UA Fan

Is this the AF issue people are talking about:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...premium-w.html

3Cforme

That perception is outdated, particularly for Business class seats on AF/KL. An ExpertFlyer subscription will allow one to check for AF or KL inventory JFK-CDG/AMS over a month's dates in less than a minute. I wouldn't discourage anybody from trying a search to/from AF/KL's North American gateway cities.

Delta availability on AF/KL aligns well with what is shown on EF - not with what is shown on Flying Blue.

mnredfox

Sadly I think you're right. But keep in mind this is just for AF/KL metal right now (as you stated, I jsut want to reiterate). Hope this gets fixed soon. So much for seamless ST and seamless JV.

Sadly so true. Many DL agents are so clueless when it comes to booking partner awards. That's why I wrote this thread.

jphripjah

Very good guide and thread. Thanks.

nittany987

This may be true, but I've had a hell of a time trying to find J in June...

I hope you are right, but I'm not seeing results (for my admittedly self-centered date range) on KVS or EF.

mnredfox

Not trying to crosspost here, but anyone with any luck on calculating MPM SFO-CTS? Don't know how DL or any ST carrier would accurately calculate MPM on this routing as you would have to fly KE or some other ST partner mix.

See my dilemma here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/19609225-post1359.html

Thanks in advance.

mnredfox

Today heard a new one from DL DM agent. I was trying to get a PVG-KE-ICN-KE-LAX itin on the A388 (ICN-LAX) and agent couldn't find it via search. I asked her to put in PVG-ICN first and then ICN-LAX and agent told me she was given a directive by her supervisors to not search point to point and refused to. I asked her to search via time and search via KE and she claimed she couldn't find it (despite the fact that it was the first thing on came up on DL.dumb for me when I searched PVG-LAX).

She told me she could find the MU direct PVG-LAX. I asked her to try to book it, and she said "she can't". A few questions later I find out that her manual sell didn't come back with a response - meaning still waiting. I asked her to wait a few minutes and she told me couldn't. I asked why and her response was shocking:

"I will lose my benefits and points because my call times are tracked and I can't wait 5 min for you."

At this point instead of hanging up I asked to speak to a sup.

Has anyone run into this ridiculousness?

michael_v

I did not, but I would have thanked her for her time and ended the call after "told me she was given a directive by her supervisors to not search point to point and refused to".

Edit to add: if you found PVG-ICN-LAX via dl.com, why didn't you put that on hold and called to add the extra segments needed?

mnredfox

Could have, but needed to add a lot of segments that may not have worked with my overall itin.

UA Fan

Why are DL agents so allergic to searching by segment.

mnredfox

Reason sort of makes sense, they don't want to create itins that violate MCT and create misconnections on partners. But the solution isn't a blanket don't do point to point, but verify flights are valid published routings.

stan1162

I've read this thread from the first post the last. I have soooo many questions. Even though I don't fly a ton, we do travel quite a bit.

Trying to get 2 tickets, one using miles, one a purchase. The exact same itinerary for both. Both in COACH.

MEM-FCO June 4, 2013 BCN-MEM June 16, 2013. Could be ATL not MEM if need be.

1. MEM is losing its KLM flight to AMS.

2. I have a FB account that I have bee using to search availibility.

3. DH is FO with Delta, soon to be Gold ( Not that it matters)

4. If I see a availability on FB (low) does that still not mean that it can be booked on DL?

5. If I see for example ATL-CDG-FCO for "low" on 6/4 is it DL bookable? What would be the Fees? Do I pay what the fees say on the KL site?

6. Can I add a leg ATL-MEM for no extra miles if there is Low availibility on DL.

Ugh. Any tips would be great!

3Cforme

Don't waste your time searching with a Flying Blue account for an award. If you can't immediately find Delta-operated low band awards, use ExpertFlyer to search KLM, AF and Alitalia from their U.S. gateways (ATL/MIA/ORD/DTW/JFK/EWR/BOS+), then add Delta segments to/from the gateway to the trans-Atlantic segments you have found. Anything with Alitalia will require booking by phone; since you're trying for award + purchased, just find an agent to do both.

You can have a stopover and an open jaw.

Flying Blue's fees are not representative of Delta's fees for a TATL award originating in the U.S. Taxes and fees will be much less.

Fixed dates are an enemy of aspirations to low band award tickets. Contemplate getting to Rome a day or two early (there's plenty to see!) or departing BCN (same) later if need be.

javabytes

mnredfox

Here are my tips:

1. You want to first map out all the possible routings from MEM-FCO, BCN-MEM on all carriers:

a. Specifically what I would focus on first is how to get TATL (over the ocean). Obviously that will be DL, AF, KL, or AZ. DL to LHR, AMS, CDG, FCO; KL to AMS, AF to CDG, and AZ to FCO. Try Skyteam Travel Desk (PC software - just google it).

b. Once you find that availability on the dates you want (use DL.com for DL or you can use FB.com for DL metal, then use EF or if you don't have that try FB), work back into your US hub (likely MEM, ATL, IAD, DCA, BOS, JFK). You might even want to check DTW and MSP as well.

My guess is that intra-EU flight will not be an issue, TATL and the intra-US will be.

I wouldn't worry too much about MPM unless you really are doing a complicated routing.

2. Price your flights outbound, then price them inbound. i.e. search them as one ways to find all your lows

3. Be patient