Award Ticket Success - Post It Here
Jul 29, 2008, 2:21 pm
#796
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
The link is gone; the old chart is still available:
https://images.delta.com/delta/pdfs/...ine_awards.pdf
https://images.delta.com/delta/pdfs/...ine_awards.pdf
Jul 29, 2008, 2:22 pm
#797
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,751
Success.
HNL-SFO (stopover)-EWR-HNL, all three flights are nonstops, got the exact dates/times I wanted with the first two being in late Oct and the return next spring. First leg is on NWA, the other two are on CO. SkySaver 35K miles + $35 in fees. I'm very pleased.
HNL-SFO (stopover)-EWR-HNL, all three flights are nonstops, got the exact dates/times I wanted with the first two being in late Oct and the return next spring. First leg is on NWA, the other two are on CO. SkySaver 35K miles + $35 in fees. I'm very pleased.
Jul 29, 2008, 3:54 pm
#799
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ATL
Programs: DL - PM (Sky Priority);HH - Gold; Marriott - Silver; National - Executive; DL Reserve AMEX
Posts: 5,232
Can't find ANYthing for next June to Italy?! I mean, I am usually o.k. with connecting 2 or 3 times, but nothing? On all those partners? I find this hard to believe.
SAN/LAX/SNA to FCO/MXP/VCE/PSA on 6/13 and back on 6/21
It doesn't even have to start or end in the same city in Italy.
And DL, through the SMS phone number, is telling me that there is nothing?! How is this possible?
Amazing. We asked the SMS woman to find anything from the US to Europe on 6/13 and back on 6/21. Took me 5 seconds to find SAN to LHR and back on my own. So frustrating when they don't help at all!
SAN/LAX/SNA to FCO/MXP/VCE/PSA on 6/13 and back on 6/21
It doesn't even have to start or end in the same city in Italy.
And DL, through the SMS phone number, is telling me that there is nothing?! How is this possible?
Amazing. We asked the SMS woman to find anything from the US to Europe on 6/13 and back on 6/21. Took me 5 seconds to find SAN to LHR and back on my own. So frustrating when they don't help at all!
Last edited by MikeyZBT; Jul 29, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Jul 29, 2008, 4:15 pm
#801
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ATL
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 998
Can't find ANYthing for next June to Italy?! I mean, I am usually o.k. with connecting 2 or 3 times, but nothing? On all those partners? I find this hard to believe.
SAN/LAX/SNA to FCO/MXP/VCE/PSA on 6/13 and back on 6/21
It doesn't even have to start or end in the same city in Italy.
And DL, through the SMS phone number, is telling me that there is nothing?! How is this possible?
SAN/LAX/SNA to FCO/MXP/VCE/PSA on 6/13 and back on 6/21
It doesn't even have to start or end in the same city in Italy.
And DL, through the SMS phone number, is telling me that there is nothing?! How is this possible?
You need to inquire what is the problem? Is it getting out of SAN to a connecting city, or crossing the atlantic, or intra-europe fares. Your options will be limited on DL, but you should be able to do some fancy connections in US/europe.
I just booked a TATL from SAN connecting in SEA and then again in CDG on outbound and through AMS and MSP on the inbound.
My experience is that you have to tell SMS what to search and be creative. ie. SAN/TIJ-MEX (AM) - CDG (AF)-FCO (AF/AI).....trust me, i use TIJ a lot for symiles, it is a bargain and the unrecognized gateway to the world with skymiles (AM to MEX/NRT/PVG and connecting in any of those cities to AM or CZ/NW or AF flights to beyond)
Jul 29, 2008, 4:29 pm
#802
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ATL
Programs: DL - PM (Sky Priority);HH - Gold; Marriott - Silver; National - Executive; DL Reserve AMEX
Posts: 5,232
You need to inquire what is the problem? Is it getting out of SAN to a connecting city, or crossing the atlantic, or intra-europe fares. Your options will be limited on DL, but you should be able to do some fancy connections in US/europe.
I just booked a TATL from SAN connecting in SEA and then again in CDG on outbound and through AMS and MSP on the inbound.
My experience is that you have to tell SMS what to search and be creative. ie. SAN/TIJ-MEX (AM) - CDG (AF)-FCO (AF/AI).....trust me, i use TIJ a lot for symiles, it is a bargain and the unrecognized gateway to the world with skymiles (AM to MEX/NRT/PVG and connecting in any of those cities to AM or CZ/NW or AF flights to beyond)
I just booked a TATL from SAN connecting in SEA and then again in CDG on outbound and through AMS and MSP on the inbound.
My experience is that you have to tell SMS what to search and be creative. ie. SAN/TIJ-MEX (AM) - CDG (AF)-FCO (AF/AI).....trust me, i use TIJ a lot for symiles, it is a bargain and the unrecognized gateway to the world with skymiles (AM to MEX/NRT/PVG and connecting in any of those cities to AM or CZ/NW or AF flights to beyond)
Jul 29, 2008, 4:35 pm
#803
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ATL
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 998
Keep in mind, the more stops the higher the taxes....I just paid $255 in taxes and fees on my last ticket....much higher than my $35 taxes to SAN-MEX-BOG-CTG-PTY-LAX flight and $65 on my SAN-SEA-NRT-PEK/PVG-NRT-LAX flight.
Jul 29, 2008, 4:49 pm
#804
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ATL
Programs: DL - PM (Sky Priority);HH - Gold; Marriott - Silver; National - Executive; DL Reserve AMEX
Posts: 5,232
They never try everything....takes way too long. You have to tell them exactly what you want. I want to fly LAX/SNA/SAN-ATL/JFK/IAD/MSP/DTW/CDG/AMS/FCO (layover if you have to on any carrier). They for AM/AI and sometimes KLM/CO/NW/AF, they have to search this individually.
Keep in mind, the more stops the higher the taxes....I just paid $255 in taxes and fees on my last ticket....much higher than my $35 taxes to SAN-MEX-BOG-CTG-PTY-LAX flight and $65 on my SAN-SEA-NRT-PEK/PVG-NRT-LAX flight.
Keep in mind, the more stops the higher the taxes....I just paid $255 in taxes and fees on my last ticket....much higher than my $35 taxes to SAN-MEX-BOG-CTG-PTY-LAX flight and $65 on my SAN-SEA-NRT-PEK/PVG-NRT-LAX flight.
Also, I HATE this award calendar. It is such a liar. Everytime I get a slimmer of hope, it crushes me by showing me a "skysaver dot" and then alas, nothing is available.
Jul 29, 2008, 5:12 pm
#806
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Bahamas
Programs: Hertz Gold Member ,Avis Preferred, DL SKYCLUB
Posts: 190
Jul 29, 2008, 5:56 pm
#807
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ATL
Programs: DL - PM (Sky Priority);HH - Gold; Marriott - Silver; National - Executive; DL Reserve AMEX
Posts: 5,232
Question:
If we find SAN-ATL-DTW or SAN-SLC-DTW in First and SkySaver, can I instruct the SMS to book those two flights and add it to DTW-LGW (Biz, Saver, NW) and keep the itinerary in the SkySaver category?
Jul 29, 2008, 7:31 pm
#808
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: BNA
Programs: DL PM/MM, Hilton Diamond, *wood plat, UA 1kc
Posts: 921
For Winter, and a much needed Holiday, the fantastic women at the partner desk put this together for me (a welcome surprise to my recent frustrations with award tix):
BNA/ATL/CDG/JNB (3 days in JNB)
SAA flight to DAR (Paid)
17 days in Tanzania and Rwanda, then
KGL/NBO/DXB/ATL/TYS
All Business
Mix of DL, Air France and Kenya Airways. Paid $195 in taxes, and the JNB-DAR flight - did JNB b/c of family there and the trip is during the winter holidays...Not bad, mostly in "Saver." Waitlisted ATL-JNB on outbound so we'll see...
Also have BE BNA-JFK-DUB-DUB-ATL-BNA over T'giving to see Ms Air's fam in Ireland. Nothing like ye ould sod in November.
BNA/ATL/CDG/JNB (3 days in JNB)
SAA flight to DAR (Paid)
17 days in Tanzania and Rwanda, then
KGL/NBO/DXB/ATL/TYS
All Business
Mix of DL, Air France and Kenya Airways. Paid $195 in taxes, and the JNB-DAR flight - did JNB b/c of family there and the trip is during the winter holidays...Not bad, mostly in "Saver." Waitlisted ATL-JNB on outbound so we'll see...
Also have BE BNA-JFK-DUB-DUB-ATL-BNA over T'giving to see Ms Air's fam in Ireland. Nothing like ye ould sod in November.
Jul 29, 2008, 8:06 pm
#809
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ATL
Programs: DL - PM (Sky Priority);HH - Gold; Marriott - Silver; National - Executive; DL Reserve AMEX
Posts: 5,232
When I call SMS and say "international" and "yes" that I am using miles, do I need to make sure I go to the partner desk since DL agents can't seem to find me anything? Do they actually have different things to look at?
Jul 29, 2008, 11:55 pm
#810
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ATL
Programs: DL - PM (Sky Priority);HH - Gold; Marriott - Silver; National - Executive; DL Reserve AMEX
Posts: 5,232
Just gotta say, I love the NWA Japan site.
After the SMS told me "there is nothing at the skysaver level", I have found a few options.
Unfortunately, my dates are locked: must depart on 6/13 (land in Europe on 6/14) and return on 6/21.
However, I can leave from SAN/LAX/SNA and arrive to ANY city in Europe. I'd prefer Italy since that is where I am going, but if I can get to another city and then buy a cheap ticket to get to Sicily, so be it.
So far, thanks to the NWA Japan and Delta Websites... and NO THANKS to the SMS desk (which shocks me cause I usually love them, but it just seems that DL is getting cheap and not really bothering to help people find saver tickets), I have found:
LAX-SVO-FCO going and FCO-SVO-LAX on the way back. All in Biz on Aeroflot and all saver. (Or as NWA calls it PerkSaver... same as SkySaver, right?)
What can I expect on Aeroflot in Biz?
Also found:
SAN-SEA-LHR going, on Alaska and NWA, in First/Biz.
LHR-JFK-ATL-SAN coming back, on DL, all in Biz/First.
Also, why can't the Delta agent find these things if they have more tools than I do?
After the SMS told me "there is nothing at the skysaver level", I have found a few options.
Unfortunately, my dates are locked: must depart on 6/13 (land in Europe on 6/14) and return on 6/21.
However, I can leave from SAN/LAX/SNA and arrive to ANY city in Europe. I'd prefer Italy since that is where I am going, but if I can get to another city and then buy a cheap ticket to get to Sicily, so be it.
So far, thanks to the NWA Japan and Delta Websites... and NO THANKS to the SMS desk (which shocks me cause I usually love them, but it just seems that DL is getting cheap and not really bothering to help people find saver tickets), I have found:
LAX-SVO-FCO going and FCO-SVO-LAX on the way back. All in Biz on Aeroflot and all saver. (Or as NWA calls it PerkSaver... same as SkySaver, right?)
What can I expect on Aeroflot in Biz?
Also found:
SAN-SEA-LHR going, on Alaska and NWA, in First/Biz.
LHR-JFK-ATL-SAN coming back, on DL, all in Biz/First.
Also, why can't the Delta agent find these things if they have more tools than I do?