Do a search for MSO-MIA 27 March to 3 April. It's 65,000 now in coach. Last year it was 40,000.

That's spring break in FL. I wouldn't expect any low awards be available for that time frame this close to the travel dates let alone low fares for purchase.

I don't expect low fares either but 65K/ticket is a bit ridiculous.

Try checking MSO-MSP anytime between now and the next few weeks. Nearly all round trips that are 3 days in length are 40K. Last year at this time they were 25-32.5K

I fully expected the "new and improved" award options to be a crock, but I was able to book two 25K domestic round trips with zero problem - and in the past, it almost always took 40K. One of those round trips (Roanoke-Houston) priced out at over $1,000 in coach booked conventionally.

I'm cautiously wondering if availability has improved. #knockonwood

Perhaps this is a YMMV thing...literally.

With the airlines doing as well as they are we should expect programs to continue to migrate more in favor of the airlines. In the old NWA days we got a one-way certificate for each 10,000 miles. There were some black out rules - but we always figured something out. Things change and we learn to deal with it. Probably not unlike the way the companies we work for have reduced their contributions to our benefits or eliminated retirement pension programs. I think we know when "they" make changes, it not the best for us...

DM is the only level that matters anymore.

Really?!

Probably can't find HI for low mileage at Christmas, or Hong Kong at Chinese New Year, or Munich during Oktoberfest.

I'm 0-2 as a DM on that route if that's any solace.

Last year it was lower. Do you have a reading comprehension problem? And what do you attribute the 40K flights MSO-MSP right now to?

I guess the confusion may be you give no point of reference other than last year. How far in advance was it booked, what were the dates, etc.

Sure I got a ticket to HI in August for 65K but I booked it two months in advance, could I get the same ticket this year, maybe, but maybe not.

I didn't book them but the GF and I were planning a trip about this same time last year for that same time. But 40K was the cheapest. Now 65K is the cheapest. The other datapoint is that right now the cheapest MSP-MSO flight is 40K. I was booking them for 25K and 32.5K at this time last year as well as during xmas last month and in Sept. and Oct., although a lot of the 32.5K turned into 25K magically when I completed booking. Those same 32.5K showed up in green on the award calendar also.

So for me, the award calendar is worst than last year.

Anecdotal. Period. Pointless for comparison purposes. I guess perfect for non-critical thinking, pot-stirring purposes. How far out did you book? Was capacity the same? Was schedule the same? NOTHING is ever the same with airlines and fares.

Tampa is hard to get upgrades out of in general. As a DM with reserve card I don't think I've ever been upgraded on a Monday AM outbound or Thursday afternoon inbound in the 2 years I've been flying delta from the area. That TPA-LAX route is extremely difficult to get upgrades on during common travel times as it is Deltas only direct west coast route from the area and they only run it once a day.