Trying to get to Tahiti in May with Skymiles
Dec 14, 2017, 7:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Delta
Posts: 6
Trying to get to Tahiti in May with Skymiles
Anyone have any tricks to get to Tahiti from LAX (or anywhere on the west coast) using Skymiles. I can't find any so far. Can I transfer skymiles to AirFrance or elsewhere? I also have 150,000 Amex Points and I'm willing to use those.
Dec 14, 2017, 7:24 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: Delta SkyMiles Silver Medallion
Posts: 38
AFAIK there is no method of transferring SkyMiles to FlyingBlue, but your AMEX points will transfer just fine if you happen to find award availability on AF from LAX-PPT. The FB search engine is pretty user-friendly (though availability may not be). I believe it is also possible to upgrade an economy or PE ticket on AF using your FB points (calculation based on route and fare class: https://www.flyingblue.com/upgrade-award.html) - though I have never tried this method.
Dec 14, 2017, 8:33 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
Not sure what you mean by 'tricks', but essentially you just need to find award availability on the one eligible flight (AF operated LAX-PPT). You didn't say if you've looked into that yet? Tell us the problems you are having and maybe we can help. The general procedure is straightfoward though.
I've booked this flight before with Skymiles. I am pretty sure I did it online.
I've booked this flight before with Skymiles. I am pretty sure I did it online.
Dec 14, 2017, 11:25 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Delta
Posts: 6
There is no reward availability on the AirFrance flight - I've been trying for a few months. The Air Tahiti flights show availability but will not let the Delta agent book for me. I only have 150,000 Amex Points, not enough for 2 round trips.
Dec 15, 2017, 1:28 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Hilton, United, Gold DL
Posts: 993
There is usually plenty of coach award ticket space available. If you are trying to find business, it will sometimes open up 1-3 days before the flight. Even then it is a rare opportunity. It is the most elusive business class award. Several threads in the past with people trying to get to PPT.
Dec 15, 2017, 5:30 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mesilla, NM
Programs: DL DM 4.7 MM MQM Marriott Ambassador Lifetime Titanium AA CK
Posts: 2,714
There is usually plenty of coach award ticket space available. If you are trying to find business, it will sometimes open up 1-3 days before the flight. Even then it is a rare opportunity. It is the most elusive business class award. Several threads in the past with people trying to get to PPT.
Dec 15, 2017, 9:51 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Delta
Posts: 6
I may have found a solution. For 2 roundtrips - Southwest RT Sacramento to LAX 7k (I have) and $10 - LAX to Honolulu on Delta 110k (I have) and $22 From LAX to PPT Tahiti on Hawaiian 110k (transfer Amex points) and $100
Southwest $11.20 and 7k miles (I already have miles)
Delta $22 and 110k miles (I already have miles)
Hawaiian $100 and 110k miles (I have to transfer Amex miles I already have)
All of this with no long layovers. I'm getting to Tahiti earlier than I planned by 3 days but there are worse things.
Southwest $11.20 and 7k miles (I already have miles)
Delta $22 and 110k miles (I already have miles)
Hawaiian $100 and 110k miles (I have to transfer Amex miles I already have)
All of this with no long layovers. I'm getting to Tahiti earlier than I planned by 3 days but there are worse things.
Dec 15, 2017, 10:05 am
#8
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
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I may have found a solution. For 2 roundtrips - Southwest RT Sacramento to LAX 7k (I have) and $10 - LAX to Honolulu on Delta 110k (I have) and $22 From LAX to PPT Tahiti on Hawaiian 110k (transfer Amex points) and $100
Southwest $11.20 and 7k miles (I already have miles)
Delta $22 and 110k miles (I already have miles)
Hawaiian $100 and 110k miles (I have to transfer Amex miles I already have)
All of this with no long layovers. I'm getting to Tahiti earlier than I planned by 3 days but there are worse things.
Southwest $11.20 and 7k miles (I already have miles)
Delta $22 and 110k miles (I already have miles)
Hawaiian $100 and 110k miles (I have to transfer Amex miles I already have)
All of this with no long layovers. I'm getting to Tahiti earlier than I planned by 3 days but there are worse things.
IMO 220,000 miles per person (???) is a lot for this routing, even in business class (???) for the longhauls, since LAX-HNL will be domestic FC and Hawaiian isn't the best product out there. Maybe a "stopover" or two could ewase the pain.
Dec 15, 2017, 11:42 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,363
I agree with MSP's concern about 3 tickets. If you know what you are doing and understand the risks, that is OK. But danger lurks in yonder woods. If WN does not get you to LAX in time for that DL flight, you are toast.
One suggestion would be to see if you can get the DL ticket out of SFO instead. That takes the danger out as you can drive it (I presume). Try to avoid sharp objects on the road :-) You also could consider spending a day in Hawahi on the outbound. Not exactly a horrible stop over. The return is significantly less risky.
Unclear about her price comment though. 220K for 2 RT tickets is a good price. 220K per 1 is expensive, particularly when doing a 3 ticket dance.
One suggestion would be to see if you can get the DL ticket out of SFO instead. That takes the danger out as you can drive it (I presume). Try to avoid sharp objects on the road :-) You also could consider spending a day in Hawahi on the outbound. Not exactly a horrible stop over. The return is significantly less risky.
Unclear about her price comment though. 220K for 2 RT tickets is a good price. 220K per 1 is expensive, particularly when doing a 3 ticket dance.
Dec 15, 2017, 12:43 pm
#10
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,403
I agree with MSP's concern about 3 tickets. If you know what you are doing and understand the risks, that is OK. But danger lurks in yonder woods. If WN does not get you to LAX in time for that DL flight, you are toast.
One suggestion would be to see if you can get the DL ticket out of SFO instead. That takes the danger out as you can drive it (I presume). Try to avoid sharp objects on the road :-) You also could consider spending a day in Hawahi on the outbound. Not exactly a horrible stop over. The return is significantly less risky.
Unclear about her price comment though. 220K for 2 RT tickets is a good price. 220K per 1 is expensive, particularly when doing a 3 ticket dance.
One suggestion would be to see if you can get the DL ticket out of SFO instead. That takes the danger out as you can drive it (I presume). Try to avoid sharp objects on the road :-) You also could consider spending a day in Hawahi on the outbound. Not exactly a horrible stop over. The return is significantly less risky.
Unclear about her price comment though. 220K for 2 RT tickets is a good price. 220K per 1 is expensive, particularly when doing a 3 ticket dance.
IMO even 110,000+ miles for one coach RT ticket is a lot. For business class, 220,000+ miles for two tickets would be pretty good and for one, wouldn't be unusual given DL's pricing recently, but it still seems like a lot of miles.
Dec 15, 2017, 1:06 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Delta
Posts: 6
This would be three separate tickets, so be sure to allow lots and lots of time for schedule changes and delays. Don't plan to check bags through either.
IMO 220,000 miles per person (???) is a lot for this routing, even in business class (???) for the longhauls, since LAX-HNL will be domestic FC and Hawaiian isn't the best product out there. Maybe a "stopover" or two could ewase the pain.
IMO 220,000 miles per person (???) is a lot for this routing, even in business class (???) for the longhauls, since LAX-HNL will be domestic FC and Hawaiian isn't the best product out there. Maybe a "stopover" or two could ewase the pain.
Dec 15, 2017, 1:07 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Delta
Posts: 6
I agree with MSP's concern about 3 tickets. If you know what you are doing and understand the risks, that is OK. But danger lurks in yonder woods. If WN does not get you to LAX in time for that DL flight, you are toast.
One suggestion would be to see if you can get the DL ticket out of SFO instead. That takes the danger out as you can drive it (I presume). Try to avoid sharp objects on the road :-) You also could consider spending a day in Hawahi on the outbound. Not exactly a horrible stop over. The return is significantly less risky.
Unclear about her price comment though. 220K for 2 RT tickets is a good price. 220K per 1 is expensive, particularly when doing a 3 ticket dance.
One suggestion would be to see if you can get the DL ticket out of SFO instead. That takes the danger out as you can drive it (I presume). Try to avoid sharp objects on the road :-) You also could consider spending a day in Hawahi on the outbound. Not exactly a horrible stop over. The return is significantly less risky.
Unclear about her price comment though. 220K for 2 RT tickets is a good price. 220K per 1 is expensive, particularly when doing a 3 ticket dance.
Dec 15, 2017, 3:27 pm
#14
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110k HNL-PPT round trip for 2 is in coach, so considering that...
you may consider trying to do one way with DL miles and the other way with HA miles. that way, you'll only have one ticket in each direction and will not run into issues with misconnecting across 3 tickets.
eg, SMF/OAK-HNL-PPT outbound w/ HA miles and PPT-LAX-SMF/OAK return with the DL miles. of course you need to be able to find the PPT-LAX availability or vv.
a third option to consider is to use the MR points RT on HA for one passenger and pay cash for the other. should be about 1600$ with reasonable HNL layovers both direction (ex-SMF, might be less ex-OAK).
you may consider trying to do one way with DL miles and the other way with HA miles. that way, you'll only have one ticket in each direction and will not run into issues with misconnecting across 3 tickets.
eg, SMF/OAK-HNL-PPT outbound w/ HA miles and PPT-LAX-SMF/OAK return with the DL miles. of course you need to be able to find the PPT-LAX availability or vv.
a third option to consider is to use the MR points RT on HA for one passenger and pay cash for the other. should be about 1600$ with reasonable HNL layovers both direction (ex-SMF, might be less ex-OAK).
Dec 15, 2017, 6:06 pm
#15
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Do understand that this only alleviates some of the risk though, and nowhere near all of it. You will still have to reclaim any baggage in HNL and recheck-in with Hawaiian as they no longer through-check to each other unless on one single ticket. Also, know that since the DL and HA are not partners, and if your LAX-HNL flight is delayed/canceled, HA has no obligation to assist you. The same would be true for DL on the return - if your HA flight is delayed getting into HNL from PPT, DL is under no obligation to assist you or rebook you. Your plan would still carry a lot of risk - you have to decide if it's worth it, and if you do it, I would consider building in some long layovers in case there are delays.
If you're finding availability on HA, have you checked all airports HA flies to in the Bay Area and also checked SMF for SFO/OAK/SJC/SMF-HNL-PPT all on HA? Or considered just buying an HA R/T to HNL from the Bay Area to HNL and then the mileage ticket to PPT? While that would leave you on separate tickets, generally airlines are more forgiving and willing to work with you when you're on their metal for both tickets.