agadora

I'm looking for business class flights to Europe next summer, and a link in the Premium Fare Deals forum tripped me onto Expedia packages. I'm seeing packages to Brussels/Amsterdam/Paris from MSP for $2200-$2500 (depending on hotel) flying First/Business on Skyteam. Right now that price is far and above better than what I can find through the airlines.

I'm wondering if anyone out there has experience with Expedia flight/hotel packages and if there are specific things I should watch out for. Anyone gotten the cheapest hotel for one night and just thrown it? How are the flights transferred to Delta/SkyTeam? How do miles work, etc?

Any advice pro/con?

We are flexile on location, but we have a cruise out of CPH and into ARN in the middle of the trip, so would likely be positioning to get to our round trip fare location.

ajeleonard

It's no different from booking a flight-only through Expedia (or another OTA), they have control until 24 hours before departure of first segment then the itinerary moves under airline control. Miles per the fare class, likely to be the lowest discounted business

ElliottMB

Any experience with not staying at the hotel in the package - does the return flight segment get cancelled if you don't show at the hotel by Expedia?

angra

Advice: if you are thinking about aiming for DM, consider booking KL/AF flight numbers for the insane MQD/$

agadora

I know I selected that for the return, but I couldn't find the deal on KL/AF for the outbound.

And ElliotMB, I did see on that Premium Fare Deals post that someone had not stayed at the hotel -- and their return was not cancelled. That would make me nervous though. I'd probably at least try to just check in.

Also, I'm not sure if this is a great deal or not? For some reason, I'm nervous about OTAs; I've only ever booked direct with the airline.

angra

2200 for biz to europe does not feel like a(n especially) great deal to me. I've been able to secure in the same ballpark all the way to CPH or SIN (via Europe).

I haven't taken my trip yet so I can't first-hand confirm about hotel skipping. I'm planning to not bother checking in to my "hotel" so I can report back in April.

Remember that once you have found dates that work you can usually reduce the number of hotel nights to 2, regardless of the length of the "trip". I've always found a super cheap (e.g. camping) option in any city I've looked at, so this turns into very few $.

Also remember to get partner earning, it is the flight number that counts, not whose metal it is on.

zebranz

I have done 2 where I booked 1 night hotel and no showed. Also have one in Feb for NBO where I will stay 1 night at ICH. Not a problem with ticket or posting of miles. Can't tell you if a good/great deal as depends what you are comparing. I have flown KL to NBO before so aware of hard product. The only issue is choice of flights offered by each OTA may be different and would suggest you try OTA like Travelocity to compare- (I have bought tickets from them before also).

audio-nut

Do you get MQD/$ on a bulk ticket?

zebranz

Do not believe these are "bulk" tickets. As for MQD's, I am exempt so doesn't show.

audio-nut

I am almost certain they are. Expedia has to mask the ticket portion of the package and they do that by making it a bulk ticket.

zebranz

Then according to DL:
To earn toward Medallion Status with exception fares, one-fifth of the miles earned will count as Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs – U.S.-based Members only). For example, if you earn 1,500 “redeemable” miles on an exception fare, you would also earn 300 MQDs on that fare.

Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) are earned the same way you earn on regular tickets.

--
My Expedia tickets (even though on DL as 1st carrier) were not 006 stock.

audio-nut

What stock? What was the itin broken by carrier?

KKinLA

I have booked combination airline/hotel deals on Expedia and have always received full miles credit. In fact you can log into delta.com within 24 hours of booking and see your flight details, change seats e.t.c…

Also, there is no connection between Delta and the hotel so if you are a no show at the hotel it should not have an impact on the flight.

MSPeconomist

angra

Fair enough and excellent point. I am an ATL captive and am in the habit of self-constructing broken fares to get around this. I sometimes forget that this is not, by default, most people's preference!