I know the issues between Delta.com and the actual Delta reservations system for awards have been brought up a million times in the past.

I have learned a lot from flyertalk and have been able to book a business class trip to France (TYS-MSP-CDG-IAD-ATL-TYS) in 2011 using low miles and an openjaw business class trip to Southeast Asia (TYS-ATL-ICN-HAN-openjaw-HKT-ICN-DTW-TYS) in 2012 using low miles (thank you KE and VN!!). ^ Thanks Delta Skymiles flyertalk users!

Anyways, I want to make sure I am not going crazy. I managed to book the following itinerary for two tickets in business class for 100,000 miles:

2013 Italy Itinerary:
Jun 29 ATL-BRU (Delta 80)
Jun 30 BRU-FCO (Alitalia 159)
Jul 8 VCE-FCO (Alitalia 1464)
Jul 8 FCO-BOS (Alitalia 614)
Jul 9 BOS-ATL (Delta 1801)

I am actually based out of TYS and saw yesterday that there were low flights in economy showing up on both Jun 29 and Jul 9 that would fit my time schedule. The flight on Jun 29 is TYS-ATL (Delta 3647) and the flight back is Jul 9 (Delta 5041). These price out at 25,000 total on both one way Delta.com searches and even roundtrip searches. I've tried it on several different computers.

So, I call the Platinum line and they price it out at 132,500 which as I have learned on here is not what it is supposed to be... I am within 4 segments on the inbound and outbound and within mileage limits, so what gives? The representative says they are only seeing medium award levels for my TYS-ATL and ATL-TYS segments. I see low and am expecting 100,000. I've talked to four or five different representatives and they only see low on a couple of flights on Jul 9, but I see it on 13/14 flights when I search!

Any thoughts on what to do when there is a discrepancy between Delta.com and Delta's reservation system?

And as a side note, does anyone know if Delta can get my seat assignments for my Alitalia flights or do I need to call Alitalia directly?

Thanks for reading!!

Welcome to FT!

Try searching for your TYS-ATL-TYS sectors while logged OUT. If it doesn't show low then but shows low when logged in, it's the extra PM availability. I've found that you have to tell the agent to check for the enhanced elite availability, as it doesn't pull it by default on their systems.

In terms of seats, always, always, always, always request your seat with the operating carrier. I'd call with AZ.

Part of the problem may be that adding only one of the segments at a time makes it look like an additional open jaw. If the agent adds one segment and then reprices to check, the computer will see two open jaws and price it as a separate domestic ticket. Adding the second domestic connection then gives a domestic RT plus a TATL RT. Or the problem could be what mtkeller said, that the agent isn't grabbing the low availability for DMs and then medium domestic coach (actually low/medium for 32,500 miles RT) plus low TATL BE prices additively.

mtkeller - "Try searching for your TYS-ATL-TYS sectors while logged OUT."

Thanks. Tried this and got 40,000 each way. So, that makes more sense. Still not sure how they are coming out to 32,000 on their end, but I'll give them a call and have them try under enhanced elite availability! Never even thought to ASK them to try that!

"In terms of seats, always, always, always, always request your seat with the operating carrier. I'd call with AZ."

That is what I thought. Even if Delta said they could that doesn't necessarily mean Alitalia would be getting the assignments! I'll call them direct!

MSPeconomist - "Part of the problem may be that adding only one of the segments at a time makes it look like an additional open jaw."

I did think of this and mentioned it to them, but they kept repeating that they couldn't find my return flight in low availability regardless! Thanks for the help!

Success! Thank you both for your help. It was my 5th time to call today and the lady who helped me couldn't have been better. She went to the 'old system' and was able to book it manually! While the system shows both the legs as being low, when she tried to book it originally it changed the return to medium, but she was somehow able to fix that. Looking forward to Italy... ^ ^ ^

Just out of interest, how much cash did you have to pay for that itinerary in addition to the 100k miles?

TYS-ATL-BRU-FCO-openjaw-VCE-FCO-BOS-ATL-TYS

For each passenger:

Details - Taxes/Carrier-imposed Fees
Total: 110.80
Itemized: 10.00 AY 5.00 XA 7.00 XY 5.50 YC 23.70 BE 1.90 EX 13.10 HB 35.30 IT 2.50 MJ 6.80 VT