The Definitive "How To Search for Low Tier Business Awards"
#106
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: 17,423
Thanks for all the great advice. I have read this thread carefully several times and have been trying to apply the principles
I'm trying to get from Atlanta to Beijing in First / Business (2 pax) during April - May of 2011. I haven't been able to find anything less than 240,000 miles each. I've looked at connections through JFK, BOS, IAD, ORD, MSP, DTW, SEA, LAX to no avail. I have also looked at starting from these other cities rather than ATL.
Any advice or suggestions? 480,000 is a steep price!!
I'm trying to get from Atlanta to Beijing in First / Business (2 pax) during April - May of 2011. I haven't been able to find anything less than 240,000 miles each. I've looked at connections through JFK, BOS, IAD, ORD, MSP, DTW, SEA, LAX to no avail. I have also looked at starting from these other cities rather than ATL.
Any advice or suggestions? 480,000 is a steep price!!
Successes to, and through, NRT have been reported. Keep applying the method.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...-here-102.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...-here-102.html
#108
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: Delta PM, Hilton Diamond, US Dirt, Hertz PC
Posts: 88
I must be doing something wrong...
Tried to do a DCA --> SFO (9/1) --> HNL (9/4) --> MSP (9/10) --> DCA (9/11). Each of the one way first class were priced under 80k, but mysteriously combined it shot up to 110K+. Must be missing something...any suggestions?
#109
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Enn Why Cee
Programs: DL, CO, LH, BA etc...
Posts: 1,570
what if you do sfo-hnl-dca on miles and a one-way from dca to sfo...?
#110
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: Delta PM, Hilton Diamond, US Dirt, Hertz PC
Posts: 88
I tried that last night and for some reason it actually came out to be MORE expensive (150k+). I was able to price the above itinerary in coach for 52.5k (even with the stopover), though.
#111
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: Delta PM, Hilton Diamond, US Dirt, Hertz PC
Posts: 88
Was able to figure out what was wrong. Only 5 segments in a multi-city award reservation before it begins adding to the total. Also, since it is a Domestic first and then Hawaii first, even though the points were below say 80k, the tiers were different. I know...I'm a noob :P
#112
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Enn Why Cee
Programs: DL, CO, LH, BA etc...
Posts: 1,570
Was able to figure out what was wrong. Only 5 segments in a multi-city award reservation before it begins adding to the total. Also, since it is a Domestic first and then Hawaii first, even though the points were below say 80k, the tiers were different. I know...I'm a noob :P
#113
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ann Arbor
Programs: HHonors Gold , National Emerald Exec, Hertz Presidents, Delta Gold
Posts: 2,604
Try PDX-NRT 10/12, return 10/15. 120,000 plus $50 for C.
If you don't want to leave from PDX, find a low award to your city and back.
It took about 15 minutes to come up with those dates and city pairs, all by using the instructions at the beginning of this thread.
FTers I trust are telling me these tickets are out there, you just need to use effort to find them. And while I agree they are not plentiful and take effort, they are out there.
And if I couldn't find the low award C, and really wanted to go, I'd hire a pro like gleff or lucky9876coins, who both offer award ticket booking services.
Do NOT waste your miles for a mid or high business award.
If you don't want to leave from PDX, find a low award to your city and back.
It took about 15 minutes to come up with those dates and city pairs, all by using the instructions at the beginning of this thread.
FTers I trust are telling me these tickets are out there, you just need to use effort to find them. And while I agree they are not plentiful and take effort, they are out there.
And if I couldn't find the low award C, and really wanted to go, I'd hire a pro like gleff or lucky9876coins, who both offer award ticket booking services.
Do NOT waste your miles for a mid or high business award.
#114
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 959
I followed your instructions to a T but my multi-segment J itin priced out as follows.....
Departs Arrives Stops Travel Time Flights & Cabin
Price per passenger (USD):
View fare rules and baggage policies
View Award Travel Rules & Conditions
Type
Base Fare
232,500 Miles required
Taxes/Fees
+ $ 199.40 Taxes/Fees
Redemption Fee
Price per passenger
= $ 199.40 *
Total
Detroit-Wayne County, MI (DTW) to Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) on 15 Jan 2011
8:45am
DTW 7:05am
AMS
Arrives 16 Jan 1-stop
Chicago-Ohare, IL (ORD)
(7 hr 12 min layover) 16 hr 20 min Delta 1767
DC-9-50
In-Flight Services First
View Seats KLM 612
74M
In-Flight Services Business
Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) to Mahe Island, Seychelles Islands (SEZ) on 22 Jan 2011
3:20pm
AMS 7:15am
SEZ
Arrives 23 Jan 1-stop
Paris-De Gaulle, France (CDG)
(2 hr 55 min layover) 12 hr 55 min Air France 1741
Airbus A321
In-Flight Services Business
Air France 952
Boeing 767-300
Operated by Air Seychelles
In-Flight Services Business
Mahe Island, Seychelles Islands (SEZ) to Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) on 29 Jan 2011
9:15am
SEZ 8:35am
AMS
Arrives 30 Jan 1-stop
Paris-De Gaulle, France (CDG)
(13 hr 45 min layover) 26 hr 20 min Air France 953
Boeing 767-300
Operated by Air Seychelles
In-Flight Services Business
Air France 1240
Airbus A321
In-Flight Services Business
Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) to Detroit-Wayne County, MI (DTW) on 30 Jan 2011
2:20pm
AMS 5:00pm
DTW Nonstop 8 hr 40 min Delta 249
Airbus A330-300
In-Flight Services Business
View Seats
Shouldn't this be 120,000 for low level J (per award chart)?
Departs Arrives Stops Travel Time Flights & Cabin
Price per passenger (USD):
View fare rules and baggage policies
View Award Travel Rules & Conditions
Type
Base Fare
232,500 Miles required
Taxes/Fees
+ $ 199.40 Taxes/Fees
Redemption Fee
Price per passenger
= $ 199.40 *
Total
Detroit-Wayne County, MI (DTW) to Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) on 15 Jan 2011
8:45am
DTW 7:05am
AMS
Arrives 16 Jan 1-stop
Chicago-Ohare, IL (ORD)
(7 hr 12 min layover) 16 hr 20 min Delta 1767
DC-9-50
In-Flight Services First
View Seats KLM 612
74M
In-Flight Services Business
Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) to Mahe Island, Seychelles Islands (SEZ) on 22 Jan 2011
3:20pm
AMS 7:15am
SEZ
Arrives 23 Jan 1-stop
Paris-De Gaulle, France (CDG)
(2 hr 55 min layover) 12 hr 55 min Air France 1741
Airbus A321
In-Flight Services Business
Air France 952
Boeing 767-300
Operated by Air Seychelles
In-Flight Services Business
Mahe Island, Seychelles Islands (SEZ) to Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) on 29 Jan 2011
9:15am
SEZ 8:35am
AMS
Arrives 30 Jan 1-stop
Paris-De Gaulle, France (CDG)
(13 hr 45 min layover) 26 hr 20 min Air France 953
Boeing 767-300
Operated by Air Seychelles
In-Flight Services Business
Air France 1240
Airbus A321
In-Flight Services Business
Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) to Detroit-Wayne County, MI (DTW) on 30 Jan 2011
2:20pm
AMS 5:00pm
DTW Nonstop 8 hr 40 min Delta 249
Airbus A330-300
In-Flight Services Business
View Seats
Shouldn't this be 120,000 for low level J (per award chart)?
#116
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: Free checked in bag on UA & DL. Free icecream at Marriott checkin.
Posts: 2,862
WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!
I could redeem a Business Class award ticket to South America for next year at 100K miles. The outbound has couple of domestic connections but knowing Delta, I am sure by next year some flights might even disappear if not have dozen schedule changes that I can optimize during the course of the year.
Thanks to the OP for his tips ^
Now having successfully burnt all (~30k miles left) my NW/DL miles I can fly in peace with other carriers.
I could redeem a Business Class award ticket to South America for next year at 100K miles. The outbound has couple of domestic connections but knowing Delta, I am sure by next year some flights might even disappear if not have dozen schedule changes that I can optimize during the course of the year.
Thanks to the OP for his tips ^
Now having successfully burnt all (~30k miles left) my NW/DL miles I can fly in peace with other carriers.
#117
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Does dl.com list AF anymore?
I'm trying for one J r/t SEA - CDG approx. 10/19 - 24, all I get is either 200K J or Y lists with no J in them? I'm even willing to get myself to LAX or SFO for 100K r/t.
Or are there just no 100K r/t's at all that with DL miles (or a one week min stay required)?
Thanks in advance!
Or are there just no 100K r/t's at all that with DL miles (or a one week min stay required)?
Thanks in advance!
#118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
I'm trying for one J r/t SEA - CDG approx. 10/19 - 24, all I get is either 200K J or Y lists with no J in them? I'm even willing to get myself to LAX or SFO for 100K r/t.
Or are there just no 100K r/t's at all that with DL miles (or a one week min stay required)?
Thanks in advance!
Or are there just no 100K r/t's at all that with DL miles (or a one week min stay required)?
Thanks in advance!
#119
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
So ... I need to search Expert Flyer myself (a/k/a Do All the Work), and then call DL Partner Desk with the exact information, so they can charge me the phone booking fee?
#120
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: MCI
Programs: DL PM; AA EXP
Posts: 215
I booked MCI-MSP-NBO-ZNZ-NBO-CDG-DTW-MCI for 120K for 2 tix in J for November/December. Took a lot of searching airfrance.us and expertflyer.com, but got the days I wanted.