Is Delta.com best site for ALL Delta fares/flights?
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: DL FO, DL Reserve, AMEX Plat, Priority Pass, Global Entry
Posts: 248
Donna49, mattp1987, 3Cforme, SEA-Flyer, ChuckMSP, Flythetail, javabytes, howtofreetravel, and LBJ... thank you guys so much for the links to tutorials, otas, and suggestions on how to find Delta flights. I really appreciate all of your responses, and count today as a day I've learned something about air travel.
LBJ... I checked the FT glossary for the term "BFG", and was not able to find it there. What does "BFG" stand for?
Thanks again!
LBJ... I checked the FT glossary for the term "BFG", and was not able to find it there. What does "BFG" stand for?
Thanks again!
Google Flights which (usually) will generate a link to book on the airline website. That should pull up the exact flights. Additionally, Hipmunk can be used to select flights and then redirect to delta.com. Hipmunk is a little clunkier than Google Flights IMHO, but it has the added advantage of accepting ITA Matrix syntax because, I if understand correctly, it uses the ITA matrix back-end.
Delta limits flights displayed, sometimes to only a few options when dozens of options exist. I usually search multiple websites and then try to book exactly what I want on Delta. Sometimes I can't ever book the same ticket on Delta, or when I try, it's in a higher fare class, so I will then use an OTA.
For domestic flights, Orbitz will offer broken fares with 4+ hour layovers if they are cheaper (through fares don't allow 4+ hours layovers domestically (usually), but there is nothing wrong with them on a broken fare). Most other sites such as Kayak will filter these options out from my recent experience. delta.com does actually display some broken fare options these days, but it appears to be only those options which involve going through a hub. Orbitz will also combine DL with AF/KL flight numbers for international tickets if they are cheaper. delta.com will generally only offer the code-shared AF/KL flight options which can be more expensive. Matrix can be good, but also from a recent experience I needed to use the DL+ option to get some cheaper options on DL that were not initially displayed. I use Google Flights frequently to get a good idea of when flights are cheapest (mostly for mileage runs). It's not always definitive for cheapest options, but I find that it's the fastest option out there for searching. I should note that neither Matrix nor Google Flights are actually booking sites, while Orbitz is. Also note that BFG has lots of exclusions (such as alternate routings which you get on a broken fare), so it's pretty much meaningless.
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: DL FO, DL Reserve, AMEX Plat, Priority Pass, Global Entry
Posts: 248
Thanks javabytes.
I've added more flight search sites to the list in my first post, which I will keep editing with more options until my edit privileges expire.
I was reading another thread, and apparently some of the MR people find that they need to use another airline's website to book a Delta flight at the fare they found on one of the sites I added to the list. I think it had to do with codesharing, but the thread was too over my head at that point to know for sure.
I've added more flight search sites to the list in my first post, which I will keep editing with more options until my edit privileges expire.
I was reading another thread, and apparently some of the MR people find that they need to use another airline's website to book a Delta flight at the fare they found on one of the sites I added to the list. I think it had to do with codesharing, but the thread was too over my head at that point to know for sure.
#19
Join Date: May 2013
Location: RMS
Programs: DL Plat, UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Credit Card Diamond
Posts: 8,764
I was reading another thread, and apparently some of the MR people find that they need to use another airline's website to book a Delta flight at the fare they found on one of the sites I added to the list. I think it had to do with codesharing, but the thread was too over my head at that point to know for sure.