Using SkyMiles on SkyTeam & Other Partners: The Discussion Thread
Nov 4, 2014, 12:48 pm
#526
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: TUL
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Posts: 2,102
Nov 4, 2014, 1:08 pm
#527
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
In most businesses 100% uptime is required, or at least 99.99%. For each extra 9 you typically double the spend. No significant outage is acceptable for any system upgrade or update or any maintenance work (if there is any outage, then it can't be possibly called an upgrade, can it?). At most a few hours limited functionality interruption may be acceptable, but nothing past a few hours at most, as the business can't grind to a halt and not be bringing in revenues, while losing customers and business to its competitors. What is so lost can be hard if not impossible to gain back.
Nov 23, 2014, 6:29 pm
#528
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: DAY
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Spire, National Exec Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 456
Australia/New Zealand/Tahiti before it's too late
Given all the upcoming "enhancements" it's now or never for us to take the big trip I've been saving most of my SkyMiles towards for years. We're looking to spend about a month across the left pond next summer.
Everything int'l is in business, domestic to/from LAX is in coach. I've confirmed fare class availability with EF, had as much fun as I could handle with the DL award calendar, checked MPM and routing rules... basically, I've done all the prep I can.
Still... figured I'd float this out there before I call DL tomorrow. If you see any gotchas that I've missed, please speak up!
------------------------
Flight.....From...To....Price (Miles)..Class..Seats
DL1933.....CVG....LAX...100,000........N......2
VA8........LAX....BNE...160,000........Z......2
VA795......BNE....CNS...160,000........Z......2
[open jaw]
TN102......AKL....PPT...160,000........I......2
[stopover]
TN8........PPT....LAX...160,000........I......2
DL1936.....LAX....CVG...100,000........N......2
Everything int'l is in business, domestic to/from LAX is in coach. I've confirmed fare class availability with EF, had as much fun as I could handle with the DL award calendar, checked MPM and routing rules... basically, I've done all the prep I can.
Still... figured I'd float this out there before I call DL tomorrow. If you see any gotchas that I've missed, please speak up!
------------------------
Flight.....From...To....Price (Miles)..Class..Seats
DL1933.....CVG....LAX...100,000........N......2
VA8........LAX....BNE...160,000........Z......2
VA795......BNE....CNS...160,000........Z......2
[open jaw]
TN102......AKL....PPT...160,000........I......2
[stopover]
TN8........PPT....LAX...160,000........I......2
DL1936.....LAX....CVG...100,000........N......2
Nov 24, 2014, 7:45 am
#530
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: DAY
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Spire, National Exec Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 456
Nov 24, 2014, 4:48 pm
#531
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
As a rule of thumb, expect it to take as long on the phone to book your flights as long as your actual flying time will be. So is typically (give or take an hour or two) my experience, even before this massive reservations system downgrade and dumbing down. Now it may very well take longer than your actual flying time.
Dec 12, 2014, 10:13 am
#532
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: DAY
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Spire, National Exec Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 456
Cross-posting this from the DL award ticket thread...
It took way too much time, but I booked our major trip (for which I've been saving my SkyPesos for many years) across the Pacific in Business (Z/I) next Jul/Aug this evening:
LAX-BNE-CNS (VA A330 / VA 737)
[open jaw]
AKL-PPT (TN A340)
[stopover]
PPT-LAX (TN A340)
160,000 miles and $375.90 in taxes/fees each.
We really wanted to include flights to/from home but there was no low availability, even in coach, for valid connections. So we'll figure that out later. Worst case - they're only a few hundred bucks.
In case anyone's trying to do something similar (before it's too late on 1/1/15!) be prepared to do your homework. I spent weeks going through timetables, checking TN/AF award seat availability on EF, and coming up with dates that worked. Then it took two long (1.5 hours / 45 minutes) phone calls with DL. They had to contact the IMR (Int'l Manual Reissue) desk to force pricing, as the computers automatically price at the new 2015 rates. Even then, it wouldn't ticket, and the agent had to call two different people in Global Ticketing before they manually forced the pricing and confirmed our itinerary. And I know I had a much better experience than some.
But... it's booked. And we'll be crossing the Pacific in lie-flats next summer!
LAX-BNE-CNS (VA A330 / VA 737)
[open jaw]
AKL-PPT (TN A340)
[stopover]
PPT-LAX (TN A340)
160,000 miles and $375.90 in taxes/fees each.
We really wanted to include flights to/from home but there was no low availability, even in coach, for valid connections. So we'll figure that out later. Worst case - they're only a few hundred bucks.
In case anyone's trying to do something similar (before it's too late on 1/1/15!) be prepared to do your homework. I spent weeks going through timetables, checking TN/AF award seat availability on EF, and coming up with dates that worked. Then it took two long (1.5 hours / 45 minutes) phone calls with DL. They had to contact the IMR (Int'l Manual Reissue) desk to force pricing, as the computers automatically price at the new 2015 rates. Even then, it wouldn't ticket, and the agent had to call two different people in Global Ticketing before they manually forced the pricing and confirmed our itinerary. And I know I had a much better experience than some.
But... it's booked. And we'll be crossing the Pacific in lie-flats next summer!
Dec 26, 2014, 3:14 pm
#534
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
Yes that is correct, check on airfrance.us and then call DL to book.
Dec 29, 2014, 2:54 pm
#537
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Jan 19, 2015, 3:30 pm
#538
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1
My free stopover last hurrah
Bagged the following about 6 months ago, for travel end of April:
JFK-MXP, VCE-AMS, AMS-JFL in J class for 125,000 miles each ( 2 tickets)
JFK-MXP on AZ, VCE-AMS on KL, and ( here's the best part) AMS-JFK, routed via LHR, so AMS-LHR on KL, and LHR-JFK on VS, so all of the Upper Class good stuff! Not one seat on DL metal.
I had to search each leg separately, then called Skymiles and told them my routing. The only fly in the ointment was a very short turnaround on the return. AMS-LHR was, until last night, AMS-CDG-LHR with a 1.5 hour layover in CDG, which I knew from past experience was cuttin' it close, tres dangereux. There was a direct flight but the unhelpful agent I had on the line did not want to give it- since there were only 2 VS award seats available in J and they seemed to be going fast, I took the risk. Then , like magic, I saw last night that the CDG-LHR leg had a TIME change: Can you say "free rebook, please?", and they did, giving me the coveted direct AMS-LHR. Turns out I actually GOT 5 more minutes on the tight connection, but hey, the rules allowed the free change and I had no compunction about giving it a try. And to top it off, by eliminating the CDG landing I got back $39.60 in taxes to boot.
It just takes patience and doing the agents' work for them, searching out the routings. I found all of the legs the AZ and VS legs on the old delta.com search engine.
JFK-MXP, VCE-AMS, AMS-JFL in J class for 125,000 miles each ( 2 tickets)
JFK-MXP on AZ, VCE-AMS on KL, and ( here's the best part) AMS-JFK, routed via LHR, so AMS-LHR on KL, and LHR-JFK on VS, so all of the Upper Class good stuff! Not one seat on DL metal.
I had to search each leg separately, then called Skymiles and told them my routing. The only fly in the ointment was a very short turnaround on the return. AMS-LHR was, until last night, AMS-CDG-LHR with a 1.5 hour layover in CDG, which I knew from past experience was cuttin' it close, tres dangereux. There was a direct flight but the unhelpful agent I had on the line did not want to give it- since there were only 2 VS award seats available in J and they seemed to be going fast, I took the risk. Then , like magic, I saw last night that the CDG-LHR leg had a TIME change: Can you say "free rebook, please?", and they did, giving me the coveted direct AMS-LHR. Turns out I actually GOT 5 more minutes on the tight connection, but hey, the rules allowed the free change and I had no compunction about giving it a try. And to top it off, by eliminating the CDG landing I got back $39.60 in taxes to boot.
It just takes patience and doing the agents' work for them, searching out the routings. I found all of the legs the AZ and VS legs on the old delta.com search engine.
Jan 20, 2015, 1:15 pm
#539
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
Bagged the following about 6 months ago, for travel end of April:
JFK-MXP, VCE-AMS, AMS-JFL in J class for 125,000 miles each ( 2 tickets)
JFK-MXP on AZ, VCE-AMS on KL, and ( here's the best part) AMS-JFK, routed via LHR, so AMS-LHR on KL, and LHR-JFK on VS, so all of the Upper Class good stuff! Not one seat on DL metal.
I had to search each leg separately, then called Skymiles and told them my routing. The only fly in the ointment was a very short turnaround on the return. AMS-LHR was, until last night, AMS-CDG-LHR with a 1.5 hour layover in CDG, which I knew from past experience was cuttin' it close, tres dangereux. There was a direct flight but the unhelpful agent I had on the line did not want to give it- since there were only 2 VS award seats available in J and they seemed to be going fast, I took the risk. Then , like magic, I saw last night that the CDG-LHR leg had a TIME change: Can you say "free rebook, please?", and they did, giving me the coveted direct AMS-LHR. Turns out I actually GOT 5 more minutes on the tight connection, but hey, the rules allowed the free change and I had no compunction about giving it a try. And to top it off, by eliminating the CDG landing I got back $39.60 in taxes to boot.
It just takes patience and doing the agents' work for them, searching out the routings. I found all of the legs the AZ and VS legs on the old delta.com search engine.
JFK-MXP, VCE-AMS, AMS-JFL in J class for 125,000 miles each ( 2 tickets)
JFK-MXP on AZ, VCE-AMS on KL, and ( here's the best part) AMS-JFK, routed via LHR, so AMS-LHR on KL, and LHR-JFK on VS, so all of the Upper Class good stuff! Not one seat on DL metal.
I had to search each leg separately, then called Skymiles and told them my routing. The only fly in the ointment was a very short turnaround on the return. AMS-LHR was, until last night, AMS-CDG-LHR with a 1.5 hour layover in CDG, which I knew from past experience was cuttin' it close, tres dangereux. There was a direct flight but the unhelpful agent I had on the line did not want to give it- since there were only 2 VS award seats available in J and they seemed to be going fast, I took the risk. Then , like magic, I saw last night that the CDG-LHR leg had a TIME change: Can you say "free rebook, please?", and they did, giving me the coveted direct AMS-LHR. Turns out I actually GOT 5 more minutes on the tight connection, but hey, the rules allowed the free change and I had no compunction about giving it a try. And to top it off, by eliminating the CDG landing I got back $39.60 in taxes to boot.
It just takes patience and doing the agents' work for them, searching out the routings. I found all of the legs the AZ and VS legs on the old delta.com search engine.
I miss the ability to compile my own itinerary out of the low-level legs. The new award pricing "logic" is atrocious.
Jan 21, 2015, 12:01 am
#540
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: 17,421
