Skymiles miracle fare
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Skymiles Plat, Thai Gold, IHG RA, SPG Gold
Posts: 27
Skymiles miracle fare
Before purchasing a JFK-FCO business return with the outgoing date being less than a month away, I thought to look up the cost in miles just to have a chuckle and see how many hundreds of thousands Skymiles the system would ask for and... lo and behold... I get a figure of 100k for a non-stop DL metal flight!!! Naturally I jumped at the chance and snatched it. I checked the day after and the same ticket is now 225k. I guess miracles dont last...
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
Programs: United1K, AA ExPlAAt, DL MM/Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 13,316
#5
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, LH FTL
Posts: 27
I just booked two seats for my wife and I in September at 100k roundtrip in Business.
9/21 ATL-CDG-EDI Air France
9/27 EDI-CDG Air France
9/30 CDG-AMS-ATL KLM
So it appears that it can be done if you dig about. I found the flights I wanted on NWA.com, but they were also bookable on Delta.com. The flights were on the exact days I wanted but traveling out on a tuesday and back on a thursday may have helped.
These flights were available for over a week as we had to coordinate our vacation.
9/21 ATL-CDG-EDI Air France
9/27 EDI-CDG Air France
9/30 CDG-AMS-ATL KLM
So it appears that it can be done if you dig about. I found the flights I wanted on NWA.com, but they were also bookable on Delta.com. The flights were on the exact days I wanted but traveling out on a tuesday and back on a thursday may have helped.
These flights were available for over a week as we had to coordinate our vacation.
#6
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New York City
Programs: SkyMiles PM, Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum
Posts: 800
I got a JKF-TXL-AMS-TXL-JFK business seat, for next August, for 100,000 miles by redeeming more than 300 days in advance. Now the best available routing is 245,000. If there are unsold seats closer to the departure date, the company may open more up to reward redemption.
Last edited by samonyc; Jan 8, 2010 at 11:27 am Reason: Clarity
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
This is why DL management created the Platinum Elite Award Redeposit Fee Profit Center.
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
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.
#9
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: Now just a lowly DL PM/1MM. This industry needs some competition. It's just not enjoyable anymore.
Posts: 3,543
^. I'm keeping my eye open for 2 FC tix to Mexico for the summer. Some low availability for the next couple months, but after that all dates are mid to high. I hope this changes as my desired date gets closer. It's low season there then as well.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Programs: DL DM; UA; AA
Posts: 446
Especially < 3 weeks out. For obvious reasons. This is what I saw last month while shopping for BE to Europe for 100,000 (which I successfully bought, about 2 weeks out, and then changed the return portion while at the destination).
#11
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MKE
Programs: BA Gold, DL PM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,241
Dave
#12
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K (MM), DL, AA, AS, HHonors, SPG, Kimpton, Hyatt, IC PC, Marriott Titanium (LT PLT), Hertz PC
Posts: 7,224
Doesn't Delta charge a "close to departure" fee for non elite members? Could this be why?
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
Posts: 17,308
If you have a transatlantic flight (to a place like FCO, markets like LON with more close-in booking business travel could be another story) only booked to say 60% 2-3 weeks before departure it's a very safe bet that there's no way the plane is going out full or even close to it. No harm in opening the floodgates to award bookings to try and capture any incremental traffic you can...
It's all a numbers game and it's much easier to predict those numbers close to departure.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
There's a nice, 1000+ post thread here on award ticket successes.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...post-here.html
It's good to see another satisfied SkyMiles participant. There's no better spending use for miles than intercontinental Business tickets.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...post-here.html
It's good to see another satisfied SkyMiles participant. There's no better spending use for miles than intercontinental Business tickets.
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Tucson, AZ, USA. UA 1K, reluctant but * best in class * DL FO/MM. Former BA jumpseat rider and scourge of Dilbertian management and apologists. As LX might - and do - say: "....an experienced frequent flyer of international airlines"
Posts: 3,386
There's a nice, 1000+ post thread here on award ticket successes.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...post-here.html
It's good to see another satisfied SkyMiles participant. There's no better spending use for miles than intercontinental Business tickets.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...post-here.html
It's good to see another satisfied SkyMiles participant. There's no better spending use for miles than intercontinental Business tickets.