Dropping Award Segments Question
Jan 4, 2019, 8:09 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AA Gold
Posts: 152
Dropping Award Segments Question
AA refugee here doing my first DL award ticket, and I have a question....
I booked a round trip LGA-ATL-HAV-ATL-LGA. I wanted the return from HAV to be on a different date, but there was no availability, so I booked this.
A few days later, HAV-ATL-LGA became available on my preferred date, so I booked it as a one-way award. (Now I have 2 return flights on different dates.) I assumed I could change the original and just drop the HAV-ATL-LGA segments, resulting in two one-way awards on my preferred dates. I called, and the agent said the entire round-trip award would need to be be cancelled and a new LGA-ATL-HAV award would be purchased at the current price (which is much, much higher than it was originally).
Is that true? I did this on AA all the time but couldn't find explicit info. on the DL situation. Thanks a bunch!
I booked a round trip LGA-ATL-HAV-ATL-LGA. I wanted the return from HAV to be on a different date, but there was no availability, so I booked this.
A few days later, HAV-ATL-LGA became available on my preferred date, so I booked it as a one-way award. (Now I have 2 return flights on different dates.) I assumed I could change the original and just drop the HAV-ATL-LGA segments, resulting in two one-way awards on my preferred dates. I called, and the agent said the entire round-trip award would need to be be cancelled and a new LGA-ATL-HAV award would be purchased at the current price (which is much, much higher than it was originally).
Is that true? I did this on AA all the time but couldn't find explicit info. on the DL situation. Thanks a bunch!
Jan 4, 2019, 8:14 am
#2
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Do you know whether your original award ticket priced (in miles) as a RT or two OWs put together on the same ticket/PNR? If you got RT pricing initially, I think it's standard with DL that you must cancel the whole thing and find new award availability. Similarly, it could be difficult to try to just fly the outbound and then cancel the return and expect to have the miles for the return portion refunded to you. I know this issue has been discussed here in the fairly recent past, since DL got rid of its award pricing charts.
Jan 4, 2019, 8:26 am
#4
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AA Gold
Posts: 152
The outbound and inbound portions both priced individually at 16K each (so 32K total for the round trip). But yeah, it was booked as one PNR. Worst case, I just waste the return and lose 16K. Annoying, but I guess I'll just book one ways from now on! Thanks.
Jan 4, 2019, 8:26 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, 2MM
Posts: 1,254
Jan 4, 2019, 8:31 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: NYC
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Posts: 152
Jan 4, 2019, 9:34 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
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AA allows a segment to be dropped without a change (redeposit) fee. AA also charges a <21-day booking fee.
Jan 4, 2019, 9:43 am
#8
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Join Date: Sep 2009
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OP isn't trying to change origin or destination, just to change a RT award (at miles that look like sale or advanced purchase RT pricing to me) to a OW award ticket.
Jan 4, 2019, 9:57 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, 2MM
Posts: 1,254
I still think about the time 7 years ago when I did a mileage redemption to Hawaii at more miles than using pay with miles. It gives me nightmares to this day.
Jan 4, 2019, 10:57 am
#10
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AA Gold
Posts: 152
Jan 4, 2019, 12:01 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL PM 1MM
Posts: 3,440
Since you are DM, can you simply cancel your round trip and book a new OW on our original date? Or is that too expensive now?
Jan 4, 2019, 12:05 pm
#12
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: NYC
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Posts: 152
Jan 4, 2019, 12:27 pm
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Yes DL does offer some RT award pricing, often either as part of an award ticket sale or with advance purchase requirements, typically 21 days. YMMV.
Jan 4, 2019, 12:32 pm
#14
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Join Date: Apr 2004
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Posts: 152
Jan 4, 2019, 2:59 pm
#15
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General Warning - if you book 2 One Way tickets vs a RT and cancel the whole thing - Delta will charge $150 to redeposit EACH award ticket/miles. Of course, if you are PM or DM, you can cancel with no charge. In this case, booking one way tickets makes more sense.
In the above case, I would not cancel the less desired leg and instead just no show. Spending $150 to get around $160 in miles back makes little sense for most folks.
In the above case, I would not cancel the less desired leg and instead just no show. Spending $150 to get around $160 in miles back makes little sense for most folks.