland
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: NY, NY, USA
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTP, Delta Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 2,969
Just want to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong here... Looking to go NYC-TLV-NYC first week of March. Award calendar shows every single day, outbound and return at High (350K). The flights look wide open in Biz and 6 weeks out shouldn't be "too far in advance". I was able to cobble together an obscure itinerary JFK-FCO-TLV-PRG-JFK using AZ, OK, and DL, but the pricing of the non-stops sure seems maddening and I want to be sure it's not user error 
Jan 16, 2012, 3:08 pm
#812
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12
If you're seeing an award price higher than Low band it's due to the Delta segments to/from the North American gateway. All partner award segments (excluding a narrow Hawaiian Airlines exemption) are Low or not available. As the original post counsels, try looking for one-ways - if not segment by segment, then at least FLL-North American gateway city, gateway-destination (and it seems you can find some Alitalia flights).
FlyingBlue shows 3 coach Miami-Milan Malpensa on May 31 at Classic level (if that meets your end-of-school timing). That should be bookable by phone with DL miles. I'm sure more time searching would yield more results.
added: There's a LOT of MIA-Rome appearing in early June with connections via London and/or Paris on dates where I clicked through.
FlyingBlue shows 3 coach Miami-Milan Malpensa on May 31 at Classic level (if that meets your end-of-school timing). That should be bookable by phone with DL miles. I'm sure more time searching would yield more results.
added: There's a LOT of MIA-Rome appearing in early June with connections via London and/or Paris on dates where I clicked through.
Jan 16, 2012, 7:57 pm
#813
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,537
I guess I just needed to pick up the phone, because although the MIA-VCE-FCO-MIA was showing at 90K-ish miles online, the agent was able to book it for me for 60,000 each (for some reason I thought 50k was the min to Europe but she says it's 60k). So I'm very happy with that. Thanks to everyone on this site, so glad I found it!
Jan 17, 2012, 2:48 pm
#814
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12
Jan 17, 2012, 5:38 pm
#815
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,419
Jan 17, 2012, 9:28 pm
#816
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,537
Jan 17, 2012, 10:45 pm
#817
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Makati City, Philippines
Programs: Delta Skymiles DM, CX GO, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,361
Could this be right or was there a mistake?
So I called the PM line last night and asked the agent if he could find me any low business awards anytime in February for a 2 week trip fro 2 people, at least I am pretty sure I said BE award, JFK to MNL anytime in February. He comes back minutes later saying he has low level going out only on Feb 2 but nothing low coming back, only medium for the return all the way thru April. I asked if that was on DL metal and could he check KE flight 082, he said he checked everything ( not sure what exactly everything is) so I had him price it out for 2 tickets JFK>MNL Feb 2 rt Feb 15 and he comes back with a total of 95K SM per person, total 190K SM plus tax and fees. Could this be right, it did not sound right to me, thinking it he may have mistaken coach award for BE, but even that does not seem to add up to the 95K. Any thoughts?
Last edited by craig44485; Jan 17, 2012 at 10:52 pm Reason: additional information
Jan 18, 2012, 12:30 am
#818
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
So I called the PM line last night and asked the agent if he could find me any low business awards anytime in February for a 2 week trip fro 2 people, at least I am pretty sure I said BE award, JFK to MNL anytime in February. He comes back minutes later saying he has low level going out only on Feb 2 but nothing low coming back, only medium for the return all the way thru April. I asked if that was on DL metal and could he check KE flight 082, he said he checked everything ( not sure what exactly everything is) so I had him price it out for 2 tickets JFK>MNL Feb 2 rt Feb 15 and he comes back with a total of 95K SM per person, total 190K SM plus tax and fees. Could this be right, it did not sound right to me, thinking it he may have mistaken coach award for BE, but even that does not seem to add up to the 95K. Any thoughts?
Jan 18, 2012, 1:00 am
#819
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Makati City, Philippines
Programs: Delta Skymiles DM, CX GO, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,361
No, I did not ticket it, I was worried about it, and was not sure if I could cancel at get my miles back if I did ticket it, it just did not sound right. Very new to this, this would be my first award tickets to book, and I am finding it extremely difficult and frustrating.
Jan 18, 2012, 2:03 am
#820
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
No, I did not ticket it, I was worried about it, and was not sure if I could cancel at get my miles back if I did ticket it, it just did not sound right. Very new to this, this would be my first award tickets to book, and I am finding it extremely difficult and frustrating.
Jan 18, 2012, 10:38 am
#822
formerly known as daveland
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: NY, NY, USA
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTP, Delta Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 2,969
I was on the phone last night with a PM agent that twice tried to confirm me in revenue class tickets for an award (including a codeshare!?) and also completely blew it when I asked a question about open jaws/stopovers in an award (I later confirmed here). You would think that PM agents would be better trained, but at least you know that you need to double and triple check what they give you.
Jan 18, 2012, 5:13 pm
#823
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12
I guess I just needed to pick up the phone, because although the MIA-VCE-FCO-MIA was showing at 90K-ish miles online, the agent was able to book it for me for 60,000 each (for some reason I thought 50k was the min to Europe but she says it's 60k). So I'm very happy with that. Thanks to everyone on this site, so glad I found it!
Jan 18, 2012, 5:34 pm
#824
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: AL
Programs: All of the Above
Posts: 1,374
Turns out when I told my DH and DS we would change planes in Paris, a light bulb went on for them; let's visit Paris (my DS has never been). So originally I thought I would just book from MIA-CDG, then get a flight to VCE; then we are traveling through Italy, and fly home FCO-MIA. BUT reading this thread more, I should be able to just "stopover" in Paris for 3 or 4 nights, and continue to VCE, and it would be the same # of miles?
Jan 18, 2012, 5:56 pm
#825
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Yes, for the 60K price of a coach round trip you can have a stopover on a valid routing MIA-VCE (Paris works, as would Amsterdam and a dozen other cities) and the open jaw return from FCO.