RealHJ

There is nothing in the fare rules that DL would, like some OW airlines do (e.g. BA did with only one partner airline or BA + one partner airline only, JL for one partner airline only), price awards higher if you use multiple SkyTeam/partner airlines.

I think that this "bug" (yeah right, "unintentional") has replaced the earlier bigger "bug" (that was also likewise "unintentional"), which, IMO, is just as bad, as who (and why!) would ever want to redeem for only Delta flights? Sure, there may be a connection or two on DL, but the whole point of SkyMiles is to fly on SkyTeam and partner airlines and avoid Delta if possible (plus, that is also how the availability forces it, and Delta's limited network outside of US).

This is what agents have been telling as excuses for a long time in cases of misprice (that "it will be higher mileage if you fly airlines other than Delta"), and it would be a major devaluation if that actually becomes true, and DL starts charging more (though what is in the fare rules to support that??) if you fly other airlines, esp. multiple other airlines, as you often must for many SkyTeam routes, and even more so due to limited availability.

But, now I fear as DL got so much pushback (the "reaction" for their "action" against their customers) on the removing stopovers attempt, that they may instead try to force this thorugh: charging more for itinearies that have Delta + other airlines, or just other airlines.

MSPeconomist

Do any other SkyTem carriers charge more for awards using SkyTeam partners? I wonder if this is allowed by SkyTeam rules. Recall that DL cannot offer IFC awards because DL has no IFC on their aircraft.

mtkeller

I don't think that's the reason DL can't offer IFC awards. KL doesn't offer it, but FB members can redeem for IFC. Not sure which non-FB program other than DL doesn't have IFC to see what might be an option.

mnredfox

Glad you got the reissue desk, that is the secret. I can't tell you how many times DL agents have REFUSED to transfer me, and insist their pricing is the same.

+1. Wasn't the award calendar an IT glitch too? And HH has called their prem room issue a glitch too, I tend to not believe it til I see it.

+1

Glad to hear, but until I can book without double the fees myself I won't believe it.

reed2x

Here is another data point showing stopovers are still permitted. It took some persistence.

Itinerary in Biz class (should be 120,000 miles)
SIN-ICN(KE)<stopover>-DTW-ATL-NRT-SIN

Agent 1 (Chisholm): "Computer prices at 190,000mi, but it should be 120,000. Stopovers are allowed and our computers have been mispricing. Let me put you on hold while we get this at the correct mileage"

^FANTASTIC^ Chisholm agent takes charge...but after 1h20m hold, call drops

Agent 2 (not-Chisholm): "OK hun, let me put you on hold while we work on this" <40min hold> "The price is 130,000mi"...noted in itinerary
Agent 3 (not-Chisholm): "The price is 130,000mi...but we will replace the KE flight with Delta flights through NRT for 120,000mi" I booked it.
Agent 4 (not-Chisholm): Transferred to Intl reissue desk, and after 30min hold the itinerary with KE flights is reissued at correct mileage.

mnredfox

DL communicate? Is that a joke?

Let's not forget, the RULES DID CHANGE. DL is not NO LONGER ALLOWING OJ AND SO on one itin. This is a change.

My issue is it changed, and there was NO announcement. Change the rules/T&C of the award program and no communication, that's the sleezy part.

It's all the SO/OJ gamer's fault.

MSPeconomist

FB can redeem for IFC because AF does offer IFC. I think KE has IFC too.

RealHJ

Didn't you get the memo from Delta (pun intended)? The "International Manual Reissue" group can no longer correct incorrect pricing. So yes, "their pricing is [indeed] the same." That is true. I spoke to IMR (was transferred to it every time upon asking no problem) more times than I care to remember during this recent fiasco, and more than one agent told me straight up that they can no longer correct the mis-pricing, that the ability to do so has been now taken away. In the end I found out that now there is a rigorous three-step approval and write-up process to get an authorization code to override incorrect computer pricing that they need to do (and only IMR agents can request it, others have no hope at all)... and I guess most of them just don't care for the customer and don't want to jump through the flaming hoops that Delta has put there for the to do their job, and/or I fear there may be some negative remarks made on their employee record each time they do that and help a customer, enforce the fare rules, but thus lose Delta potential fraudulently gained "revenue."

mtkeller

I've already posted this, but let me say it again: The posted rules did not change. The posted rules have, for at least 18 months, said you get a stopover OR an open jaw. In fact, the situation hasn't changed at all, as I've just pulled up the following US-Europe award with a stopover and an open jaw.



I hope that DL doesn't start enforcing the rule as they've got it posted, but this is one time that we really wouldn't have a leg to stand on. Yes, it'd be a devaluation, but we'd been getting more than they were promising.

fti

I agree with mtkeller - a SO and an OJ are still allowed. In fact, I tried to change just such a booking when the pricing errors started happening a couple of weeks ago. DL wanted double the miles. Then earlier this week I called and was able to make the change for no additional miles. Also, I just booked domestic award tickets for two friends today, both of which had both an OJ and a SO.

RealHJ

That is reassuring to see, so then earlier here the poster who was saying that DL was telling that to fly DL + KE is more miles and suggested to switch to all DL flights was just blowing smoke (as usual). As if it was indeed arbitrarily more miles for DL + another airline, or multiple other airlines, that'd be a huge devaluation.

naranjero

Yep, Aeroflot has two different mileage charts. One for SU flights, one for ST flights (mileage pricing is higher here).

Also there are some bad news in Aeroflot. Stopovers are not allowed anymore in award tickets. It's not Delta, but I really don't like this trend...
http://www.aeroflot.ru/cms/en/bonus_news_item/13647

Mountain Trader

This booking avoids 3 feared changes: Stopovers not allowed, No stopover and open jaw on same itinerary, and no mixing of partners and Delta metal.

KissFlyGoodbye

I still don't understand why the agent came to that conclusion about the itinerary. I was able to fix it the next day by switching around the flights and dl.om accepted a mix of DL, AF, and KL with an open jaw and stop over: JFK - AMS | CDG - FCO | BER - JFK.

crazyMRer

The problem is that some itineraries continue to not price as open jaw - I gave a concrete example and that pricing continues. I got an agent yesterday on the phone who consulted her supervisor and collegues trying to get an open jaw to price as openjaw; her conclusion was there was no reason for it to not be valid other than her computer not accepting it and there was nothing she or her supervisor could do. A major frustration with DL is that even when agents see things price wrong and escalate, they cannot help us get the lower mileage price.

2) Open jaws refuse to price using open jaw award pricing in select markets.

Exhibit a)
Tue 07 Feb 2012 MEX-JFK-CDG-NSI all low level inventory
Thu 25 Apr 2012 NSI-CDG-MEX all low level inventory
Price in miles: 80,000
Proof: http://ScrnSht.com/onjcag


Exhibit b)
Tue 07 Feb 2012 MEX-JFK-CDG-NSI all low level inventory
Thu 25 Apr 2012 NSI-CDG-IAH all low level inventory
Price in miles: 115,000
Proof: http://ScrnSht.com/jvtmrw


Exhibit c)
Tue 07 Feb 2012 IAH-CDG-NSI all low level inventory
Thu 25 Apr 2012 NSI-CDG-IAH all low level inventory
Price in miles: 80,000 miles
Proof: http://ScrnSht.com/dzgovk


So MEX cannot be open jawed with IAH. SJO also will not price open jaw.
Replace MEX or SJO with YVR or SJU open jaw with IAH, and the open jaw prices correctly at 80,000 roundtrip.
WHY!!!