Award Ticket Success - Post It Here
Jan 9, 2008, 9:41 pm
#662
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Oregon
Programs: ex-DL FO, what a pedigree
Posts: 158
Happy to find SEA-NCE coach for my wife and 18 month old for summer 2008, even happier to find tix for my 5 year old and me...we fly out a week earlier going PDX-ZRH in BE. If she didn't have summer school we'd all be together, but she is stuck in the back of the plane. All were Saver tickets, so I can't even complain too loudly about the new award availability. We'll all meet up in Italy on the 6/24 for a summer of fun!
Jan 10, 2008, 1:25 am
#664
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Lafayette, CO, USA
Programs: SPG Lifetime Plat, AA Gold, UA Gold, DL Silver, HH Gold, Vail Epic
Posts: 9,096
How dare my cousin decide to get married in the middle of ski season! 
Due to a couple scheduling conflicts, I had to reschedule my 2 ski trip reservations to BZN and EGE that I booked back in the fall.
New Coach SkySaver reservations:
Feb 8-12. CAE-EGE (for Vail / Beaver Creek skiing)
Feb 9-13. CAE-RNO (possible alternative on hold for Tahoe skiing)
Mar 6-11. CAE-EGE (for Vail / Beaver Creek skiing)
Due to a couple scheduling conflicts, I had to reschedule my 2 ski trip reservations to BZN and EGE that I booked back in the fall.
New Coach SkySaver reservations:
Feb 8-12. CAE-EGE (for Vail / Beaver Creek skiing)
Feb 9-13. CAE-RNO (possible alternative on hold for Tahoe skiing)
Mar 6-11. CAE-EGE (for Vail / Beaver Creek skiing)
Jan 16, 2008, 9:55 am
#665
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 55
My husband and I have been able to redeem 6 RT tickets using our skymiles.
But was is most exciting is that we are traveling from MSP-BCN in November and were able to get skysaver tickets in BE class. Of course we haven't gone yet but I hope all goes well.
But was is most exciting is that we are traveling from MSP-BCN in November and were able to get skysaver tickets in BE class. Of course we haven't gone yet but I hope all goes well.
Jan 18, 2008, 11:05 pm
#666
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Living in SIN™
Programs: TK/QR Gold, Marriott/Accor Plat, IC Dia Amb, Avis/Hertz PC
Posts: 6,706
JFK-SIN-BOM-xSIN-JFK in C for 120K for April/May
LAX-xSIN-BOM-SIN-LAX in F for 140K for July/August
Just booked these earlier today. Took maybe 30min to get both done. Availability mirrored the ANA tool and Seatcounter.com except for EWR-SIN-EWR segments which SMS could not seem to book despite them showing availability I1, but I got the JFK flights on the days I wanted to travel. Have these on hold for a couple of days and will add domestic DL segments later.
LAX-xSIN-BOM-SIN-LAX in F for 140K for July/August
Just booked these earlier today. Took maybe 30min to get both done. Availability mirrored the ANA tool and Seatcounter.com except for EWR-SIN-EWR segments which SMS could not seem to book despite them showing availability I1, but I got the JFK flights on the days I wanted to travel. Have these on hold for a couple of days and will add domestic DL segments later.
Jan 19, 2008, 7:45 am
#667
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: DC metro
Programs: PC Platinum Ambassador, Marriott Gold Elite, UA 2P, Starwood Gold, Avis First, Bolt Bus $1 Rider
Posts: 1,175
may 15 DCA-EWR-GIG
may 25 GRU-EWR-IAD
all on CO
50k plus $61 in taxes
85k more to burn
hoping for europe in september or october
may 25 GRU-EWR-IAD
all on CO
50k plus $61 in taxes
85k more to burn
hoping for europe in september or october
Jan 19, 2008, 7:54 am
#668
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: The shape-shifting urban sprawl that is El Lay. FT member #71.
Programs: UA Gold & MM; DL & AA credit card dirt status; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Fool's Gold
Posts: 4,690
Last minute success. Called SMS 14 days ago, and was able to book a 90K business award between LAX and MAD, for two days later (returning after six days). Was waitlisted for the ATL-LAX segment, and it did not clear.
Outgoing was on AF thru CDG, return on DL via ATL. Total cost including taxes, last minute fee and phone booking charge, was $146.
Night and day between AF and DL's service. Sorry DL, but you have a long way to go to be considered above average business class TATL.
Outgoing was on AF thru CDG, return on DL via ATL. Total cost including taxes, last minute fee and phone booking charge, was $146.
Night and day between AF and DL's service. Sorry DL, but you have a long way to go to be considered above average business class TATL.
Last edited by Craig6z; Jan 19, 2008 at 3:46 pm Reason: Add'l details
Jan 19, 2008, 8:06 am
#669
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: AA Exec Plt, SPG Platinum
Posts: 355
6/5/2008 DFW - AMS (KL) - CDG (AF) - FLR (AF)
6/15/2008 FLR - FCO - LHR (Alitalia/AF) - LAX
All segments in Business except CDG - FLR and FLR - FCO. Saver award for 90,000 miles.
6/15/2008 FLR - FCO - LHR (Alitalia/AF) - LAX
All segments in Business except CDG - FLR and FLR - FCO. Saver award for 90,000 miles.
Jan 19, 2008, 8:10 am
#670
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Upcountry Maui (OGG)
Programs: yes
Posts: 1,607
Award success ONT-BWI
Had no trouble finding and booking SkySaver awards for ONT-BWI via ATL on March 3 2008 returning March 10 2008 via SLC at a total cost of $10USD and 25k SM per ticket. (Could not find any F availability that didn't leave us sleeping at an airport overnight, but sometimes it is good to fly Y to see how the other half lives...) Mrs. bobsgt and I will be returning to the National Facilities Management and Technology (NMF&T) at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Scored the Radisson Lord Baltimore on for $79/night on Hotwire, although I see some have received it for $55 on Priceline. No big deal- this trip is a tax deductible!
Now we just have to practice our harmonizing on "The cattle in coach sing 'moo, moo, moo'"
Scored the Radisson Lord Baltimore on for $79/night on Hotwire, although I see some have received it for $55 on Priceline. No big deal- this trip is a tax deductible!
Now we just have to practice our harmonizing on "The cattle in coach sing 'moo, moo, moo'"
Jan 19, 2008, 9:56 am
#672
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: DL Plat, CRC, Hhonors Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Silver, Priority Club Gold
Posts: 206
Scored the Family vacation SS tix to Cabo
Took FOREVER (about 1 hour)....had the same problems mentioned above with squirrely dates/missing itineraries/errors. I think the problem was that all the seats RT were booked on CO. I had to sign out of Delta.com, clear cookies before I could finally get a decent list of CO options.
35,000 SS miles x 3 plus $76.50 each for int'l travel/taxes...etc about $229.50 (ugh). TPA-IAH-SJD (Cabo).
No itinerary/link on Delta.com to my Continental award seats. No seats assigned either. Had to sign in Continental.com, imput my confirmation number and manually select three seats. I'll have to keep a close watch for schedule changes.
Travel safe
35,000 SS miles x 3 plus $76.50 each for int'l travel/taxes...etc about $229.50 (ugh). TPA-IAH-SJD (Cabo).
No itinerary/link on Delta.com to my Continental award seats. No seats assigned either. Had to sign in Continental.com, imput my confirmation number and manually select three seats. I'll have to keep a close watch for schedule changes.
Travel safe
Jan 19, 2008, 2:27 pm
#673
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: MCO
Programs: DL DM,MM; AS; USeless Air, HHonors Diamond, Starwood Plat, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 564
Other than the "fun" of point and click online, I don't know why anyone wouldn't just pick up the phone and call SMS -- especially for International Award travel. Over the past 3 years I've been able to get close-in (within a few months) BE saver seats (90,000 miles each) for October - FLL-ATL-ATH/NCE-CDG-ATL-FLL, November -FLL-JFK-LGW/AMS-JFK-FLL, and May FLL-ATL-FLR/AMS-ATL-FLL.
It's so much easier to let them do it and I can multi-task while I'm waiting. And it always saves me miles and time over what I find anywhere online -- and less frustrating. I just made the upcoming May trip reservations -- online the best I could find were seats for 240,000 miles on days that were close but not quite what I wanted --- SMS found better flights on my preferred dates for just 90,000. I love those guys!!
It's so much easier to let them do it and I can multi-task while I'm waiting. And it always saves me miles and time over what I find anywhere online -- and less frustrating. I just made the upcoming May trip reservations -- online the best I could find were seats for 240,000 miles on days that were close but not quite what I wanted --- SMS found better flights on my preferred dates for just 90,000. I love those guys!!
Jan 19, 2008, 3:15 pm
#674
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: DL Plat, CRC, Hhonors Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Silver, Priority Club Gold
Posts: 206
Point taken
Yes, that's true. It's easier to just call Delta.
I did call the Plat line and the guy was nice enough, found the same options I was seeing online and also would be forced to charge me $20 per ticket for typing in exactly what I had.
So the bargain shopper in me couldn't fork over another $60 on top of the $259 for SkySaver tickets. I know, I know....it's not much.
I guess I was determined to do it myself!
I did call the Plat line and the guy was nice enough, found the same options I was seeing online and also would be forced to charge me $20 per ticket for typing in exactly what I had.
So the bargain shopper in me couldn't fork over another $60 on top of the $259 for SkySaver tickets. I know, I know....it's not much.
I guess I was determined to do it myself!
Jan 20, 2008, 7:29 am
#675
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
Have the agent place the award itin on hold. Pull it up online...click on "redeem" and--voila--you will be able to ticket sans phone fee.