Skymiles miracle fare
Jan 8, 2010, 12:18 pm
#16
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: MCO
Programs: DL-DM/1MM, HILTON-DIA, .HYATT-DIA/GLOB , IHG-PLT,HERTZ 5*, NATIONAL ES
Posts: 8,691
I actually am trying to find 2 One Way Tix in F/J from BCN to MCO in April. Not only can I not get the low tier, but since their are no One Way awards, this is just insane.
200,000 is bad for a round trip, but for a one way it is just WRONG....
200,000 is bad for a round trip, but for a one way it is just WRONG....
Jan 8, 2010, 12:29 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: US
Programs: DL SM, Priority Club Rewards
Posts: 10
I was going to make a new thread for this, but maybe someone in here can explain this.
MSP to NRT (Tokyo, JP) shows as 120k miles round trip in coach non-stop.
If I throw in MSP to KIX (Osaka/Kansai, JP) coach there is a lay over in NRT, but it only costs 90k miles round trip all the way to KIX.
I'm thinking of just booking to KIX and missing my plane once I get to NRT lol.
MSP to NRT (Tokyo, JP) shows as 120k miles round trip in coach non-stop.
If I throw in MSP to KIX (Osaka/Kansai, JP) coach there is a lay over in NRT, but it only costs 90k miles round trip all the way to KIX.
I'm thinking of just booking to KIX and missing my plane once I get to NRT lol.
Jan 8, 2010, 12:37 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: DL AA UA
Posts: 2,359
I was going to make a new thread for this, but maybe someone in here can explain this.
MSP to NRT (Tokyo, JP) shows as 120k miles round trip in coach non-stop.
If I throw in MSP to KIX (Osaka/Kansai, JP) coach there is a lay over in NRT, but it only costs 90k miles round trip all the way to KIX.
I'm thinking of just booking to KIX and missing my plane once I get to NRT lol.
MSP to NRT (Tokyo, JP) shows as 120k miles round trip in coach non-stop.
If I throw in MSP to KIX (Osaka/Kansai, JP) coach there is a lay over in NRT, but it only costs 90k miles round trip all the way to KIX.
I'm thinking of just booking to KIX and missing my plane once I get to NRT lol.
Jan 8, 2010, 1:22 pm
#19
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Programs: DL DM; UA; AA
Posts: 446
I think one needs to bear in mind that there are some people on this board that just like to complain. Those that don't have trouble finding availability don't feel the need to post, so the reality of SkyMiles redemptions is not nearly as bad as the 'consensus' on this board.
Having made 3 TATL BE award trips in the last 12 months, I did get what I needed, on the dates I needed, and for the price I needed
on all occasions. One was completely trivial -- direct flights there and back, and for 75K for that matter -- the other two did require quite some research and resulted in two-stop itineraries on the way back. Which is quite OK with me. If those cheap tickets are too easy to find, then we won't see many of them
Jan 8, 2010, 1:28 pm
#20
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Programs: DL DM; UA; AA
Posts: 446
A consideration mentioned above -- with less time until departure, they can be more sure they're not losing a paying customer by releasing a seat for "free" -- is also valid; but when you see everything Medium more than exactly 3 weeks before departure, and almost everything Low less than 3 weeks... that's one no-brainer
Jan 8, 2010, 1:29 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: US
Programs: DL SM, Priority Club Rewards
Posts: 10
Thanks for the info. That really seems stupid, but maybe I'm just naive. I'm 23 and this is the first time I've traveled enough for business to accumulate a worthwhile amount of miles.
Jan 8, 2010, 1:29 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: AUS
Programs: DL Diamond, DL MM
Posts: 578
I think one needs to bear in mind that there are some people on this board that just like to complain. Those that don't have trouble finding availability don't feel the need to post, so the reality of SkyMiles redemptions is not nearly as bad as the 'consensus' on this board. I have little more trouble using my DL miles than I do using CO, SK, or BA miles.
Yeah, just look for a low business award from IAH-BKK ANYTIME from now until August.
Then, when you find a supposed available date (there was I think one or two), then try to book it. It jumps up to MID or HIGH.
So yeah, nothing to complain about, lol.
DL is great with award seat availability. Sheesh.
Jan 8, 2010, 1:42 pm
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
Yeah, just look for a low business award from IAH-BKK ANYTIME from now until August.
Then, when you find a supposed available date (there was I think one or two), then try to book it. It jumps up to MID or HIGH.
So yeah, nothing to complain about, lol.
DL is great with award seat availability. Sheesh.
Then, when you find a supposed available date (there was I think one or two), then try to book it. It jumps up to MID or HIGH.
So yeah, nothing to complain about, lol.
DL is great with award seat availability. Sheesh.
Last edited by pbarnette; Jan 8, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Jan 8, 2010, 1:53 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: US
Programs: DL SM, Priority Club Rewards
Posts: 10
This really is finicky. I changed my dates a bit to fly out/return in the middle of the week. Now I can get from MSP to NRT with 1 2hr layover for 60k. Thanks for the pointers on how far out to schedule.
Jan 8, 2010, 5:05 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,553
I don't have a beef with availability of award seats at the low level tiers (although it has been more difficult to find but that could be explained by the increased load factors this past year). What is frustrating is the amount of effort required to actually find and book those seats. The needle is in the haystack, it's just often hard to find. When nwa.com goes down, it will be even more difficult in my experience.
Jan 8, 2010, 6:13 pm
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
I'm wondering....
I'm wondering, do people really expect the low redemption tier to pop up all the time, every time? And when it doesnt, Delta is *$%*?
I'm wondering, do the folks that participate on the other airline threads also complain about the lack of low award availability like they do here?
I'm wondering, do the folks that participate on the other airline threads also complain about the lack of low award availability like they do here?