Award Ticket Success - Post It Here
Jun 7, 2010, 9:53 am
#1516
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 1,357
I just got BE ATL-EZE RT for 100k. Less than 25 days out. i was unable to price out MSP-EZE RT, the damn MSP-ATL, ATL-MSP were all showing mid or high level of awards, so i paid the 159 RT to fly that leg. This is for my wife
Jun 7, 2010, 12:10 pm
#1517
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Former PM now a kettle :(
Posts: 289
With the recent announcement of improvements to the award calendar I thought Id check it out again and found the following just by searching msp-bkk RT:
Checking award travel from msp-nrt-bkk-nrt-bkk yesterday I found a 10 day trip for January 2011 at 90k each RT coach with no layovers except the normal ~1 1/2hrs in nrt each way. Also reserved exit row 35A and B on both 744 legs and exit row 29A and B on the 332 legs. Put this on hold yesterday and just redeemed it today. Kept waiting for something in the itinerary to change, but went through just fine.
I've been checking low tier awards (off and on) for several months and never found anything until yesterday. Considering we had to use 140,000 last March for one coach ticket msp-nrt-sin RT, this seemed like a good deal and we're happy with it, although BE would have been much better. Can always hope for an Op Up
Miles
Checking award travel from msp-nrt-bkk-nrt-bkk yesterday I found a 10 day trip for January 2011 at 90k each RT coach with no layovers except the normal ~1 1/2hrs in nrt each way. Also reserved exit row 35A and B on both 744 legs and exit row 29A and B on the 332 legs. Put this on hold yesterday and just redeemed it today. Kept waiting for something in the itinerary to change, but went through just fine.
I've been checking low tier awards (off and on) for several months and never found anything until yesterday. Considering we had to use 140,000 last March for one coach ticket msp-nrt-sin RT, this seemed like a good deal and we're happy with it, although BE would have been much better. Can always hope for an Op Up
Miles
Jun 7, 2010, 1:44 pm
#1518
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Spire Amb, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 1MM
Posts: 3,611
Pretty Decent All Things Considered
One gets a 90k price for a RT coach award from mainland U.S. to asia by combining a "low" award in one direction with a "medium" in the other. I'm sure the OP knows this. Overall, not bad considering that he has to originate in MSP.
Jun 7, 2010, 2:10 pm
#1519
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
Posts: 4,035
just price something on jan 2011 for 9-10 days on ita.
the price is 1417 USD.
as a PM, one earns 35000 miles and over 17000 status miles.
valuing each miles and status miles at 1 cent each
that is already 1417-88.2*6 and that would be the value of 90000 miles + tax.
of course, if the poster decides is not flying, then the equation is different.
i would think it is a bad redemption for myself.
Jun 7, 2010, 3:17 pm
#1520
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Jun 7, 2010, 3:30 pm
#1521
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: DL PM. CO PL. SPG PL. HH DI. Nat Car EE
Posts: 19
Have had very good success. The key is to check on a daily basis starting 6-8 weeks out. The availability changes from day to day.
I have been able to book 6 low fare award tickets AND have done a SDC on one with no problems
As far as upgrades-give me a break-if you want to sit in first class then pay with more miles. I totally understand that we are NOT entitled to upgrades on award tickets. Or maybe if people were nicer they might actually get one, which I did on my last award ticket.
Makes me say hmmmmmm.....
I have been able to book 6 low fare award tickets AND have done a SDC on one with no problems
As far as upgrades-give me a break-if you want to sit in first class then pay with more miles. I totally understand that we are NOT entitled to upgrades on award tickets. Or maybe if people were nicer they might actually get one, which I did on my last award ticket.
Makes me say hmmmmmm.....
Jun 7, 2010, 4:55 pm
#1524
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: SLC
Programs: Delta Skymiles DM, Priority Club Platinum Elite
Posts: 394
Amazed
I was surprised to be able to find SLC-YYC in coach for 25K, within a week of travel. The ticket price for this flight was over $1,000!!! I will gladly sacrifice the 25K and pocket the grand! This is a reward that truly is rewarding!!!^
Jun 7, 2010, 4:56 pm
#1525
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: SLC
Programs: Delta Skymiles DM, Priority Club Platinum Elite
Posts: 394
Jun 7, 2010, 7:58 pm
#1526
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Here Today Gone Tomorrow
Programs: NW Silver, CO Silver,SPG Gold, USMint Presidential, Chase/BA 100k, Airtran Wendy's cups
Posts: 815
I tried MCO-EZE and couldn't find anything all year.
Jun 9, 2010, 10:39 pm
#1527
Join Date: May 2010
Location: California, USA
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, National EE
Posts: 475
Booked this a few weeks ago, but got a great deal:
ATL-BCN-ATL: 12/10/10 - 12/26/10 2 BC tickets at 100K each plus $32 in taxes. About $7200 worth of tix according to pricing! Might not be the best time to go, but we are doing a southern Med cruise.
ATL-BCN-ATL: 12/10/10 - 12/26/10 2 BC tickets at 100K each plus $32 in taxes. About $7200 worth of tix according to pricing!
Might not be the best time to go, but we are doing a southern Med cruise.
Jun 9, 2010, 10:51 pm
#1528
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,497
MSP-LAS-MSP for early next week at 25k; perfect flight times for me too and saves me $700 for a semi-last minute trip.
Jun 10, 2010, 2:03 am
#1529
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Sweden
Posts: 2,044
TPE-(MH)-KUL-(MH)-CDG-(AF)-ARN in July
ARN-(AF)-CDG-(AF)-NRT in Dec
All in business class
total 120,000 miles + 274 USD taxes/fees
Before above booking, I tried(not booked) to start journey from NRT with CI.
NRT-(CI)-TPE[stopover]-(MH)-KUL-(MH)-CDG-(AF)-ARN
ARN-(AF)-CDG-(AF)-NRT
All in business class
total 100,000 miles + 465 USD taxes/fees
But it was hefty taxes and after I asked Delta agent keep the booking on hold, the agent came back to me and told that CI had blackout date when I wanted to fly.
I don't know why the mile portion was lower, though.
ARN-(AF)-CDG-(AF)-NRT in Dec
All in business class
total 120,000 miles + 274 USD taxes/fees
Before above booking, I tried(not booked) to start journey from NRT with CI.
NRT-(CI)-TPE[stopover]-(MH)-KUL-(MH)-CDG-(AF)-ARN
ARN-(AF)-CDG-(AF)-NRT
All in business class
total 100,000 miles + 465 USD taxes/fees
But it was hefty taxes and after I asked Delta agent keep the booking on hold, the agent came back to me and told that CI had blackout date when I wanted to fly.
I don't know why the mile portion was lower, though.