MDtR-Chicago

Booked for October about a month and a half out... simple MSP-SFO-MSP at 25k. Really wanted the non-stop flights and the cash price was high enough to use miles.

Jaimito Cartero

I'm so bummed. Had to cancel a KE J RT award just now. It's been so hard to find any low level KE J for me using DL miles. Couldn't pass up $300 F tickets out of RGN, though.

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in, again.

OLYflyer

Booked for next summer. AZ seems quite good about releasing 2-3 J seats on most US TATL flights at t-330. J space on East coast routes is even more plentiful.

Tricky part was getting the routing to fall under MPM. MAD or VLC were bust while BCN fits by ~50 miles. All partner flights were found using Expertflyer and then I called in to PM line to book.

Entire call took 17 mins from dial tone to receipt of email confirmation. Agent remarked it was the easiest time booking AZ she had ever had.

Amazing how much knowing the inventory before you call teamed with a useful phone agent helps.

wco81

Thanks I called in and got the international segments okay. But when they add the SFO-LAX and LAX-SFO segments, the mileage required goes from 100k to either 180k (business) or 132k (coach).

That's odd, I flew that LAX-FCO segment in 2011 and I had to fly down to LAX on my own dime.

But this year, I flew LAX-CDG (followed by CDG-FLR) and they gave it all to me at 100k. The tricky thing was, initially it was coach and then later it got upgraded to business. Not that it matters much on those small planes and short flights between Northern and Southern CA.

There definitely was no availability on AF for the TATL.

OLYflyer

If you can do OAK look at the DL flights OAK-LAX for add'l chance to find LOW lvl space.

If you can do STS or SJC look into AS flights to LAX as well (Y only birds).

wco81

I was able to get SFO-LAX and LAX-SFO legs added to the itinerary at the same 100k level. They're economy but I may get upgraded and even if I'm not upgraded, it's a short flight and I don't have to deal with getting a Southwest ticket and checking bags at LAX.

I just have to book the whole itinerary by midnight EST Saturday.

But I've since found out that a lot of the attractions I was interested in are still closed at the end of May when these flights are scheduled.

So I checked a month later and they say there's no LAX-FCO availability on Saturdays or Sundays.

The first guy I talked to said DL and AF are in some kind of negotiations and AF upgrades are suspended for the time being, which may also affect AF award availability to DL customers.

Maybe the later dates will become available in later. It would cost me $150 more but may be worth it.

MightyTravels

Thanks for the input. I think the LHR connection is much more feasible- I changed my itin now.

I just fed my new itin to the agent and she simply refused to see any flights NBO - SEZ at all. I'm booking 310 days out. airfrance.us shows them in the date overview (can't go to details for flights more than 10 months out).
Will call again now...

Update: Second agent tried a long sell but said no availability using Skymiles NBO-SEZ although SEZ-NBO is readily available...Very odd - the same segment was available just 2 days ago.

If someone with KVS access could check O/W availability for 8/01/13 NBO-SEZ that would be great.

CMK10

One-way in First:

ANC-SLC-ATL-RDU for 45,000 miles and $5.

Pretty bad I know, but I'm saving cash where I can this year for a big move next year and this was $350 I can put aside. There were numerous Y awards but I figured if I was spending miles, I'd rather do it for F, especially as the first two flights are fairly long.

Deemus7

Did you ask about doing the last leg in economy?

Are you PM or DM? If so, you could probably book this as an open jaw and then add the NBO-SEZ leg when it becomes available (and you could do the same if not PM/DM, but it'll cost you $150). Also make sure you don't have more than 24 hours in the UK...that departure tax is brutal, especially for long-haul F/J

JSprague24

As a regular Skymiles member:
CMH-ATL (ended up being DTW due to a delay)-HNL-DTW-CMH, August/September 2010, 40,000 miles + $10 in coach.

As a Silver:
CMH-DCA-JFK-CMH, February 2012, 25,000 miles + tax in coach

MightyTravels

Good idea - but no economy seats either (Delta can't see any seats after 10/23/2012!!!) and no status for me Plus I already have an OJ due to the minimal availability of AF from the West Coast next year. Ditto for LHR, I avoid any long stop overs there for some time

seychellesbound

2 1/2 solid years on FT and finally living up to the handle...

Honeymoon: April/May 2013

Coach: (DL) DTW-LHR (9 hour layover)

Business Class: (KQ) LHR-NBO-SEZx

Business Class: (OK) AUH-PRGx (stopover)-AMS-DTW

Cost: 120,000 SkyMiles + $218.50 USD pp

In between I'm buying a one-way SEZ-DXB (23 hour layover)-MLEx coach seat on EK for $600 USD.

Converting 200K Club Carlson points for a MLE-AUH coach award on EY.

Accommodations:

4 nights @ Hilton Seychelles - Northolme = 145,000 HHonors

4 nights @ Hilton Seychelles - Labriz = 145,000 HHonors

1 night @ Grand Hyatt Dubai = Chase Hyatt anniversary FREE night

5 nights @ Park Hyatt Maldives = 145,000 Hyatt points (Passport Escape- includes 3 dinners for 2)

PRG is TBD....

Thank you to all FT veterans for educating me!

MightyTravels

Congrats well done!

Passport escape is the way to go in the Maldives.

I think AA allows EY one-way redemptions sez-Mel if you want to preserve cash for the Maldives.

How did you book the NBO-SEZ segment - I have 5 agents now refusing to see KQ 450 at all after Oct 2012 ;(

Also I could not get Delta agents to find KLM segments that showed available as classic on airfrance.us to see as such. Any tricks you can share?

jphripjah

I'm surprised the fees are that low going through LHR and with Delta charging fuel surcharges on KQ flights.

seychellesbound

I used AF.com to find classic availability. The key is to find space on KQ LHR-NBO not KL AMS-NBO. The first DL agent I tried couldn't find space either......be persistent.