Award Travel, Holidays 2017
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 173
Award Travel, Holidays 2017
I'll be booking a trip to DUS, out of CMH, spanning the upcoming Xmas & New Years holiday period using miles.
On non-holiday timeframes, I can book this route for 60K miles. For the trip in question, presently, the minimum required miles is 90K.
My travel dates are roughly 12/20 (Wed) to 1/6 (Sat).
Is there much hope to see some awards open up at sub 90K for this approximate time? Or is this the most likely cost going forward?
Appreciate the feedback & insight.
**MODS** Please move to a more appropriate thread, if need be.
On non-holiday timeframes, I can book this route for 60K miles. For the trip in question, presently, the minimum required miles is 90K.
My travel dates are roughly 12/20 (Wed) to 1/6 (Sat).
Is there much hope to see some awards open up at sub 90K for this approximate time? Or is this the most likely cost going forward?
Appreciate the feedback & insight.
**MODS** Please move to a more appropriate thread, if need be.
#2
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: NJ
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 866
Reality is that anything within the 3 week period around Christmas/New Year's is going to be easily 50-100% more than what you would pay on average for any other time of year (for DL or any other airline). There's a tremendous amount of demand around that period, and the airlines know it - so they charge accordingly.
It's far enough out that there's no harm in waiting to see if the price drops, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.
It's far enough out that there's no harm in waiting to see if the price drops, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 173
An update for future people who may stumble across this thread and have the same type of thoughts/questions...it is possible to get a fairly good redemption level around the holiday, if you are diligent about it.
For our trip (12/20 - 1/7/18), we booked 5 tickets at 80K/ticket, 1 stop. I booked them in April. Since April, I have seen the redemption level drop to 70K a couple of times on the same route. And if you're not looking to have the most efficient route, 60K was possible, too. However, those redemption levels do not stick around for long. And for time periods a bit closer in to the holidays, slightly higher (but reasonable) redemptions were possible, although much less frequent.
Long story short, if you give yourself some time and keep a keen eye on your route, you should be able to book what you need at levels close to non-holiday pricing. If you do this, no need to settle for 50-100% higher than normal redemption levels.
For our trip (12/20 - 1/7/18), we booked 5 tickets at 80K/ticket, 1 stop. I booked them in April. Since April, I have seen the redemption level drop to 70K a couple of times on the same route. And if you're not looking to have the most efficient route, 60K was possible, too. However, those redemption levels do not stick around for long. And for time periods a bit closer in to the holidays, slightly higher (but reasonable) redemptions were possible, although much less frequent.
Long story short, if you give yourself some time and keep a keen eye on your route, you should be able to book what you need at levels close to non-holiday pricing. If you do this, no need to settle for 50-100% higher than normal redemption levels.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: SPG, DL
Posts: 307
Just another data point. The past two years I have been able to book ATL-CDG/LHR-ATL leaving on or after xmas and returning after NYE at low business levels. First year I found availability for what I wanted in about Aug. Last year I didn't start looking until mid-Oct and was able to get all the flights I wanted in low by mid-Nov. I would check 2-3 times a day, and as soon as a flight I wanted opened in low, book it. Once I had all the flights booked, I called in to have them "re-coded" as round trip to avoid the ex-EU fees DL charges on one way flights to the US.
I did have to get creative with the return last year, going LHR-PHL-ATL, but that was available in low on Jan 3.
I did have to get creative with the return last year, going LHR-PHL-ATL, but that was available in low on Jan 3.
#6
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: Delta Platinum & 2MM, Marriott Lifetime TIT, Hertz Pres Club, IHG Gold, *A Gold
Posts: 1,253
I had to pay over $250 in taxes/fees for the return. Is it possible to call and have these two awards combined and get a refund of some of the taxes/fees?
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 173
And I'm curious like ATLawyer...did they refund to you the difference in taxes and fees after having the two tickets joined/recoded as a r/t?
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,015
I employ a similar strategy. I have two 1-way PDX-SEA-HKG award tickets booked in biz for 80,000 each, departing 23-Dec. I have two 1-way BKK-PVG-LAX-PDX award tickets booked in biz for 80,000 each, returning 10-Jan.
I had to pay over $250 in taxes/fees for the return. Is it possible to call and have these two awards combined and get a refund of some of the taxes/fees?
I had to pay over $250 in taxes/fees for the return. Is it possible to call and have these two awards combined and get a refund of some of the taxes/fees?
Last edited by xliioper; Aug 4, 2017 at 1:58 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
This international origination surcharge for tix starting from EU (that is really the return of a US-originated roundtrip) is what the other posters are referencing that DL has returned to them.
#10
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: SPG, DL
Posts: 307
I was returning via LHR which has huge fees regardless, but still got some $$ back when combining.
This is really an issue with the booking engine, which often won't let you book multi city award trip itineraries correctly, thus forcing two one way bookings instead of a rt.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 173
I see. That's awesome, had no idea that was a possibility. Certainly something I will be paying attention to for our next redemption. Thanks!
#12
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: Delta Platinum & 2MM, Marriott Lifetime TIT, Hertz Pres Club, IHG Gold, *A Gold
Posts: 1,253
So now I have two one-way award tix as follows:
1. PDX-SEA-HKG $5.60 each in taxes/fees paid
2. SIN-NRT-PDX SGD76.10 ($55.74) each in taxes/fees paid
Should I be able to call in, get these trips combined into one and receive some amount of refund?
1. PDX-SEA-HKG $5.60 each in taxes/fees paid
2. SIN-NRT-PDX SGD76.10 ($55.74) each in taxes/fees paid
Should I be able to call in, get these trips combined into one and receive some amount of refund?