Award Ticket Success - Post It Here
Oct 9, 2012, 7:37 am
#3167
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MSP/DEN/GVA
Programs: DL PM, FB PM, Gamer/Trickster.
Posts: 189
120k each on CZ/DL, in business intl / domestic first. a380 lie-flats from LAX-CAN 
.
12/30:
MSP-LAX-CAN-SGN
1/18:
SGN-CAN-LAX-SFO-MSP
It took about 1.5 hours on the phone with a very nice Gold line representative. She asked me for the possible date range that would work, and then had to "go into CZ's system, to see if the seats were actually unavailable", whatever that means.
.12/30:
MSP-LAX-CAN-SGN
1/18:
SGN-CAN-LAX-SFO-MSP
It took about 1.5 hours on the phone with a very nice Gold line representative. She asked me for the possible date range that would work, and then had to "go into CZ's system, to see if the seats were actually unavailable", whatever that means.
Oct 9, 2012, 5:52 pm
#3169
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: DL - Silver, AA - EXP, Marriott - Platinum Premier
Posts: 200
I realize that posting this might not be really a "success" story since redeeming miles at the low price on AS is significantly easier than on DL, but I was definitely ecstatic about getting my in-laws their dream Alaska vacation.
PHL-SEA-FAI in F
ANC-SEA(stopover)-PHL in Y
70k total (35k each) plus $20 in fees.
PHL-SEA-FAI in F
ANC-SEA(stopover)-PHL in Y
70k total (35k each) plus $20 in fees.
Oct 9, 2012, 6:10 pm
#3170
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,278
I realize that posting this might not be really a "success" story since redeeming miles at the low price on AS is significantly easier than on DL, but I was definitely ecstatic about getting my in-laws their dream Alaska vacation.
PHL-SEA-FAI in F
ANC-SEA(stopover)-PHL in Y
70k total (35k each) plus $20 in fees.
PHL-SEA-FAI in F
ANC-SEA(stopover)-PHL in Y
70k total (35k each) plus $20 in fees.
Oct 9, 2012, 8:19 pm
#3171
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Oct 9, 2012, 8:25 pm
#3172
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Spire Amb, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 1MM
Posts: 3,611
VA for LAX-BNE
I got this for wife and me around first week of Sept 2013:
SAN-LAX-BNE-LAX-SAN for 150k miles + $142 tax each
Over water is in VA biz class. The last LAX-SAN segment is a 30 hour stopover at LAX, but I figure I can change it later or just beg a gate agent to let us on an earlier flight.
I noticed around that time (almost 330 days out) LAX-BNE and LAX-SYD look wide open. Can add domestic flights on DJ if available, but I didn't need it for this trip.
I also asked Delta about LAX-ICN on Korean, but availability in biz class was more spotty -- no first choice days and only one seat in biz per flight.
For awards, I just let Delta's availability gods decided for me where I shall go.
The gods said "Australia".
SAN-LAX-BNE-LAX-SAN for 150k miles + $142 tax each
Over water is in VA biz class. The last LAX-SAN segment is a 30 hour stopover at LAX, but I figure I can change it later or just beg a gate agent to let us on an earlier flight.
I noticed around that time (almost 330 days out) LAX-BNE and LAX-SYD look wide open. Can add domestic flights on DJ if available, but I didn't need it for this trip.
I also asked Delta about LAX-ICN on Korean, but availability in biz class was more spotty -- no first choice days and only one seat in biz per flight.
For awards, I just let Delta's availability gods decided for me where I shall go.
The gods said "Australia".
Oct 10, 2012, 1:00 pm
#3173
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 198
120k each on CZ/DL, in business intl / domestic first. a380 lie-flats from LAX-CAN .
12/30:
MSP-LAX-CAN-SGN
1/18:
SGN-CAN-LAX-SFO-MSP
It took about 1.5 hours on the phone with a very nice Gold line representative. She asked me for the possible date range that would work, and then had to "go into CZ's system, to see if the seats were actually unavailable", whatever that means.
.12/30:
MSP-LAX-CAN-SGN
1/18:
SGN-CAN-LAX-SFO-MSP
It took about 1.5 hours on the phone with a very nice Gold line representative. She asked me for the possible date range that would work, and then had to "go into CZ's system, to see if the seats were actually unavailable", whatever that means.
Oct 10, 2012, 2:37 pm
#3174
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: DL DM, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 2,874
... last week there were 4 seats in J on the DTW-LHR route (plus many others in June/July), as well as low inventory to get us to DTW. Plenty of space for us on AF in J returning through CDG/LAX.
Of course when I got the miles together this week, DTW-LHR along with all the other routes had dropped to 3 seats in J at low miles
. What I ended up with was:
I'm really hoping that 1 more seat opens up on DTW-LHR in low J, but I'm not holding my breath. I may just book the 200k medium J to make sure we are all together rather than chance the medium going away and never seeing a low. It only adds 50k miles to a 400k trip, so I guess I'm okay with averaging 112k miles per person for round trip in business.
Of course when I got the miles together this week, DTW-LHR along with all the other routes had dropped to 3 seats in J at low miles
. What I ended up with was:3 seats: SFO-(DL/F)-MSP-(DL/F)-DTW(DL/J)-LHR
1 seats: SFO-(DL/F)-MSP-(DL/F)-DTW(DL/Y)-LHR
3 seats: DUB-(AF/J)-CDG-(AF/J)-LAX-(DL/Y)-SFO
1 seats: DUB-(AF/J)-CDG-(AF/J)-LAX-(DL/F)-SFO
We'll have 8 nights there, probably doing 4 in each city, taking the train/ferry from London to Dublin.1 seats: SFO-(DL/F)-MSP-(DL/F)-DTW(DL/Y)-LHR
3 seats: DUB-(AF/J)-CDG-(AF/J)-LAX-(DL/Y)-SFO
1 seats: DUB-(AF/J)-CDG-(AF/J)-LAX-(DL/F)-SFO
I'm really hoping that 1 more seat opens up on DTW-LHR in low J, but I'm not holding my breath. I may just book the 200k medium J to make sure we are all together rather than chance the medium going away and never seeing a low. It only adds 50k miles to a 400k trip, so I guess I'm okay with averaging 112k miles per person for round trip in business.
First, I found 4 seats in J for low miles to get us to London and back from Dublin. Over the weekend while I made some moves to get all the miles, DL reduced inventory to 3 seats at low. And it wasn't due to someone booking a single seat, there were 20+ days with 4 seats available in J at low, and every single one changed to 3 seats over the weekend.
Rather than hope for a low seat to open, I figured I'd just book one seat at medium with the other 3 at low and take the 50k skymiles hit. Now while I waited to build up 50k more miles (made it 2 weeks ago), DL removed the mid-tier J seat that I was planning on changing my wife to. It's now at high miles
. I literally checked it multiple times per week for a month and there was always a seat available at medium. Twice now DL rev management has made changes to inventory JUST before I had the miles in my account to book. Now once again it's time to play the waiting/watching game in hopes of a change.
In more positive news, I was able to improve the return with more direct routing. Now we go DUB-CDG-SFO instead having to route through LAX. One less stop and we get to avoid the mess that is LAX.
Oct 10, 2012, 3:28 pm
#3175
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Florida
Programs: Delta GM; Fly Clear; Amex Reserve
Posts: 141
Just joined this forum so I thought I'd share a good awards redemption using Delta Skymiles during summer 2010.
100,000 miles each pax:
MCO-JFK-CDG (DL to JFK and Air France A380 to CDG) Business class
CDG-Athens Air France Business class
Athens-ATL-MCO Delta Business class
Only fee was the $120 or so each for taxes.
It was a sweet trip and this was all during prime weather period of mid June. Was great to use all the Int'l first class lounges and the ones with Air France. A380 was so cool...
100,000 miles each pax:
MCO-JFK-CDG (DL to JFK and Air France A380 to CDG
) Business classCDG-Athens Air France Business class
Athens-ATL-MCO Delta Business class
Only fee was the $120 or so each for taxes.
It was a sweet trip and this was all during prime weather period of mid June. Was great to use all the Int'l first class lounges and the ones with Air France. A380 was so cool...
Oct 10, 2012, 3:34 pm
#3176
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Just joined this forum so I thought I'd share a good awards redemption using Delta Skymiles during summer 2010.
100,000 miles each pax:
MCO-JFK-CDG (DL to JFK and Air France A380 to CDG) Business class
CDG-Athens Air France Business class
Athens-ATL-MCO Delta Business class
Only fee was the $120 or so each for taxes.
It was a sweet trip and this was all during prime weather period of mid June. Was great to use all the Int'l first class lounges and the ones with Air France. A380 was so cool...
100,000 miles each pax:
MCO-JFK-CDG (DL to JFK and Air France A380 to CDG
) Business classCDG-Athens Air France Business class
Athens-ATL-MCO Delta Business class
Only fee was the $120 or so each for taxes.
It was a sweet trip and this was all during prime weather period of mid June. Was great to use all the Int'l first class lounges and the ones with Air France. A380 was so cool...
Oct 10, 2012, 5:32 pm
#3177
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: WoH Globalist, Hilton Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 118
Business Class award
I just saw this thread! I redeemed this award back for april - may (april 6th and returning may 1st.
100,000 skymiles for:
IAD - LHR (layover in CDG) and the return trip was FRA - IAD also with a layover on CDG.
Business class on Air France. This was my first award redemption. I read a lot about how the miles are not really worth the effort but this trip just made my dreams come true and I only had to pay $140 for redeeming the trip. Otherwise the trip would have cost over $5000 with the different airports and all x_x.
100,000 skymiles for:
IAD - LHR (layover in CDG) and the return trip was FRA - IAD also with a layover on CDG.
Business class on Air France. This was my first award redemption. I read a lot about how the miles are not really worth the effort but this trip just made my dreams come true and I only had to pay $140 for redeeming the trip. Otherwise the trip would have cost over $5000 with the different airports and all x_x.
Oct 11, 2012, 10:06 am
#3178
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Florida
Programs: Delta GM; Fly Clear; Amex Reserve
Posts: 141
One more good redemption I just booked last week with DL miles...
25,000 each pax (coach)
MCO-Vail, Co via ATL rountrip in late January 2013.
This ticket starts at $560 or so and only gets higher so for 25k miles, it thought it was a good deal.
Oct 12, 2012, 6:56 am
#3179
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: London
Programs: DL FO, BA Bronze, Avis Preferred
Posts: 851
I just booked a flight from London to Korea and Japan, for February 2013.
120,000 miles, all on KE
$323.60 in taxes/fees ($259.60 was UK Air Duty)
LGW-ICN
ICN-NRT
NRT-ICN-LGW
That was my first experience with Chisholm, and now I'm hooked!
120,000 miles, all on KE
$323.60 in taxes/fees ($259.60 was UK Air Duty)
LGW-ICN
ICN-NRT
NRT-ICN-LGW
That was my first experience with Chisholm, and now I'm hooked!
Oct 12, 2012, 7:25 am
#3180
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PM, Hilton, HI
Posts: 178
Jun 2013 in J on DL for two
ATL-VCE (DL metal)
BCN-CDG-ATL (AF metal) overnight in Paris for dinner and strolling along the Seine
100K miles, $98.50 (taxes/fees) each
40K HH points/night for Hilton in VCE and BCN
25K PR points/night for HI in Paris
If only I have points to use for the 12-day VCE-BCN cruise, then this would have been the ultimate award trip for me.
This is what keeps me sane with all these biz travel and going thru airport security.
ATL-VCE (DL metal)
BCN-CDG-ATL (AF metal) overnight in Paris for dinner and strolling along the Seine
100K miles, $98.50 (taxes/fees) each
40K HH points/night for Hilton in VCE and BCN
25K PR points/night for HI in Paris
If only I have points to use for the 12-day VCE-BCN cruise, then this would have been the ultimate award trip for me.
This is what keeps me sane with all these biz travel and going thru airport security.