Huge pricing difference award vs cash
Mar 13, 2018, 6:08 am
#1
Original Poster
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Location: OC
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Huge pricing difference award vs cash
Booked a one-way coach SNA - BCN on Mar 26. It's priced $2,399 vs 40,000 miles +$5.6 (booked at 40K and shows 50K at time of screenshot)
Just curious what makes such huge difference between value of award and cash price?
Just curious what makes such huge difference between value of award and cash price?
Mar 13, 2018, 6:14 am
#2
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Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
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For all the talk of dynamic award pricing, Delta doesn't make award mileage pricing a formula of cash price. Sometimes you'll find a great use of miles. Paid one-ways to or from Europe typically don't book into the cheapest fare buckets: r/ts can be cheaper than a one-way.
Mar 13, 2018, 6:25 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Vietnam & USA
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 455
A few things:
1. This booked into B, which is very expensive.
2. One way will sometimes price only a little less than RT on Int'l fares
3. Did you check LAX-BCN? Fares from small airports (markets) can significantly increase the ticket price on Intl flights.
4. Leaving on a Friday for TATL can also raise the price a lot.
1. This booked into B, which is very expensive.
2. One way will sometimes price only a little less than RT on Int'l fares
3. Did you check LAX-BCN? Fares from small airports (markets) can significantly increase the ticket price on Intl flights.
4. Leaving on a Friday for TATL can also raise the price a lot.
Mar 13, 2018, 6:41 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: OC
Programs: Delta/Hyatt/Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 105
For all the talk of dynamic award pricing, Delta doesn't make award mileage pricing a formula of cash price. Sometimes you'll find a great use of miles. Paid one-ways to or from Europe typically don't book into the cheapest fare buckets: r/ts can be cheaper than a one-way.
A few things:
1. This booked into B, which is very expensive.
2. One way will sometimes price only a little less than RT on Int'l fares
3. Did you check LAX-BCN? Fares from small airports (markets) can significantly increase the ticket price on Intl flights.
4. Leaving on a Friday for TATL can also raise the price a lot.
1. This booked into B, which is very expensive.
2. One way will sometimes price only a little less than RT on Int'l fares
3. Did you check LAX-BCN? Fares from small airports (markets) can significantly increase the ticket price on Intl flights.
4. Leaving on a Friday for TATL can also raise the price a lot.
Thanks. I found the main culprit is one-way pricing, in addition to fare bucket of first leg SNA-XXX. RT could get as low as $800 depended on dates and routes. It's definitely a throwaway situation if not found 40K skypeso deal.
Last edited by benitovacation; Mar 13, 2018 at 6:46 am
Mar 13, 2018, 6:46 am
#5
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DL seems to price the newish one way award tickets as if you're paying for half of a RT. For most domestic routes this doesn't matter. However, as a result one way international award tickets can be a great bargain since most international fares for tickets plaid with money require a RT purchase.
BTW, what would be the cheapest coach RT paid with money cost for your departure date?
BTW, what would be the cheapest coach RT paid with money cost for your departure date?
Mar 13, 2018, 6:51 am
#6
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DL seems to price the newish one way award tickets as if you're paying for half of a RT. For most domestic routes this doesn't matter. However, as a result one way international award tickets can be a great bargain since most international fares for tickets plaid with money require a RT purchase.
BTW, what would be the cheapest coach RT paid with money cost for your departure date?
BTW, what would be the cheapest coach RT paid with money cost for your departure date?
Mar 13, 2018, 6:55 am
#7
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Unless you are booking a corporate ticket, you will find that OW international tickets on the legacies (and even some LCC) are almost always significantly more expensive than the RT.
Will almost always book into a very high fare bucket. If you require the OW, it's one of the best use of miles, especially if you can find a cheap ex-EU J fare to come back
Will almost always book into a very high fare bucket. If you require the OW, it's one of the best use of miles, especially if you can find a cheap ex-EU J fare to come back
Mar 13, 2018, 6:58 am
#8
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There's no point to booking a RT award ticket if you plan to only use the first half, but people do this sometimes on tickets paid with money. For award tickets, it not clear that you can get the miles back if the ticket has been partially used.
Mar 13, 2018, 7:47 am
#9
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: OC
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Unless you are booking a corporate ticket, you will find that OW international tickets on the legacies (and even some LCC) are almost always significantly more expensive than the RT.
Will almost always book into a very high fare bucket. If you require the OW, it's one of the best use of miles, especially if you can find a cheap ex-EU J fare to come back
Will almost always book into a very high fare bucket. If you require the OW, it's one of the best use of miles, especially if you can find a cheap ex-EU J fare to come back