OFFICAL from Delta: Award Stopovers & Open Jaw GONE #Skymiles2015
Nov 17, 2014, 9:10 pm
#32
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Unfortunately I was a little late in figuring that out, so I've only taken advantage of it a couple times. But, honestly, without having fixed plans and/or PM+ status it's a bit tricky to use that feature anyway. I'll be sad to see it go, but without it I won't have to stress as much trying to maximize my award tickets. 
Major devaluation but everyone screamed for one-way awards without really knowing DL NEVER gives anything away for nothing
Nov 17, 2014, 9:25 pm
#33
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For me, being able to use one-way awards is a very nice, ahem, enhancement. I do regret losing the stopover benefit.
I'm not sure I understand why anyone would complain about "losing" the open jaw feature, because by moving to one-way awards, you will never have the need for an open jaw roundtrip. The former open jaw roundtrip will simply become two separate one-way trips. It eliminates the need to even calculate whether the open jaw is permissible or not.
I'm not sure I understand why anyone would complain about "losing" the open jaw feature, because by moving to one-way awards, you will never have the need for an open jaw roundtrip. The former open jaw roundtrip will simply become two separate one-way trips. It eliminates the need to even calculate whether the open jaw is permissible or not.
Nov 18, 2014, 2:32 am
#35
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Few FT'ers use DL miles for domestic awards but with the stopover provision either en route like LAX/Maui mentikned above or adding an extra leg it really added significant value to DL awards. Way more than one way awards do.
Nov 18, 2014, 3:40 am
#36
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Lots of FTers use DL miles mostly -- or only -- for domestic flights.
Some of the DL stopovers allowed for no additional miles on mileage ticket routings this past summer have already been eliminated without advance public notice for the general public.
This move will further kill off a substantial chunk of the ability of an entire immediate family of three or four (or more) persons to fly on award tickets on the same DL flights or partner flights unless originating or terminating a trip at a DL hub.
SkyMiles management still thinks of its customers as the enemy. This move shows it again.
Some of the DL stopovers allowed for no additional miles on mileage ticket routings this past summer have already been eliminated without advance public notice for the general public.
This move will further kill off a substantial chunk of the ability of an entire immediate family of three or four (or more) persons to fly on award tickets on the same DL flights or partner flights unless originating or terminating a trip at a DL hub.
SkyMiles management still thinks of its customers as the enemy. This move shows it again.
Last edited by GUWonder; Nov 18, 2014 at 3:53 am
Nov 18, 2014, 4:17 am
#37
Join Date: Dec 2005
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This latest enhancement just reinforces why I am burning all my miles as fast as I can, why I don't do anything any more to earning miles (including not claiming them on rental cars or hotel stays and cancelling the credit card) and why I have concluded that all of these programs are being redesigned with the help of Bernie Madoff.
I'm among those that think two one-ways are just as good as open jaw. Further, open jaw had the hidden restriction that required the two cities to be within 800 miles of each other, as I found this summer trying to book an open jaw involving SEA and ANC.
But losing the stopover, effectively requiring three one-ways instead of two, is a major downgrade. This is a pretty steep price for getting the one-way award, an industry standard for years. It only makes me wonder what else is coming to create a more exclusive experience.
I'm among those that think two one-ways are just as good as open jaw. Further, open jaw had the hidden restriction that required the two cities to be within 800 miles of each other, as I found this summer trying to book an open jaw involving SEA and ANC.
But losing the stopover, effectively requiring three one-ways instead of two, is a major downgrade. This is a pretty steep price for getting the one-way award, an industry standard for years. It only makes me wonder what else is coming to create a more exclusive experience.
Nov 18, 2014, 5:44 am
#40
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If you wanted to do XXX-LAX / SFO-XXX though you would just need to book two one-way awards. Of course, for a non-PM+ this would require two change fees if you need to adjust your trip for any reason.
(The connection statement above is still true as well).
Nov 18, 2014, 6:19 am
#41
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Although I bemoan the loss of stopovers, the two-one-way award pricing is definitely a positive enhancement. It gets rid of that pesky open jaw mileage requirement, and allows for double open jaws. It gets back to the days such as when I flew MCO-EDI and PEK-MCO priced as two one ways (or two halfs of the round trip award prices).
I see nothing saying that one way awards have to be on separate tickets which would result in double cancel/change fees. Nothing to make that easier for anyone than to put both on the same PNR.
I see nothing saying that one way awards have to be on separate tickets which would result in double cancel/change fees. Nothing to make that easier for anyone than to put both on the same PNR.
Nov 18, 2014, 6:35 am
#43
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Nov 18, 2014, 6:38 am
#44
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Why should they "price" the same? For instance, a trip to Europe now takes two one-way awards that may include hefty surcharges for the leg starting in Europe.
Nov 18, 2014, 6:54 am
#45
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Right. That is a really good point. Two one ways will not make much sense to Europe or anywhere there are significant surcharges for one direction.