ATL to SFO 1st Class Award - 100k miles- Excessive?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: DL, AA
Posts: 6
ATL to SFO 1st Class Award - 100k miles- Excessive?
I am considering treating a family member by flying first class to SFO from ATL.
The award travel rate is 90-100K for 1st class, yikes! This seems excessive to me, is it? Can I use Delta award miles on a partner for less? If so, how can I book that?
I appreciate any insight.
Thanks!
The award travel rate is 90-100K for 1st class, yikes! This seems excessive to me, is it? Can I use Delta award miles on a partner for less? If so, how can I book that?
I appreciate any insight.
Thanks!
#4
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Gold (prev. Ex Plat for 10 years); DL Plat; UA Gold; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,339
Well, you *could* fly Aeromexico via MEX, I guess. That's out of the way and would very likely require two separate bookings (int'l transborder transit is not technically permitted on a domestic US itinerary per US law and seems to break the DL.com search engine), a passport and bit of luck. I don't think AM serve ATL, either, only DL via codeshare, so you'd still have to find low band inventory on ATL-MEX.
That's about the only thing I can think of that would get it done. That would be 60k per ticket so actually prices out higher.
You might be able to find some obscure routings within the US that have low band inventory. DL's network out of SFO isn't that great - it's served by hubs and not much more. You might want to try pricing individual city pairs to see if there is a lower option.
LAX, JFK, MSP, DTW, SLC, SEA, ATL (nonstop) are the inbound destinations that come to mind for me.
That's about the only thing I can think of that would get it done. That would be 60k per ticket so actually prices out higher.
You might be able to find some obscure routings within the US that have low band inventory. DL's network out of SFO isn't that great - it's served by hubs and not much more. You might want to try pricing individual city pairs to see if there is a lower option.
LAX, JFK, MSP, DTW, SLC, SEA, ATL (nonstop) are the inbound destinations that come to mind for me.
#5
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SEA, NW/DL 1.6Million Miler
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Giving us a date and/or time range might allow us to do some checking.
#6
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In addition to MEX, there might be ways to do this with two tickets through Canada. I wouldn't try to check in for both of them together or expect any IROPs protection.
If you're spending so many miles, can you route through JFK and get the D1/BE transcon service? That would be worth more than domestic FC, although DL does pretty well with dinner on the longer business oriented routes, which ATL-SFO nonstop should be.
If you're spending so many miles, can you route through JFK and get the D1/BE transcon service? That would be worth more than domestic FC, although DL does pretty well with dinner on the longer business oriented routes, which ATL-SFO nonstop should be.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: BNA and TPA
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Posts: 566
Knowing the travel dates and whether your trip is one way or round trip would help to ascertain whether 100k is excessive, but based on my recent experience with DL on a nonstop BNA-LAX one way, DL wanted 50,000 for a one way F award for a non holiday trip not in summer.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: DL, AA
Posts: 6
Thanks for the responses. I've only booked award miles a few times before and found that to be very challenging.
I will be going June 18-21. I can be a little flexible on the dates but not earlier in the month because I'm taking a teenager who is turning 16 in June. I thought first class would be a nice experience for her. We may have to settle for Delta Comfort seats.
I will be going June 18-21. I can be a little flexible on the dates but not earlier in the month because I'm taking a teenager who is turning 16 in June. I thought first class would be a nice experience for her. We may have to settle for Delta Comfort seats.
#9
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
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#10
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
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I don't believe delta.com gives the option of AS-operated ATL-SEA-SFO without breaking the fare/additive redemption, at least in a cursory look.
#12
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Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
Thanks for the responses. I've only booked award miles a few times before and found that to be very challenging.
I will be going June 18-21. I can be a little flexible on the dates but not earlier in the month because I'm taking a teenager who is turning 16 in June. I thought first class would be a nice experience for her. We may have to settle for Delta Comfort seats.
I will be going June 18-21. I can be a little flexible on the dates but not earlier in the month because I'm taking a teenager who is turning 16 in June. I thought first class would be a nice experience for her. We may have to settle for Delta Comfort seats.
#13
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Excessive is in the eye of the beholder. If tthe OP must travel on these dates and paid tickets are very expensive, 100K RDMs could be a reasonable option in the circumstances, although I would hate to use the miles this way versus adding a few more miles and getting a low international business class ticket.
Could the OP save miles by using pay-with-miles, if eligible, for this trip?
Could the OP save miles by using pay-with-miles, if eligible, for this trip?
#15
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Unfortunately yes that is quite high, but its also around the beginning of summer vacations and highschool graduations so there is probably a lot of travel around that weekend.