Expedia Flight + Hotel: First/Business on Delta
Oct 19, 2018, 1:04 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 24
The only rub is that I have 130,000 Amex Platinum points that I could find a use for as well...although I've called multiple times and can't find a route in June/July that has an upgrade available.
I'm not so great with decisions. haha
Oct 19, 2018, 2:12 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
I've used Orbitz (owned by Expedia) and also Delta.com/Vacations which counts as an OTA. Both trips I earned MQD as the "bulk rate" of 20% the distance, and then normal 1.5x the distance for MQM as D1 fares. For Skymiles I have "Mileage earned based on distance flown". Orbitz put me on Air France 057 tickets, DL Vacations put me on 006 Delta stock but I still earned "based on distance flown" probably because it was a bulk/exception route.
The only thing that can be irritating with the OTAs is that they aren't as accommodating as Delta with schedule changes. My Prague trip was almost 1/2 the price of Delta.com so I didn't care, but when Delta extended my layover in JFK by more than an hour Orbitz wouldn't fix it, but DL did. I will say that when a flight was cancelled, Orbitz was good about rebooking me I just had to be patient. I was terrified they were going to see that I was paying so little and just cancel the ticket.
The only thing that can be irritating with the OTAs is that they aren't as accommodating as Delta with schedule changes. My Prague trip was almost 1/2 the price of Delta.com so I didn't care, but when Delta extended my layover in JFK by more than an hour Orbitz wouldn't fix it, but DL did. I will say that when a flight was cancelled, Orbitz was good about rebooking me I just had to be patient. I was terrified they were going to see that I was paying so little and just cancel the ticket.
Oct 20, 2018, 7:34 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BWI
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 165
I see a good deal to Asia on MU business. If I book on the MU website, I should get about 36,000 regular miles (not counting the medallion bonus) and thus about 11000 MQD. Via Expedia (no hotel) I assume 36000 and 7200 respectively, which seems too good to be true, so I must check with the learned members of this forum. Until I saw this thread I thought you got nothing with OTA fares. Did I mix it up with Marriott Rewards?
Oct 21, 2018, 6:16 am
#20
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,446
Usually the deep discount business class fares prohibit end-on-end ticketing, i.e., broken fares.
Oct 21, 2018, 8:12 am
#21
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Smyrna, GA, USA
Programs: DL FO 1MM
Posts: 1,761
Oct 21, 2018, 12:52 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA- 1K, DL-DM, AA-G, BON-T
Posts: 336
I use Expedia / Orbitz packages all the time. Other than a super sale, it is really the only way to get US-EU J class on Delta for $1800-$2500. Delta vacations also can work although they have limited hotels which is frustrating. Be sure to price check between websites, I’ve seen different flights show up on the different sites (sometimes they are all the same)
Oct 27, 2018, 7:16 pm
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 24
Thanks for the responses. I was without internet access for a while. My travel partners would rather fly premium economy than first class (cost is a concern). It would be the new premium select on Delta and then premium economy return on Air France. That still looks like a good deal in comparison to purchasing straight PE on Delta or Air France, plus the hotel we would get is very good. PE is still loads better than economy. Just out of curiosity, could we ever upgrade to business with points if we purchase the package on Expedia?
Oct 28, 2018, 12:26 am
#24
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Diamond, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,352
Do not worry. I've booked these packages several times with great success.
The last one was ATL-FCO-ATL in J with 5 nights hotel for $1900. I got 4000 MQDs for it because the air part of it was issued through AF.
I don't know why people want to avoid the hotels; I guess because they're traveling elsewhere in the country? I find the hotels to be a great bargain as well.
The last one was ATL-FCO-ATL in J with 5 nights hotel for $1900. I got 4000 MQDs for it because the air part of it was issued through AF.
I don't know why people want to avoid the hotels; I guess because they're traveling elsewhere in the country? I find the hotels to be a great bargain as well.
Oct 28, 2018, 8:22 am
#25
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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: 100,393
Many people want to get their elite hotel benefits and credit toward status as well as points. Others just want to pick their own hotel and sometimes pick particular room categories above base level. There's also the issue of preferring to deal directly with the hotel or chain, and similarly with the airline rather than an OLTA.
Oct 28, 2018, 11:40 am
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 24
Oct 28, 2018, 2:52 pm
#28
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,210
Oct 28, 2018, 5:31 pm
#29
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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: 100,393
Oct 28, 2018, 5:33 pm
#30
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,210