The Definitive "How To Search for Low Tier Business Awards"
Jul 5, 2010, 11:42 pm
#121
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
So if you find award inventory on expertflyer or another Skyteam site, then you call Delta and ask them to book those?
Trying to book for next May now and DL.com of course isn't showing any AF awards to FCO for instance (ultimately want to get to PMO but apparently they don't offer awards all the way down to PMO).
I tried the tricks suggested, searching one segment at a time for coach seats and they're just not showing up that far out.
Should I hope that a few months from the target travel date, more inventory will show up on DL.com?
Or pay the booking fee now and call them?
Trying to book for next May now and DL.com of course isn't showing any AF awards to FCO for instance (ultimately want to get to PMO but apparently they don't offer awards all the way down to PMO).
I tried the tricks suggested, searching one segment at a time for coach seats and they're just not showing up that far out.
Should I hope that a few months from the target travel date, more inventory will show up on DL.com?
Or pay the booking fee now and call them?
Jul 6, 2010, 6:03 am
#122
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
The contention of this thread is that awards can be found - not that it's easy. For how many partners of AA can awards be booked online? US?
Jul 6, 2010, 6:10 am
#123
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
So if you find award inventory on expertflyer or another Skyteam site, then you call Delta and ask them to book those?
Trying to book for next May now and DL.com of course isn't showing any AF awards to FCO for instance (ultimately want to get to PMO but apparently they don't offer awards all the way down to PMO).
Trying to book for next May now and DL.com of course isn't showing any AF awards to FCO for instance (ultimately want to get to PMO but apparently they don't offer awards all the way down to PMO).
Jul 6, 2010, 9:17 am
#124
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
If they are bookable on DL.com (w/o phone fee), then why don't they show up in searches? Moreover, if I were to find space available according to Expert Flyer, but DL.com isn't showing those segments as available, then wouldn't I need to call anyway to have an agent do the booking?
Jul 6, 2010, 11:21 am
#125
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: Free checked in bag on UA & DL. Free icecream at Marriott checkin.
Posts: 2,862
Did you have to create a login in Airfrance.us to get to check their award space inventory?
Jul 6, 2010, 2:24 pm
#126
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 144
Help understading Expert Flyer
Just signed up for Expert Flyer. I am new and need some help. When looking for the business class award tickets, what code I am looking for. Is it code G? I see the following message:
First - Domestic upgrades using Miles or PMU/SWU certs
under the available class. Does that mean there is first class available?
Thanks.
CR
First - Domestic upgrades using Miles or PMU/SWU certs
under the available class. Does that mean there is first class available?
Thanks.
CR
Jul 7, 2010, 11:31 am
#127
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: DL, AS, Marriott, Hyatt, National
Posts: 863
Just signed up for Expert Flyer. I am new and need some help. When looking for the business class award tickets, what code I am looking for. Is it code G? I see the following message:
First - Domestic upgrades using Miles or PMU/SWU certs
under the available class. Does that mean there is first class available?
Thanks.
CR
First - Domestic upgrades using Miles or PMU/SWU certs
under the available class. Does that mean there is first class available?
Thanks.
CR
This page has a lot of useful information:
http://www.expertflyer.com/new-to-expertflyer
Jul 7, 2010, 2:43 pm
#128
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Silicon Valley/Seattle/Vancouver
Programs: Hyatt Globalist; Aeroplan 35k; Alaska MVP Gold; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 86
Noobie here...followed the directions from the OP while looking for a JFK-CDG flight in November. Successfully found 100k J flights on dates that work, all stopping in Madrid.
Upon thinking about it, I said well why not just do a Madrid flight (this is leisure for me and the girlfriend so we're looking at multiple options). When I priced out the direct JFK-MAD flight on same day as originally priced JFK-MAD-CDG flight, it's only listed at 90k and not showing J.
How would I go about getting the JFK-MAD trip for 100k J?
Upon thinking about it, I said well why not just do a Madrid flight (this is leisure for me and the girlfriend so we're looking at multiple options). When I priced out the direct JFK-MAD flight on same day as originally priced JFK-MAD-CDG flight, it's only listed at 90k and not showing J.
How would I go about getting the JFK-MAD trip for 100k J?
Jul 7, 2010, 4:42 pm
#129
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
Just signed up for Expert Flyer. I am new and need some help. When looking for the business class award tickets, what code I am looking for. Is it code G? I see the following message:
First - Domestic upgrades using Miles or PMU/SWU certs
under the available class. Does that mean there is first class available?
First - Domestic upgrades using Miles or PMU/SWU certs
under the available class. Does that mean there is first class available?
Jul 7, 2010, 7:47 pm
#130
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 253
Just signed up for Expert Flyer. I am new and need some help. When looking for the business class award tickets, what code I am looking for. Is it code G? I see the following message:
First - Domestic upgrades using Miles or PMU/SWU certs
under the available class. Does that mean there is first class available?
Thanks.
CR
First - Domestic upgrades using Miles or PMU/SWU certs
under the available class. Does that mean there is first class available?
Thanks.
CR
Jul 9, 2010, 5:32 pm
#131
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: DL DM 5MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 50
Is ATL-PPT-SYD-ATL ever possible w/ Low Mileage in BE
I have been searching for a low mileage award ticket (2 people) in BE from ATL-PPT-SYD-ATL for the last 6 months. It seems there is no way to get from PPT to SYD so I am looking for ATL to PPT and SYD - ATL.
I've tried KVS , Delta.com and absolutely no luck, we don't care which way we get routed and want to leave mid October and come back 3 weeks later.
If anyone can give any suggestions or knows of anything it would be incredibly appreciated.
Delta.com only shows medium level awards for BE no matter what I try.
Filip
I've tried KVS , Delta.com and absolutely no luck, we don't care which way we get routed and want to leave mid October and come back 3 weeks later.
If anyone can give any suggestions or knows of anything it would be incredibly appreciated.
Delta.com only shows medium level awards for BE no matter what I try.
Filip
Jul 9, 2010, 6:15 pm
#132
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
I have been searching for a low mileage award ticket (2 people) in BE from ATL-PPT-SYD-ATL for the last 6 months. It seems there is no way to get from PPT to SYD so I am looking for ATL to PPT and SYD - ATL.
I've tried KVS , Delta.com and absolutely no luck, we don't care which way we get routed and want to leave mid October and come back 3 weeks later.
If anyone can give any suggestions or knows of anything it would be incredibly appreciated.
Delta.com only shows medium level awards for BE no matter what I try.
Filip
I've tried KVS , Delta.com and absolutely no luck, we don't care which way we get routed and want to leave mid October and come back 3 weeks later.
If anyone can give any suggestions or knows of anything it would be incredibly appreciated.
Delta.com only shows medium level awards for BE no matter what I try.
Filip
[KVS Availability Tool 5.5.0/Diamond - DLM: Awards/SkyTeam]
Code:
LAX Los Angeles Int'l CA US [KLAX] PPT Papeete Faaa PF TUE 26 Oct 2010 | 1 Seat Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------ AF/TN 676 LAX 23:55 PPT 05:15 +1 340 0 CS+
Jul 9, 2010, 9:23 pm
#133
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, PC Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 321
Need some help. Been trying to search for SFO-MAD from first half of Aug 2010 to the second half of September 2010 (Eg 8/9/10-9/9/10). Unable to find anything less than 190K miles. Am I doing something wrong?
Jul 11, 2010, 9:29 pm
#134
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Delta DM CO PE OZ GE AMTRAK
Posts: 524
just booked a pair of award tickets like this. At least a pair more are available as of July 11, 2010, each cost 120,000 miles + 260 uSD for tax.
Washington-Dulles, DC (IAD) to Paris-De Gaulle, France (CDG) on 26 Dec 2010
9:55pm
IAD 11:15am
CDG
Arrives 27 Dec
Nonstop
7 hr 20 min
Air France 27
Boeing 777-200
In-Flight Services Business
Paris-De Gaulle, France (CDG) to Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB) on 30 Dec 2010
11:20pm
CDG 10:45am
JNB
Arrives 31 Dec
Nonstop
10 hr 25 min
Air France 990
388
In-Flight Services Business
St Denis De La Reunion, Reunion (RUN) to Paris-Orly, France (ORY) on 08 Jan 2011
10:10am
RUN 6:30pm
ORY
Nonstop
11 hr 20 min
Air France 3519
Boeing 777
In-Flight Services Business
Paris-De Gaulle, France (CDG) to Washington-Dulles, DC (IAD) on 09 Jan 2011
4:40pm
CDG 7:05pm
IAD
Nonstop
8 hr 25 min
Washington-Dulles, DC (IAD) to Paris-De Gaulle, France (CDG) on 26 Dec 2010
9:55pm
IAD 11:15am
CDG
Arrives 27 Dec
Nonstop
7 hr 20 min
Air France 27
Boeing 777-200
In-Flight Services Business
Paris-De Gaulle, France (CDG) to Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB) on 30 Dec 2010
11:20pm
CDG 10:45am
JNB
Arrives 31 Dec
Nonstop
10 hr 25 min
Air France 990
388
In-Flight Services Business
St Denis De La Reunion, Reunion (RUN) to Paris-Orly, France (ORY) on 08 Jan 2011
10:10am
RUN 6:30pm
ORY
Nonstop
11 hr 20 min
Air France 3519
Boeing 777
In-Flight Services Business
Paris-De Gaulle, France (CDG) to Washington-Dulles, DC (IAD) on 09 Jan 2011
4:40pm
CDG 7:05pm
IAD
Nonstop
8 hr 25 min
Jul 21, 2010, 3:19 pm
#135
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: UA Premier 1K: PlAAtinum; DL SM, MM; Marriott Gold; CO Plat Emeritus; NW Plat Emeritus
Posts: 4,776
Sigh. Spent hours looking at possibilities, finally found good flights at 100k. Get my hopes up. .bom won't ticket, though, giving error saying seat no longer available, try again.
Try again and it shows the same avail, but again won't ticket. Go around four times.
So I call. Agent says she sees same thing, but also can't make it work -- even though the transatlantic leg shows up, it's not really there. She tries for a while, then says I'm SOL, but she will report the computer error to IT.
That sure helps!
Best in class! If the class consists of Delta and Air Koryo.
Edited to add: 24 hours later, same thing - I see space, agent sees space, but it's not actually available.
Try again and it shows the same avail, but again won't ticket. Go around four times.
So I call. Agent says she sees same thing, but also can't make it work -- even though the transatlantic leg shows up, it's not really there. She tries for a while, then says I'm SOL, but she will report the computer error to IT.
That sure helps!
Best in class! If the class consists of Delta and Air Koryo.
Edited to add: 24 hours later, same thing - I see space, agent sees space, but it's not actually available.
Last edited by Alpha Golf; Jul 22, 2010 at 3:27 pm