Best strategy for using benefits with 9 person trip to Europe
Aug 21, 2019, 1:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 243
Best strategy for using benefits with 9 person trip to Europe
I have been doing some research on my options for a big family trip and just want to make sure I'm not missing anything. FLL-DUB, EDI-FLL is the route next Spring trying to book on Delta for benefits. I am and PM with DL Reserve AMEX, no one else has status. There would be 9 of us in total including a 5 year old and an 11 year old.
From what I can figure out, my best strategy would be to book myself and wife on one reservation, the other 7 on a second. This allows us to get C+ upgrades immediately and possible FC to/from JFK. Are there downfalls to this? Would booking all 9 have any benefits as far as seat selection otherwise?
I've been told if we say have 8 bags to check, all would be free if we check in at desk together using my status, regardless if same reservation. (This may be a Reserve card benefit?)
Club Access: Wife also has Priority pass access. We would have a 5 hour layover at JFK so trying to maximize how many of us can get into a club. The best I can figure is 6 (me +2 in Skyclub, her +2 in PP Lounge) of the 9 (but kids may get in as extras?). I'm willing to pay $29 each for all. Also, if I get my wife an additional Reserve card for $175, does that change our max totals? Basically is there any way for all of us to get into a club? Would booking someone besides my wife (and her Reserve card priveledges) as my #2 in the reservation help?
Thanks in advance for the help, hopefully you enjoy the mental gymnastics to "solve" this one!
From what I can figure out, my best strategy would be to book myself and wife on one reservation, the other 7 on a second. This allows us to get C+ upgrades immediately and possible FC to/from JFK. Are there downfalls to this? Would booking all 9 have any benefits as far as seat selection otherwise?
I've been told if we say have 8 bags to check, all would be free if we check in at desk together using my status, regardless if same reservation. (This may be a Reserve card benefit?)
Club Access: Wife also has Priority pass access. We would have a 5 hour layover at JFK so trying to maximize how many of us can get into a club. The best I can figure is 6 (me +2 in Skyclub, her +2 in PP Lounge) of the 9 (but kids may get in as extras?). I'm willing to pay $29 each for all. Also, if I get my wife an additional Reserve card for $175, does that change our max totals? Basically is there any way for all of us to get into a club? Would booking someone besides my wife (and her Reserve card priveledges) as my #2 in the reservation help?
Thanks in advance for the help, hopefully you enjoy the mental gymnastics to "solve" this one!
Aug 21, 2019, 5:52 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LIT
Programs: Blinged Out
Posts: 716
How are you figuring you +2 in the SkyClub? You alone can go in GM or higher status on intl Itin. The Reserve Guest Access only happens with DM status. It will be an extra $29/pp. If you have AMEX Plat or AMEX HH Aspire card, the $29 entry fee would count toward your yearly incidental fee credit.
Aug 21, 2019, 5:59 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 102
You should first book all tickets on the same reservation so that everyone at least has access to preferred seats via your status.
Once the seats are secured you can call in break off you and your wife into a separate reservation so that you’re eligible for upgrades.
Once the seats are secured you can call in break off you and your wife into a separate reservation so that you’re eligible for upgrades.
Aug 21, 2019, 6:04 pm
#4
Suspended
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The parents can't be upgraded unless there is someone 18+ back with the 8 & 11 YOA (or they travel as UM's).
Aug 21, 2019, 6:16 pm
#5
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
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How are you figuring you +2 in the SkyClub? You alone can go in GM or higher status on intl Itin. The Reserve Guest Access only happens with DM status. It will be an extra $29/pp. If you have AMEX Plat or AMEX HH Aspire card, the $29 entry fee would count toward your yearly incidental fee credit.
Also FWIW if using GM/STE+ for access on an international itinerary you get one guest.
Aug 21, 2019, 6:28 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 243
Wow didn’t know that was possible. That would fix a lot of headaches!
Aug 21, 2019, 6:48 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SJC (formerly CHI and STL)
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Posts: 1,013
How are you figuring you +2 in the SkyClub? You alone can go in GM or higher status on intl Itin. The Reserve Guest Access only happens with DM status. It will be an extra $29/pp. If you have AMEX Plat or AMEX HH Aspire card, the $29 entry fee would count toward your yearly incidental fee credit.
Aug 21, 2019, 9:41 pm
#10
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Posts: 10,130
Have done this many times on international trips as a GM/PM -- both when traveling with my wife as my +1 and when traveling with work colleagues who come in as my +1.
That said I'm not sure where the +2 comes from if talking complimentary.
DL AMEX Reserve is just cardholder and the +2 is at $29/per. I don't believe the two are additive -- that is I don't think you can do you +1 on your PM benefit and then separately pay for the +2 at $29/per as your DL AMEX Reserve benefit. Though that seems like a YMMV based on the check-in folks. I guess in theory you could enter the SC two separate times -- I don't know how the system records guests for multiple visits in the same day
Aug 22, 2019, 1:30 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,481
If I might butt in slightly off topic: you might find it preferable to switch your trip around. Leaving EDI will incur UK APD at £78pp in coach - whereas arriving wouldn't. I don't know about any similar tax charges for Ireland, but it ought to be less departing DUB [all else being equal].
Aug 22, 2019, 3:22 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NYC, CDG, NCE
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,633
This is good advice, but I frequently book 9+ pax and I'll add a couple of side thoughts....
1) If you're trying to book 9 tix and there are not 9 available in a certain fare bucket, it will price the whole group up to the next fare up that has 9 available. This may not be an issue this far out, but (to simplify - and maybe closer to flight date) you'll often find 3 tickets left at one price, 5 at the next price and 9 at the next. Not sure what you can see on an Expertflyer free account vs paid, but it's worth looking into. Savings could be more than the cost of seat assignments.
2)Once bought, I'd wait until closer in to separate out your rez, as equipment or schedule changes, or other things could cause people to lose seat assignments and once split you may have trouble getting them back.
1) If you're trying to book 9 tix and there are not 9 available in a certain fare bucket, it will price the whole group up to the next fare up that has 9 available. This may not be an issue this far out, but (to simplify - and maybe closer to flight date) you'll often find 3 tickets left at one price, 5 at the next price and 9 at the next. Not sure what you can see on an Expertflyer free account vs paid, but it's worth looking into. Savings could be more than the cost of seat assignments.
2)Once bought, I'd wait until closer in to separate out your rez, as equipment or schedule changes, or other things could cause people to lose seat assignments and once split you may have trouble getting them back.
Aug 22, 2019, 4:32 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SLC & NYC
Programs: Diamond Medallion, Delta Million Miler, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 674
I have been doing some research on my options for a big family trip and just want to make sure I'm not missing anything. FLL-DUB, EDI-FLL is the route next Spring trying to book on Delta for benefits. I am and PM with DL Reserve AMEX, no one else has status. There would be 9 of us in total including a 5 year old and an 11 year old.
From what I can figure out, my best strategy would be to book myself and wife on one reservation, the other 7 on a second. This allows us to get C+ upgrades immediately and possible FC to/from JFK. Are there downfalls to this? Would booking all 9 have any benefits as far as seat selection otherwise?
I've been told if we say have 8 bags to check, all would be free if we check in at desk together using my status, regardless if same reservation. (This may be a Reserve card benefit?)
Club Access: Wife also has Priority pass access. We would have a 5 hour layover at JFK so trying to maximize how many of us can get into a club. The best I can figure is 6 (me +2 in Skyclub, her +2 in PP Lounge) of the 9 (but kids may get in as extras?). I'm willing to pay $29 each for all. Also, if I get my wife an additional Reserve card for $175, does that change our max totals? Basically is there any way for all of us to get into a club? Would booking someone besides my wife (and her Reserve card priveledges) as my #2 in the reservation help?
Thanks in advance for the help, hopefully you enjoy the mental gymnastics to "solve" this one!
From what I can figure out, my best strategy would be to book myself and wife on one reservation, the other 7 on a second. This allows us to get C+ upgrades immediately and possible FC to/from JFK. Are there downfalls to this? Would booking all 9 have any benefits as far as seat selection otherwise?
I've been told if we say have 8 bags to check, all would be free if we check in at desk together using my status, regardless if same reservation. (This may be a Reserve card benefit?)
Club Access: Wife also has Priority pass access. We would have a 5 hour layover at JFK so trying to maximize how many of us can get into a club. The best I can figure is 6 (me +2 in Skyclub, her +2 in PP Lounge) of the 9 (but kids may get in as extras?). I'm willing to pay $29 each for all. Also, if I get my wife an additional Reserve card for $175, does that change our max totals? Basically is there any way for all of us to get into a club? Would booking someone besides my wife (and her Reserve card priveledges) as my #2 in the reservation help?
Thanks in advance for the help, hopefully you enjoy the mental gymnastics to "solve" this one!
Aug 22, 2019, 6:05 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 243
If I might butt in slightly off topic: you might find it preferable to switch your trip around. Leaving EDI will incur UK APD at £78pp in coach - whereas arriving wouldn't. I don't know about any similar tax charges for Ireland, but it ought to be less departing DUB [all else being equal].
Aug 22, 2019, 6:07 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 243
This is good advice, but I frequently book 9+ pax and I'll add a couple of side thoughts....
1) If you're trying to book 9 tix and there are not 9 available in a certain fare bucket, it will price the whole group up to the next fare up that has 9 available. This may not be an issue this far out, but (to simplify - and maybe closer to flight date) you'll often find 3 tickets left at one price, 5 at the next price and 9 at the next. Not sure what you can see on an Expertflyer free account vs paid, but it's worth looking into. Savings could be more than the cost of seat assignments.
2)Once bought, I'd wait until closer in to separate out your rez, as equipment or schedule changes, or other things could cause people to lose seat assignments and once split you may have trouble getting them back.
1) If you're trying to book 9 tix and there are not 9 available in a certain fare bucket, it will price the whole group up to the next fare up that has 9 available. This may not be an issue this far out, but (to simplify - and maybe closer to flight date) you'll often find 3 tickets left at one price, 5 at the next price and 9 at the next. Not sure what you can see on an Expertflyer free account vs paid, but it's worth looking into. Savings could be more than the cost of seat assignments.
2)Once bought, I'd wait until closer in to separate out your rez, as equipment or schedule changes, or other things could cause people to lose seat assignments and once split you may have trouble getting them back.
Yeah that's a good point, maybe I'll monitor the C+ bookings until they get tighter and risk losing options for me +1 before splitting.