Award Ticket Success - Post It Here
#1681
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New York
Posts: 18
R-T-W 2 Bus Class Seats
Sorry if I don't use the proper acronyms. I booked two business class seats using 280,000 miles each for a 'round the world award.
My wife and I are flying out on Oct 3 from IAD as follows:
Air France:
IAD-CDG, CDG-IST, IST-CDG; connecting with
Air Kenya
CDG-NBO, NBO-BKK
Korean Air:
BKK-ICN-HNL
Alaska Air
HNL-SEA; connecting with
Delta
SEA-MSP, MSP-IAD
All seats are either BE or Business except that I am still trying to get 1 seat on KE 51 changed from Econ to Bus.
I feel great about getting all those tickets but it took a lot of time and several change fees to accomplish this. Most difficult part was returning from HNL-IAD just before Thanksgiving (which I had to figure out myself because two Delta agents said there was nothing available).
I used ExpertFlyer to help with the AF flights. I learned the hard way not to try for exotic places such as Nepal or Tahiti; just wasn't going to happen within the time frame that I had.
I started booking about 320 days before my first flight using temporary flights to complete the RTW itinerary. Made 2 changes just because of the temporary itineraries and I don't think that there's anyway I would have been able to get all these flights if I waited until 331 days before my return (Nov 22).
I booked the trip going Eastward around the globe because of the climate and temperatures of the places we're going. It probably would have been easier the other way because **I BELIEVE** that you can book Air France awards through Delta up to 360 days in advance.
I feel very fortunate to get these tix considering the devaluation (IMHO) of Skymiles.
My wife and I are flying out on Oct 3 from IAD as follows:
Air France:
IAD-CDG, CDG-IST, IST-CDG; connecting with
Air Kenya
CDG-NBO, NBO-BKK
Korean Air:
BKK-ICN-HNL
Alaska Air
HNL-SEA; connecting with
Delta
SEA-MSP, MSP-IAD
All seats are either BE or Business except that I am still trying to get 1 seat on KE 51 changed from Econ to Bus.
I feel great about getting all those tickets but it took a lot of time and several change fees to accomplish this. Most difficult part was returning from HNL-IAD just before Thanksgiving (which I had to figure out myself because two Delta agents said there was nothing available).
I used ExpertFlyer to help with the AF flights. I learned the hard way not to try for exotic places such as Nepal or Tahiti; just wasn't going to happen within the time frame that I had.
I started booking about 320 days before my first flight using temporary flights to complete the RTW itinerary. Made 2 changes just because of the temporary itineraries and I don't think that there's anyway I would have been able to get all these flights if I waited until 331 days before my return (Nov 22).
I booked the trip going Eastward around the globe because of the climate and temperatures of the places we're going. It probably would have been easier the other way because **I BELIEVE** that you can book Air France awards through Delta up to 360 days in advance.
I feel very fortunate to get these tix considering the devaluation (IMHO) of Skymiles.
#1682
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: DL Diamond, VS Silver, Priority Club Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 585
Last week I was able to get 6 tix, all on the same flight PHL>ATL>BRU for the end of June 2011. 60k each, plus~$50 tax per ticket. Priced the flights afterward and they were looking for $1317 each. I'm pretty happy to be getting $7902 worth of tickets for ~$300
#1683
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
#1684
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: BKK/SEL/YQG
Posts: 2,543
CZ has never charged for fuel surcharges. They have tried to say CZ, CI and MU do, but the only partner I know of that does is MH.
#1685
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: United, SPG
Posts: 12
using miles for overseas biz class
i want to fly from SFO to ATH, business class using miles. UA is telling me no business class seats are available for biz saver (this is for May 2011). only want to do one stop (it's our honeymoon). any suggestions?
#1686
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SEA/PBI/SVO/DME
Programs: SU/DL/US/MR
Posts: 717
I took DenLoyd's method and applied a few of my own principles and came out a winner. The DL booking engine is moody but I have to say with a little patience and few variables here and there, you can get what you're looking for... aside from maybe the most saught after destinations.
I went and booked 4 months worth of flights using my miles for some hockey and soccer games coming up in the near future and lucked out getting Y seating in all but one of my itineraries.
PBI - ATL - SVO/SVO -ATL -PBI 9/3-9/10 "Y" 100k
MLB - ATL - JFK - ARN/ ARN-JFK-PBI 9/30-10/4 "Y" 100k
MLB - ATL - LAX/LAX - ATL - MLB 10/15 - 10/18 "Y" 100K
PBI - ATL - YYZ/YYZ - ATL - PBI 10/29-10/31 "Y" to "J" return 70k
MLB - ATL - HFD/HFD - ATL - MLB 11/6 - 11/7 "J" 40k
MLB - ATL- JFK - SVO/SVO - JFK - PBI 11/20-11/26 "Y" 100k
PBI - ATL - LAS - GTF/GTF - LAX - ATL - MLB 11/30-12/2 "J", "Y" return 60k
FLL - ATL - TYO - SPN/SPN - TYO - ATL - MLB 12/22-12/28 "Y" 110k
Paid $50 per flight except for the SPN flight which was around $99
I went and booked 4 months worth of flights using my miles for some hockey and soccer games coming up in the near future and lucked out getting Y seating in all but one of my itineraries.
PBI - ATL - SVO/SVO -ATL -PBI 9/3-9/10 "Y" 100k
MLB - ATL - JFK - ARN/ ARN-JFK-PBI 9/30-10/4 "Y" 100k
MLB - ATL - LAX/LAX - ATL - MLB 10/15 - 10/18 "Y" 100K
PBI - ATL - YYZ/YYZ - ATL - PBI 10/29-10/31 "Y" to "J" return 70k
MLB - ATL - HFD/HFD - ATL - MLB 11/6 - 11/7 "J" 40k
MLB - ATL- JFK - SVO/SVO - JFK - PBI 11/20-11/26 "Y" 100k
PBI - ATL - LAS - GTF/GTF - LAX - ATL - MLB 11/30-12/2 "J", "Y" return 60k
FLL - ATL - TYO - SPN/SPN - TYO - ATL - MLB 12/22-12/28 "Y" 110k
Paid $50 per flight except for the SPN flight which was around $99
Switch Y for J and the above is correct. My bad.
#1687
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: HH Diamond, SPG Gold, DL DM
Posts: 4
Christmas Eve to Bruges/Brussels, Trouble on Return
I'm probably not posting this on the right forum - perhaps need the lack of success forum Have 4 traveling, booking on SkyMiles Platinum for reward, into Brussels - have that for the 24th of Dec on saver fare (looking to get the 60k economy since it's 2 adults and 2 small children). Using the delta engine (terrible) and KVS tool (just starting to learn how to use this) and can't seem to get anything back around Jan 1, 2, 3, 4 at saver rate out of BRU or any European cities nearby (e.g., AMS, Dusseldorf, etc.) KLM doesn't seem to be showing up in KVS tool either, so maybe there's a glitch there. Any tips? Would prefer a direct out of BRU or AMS, if possible given the two children. I'm a relative newbie at being creative with booking routes - wouldn't mind a stopover somewhere but not sure how to engineer that other than calling. Guess I'll get on the line with a Delta agent. Oh, and I guess I should mention I'm going out of ATL. I forgot that bit
Last edited by GTEnvCO2; Aug 14, 2010 at 7:54 am Reason: adding city that I'm leaving out of
#1689
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
#1690
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Orlando
Programs: DL DM 2MM (NW+DL) FI Gold
Posts: 787
I just booked business on AF, SEA-CDG-ARN departing in 2 days, and back in 6, for 100k rt. That seemed like a really good deal, so I did the booking.
Not sure if I can go yet, and have no experience flying AF or transiting CDG, but this was too good to pass up.
I'm going to search for reports of experiences in business on AF on tatl thru CDG, but if anyone can send me toward a good thread describing business class on AF, I'd appreciate it.
Not sure if I can go yet, and have no experience flying AF or transiting CDG, but this was too good to pass up.
I'm going to search for reports of experiences in business on AF on tatl thru CDG, but if anyone can send me toward a good thread describing business class on AF, I'd appreciate it.
#1691
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Business class on AF is terrific, lie-flat beds (at least on the A340 and 747s which fly from SFO to CDG) and generally the consensus here was that AF had better food.
Well champagne and 2 or 3 choices of wine, last time poured from a real bottle, not one of those mini bottles with the twist off cap that they serve in economy.
Best of all, you will save at least 3 hours of flight time going SEA-CDG direct rather than take DL through JFK or ATL.
Well champagne and 2 or 3 choices of wine, last time poured from a real bottle, not one of those mini bottles with the twist off cap that they serve in economy.
Best of all, you will save at least 3 hours of flight time going SEA-CDG direct rather than take DL through JFK or ATL.
#1693
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
scored 2 MCO-HKG 60k each for travel in November. First time I've seen low tier to HKG in a long time.
#1694
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SFO,OAK,SJC
Programs: DL PM, AS MVPG, Hyatt DIA, PC PLAT, Club Carl Gold, HH Gold, Accor Dia
Posts: 406
Scored 2 seats to Morocco from Bay Area + 2 week stopover in Europe for Honeymoon.
100k x 2 people in Biz/First
ALL DONE via Delta.com (Amazing enough!)
Toughest part was getting the Delta Domestic availability
Depart
June 15
OAK-SEA-IAH (AS - FIRST)
June 16-17
IAH-CDG-CMN (AF - BIZ)
Return
June 24
CMN-CDG (AF BIZ) stopover
July 10
CDG-IAD ( AF BIZ)
July 11
DCA-SLC-SFO (DL FIRST)
One of best parts was able to max out the 24hr rule domestically for time visiting friends in Houston & DC. ExpertFlyer is worth every penny.
Thanks to all who post here for helping me keep the faith in Skypesos.
100k x 2 people in Biz/First
ALL DONE via Delta.com (Amazing enough!)
Toughest part was getting the Delta Domestic availability
Depart
June 15
OAK-SEA-IAH (AS - FIRST)
June 16-17
IAH-CDG-CMN (AF - BIZ)
Return
June 24
CMN-CDG (AF BIZ) stopover
July 10
CDG-IAD ( AF BIZ)
July 11
DCA-SLC-SFO (DL FIRST)
One of best parts was able to max out the 24hr rule domestically for time visiting friends in Houston & DC. ExpertFlyer is worth every penny.
Thanks to all who post here for helping me keep the faith in Skypesos.
#1695
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: Delta-PM Continental-PM
Posts: 214
4..correct 4 J class txts AF (1seat)Sept (1seat)Aug (2seats) Oct 2010 MIA-CDG-DEL-CDG-MIA on low miles 120K/ea....EXPERTFLYER defintely worth the 10bucks/month..got all of the direct mia-cdg's and back through EF's email alerts works great!