Upcoming TATL trip - Linking PNRs and Award Travel Questions
Aug 11, 2014, 9:16 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: DTW
Programs: DL - PM, (NW - Plat), AA - Gold, Marriott - Plat, Avis - First
Posts: 955
Upcoming TATL trip - Linking PNRs and Award Travel Questions
My wife and I are planning an upcoming trip to Europe. I've been trying to book the trip in the easiest way possible, but a lot of things that I want to do are not available via delta.com and/or for award travel. I've found some workable solutions, so I'm trying to figure out if I can do the following.
I cannot get award travel to ZRH, but I can easily get a ticket to AMS.
Me:
Paid ticket DTW-AMS-ZRH; GVA-AMS-DTW
(DL + KLM codeshare)
Wife:
Award ticket DTW-AMS; AMS-DTW (Delta)
Paid ticket: AMS-ZRH; GVA-AMS (KLM)
1. Can I link our PNRs to get her into Elite (not EC) seats with me on the DL DTW-AMS flights?
2. I can probably just check both bags on my PNR to our destination, but would I have any issues with routing bags through if I were to have seperate DL and KLM tickets?
3. Are they issues she would run into with clearing customs with seperate tickets as such?
4. Is it worth paying for EC? I'm leaning toward no - as we are both relatively small/thin - I'm 5'11 she's 5'1
5. If I were to rent a car in ZRH and return in GVA do I pay one-way milage fees like here in the US?
6. Are there any better award availability if I were to just call instead of trying to force it on delta.com?
Any help/advise is appreciated. Thanks!
I cannot get award travel to ZRH, but I can easily get a ticket to AMS.
Me:
Paid ticket DTW-AMS-ZRH; GVA-AMS-DTW
(DL + KLM codeshare)
Wife:
Award ticket DTW-AMS; AMS-DTW (Delta)
Paid ticket: AMS-ZRH; GVA-AMS (KLM)
1. Can I link our PNRs to get her into Elite (not EC) seats with me on the DL DTW-AMS flights?
2. I can probably just check both bags on my PNR to our destination, but would I have any issues with routing bags through if I were to have seperate DL and KLM tickets?
3. Are they issues she would run into with clearing customs with seperate tickets as such?
4. Is it worth paying for EC? I'm leaning toward no - as we are both relatively small/thin - I'm 5'11 she's 5'1
5. If I were to rent a car in ZRH and return in GVA do I pay one-way milage fees like here in the US?
6. Are there any better award availability if I were to just call instead of trying to force it on delta.com?
Any help/advise is appreciated. Thanks!
Aug 11, 2014, 11:37 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Spire Amb, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 1MM
Posts: 3,611
1. Can I link our PNRs to get her into Elite (not EC) seats with me on the DL DTW-AMS flights?
No. If this is Delta flight, you might be able to get the gate agent to move your wife to EC. If KLM, no hope.
2. I can probably just check both bags on my PNR to our destination, but would I have any issues with routing bags through if I were to have seperate DL and KLM tickets?
I don't think so.
3. Are they issues she would run into with clearing customs with seperate tickets as such?
No, as long as she's smart enough not to lose her passport on the plane.
4. Is it worth paying for EC? I'm leaning toward no - as we are both relatively small/thin - I'm 5'11 she's 5'1
No, especially for a short person.
5. If I were to rent a car in ZRH and return in GVA do I pay one-way milage fees like here in the US?
You have ask the rental agency.
6. Are there any better award availability if I were to just call instead of trying to force it on delta.com?
No. Read the wiki on how to search for award space.
Not sure what "forcing" is. You can try searching segment by segment on Delta.com or flying blue website.
No. If this is Delta flight, you might be able to get the gate agent to move your wife to EC. If KLM, no hope.
2. I can probably just check both bags on my PNR to our destination, but would I have any issues with routing bags through if I were to have seperate DL and KLM tickets?
I don't think so.
3. Are they issues she would run into with clearing customs with seperate tickets as such?
No, as long as she's smart enough not to lose her passport on the plane.
4. Is it worth paying for EC? I'm leaning toward no - as we are both relatively small/thin - I'm 5'11 she's 5'1
No, especially for a short person.
5. If I were to rent a car in ZRH and return in GVA do I pay one-way milage fees like here in the US?
You have ask the rental agency.
6. Are there any better award availability if I were to just call instead of trying to force it on delta.com?
No. Read the wiki on how to search for award space.
Not sure what "forcing" is. You can try searching segment by segment on Delta.com or flying blue website.
Aug 11, 2014, 11:57 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: BSL
Programs: DL GM, Hertz Gold Five Star
Posts: 18
I can only answer #1 from having just done something similar. I assume you are talking about the Preferred Seats that show up in blue on the DL seat maps? As you stated, those are only visible to anyone holding status with DL (or other sky team member, not sure on that) and should be free for you to book.
I would just open up the seat map under your Skymiles account and check out which seats are available together, then call Delta and explain that you are on separate PNRs and ask them to place you together in 15A and B, or something like that.
I've done this recently, my father a PM, myself an FO, traveling with my mother and two sisters PIT-ATL-GIG. We were on three separate PNRs due to varying return dates, so the way I got us into the preferred seats was just to call the PM line and kindly ask them to move us together into the preferred seats. They had no problem helping me out with that.
I would just open up the seat map under your Skymiles account and check out which seats are available together, then call Delta and explain that you are on separate PNRs and ask them to place you together in 15A and B, or something like that.
I've done this recently, my father a PM, myself an FO, traveling with my mother and two sisters PIT-ATL-GIG. We were on three separate PNRs due to varying return dates, so the way I got us into the preferred seats was just to call the PM line and kindly ask them to move us together into the preferred seats. They had no problem helping me out with that.
Aug 11, 2014, 12:28 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,043
Me:
Paid ticket DTW-AMS-ZRH; GVA-AMS-DTW
(DL + KLM codeshare)
Wife:
Award ticket DTW-AMS; AMS-DTW (Delta)
Paid ticket: AMS-ZRH; GVA-AMS (KLM)
1. Can I link our PNRs to get her into Elite (not EC) seats with me on the DL DTW-AMS flights?
There's really nothing that can be done other then to call and ask nicely explaining you're on a separate ticket and could they move her next to you.
2. I can probably just check both bags on my PNR to our destination, but would I have any issues with routing bags through if I were to have seperate DL and KLM tickets?
No. Just make sure you have a confirmation code with you for the separate flights. They just need something to prove you're on the flight. You don't collect bags in AMS like you do in the US, they'll be checked straight through. However remember that she may be required to pay checked luggage fees. To Europe you get one free bag. Of course if you booked her in Business then she gets two. You may get a nice ticket agent willing to waive her fee, but since on a separate PNR they're not required to. Also on the return it'd be highl doubtful the KLM/AF handling agent would waive the fee for her. I''d check them under your name, unless of course you'd need to pay for an extra bag. However as an elite you should get at least two, if not three bags free.
3. Are they issues she would run into with clearing customs with separate tickets as such?
Nope, Switzerland while outside the EU is a member to the Schengen Treaty, thus you will clear immigration and customs in Amsterdam, and be treated like a domestic arrival in Zurich. If I need to goto a Schengen country I always try and book AMS as my connecting point. Immigration there is such a non-issue, I've never seen someone with a US passport take more then a minute or two to clear, not including any waiting in line time. I'm doubtful they even do much more then a standard security check on baggage. (Since you don't collect it, I have no idea what level of scrutiny they give the bags)
4. Is it worth paying for EC? I'm leaning toward no - as we are both relatively small/thin - I'm 5'11 she's 5'1
Nope.
5. If I were to rent a car in ZRH and return in GVA do I pay one-way milage fees like here in the US?
Depends on the company you rent from. Some don't allow it at all, others don't care as long as it's the same country, and others charge a huge fee.
6. Are there any better award availability if I were to just call instead of trying to force it on delta.com?
Nope, however the agent may be able to do a quicker/easier search. Normally I'd suggest looking for options through CDG instead of AMS, but since you've paid for another ticket already from AMS that rules out partner AF without a change fee.
Any help/advise is appreciated. Thanks!
Paid ticket DTW-AMS-ZRH; GVA-AMS-DTW
(DL + KLM codeshare)
Wife:
Award ticket DTW-AMS; AMS-DTW (Delta)
Paid ticket: AMS-ZRH; GVA-AMS (KLM)
1. Can I link our PNRs to get her into Elite (not EC) seats with me on the DL DTW-AMS flights?
There's really nothing that can be done other then to call and ask nicely explaining you're on a separate ticket and could they move her next to you.
2. I can probably just check both bags on my PNR to our destination, but would I have any issues with routing bags through if I were to have seperate DL and KLM tickets?
No. Just make sure you have a confirmation code with you for the separate flights. They just need something to prove you're on the flight. You don't collect bags in AMS like you do in the US, they'll be checked straight through. However remember that she may be required to pay checked luggage fees. To Europe you get one free bag. Of course if you booked her in Business then she gets two. You may get a nice ticket agent willing to waive her fee, but since on a separate PNR they're not required to. Also on the return it'd be highl doubtful the KLM/AF handling agent would waive the fee for her. I''d check them under your name, unless of course you'd need to pay for an extra bag. However as an elite you should get at least two, if not three bags free.
3. Are they issues she would run into with clearing customs with separate tickets as such?
Nope, Switzerland while outside the EU is a member to the Schengen Treaty, thus you will clear immigration and customs in Amsterdam, and be treated like a domestic arrival in Zurich. If I need to goto a Schengen country I always try and book AMS as my connecting point. Immigration there is such a non-issue, I've never seen someone with a US passport take more then a minute or two to clear, not including any waiting in line time. I'm doubtful they even do much more then a standard security check on baggage. (Since you don't collect it, I have no idea what level of scrutiny they give the bags)
4. Is it worth paying for EC? I'm leaning toward no - as we are both relatively small/thin - I'm 5'11 she's 5'1
Nope.
5. If I were to rent a car in ZRH and return in GVA do I pay one-way milage fees like here in the US?
Depends on the company you rent from. Some don't allow it at all, others don't care as long as it's the same country, and others charge a huge fee.
6. Are there any better award availability if I were to just call instead of trying to force it on delta.com?
Nope, however the agent may be able to do a quicker/easier search. Normally I'd suggest looking for options through CDG instead of AMS, but since you've paid for another ticket already from AMS that rules out partner AF without a change fee.
Any help/advise is appreciated. Thanks!