Using SkyMiles on SkyTeam & Other Partners: The Discussion Thread
Dec 3, 2012, 7:20 pm
#151
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 281
Hmm. This seems to be the issue, not sure why/when this happened. All was fine when I booked the original back in September. I'm now 0/4 and considering a booking service to keep tabs on this, so I don't have to call weekly to see if this issue has been fixed.
Dec 4, 2012, 2:29 am
#152
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,419
Accidentally booked an award ticket for 2 on 7/7, SIN-CAN-LAX on CZ. Need to get on a 7/6 flight. Hopped on expertflyer, show I availability with 3. Confirmed with KVS that 3 are open.
Call in to DL PM desk, and 3 times have been told that the SIN-CAN leg is unavailable. Can't get them to see the inventory, but they do show it on the 7th... so it seems like something odd is happening here.
Any thoughts on why this might be? I can't find any other routings/airlines that would make this work (other than the helpful suggestion that DL flights are available at the 'High' level
)
Call in to DL PM desk, and 3 times have been told that the SIN-CAN leg is unavailable. Can't get them to see the inventory, but they do show it on the 7th... so it seems like something odd is happening here.
Any thoughts on why this might be? I can't find any other routings/airlines that would make this work (other than the helpful suggestion that DL flights are available at the 'High' level
)http://beta.awardtravelr.com/
or AF/KL's FB?
If so, then I'd call back. I've had it a few times when DL's systems just needed some more time to synchronize with CZ. Odd as it is, sometimes DL's IT just has no explanations. I'd call again.
Dec 4, 2012, 4:11 am
#153
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: NYC
Posts: 491
Just a reminder that if you want to book MH awards, be prepared for a long phone call. I had an agent that was quite competent but it just takes a while for MH to confirm award space.
Expertflyer seems to show the award space if you search for the I fare bucket.
Expertflyer seems to show the award space if you search for the I fare bucket.
Dec 4, 2012, 9:29 am
#154
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL - DM, Charter KM; Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 1,354
How are you searching a week at a time? Asks me for departure/return dates and no option is given for a week...
Dec 4, 2012, 9:34 am
#155
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Dec 4, 2012, 9:35 am
#156
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 281
When you say login do you mean AF/KL's FB website? Create an account for free, you don't need any miles to search.
Hmm, that's a bit rare. CZ usually works quite well with what EF/KVS shows. Can you verify with:
http://beta.awardtravelr.com/
or AF/KL's FB?
If so, then I'd call back. I've had it a few times when DL's systems just needed some more time to synchronize with CZ. Odd as it is, sometimes DL's IT just has no explanations. I'd call again.
Hmm, that's a bit rare. CZ usually works quite well with what EF/KVS shows. Can you verify with:
http://beta.awardtravelr.com/
or AF/KL's FB?
If so, then I'd call back. I've had it a few times when DL's systems just needed some more time to synchronize with CZ. Odd as it is, sometimes DL's IT just has no explanations. I'd call again.
Dec 4, 2012, 2:28 pm
#158
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,983
Dec 4, 2012, 3:33 pm
#159
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: Mileage Plus, Aadvantage, Skymiles, Marriott, Priority Club, SPG, Amtrak, Hertz
Posts: 834
One more question: Can I book an award ticket on AF 330 days out, or do I have to wait until 300 days out when AF releases availability?
Dec 4, 2012, 3:41 pm
#160
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,983
Dec 4, 2012, 4:34 pm
#161
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 281
When you say login do you mean AF/KL's FB website? Create an account for free, you don't need any miles to search.
Hmm, that's a bit rare. CZ usually works quite well with what EF/KVS shows. Can you verify with:
http://beta.awardtravelr.com/
or AF/KL's FB?
If so, then I'd call back. I've had it a few times when DL's systems just needed some more time to synchronize with CZ. Odd as it is, sometimes DL's IT just has no explanations. I'd call again.
Hmm, that's a bit rare. CZ usually works quite well with what EF/KVS shows. Can you verify with:
http://beta.awardtravelr.com/
or AF/KL's FB?
If so, then I'd call back. I've had it a few times when DL's systems just needed some more time to synchronize with CZ. Odd as it is, sometimes DL's IT just has no explanations. I'd call again.
5th time is the charm evidently.
-----
Edit: Jumped the gun. When I got to the manual reissue desk, they realized the agent had me on a flight a month earlier (so I would be returning before I left...). The lady at the manual reissue desk went through the long sell process, where she said China Southern claimed no inventory for the SIN-CAN leg. So now I'm back at square one.
What's interesting is that the AF/KLM Flying Blue shows classic availability for this flight. When I pointed this out to the rep from the reissue desk, she was very adamant that they must have access to expanded inventory as a result of paying China Southern more money. This strikes me as incredibly unlikely.
While I am loyal to Delta, they sure know how to ruin the actual redemption of that loyalty.
-----
Edit #2: Noticed that in "My Trips," my itinerary was showing a changed flight to my desired date. I was happy, but wary, so called to confirm with PM desk. They said that it was not confirmed, and immediately sent me over to manual reissue desk. Those folks got on the phone with CZ, and said that CZ was refusing to release the seats. Furthermore, the agent with whom I spoke on an earlier failed call had cancelled my old ticket (despite clearly communicating that he would not). Now CZ was not showing availability for my original flight, but the reissue agent was able to convince CZ to open my 'old' seats back up after a 30 minute hold. So at least I have a seat, but back where I started.
---
Edit #3: Called back to check availability on alternative departure spots (KUL, SGN, HAN) on my desired date. The English lady on the PM desk was able to find availability on all of these. Figuring that I might as well press my luck, I asked her to double check the Singapore flight, which she was able to find and book for me for an additional $7.80 in YQ. I inquired what she had done to succeed where 6 others had failed, and she just said that she had to use my routings and search by segment (which I thought the others were doing). That seems like something that the other agents would have done as well (ie. arguing over releasing space on the SIN-CAN leg with CZ), but oh well.
Figured I'd relay my experiences. Exhausting and exasperating, but eventually I got there. Sounds like a typical DL flight...
Dec 4, 2012, 11:33 pm
#162
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,419
Edit: Jumped the gun. When I got to the manual reissue desk, they realized the agent had me on a flight a month earlier (so I would be returning before I left...). The lady at the manual reissue desk went through the long sell process, where she said China Southern claimed no inventory for the SIN-CAN leg. So now I'm back at square one.
What's interesting is that the AF/KLM Flying Blue shows classic availability for this flight. When I pointed this out to the rep from the reissue desk, she was very adamant that they must have access to expanded inventory as a result of paying China Southern more money. This strikes me as incredibly unlikely.
Edit #3: Called back to check availability on alternative departure spots (KUL, SGN, HAN) on my desired date. The English lady on the PM desk was able to find availability on all of these. Figuring that I might as well press my luck, I asked her to double check the Singapore flight, which she was able to find and book for me for an additional $7.80 in YQ. I inquired what she had done to succeed where 6 others had failed, and she just said that she had to use my routings and search by segment (which I thought the others were doing). That seems like something that the other agents would have done as well (ie. arguing over releasing space on the SIN-CAN leg with CZ), but oh well.
Figured I'd relay my experiences. Exhausting and exasperating, but eventually I got there. Sounds like a typical DL flight...
Figured I'd relay my experiences. Exhausting and exasperating, but eventually I got there. Sounds like a typical DL flight...
Congrats, glad it worked out for you. Sadly this (the long and painful process) is the norm for booking partner flights, hence this thread.
Dec 5, 2012, 12:03 am
#164
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,419
Better tools too might help.
Then they could get rid of the dumb unfriendly policies of search limits, time limits spent helping customers. Customers would then have a better more pleasant (and faster) booking experience.
I haven't seen the negative in any of this yet.
Dec 5, 2012, 2:00 am
#165
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Spire Amb, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 1MM
Posts: 3,610
Comparing my recent international partner award redemptions requiring phone assistance: Slightly dumb UA agent completed my booking MUCH faster than ANY of the very smart Delta agents handling the Diamond line.