Saturday Night Stayover?!
Feb 18, 2010, 6:41 pm
#16
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There's an idea: Split the ticket so that you're on DL from a gateway city - ATL, DTW, JFK - and book a separate RT from SAT to the gateway city via AirTran or AA or whomever might reduce the total cost. This might reveal some cheaper options.
Feb 18, 2010, 10:10 pm
#17
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Generally the down side of that is in the case of IRROPs the connecting carrier has not obligation for mis-connections on separate PNRs.
Feb 18, 2010, 10:37 pm
#18
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You have to understand that Saturday night stay rules are meant to separate Business travelers from Leisure travelers. There's a reason why 40% of the customers (business customers) make up 60% of the airline revenue. That is particularly the case for international travel. They figure, correctly so, that when it's someone else's money that people will pay it.
Many employers are happy to pay for additional hotel nights and meals if the additonal costs are less than the difference in ticket price. Take advantage of the chance to enjoy an extra day in Europe. Or arrive a day early and take time to recover from jetlag before your business activities.
Feb 18, 2010, 10:40 pm
#19
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Feb 19, 2010, 1:26 am
#20
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Yes, Madrid would be a wonderful place to spend the weekend. I have done it in the past, and enjoyed it immensely. But...my company doesn't allow extra days on their dime, so even with a much reduced air ticket, I will be on my own for two days, which I am not willing to do during this trip. With the Mrs. back at home, I would like to be home for the weekend.
While I can study the complex arcane rules and try to figure out if any of the classes allow non-Sat trip, and determine if they will open up, I have many other more important things to do. I for one would like to see things simplified.
No one is expecting DL to match fares on an individual basis. And I understand separating business and leisure travel, but if DL is not competitive in the business market going to Spain with twice the price as US and 1.5 times the AA price, they are eventually going to lose out.
So, even though I'd much prefer to fly DL, I won't be able to. I will just have to select the US ticket.
While I can study the complex arcane rules and try to figure out if any of the classes allow non-Sat trip, and determine if they will open up, I have many other more important things to do. I for one would like to see things simplified.
No one is expecting DL to match fares on an individual basis. And I understand separating business and leisure travel, but if DL is not competitive in the business market going to Spain with twice the price as US and 1.5 times the AA price, they are eventually going to lose out.
So, even though I'd much prefer to fly DL, I won't be able to. I will just have to select the US ticket.
Feb 19, 2010, 1:45 am
#21
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Need to fly to Madrid Mon-Fri middle week of March. My company requires booking the lowest reasonable airfare regardless of the airline (with some small leeway at times). Most times I can get DL to be the reasonable cheapest fare by moving meetings etc around.
However, for this trip to MAD, the lowest DL fare is about $2600+ (B/H classes) while US is about $1400+ and AA is $1700+. This is unreasonable. When I include a Sat night stay in MAD, DL is the cheapest at sub $1000!
Why does DL require a Saturday Night Stayover for LUT? Is is this way for most INTL destinations? Its ridiculous to lose customers this way. There are tons of seats open.
Are they likely to open up LUT for TATL non-Sat stayovers closer to fly time?
However, for this trip to MAD, the lowest DL fare is about $2600+ (B/H classes) while US is about $1400+ and AA is $1700+. This is unreasonable. When I include a Sat night stay in MAD, DL is the cheapest at sub $1000!
Why does DL require a Saturday Night Stayover for LUT? Is is this way for most INTL destinations? Its ridiculous to lose customers this way. There are tons of seats open.
Are they likely to open up LUT for TATL non-Sat stayovers closer to fly time?
Delta is ridiculous with this. For BE fights MSP->AMS it's $7000 vs. $3000
Feb 19, 2010, 2:14 am
#22
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No one is expecting DL to match fares on an individual basis. And I understand separating business and leisure travel, but if DL is not competitive in the business market going to Spain with twice the price as US and 1.5 times the AA price, they are eventually going to lose out.
So, even though I'd much prefer to fly DL, I won't be able to. I will just have to select the US ticket.
So, even though I'd much prefer to fly DL, I won't be able to. I will just have to select the US ticket.
The company I work for has been giving LX a lot of business lately because of their flexible fares (no Sat night or minimum stay required, changes permitted for the cheapest fares, and so on). My client company also switched from DL to LX for TATL J trips because of the price.
Feb 19, 2010, 3:33 am
#23
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It only makes sense in our world!
Feb 19, 2010, 4:19 am
#24
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Mike, you're right the FT events are great. Because none of this has to be explained any further than; 2 revenue itins, FD, nested...with an award closer from CUN.
The itin is PHX-IAH-DEN-LAX-EWR-MAD/FCO-EWR-IAH-BOS/BOS-EWR-TXL/MAD-EWR-SFO-DEN-CUN/CUN-MEX-PHX. The actual business is in MAD/FCO/TXL. Vac in BOS. All *A except the AM segs at the end. The AM legs are part of an award positioning flight booked before NWA.COM vanished.
This after I get back from GUM, SIN and KUL. I'm in the SQ lounge at KUL right now, trying to restore my I class leg to MNL tomorrow through SMS
Yeah!
It's been a busy start to the year, so I'll be taking it easier after the summer.
The itin is PHX-IAH-DEN-LAX-EWR-MAD/FCO-EWR-IAH-BOS/BOS-EWR-TXL/MAD-EWR-SFO-DEN-CUN/CUN-MEX-PHX. The actual business is in MAD/FCO/TXL. Vac in BOS. All *A except the AM segs at the end. The AM legs are part of an award positioning flight booked before NWA.COM vanished.
This after I get back from GUM, SIN and KUL. I'm in the SQ lounge at KUL right now, trying to restore my I class leg to MNL tomorrow through SMS
Yeah!It's been a busy start to the year, so I'll be taking it easier after the summer.
Feb 19, 2010, 8:59 am
#26
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Feb 19, 2010, 9:30 am
#27
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Feb 19, 2010, 11:26 am
#28
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To all those suggesting getting separate tickets, one to a east coast / hub and one to MAD from there, it was one of the first things I tried.
The problem is that TATL legs seem to have restrictions. The domestic legs have no Saturday night requirement, in fact haven't seen them in long time now, at least from SAT. So that doesn't impact the price at all.
Side note: if I put in NYC(any)-MAD, DL prices to 2480, while US is around 620 - a four fold difference!
The problem is that TATL legs seem to have restrictions. The domestic legs have no Saturday night requirement, in fact haven't seen them in long time now, at least from SAT. So that doesn't impact the price at all.
Side note: if I put in NYC(any)-MAD, DL prices to 2480, while US is around 620 - a four fold difference!
Feb 19, 2010, 11:38 am
#29
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Yeah, try explaining that to non-FTers
