Xzorba

Hi,

I am looking to book an award ticket from NBO-JFK-DTW on KQ using Skymiles. I need to fly on April 5th or 6th. The first two agents I talked to insisted they could not book any awards on KQ during that time. The next two agents, after much pushing and 45 min on hold, found availability on the 2nd and 7th. However, both ExpertFlyer and the AF website show plenty of availability throughout April. For those the 6th and 7th EF shows 7 O fare seats available. Any insights to why DL insists they can't book the 6th but can on the 7th or strategies to push the issue?

flyerCO

They must use direct access. Whatever that means. KQ flights can't be booked using the normal processes or else they get a "link is down" message. This system setup by KQ can also result in EF showing inventory that is no longer really there. It's more aggravating booking awards on KQ than even the mainland Chinese airlines.

3Cforme

Are you looking for the JFK connection specifically? There are several SkyTeam routings than can get you NBO-DTW in just two segments, not all of which involve travel on the difficult-to-book KQ:

NBO-LHR (overnight)-DTW
NBO-AMS (redeye)-DTW
NBO-CDG (redeye)-DTW

Xzorba

Yeah I looked into those first actually, however DL is not showing availability for me on the dates I need (they do on AF 339k miles vs 115k for the KQ flight). The CDG/AMS flights other days that week are also showing 345k miles for business vs 95k for KQ.

xliioper

Those CDG/AMS flights aren't really AF/KL partner awards because they involve DL metal over the atlantic and hence the high award rates (DL rates can be anything from 90K to 300K+). It's whoever you are flying over the atlantic that controls which award rate you will get. You are probably better off searching for flights to BOS/JFK/EWR/IAD/YYZ and buying a separate ticket to DTW (or taking the Robert Q. from YYZ). You will be able to fly AF/KL/SV/VS/9W over the atlantic to those destinations. While there is the daily AF CDG-DTW flight, because it's only a single daily flight there is very little chance of getting award availability. Trying to include DTW in the equation brings married segment logic into play and will greatly limit your ability to find 95K awards (just because you can find a 95K award to a US gateway does not mean you can tack-on any old flight to DTW for no additional miles, even if there is low bucket DL availability on the flight).

Xzorba

BOS....I always forget about BOS. I checked just about every other city. I do see availability for my dates for NBO-CDG-LHR-BOS in business for 95k. That might be problem solved.

damaxer91

Is JFK-NBO on KQ not bookable by Delta? No agent could find dates that show was available on EF and the Flying Blue website.

aacar

They need to long sell it (see here).

Xzorba

Yup (regarding the long sell). It took until the 4th agent for me to find one who knew how to do it and book the original ticket.

damaxer91

thx to all. Manged to find an agent to do it and got it booked.

DavidAL

How much is it for JFK-NBO in J for 1 pax? I see the availability on EF, but the DL agents say they don't see anything and I can't book it.

Xzorba

If I recall I booked 95k miles per person one way SEZ-NBO-JFK in business. That was ultimately canceled on me though.