Help with Delta/partner options to Taiwan
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SLC
Programs: DL FO, KM, & 1.7MM; UA nothing; HH♦; National EE
Posts: 6,344
Help with Delta/partner options to Taiwan
I need to buy tickets to Taipei for an upcoming trip. The client I'm going there for will pay for Business Class. They wanted me to fly on EVA Air, as two of their employees that I'll be working with are flying with them. I'd like to fly on Delta or a partner so I won't miss out on 20k+ MQMs and around 50k SkyPesos.
What are my best options to keep the pricing in the ballpark of EVA, and still have a good TPAC experience? Here's some info:
- The client employees are flying LAX to TPE on tickets in the ballpark of $4500.
- We are leaving Monday, Nov 5 (arriving the evening of Nov 6) and returning sometime on Friday, November 9.
- I don't care what airport I fly to TPE from, but I'll be originating in SLC.
- I don't need FC for the domestic flights (trying to keep the costs down).
Any help would be appreciated!
What are my best options to keep the pricing in the ballpark of EVA, and still have a good TPAC experience? Here's some info:
- The client employees are flying LAX to TPE on tickets in the ballpark of $4500.
- We are leaving Monday, Nov 5 (arriving the evening of Nov 6) and returning sometime on Friday, November 9.
- I don't care what airport I fly to TPE from, but I'll be originating in SLC.
- I don't need FC for the domestic flights (trying to keep the costs down).
Any help would be appreciated!
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
On those dates one can fly China Airlines, a SkyTeam airline that will get you SkyMiles MQM, in Business on the ocean-crossing segments, for as little as $5,308, SLC-LAX-TPE and return. A DL-operated routing will be ~$1000 more as a 2-stop or $2000 more as a 1-stop
Proficiency with a strong and flexible itinerary search tool, like ITA Software's Matrix II, would serve you well.
http://matrix.itasoftware.com/
Proficiency with a strong and flexible itinerary search tool, like ITA Software's Matrix II, would serve you well.
http://matrix.itasoftware.com/
#3
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: BER, SAT, AUS
Programs: Feels like FO (AA EXP)
Posts: 1,611
I need to buy tickets to Taipei for an upcoming trip. The client I'm going there for will pay for Business Class. They wanted me to fly on EVA Air, as two of their employees that I'll be working with are flying with them. I'd like to fly on Delta or a partner so I won't miss out on 20k+ MQMs and around 50k SkyPesos.
What are my best options to keep the pricing in the ballpark of EVA, and still have a good TPAC experience? Here's some info:
- The client employees are flying LAX to TPE on tickets in the ballpark of $4500.
- We are leaving Monday, Nov 5 (arriving the evening of Nov 6) and returning sometime on Friday, November 9.
- I don't care what airport I fly to TPE from, but I'll be originating in SLC.
- I don't need FC for the domestic flights (trying to keep the costs down).
Any help would be appreciated!
What are my best options to keep the pricing in the ballpark of EVA, and still have a good TPAC experience? Here's some info:
- The client employees are flying LAX to TPE on tickets in the ballpark of $4500.
- We are leaving Monday, Nov 5 (arriving the evening of Nov 6) and returning sometime on Friday, November 9.
- I don't care what airport I fly to TPE from, but I'll be originating in SLC.
- I don't need FC for the domestic flights (trying to keep the costs down).
Any help would be appreciated!
3. Not many gateway choices if you want ST. CI is going by LAX, so is DL with their LAX-NRT-TPE "direct". DL is giving you real lie flat at an added premium, while CI is giving you angled lie flat around $1k cheaper.
4. You need to call anyway as CI has issues booking a feeder flight in F.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SLC
Programs: DL FO, KM, & 1.7MM; UA nothing; HH♦; National EE
Posts: 6,344
I've been using the Matrix website to search, and it's pretty good.
A few questions:
- How do I book on China Airlines?
- Can I do it through Delta, or do I go through their website and use my DL number?
- Will I still get my DM 125% mileage bonus with them?
- Is the service on CI good?
A few questions:
- How do I book on China Airlines?
- Can I do it through Delta, or do I go through their website and use my DL number?
- Will I still get my DM 125% mileage bonus with them?
- Is the service on CI good?
#5
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: 45° North
Programs: DL DM MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 10,196
I've been using the Matrix website to search, and it's pretty good.
A few questions:
- How do I book on China Airlines?
- Can I do it through Delta, or do I go through their website and use my DL number?
- Will I still get my DM 125% mileage bonus with them?
- Is the service on CI good?
A few questions:
- How do I book on China Airlines?
- Can I do it through Delta, or do I go through their website and use my DL number?
- Will I still get my DM 125% mileage bonus with them?
- Is the service on CI good?
To confirm mileage earning, check the Delta site for your ticketed fare class.
http://skymilesoffers.delta.com/airline_partners.php#CI
All Delta mileage earning fare classes on CI also earn the Medallion bonus. But make sure you check fare classes very carefully!
#6
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: BER, SAT, AUS
Programs: Feels like FO (AA EXP)
Posts: 1,611
I've been using the Matrix website to search, and it's pretty good.
A few questions:
- How do I book on China Airlines?
- Can I do it through Delta, or do I go through their website and use my DL number?
- Will I still get my DM 125% mileage bonus with them?
- Is the service on CI good?
A few questions:
- How do I book on China Airlines?
- Can I do it through Delta, or do I go through their website and use my DL number?
- Will I still get my DM 125% mileage bonus with them?
- Is the service on CI good?
3. If you're not in a consolidator fare and in a eligible fare class yes. Don't conentrate on your 125% RDM bonus as a DM, maybe the 150 MQM bonus is more important. Who can use SkyPesos anyway?
4. The service is FANTASTIC in either coach or business. Hot meals all over, unlimited drinks, FA that actually ask whether they can do more, etc.
The hardware is much better in Y than DL's but subpar in C (compared to DL's updated cabin). Old cabins are pretty much the same. If you're lucky you get a birdie that has recently undergone a revamp. However, they still have no real real lie flat installed and they have a 2-3-2 layout. I felt like a sandwich.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SLC
Programs: DL FO, KM, & 1.7MM; UA nothing; HH♦; National EE
Posts: 6,344
Thanks for the info. Would there be any issues if I book the CI flights as a roundtrip on their website and the domestic SLC-LAX as a separate trip on DL? Or is it better to make sure they're tied together in case of IROPS?
#10
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#11
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: KHH, FUK, SNA
Programs: BR, UA 1k, CX
Posts: 1,181
30 minutes is not enough time, in China for international connections (Taiwan is considered an international flight). Besides the security check for transfer passengers, you also need pass immigration.
#12
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Posts: 100,368
The OP might be able to fly DL and minimize costs by purchasing an M fare and using his/her miles or SWUs to upgrade.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SLC
Programs: DL FO, KM, & 1.7MM; UA nothing; HH♦; National EE
Posts: 6,344
I ended up booking a roundtrip on China Airlines from LAX to TPE for $4081 and a separate roundtrip SLC-LAX on DL for $293. If I had booked the same exact flights on one PNR on Delta the cost would have been over $7000 even with mixed cabins.
#14
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: Whatever's Cheapest, Accruing Miles, Redeeming for Premium Cabins, Not Chasing Status Unnecessarily
Posts: 2,264
the new thing is recheck your bags in LAX hope u have enough time
#15
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,204
For next time keep in mind that you can often save a lot of time (and taxi fare) by flying into TSA (Songshan airport right in the middle of downtown Taipei, on top of a metro station or a few minutes by taxi to anywhere in city centre) vs. the inconveniently located TPE (Taoyuan airport 1h outside of Taipei and not even in Taipei county, but in Taoyuan county).
Personally I'd have taken KE via ICN to TSA or MU via PVG to TSA (CZ doesn't fly to TSA from CAN direct). The connection adds only about as much time as the taxi ride from TPE to TSA, and TSA immigration (always lightning fast) and going through it all the way is also is only some 2-3 minutes (max.) from stepping off the plane to stepping into a taxi or metro, unlike TPE where it takes quite a bit longer.
Personally I'd have taken KE via ICN to TSA or MU via PVG to TSA (CZ doesn't fly to TSA from CAN direct). The connection adds only about as much time as the taxi ride from TPE to TSA, and TSA immigration (always lightning fast) and going through it all the way is also is only some 2-3 minutes (max.) from stepping off the plane to stepping into a taxi or metro, unlike TPE where it takes quite a bit longer.