Award Availability Changes Randomly
 

Hello,

I am new to searching Delta, but I've now got some points and looking for Saver Award space. I did the search and it showed a few green days, then I chose those dates and all it showed me was standard award flights. I went back and all of the dates on the inbound flights were Standard.

The Saver Award space literally disappeared on that month??? Is this normal? Is there a way to get it back? I had dates that worked and then they were gone?

Any ideas on how to get around this issue?

With DL, you're better off if you ignore the award calendar and search for award space segment by segment, day by day.

All of the above is true.

This is DL.

As in. I could search tomorrow and award space for the same flights could open up? Really? That seems crazy.

In terms of segment by segment, I'm trying a fairly simple booking BOI-GSP. Its a 3 hop deal. If I search each segment and find it, with Delta how do I hold those segments?

Yes, availability can change whenever DL decides to release award seats.

By day to day, I mean to check each possible travel date separately rather than just looking at the award calendar and assuming that it's correct.

For three hops, yes you should search for each segment individually. When you find low award space that you might be able to use, write down the dates, flight numbers, and times. Then try to put it together using search by schedule multi city, picking each segment according to the low inventory that you found. If this doesn't work, call DL and feed the exact segments to the agent. If you explain that you couldn't ticket this on delta.dumb, the phone booking fee might be waived. You can also try asking the agent to put the itinerary on hold for you while you complete the purchase on the website.

I hope you're planning on a RT award ticket, three segments in each direction, right?

Got it. Thanks for the clarity and insight.

Yes three segments each way. There are a bunch of different ways I could make it happen, so I will check into each and see what I can find!

Yeah, I'm guessing that you can choose to connect through different hubs for this trip. IIRC you're allowed four segments in each direction on award tickets, so don't forget to look at adding an additional hub-hub leg to get low availability. On domestic, any connecting time over four hours counts as a stopover and they're limited.

Delta's SkyMiles program is designed to prevent members from easily redeeming points for air travel.

better to search seats on skyteam partners and redeem skymiles on them

Its not random... the award engine detects searches as perceived demand and will alter the availability. Enjoy!

I am shocked -- SHOCKED -- to find that DL IT is manipulating award availability