Is 1.8 million Skymiles DTW to JNB R/T a good deal for 2 passengers?
#77
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,495
Is it sad that, after having read all of this and experiencing it first-hand personally, Ill be getting back on a Delta plane tomorrow... and next week... and the week after that... ?
Is this the definition of masochist?
Is this the definition of masochist?
#78
Formerly known as scootr29
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 971
I am right there with ya....I have a flight from DTW to STR in October and I am trying so hard to fly Lufthansa but I just can't...it is a disease. Actually the only thing that may sway me is taking a flight on the 747...
#79
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Delta-pm, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-PP
Posts: 271
I have been saying I am going to become a free agent for years. Sadly, I doubt it will ever happen. Delta offers the best flight choices out of my location and they treat me pretty well. I like to think of skymiles as just a nice added benefit for what I have to do regardless(travel). Company pays for 98% of the traveling I do, so its not like I am paying for these miles. I have found that if you are extremely flexible you can get pretty good value for D1 flights. Now if I was actually paying for these miles on my own dime I would not be to pleased at all with the sky high redemption levels.
#80
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,299
Agreed that UA is more stingy out of their hubs (as is Delta of course) but there's still a huge difference between UA and DL miles on non-saver awards. UA is really good about having availability at their "everyday" rate on almost all routing assuming you book at least month or two in advance (and also some great last minute availability). I may have to pay 300K to get to SFO to Europe on a regular award, but that gives me a ton of flexibility. Want to book Monday to Friday and connect to EWR or IAD in Polaris? UA says "sure, go ahead!"
#81
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 499
Just for laughs I looked at pricing for D1 MSP-SYD RTin April and that lists 980,000 miles and the only 1 stop is 11 hours in LAX. But what that really amounts to is an IT default for a route that really isn't for sale in any practical sense. It probably used to be that ticket was just not available. There are other routes and dates that are actually not outrageous if you work at it. On the other hand I am booked to SYD on another airline in J for a rate that is acceptable. FYI one could book AAnytime miles on that MSP-SYD route for 350,000 many dates and some SAAvers can be found, also if you work at it. You can do MSP-JNB RT for 150K in AA J except it turns out it books Y from MAD-JNB because the AA search engine is glitched with phantom availability. It might be nice if AA would even give you the option of spending a lot of miles to fly J on a route like that.
Last edited by CALlegacy; Aug 23, 2018 at 9:32 am
#82
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,299
I searched for UA awards MSP-SYD random dates in April and there's actually mixed cabin saver J space available, so 160k RT, with the domestic segments in Y. 400k would be the RT everyday price in J, routing via SFO, IAH, or LAX.
#83
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 499
I don't understand this comment. People from the twin cities don't visit Australia? LAX is the traditional Australia routing from anywhere in the US except Hawaii, and that's how DL will route you if you search for revenue flights (and with a very reasonable connection at LAX, I would add).
I searched for UA awards MSP-SYD random dates in April and there's actually mixed cabin saver J space available, so 160k RT, with the domestic segments in Y. 400k would be the RT everyday price in J, routing via SFO, IAH, or LAX.
I searched for UA awards MSP-SYD random dates in April and there's actually mixed cabin saver J space available, so 160k RT, with the domestic segments in Y. 400k would be the RT everyday price in J, routing via SFO, IAH, or LAX.
#84
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,299
Got it. Raises the question whether DL might be better off just not displaying availability over a certain price . . . from a customer relations perspective, is it better to show 900k RT, or "not available"?
#85
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 499
I guess it is reassuring to see a price because that means they acknowledge that awards and routings do exist. You don't have to ramble around trying to figure out if "not available" means the calendar is broken, you put the dates in wrong, that routing isn't valid for some reason, there is a partner airline glitch, there is an IT glitch, etc., etc. It's better than phantom availability too. Working with the AA and BA award tools can be really frustrating sometimes even though AA for the most part is a pretty good tool. You should see the limbo AA puts up if you try to fly TPAC from SFO and it connects you through LAX but if you try to start in LAX it routes you through SFO, but at least it routes you.