Award Ticket Success - Post It Here
Jul 9, 2009, 7:08 pm
#1081
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, MTA Rust, Hertz Five Star something or other
Posts: 2,858
Pretty amazed with nwa.com here. Just booked 2 biz class award tickets for next April:
EWR-PVG (CO)- ICN-NRT (KE)- NRT-HNL (DL)- HNL- JFK (DL)
120,000 miles and $60 each.
Pumped I get to try out several types of planes and airlines (777, 747, 330). If purchased, tickets would have been over $15k.. very happy here
EWR-PVG (CO)- ICN-NRT (KE)- NRT-HNL (DL)- HNL- JFK (DL)
120,000 miles and $60 each.
Pumped I get to try out several types of planes and airlines (777, 747, 330). If purchased, tickets would have been over $15k.. very happy here
Last edited by thepointsguy; Jul 9, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Jul 9, 2009, 8:23 pm
#1082
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: West of CLE
Programs: Delta DM/3 MM; Hertz PC; National EE; Amtrak GR; Bonvoy Silver; Via Rail Préférence
Posts: 5,384
Got a Great Ticket on Short Notice
I was able to take a long weekend in the UK going to the races and riding on trains (the usual for me).
On Monday, 6/22/09, I booked a ticket in J on AF, IAD-CDG-NCL and return, three days in advance of my trip; the price was 100,000 miles and $241 in taxes and fees. The published J fare for this itinerary was approximately $10,800.00. CDG-NCL was on a one class CRJ-700, but since the trip was only 65 minutes northbound and 70 minutes southbound, and was probably no different than a "mainline" AF jet to an airport in western Europe, it did not diminish the experience.
The flights essentially ran on time and I had a great trip.
On Monday, 6/22/09, I booked a ticket in J on AF, IAD-CDG-NCL and return, three days in advance of my trip; the price was 100,000 miles and $241 in taxes and fees. The published J fare for this itinerary was approximately $10,800.00. CDG-NCL was on a one class CRJ-700, but since the trip was only 65 minutes northbound and 70 minutes southbound, and was probably no different than a "mainline" AF jet to an airport in western Europe, it did not diminish the experience.
The flights essentially ran on time and I had a great trip.
Jul 11, 2009, 9:27 pm
#1083
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lihue, HI, USA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K; Delta Silver Medallion (1MM); Hilton Gold; Marriott Gold; National Executive
Posts: 1,111
Just booked three first class awards TPA-PDX-TPA for late July outbound, early to mid August return.
Wife: TPA-SLC-PDX on DL and PDX-IAH-TPA about 1 week later. Total miles 47,500
Son: TPA-SLC-PDX on DL and PDX-SLC-TPA about 2.5 weeks later. Total miles 45,000
Me: TPA-SLC-PDX on DL and PDX-SLC-TPA about 2.5 weeks later. Total miles 62,500
There were exactly 3 seats available at 22,500 (45,000) for the one way portion for the outbound.^
My wife had some flexibility on her return and there were a few options - none were the perfect itinerary but the one she booked works out pretty well.
My son and I are on the same flight on the return, but there was only one seat available at the 22,500 (45,000) level for the one way portion. I decided to just go ahead and blow a few extra miles to get us both up front instead of using 42,500 miles to book us in first on the outbound and coach on the return. I'll keep an eye out on availability on the return flight and if something opens up I'll use one of my redeposit/reissue waivers to rebook myself at the 45,000 level.
Not bad considering I was booking about 3 weeks out. I've been trying to purchase these tickets for about 3 or 4 months, but the price never dropped much below $600. Once DL gave us all some MQMs with the recent promotion, we didn't have to worry about keeping our status so I figured I might as well burn some of our large stockpile worth of miles.
Wife: TPA-SLC-PDX on DL and PDX-IAH-TPA about 1 week later. Total miles 47,500
Son: TPA-SLC-PDX on DL and PDX-SLC-TPA about 2.5 weeks later. Total miles 45,000
Me: TPA-SLC-PDX on DL and PDX-SLC-TPA about 2.5 weeks later. Total miles 62,500
There were exactly 3 seats available at 22,500 (45,000) for the one way portion for the outbound.^
My wife had some flexibility on her return and there were a few options - none were the perfect itinerary but the one she booked works out pretty well.
My son and I are on the same flight on the return, but there was only one seat available at the 22,500 (45,000) level for the one way portion. I decided to just go ahead and blow a few extra miles to get us both up front instead of using 42,500 miles to book us in first on the outbound and coach on the return. I'll keep an eye out on availability on the return flight and if something opens up I'll use one of my redeposit/reissue waivers to rebook myself at the 45,000 level.
Not bad considering I was booking about 3 weeks out. I've been trying to purchase these tickets for about 3 or 4 months, but the price never dropped much below $600. Once DL gave us all some MQMs with the recent promotion, we didn't have to worry about keeping our status so I figured I might as well burn some of our large stockpile worth of miles.
Jul 12, 2009, 12:16 am
#1084
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SALT LAKE CITY
Programs: DELTA PLATINUM, NW, UA, EMIRATES
Posts: 38
Skymiles upgrade
About two weeks in advance (end of May) I booked a flight for the second week of June RT from SLC to ADD (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) using different combinations of Delta/Northwest (via AMS) and KLM (AMS to ADD). I did a search in economy booking; first I was surprised I could still get seats about 10 days in advance for that complicated trip. Miles deducted were 120,000 plus $93 fee. The flights showing were a combo of economy and FC/Business. Basically it went like this:
SLC TO ATL (DL) FIRST
ATL TO AMS (NW) COACH
AMS TO ADD (KL) BUSINESS
ADD TO AMS (KL) COACH
AMS TO EWR (DL) BUSINESS
EWR TO SLC (DL) FIRST
The day before my flight I called Delta Reservations asking a question about baggage allowance and she asked why I wasn't in Business for ATL to AMS. I said it wasn't available on my booking; so she said, "Well, now it is; and I just upgraded you" which was great! It was on an A330-300 NW Metal. So then I thought that I would ask the KLM transfer desk in AMS if I could get World Business Class on my return from ADD to AMS; she looked in the computer and said "Yes, it is available" and she upgraded me for my return; so I was able to get Business/First on my entire trip; which made 21 hours of flying each way much more enjoyable! My question is; is this common when booking SkyMiles close to departure that you can get Business/First or because I used 120,000 is that about what it would be for BC/First anyway (for a more advance booking); or maybe I was just lucky!
SLC TO ATL (DL) FIRST
ATL TO AMS (NW) COACH
AMS TO ADD (KL) BUSINESS
ADD TO AMS (KL) COACH
AMS TO EWR (DL) BUSINESS
EWR TO SLC (DL) FIRST
The day before my flight I called Delta Reservations asking a question about baggage allowance and she asked why I wasn't in Business for ATL to AMS. I said it wasn't available on my booking; so she said, "Well, now it is; and I just upgraded you" which was great! It was on an A330-300 NW Metal. So then I thought that I would ask the KLM transfer desk in AMS if I could get World Business Class on my return from ADD to AMS; she looked in the computer and said "Yes, it is available" and she upgraded me for my return; so I was able to get Business/First on my entire trip; which made 21 hours of flying each way much more enjoyable! My question is; is this common when booking SkyMiles close to departure that you can get Business/First or because I used 120,000 is that about what it would be for BC/First anyway (for a more advance booking); or maybe I was just lucky!
Jul 29, 2009, 2:14 pm
#1085
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta (FO)
Posts: 20
My first post ;-)
Booked award roundtrip from ATL-LAS for 9/3 - 9/6. Paid $5 and used 42k miles. The return flight is in business class. If I would have picked a coach return flight it would have been 40k. I figure 2k for an upgrade was a good deal.
When I originally was going to book, the business class option for the return wasn't listed. Luckily, I didn't actually book till 30 mins later and it appeared.
My question; why did that business class option show up the second time and not the first? Also, the award search I did was for coach and not first/business.
Any tips on getting good deals like that in the future?
Booked award roundtrip from ATL-LAS for 9/3 - 9/6. Paid $5 and used 42k miles. The return flight is in business class. If I would have picked a coach return flight it would have been 40k. I figure 2k for an upgrade was a good deal.
When I originally was going to book, the business class option for the return wasn't listed. Luckily, I didn't actually book till 30 mins later and it appeared.
My question; why did that business class option show up the second time and not the first? Also, the award search I did was for coach and not first/business.
Any tips on getting good deals like that in the future?
Last edited by gt5059b; Jul 29, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Jul 29, 2009, 2:31 pm
#1086
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: So Fla & NYC
Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA MM, BV LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 23,766
Hello gt5059b. Welcome to FlyerTalk.
The ways of the delta.com award chart are a mystery to most of us. Stuff comes and goes, disappear only to reappear a few hours or a few days later, and do not appear even when those of us who have other sources know that they should be there.
So be happy that you stepped in some of that stuff and enjoy your upgrade on a route where it is notoriously difficult to get one comped. Keep reading around here and you will get more of a feel for what is happening on that and on other fronts.
The ways of the delta.com award chart are a mystery to most of us. Stuff comes and goes, disappear only to reappear a few hours or a few days later, and do not appear even when those of us who have other sources know that they should be there.
So be happy that you stepped in some of that stuff and enjoy your upgrade on a route where it is notoriously difficult to get one comped. Keep reading around here and you will get more of a feel for what is happening on that and on other fronts.
Aug 10, 2009, 11:49 am
#1087
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: (not Montana. Nor is my name really Helena, nor am I female)
Programs: Delta, USAirways, Starwood, Priority Club, Marriott, Amex
Posts: 2,557
Just got 4x Skymiles award tix from my home town airport (HTA) as follows:
May 26 (HTA)-ATL on DL
ATL-AMS on KL
May 27 AMS-MUC on KL
June 6 CDG-DTW on AF
June 7 DTW-ATL on DL
ATL-(HTA) on DL
all in Y
60k Skymiles each, booked online.
The overnight at DTW is by choice; a return to (HTA) entirely on June 6 was also available.
May 26 (HTA)-ATL on DL
ATL-AMS on KL
May 27 AMS-MUC on KL
June 6 CDG-DTW on AF
June 7 DTW-ATL on DL
ATL-(HTA) on DL
all in Y
60k Skymiles each, booked online.
The overnight at DTW is by choice; a return to (HTA) entirely on June 6 was also available.
Last edited by Helena Handbaskets; Aug 10, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Aug 23, 2009, 12:47 pm
#1091
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Hopefully on a plane...
Posts: 6,580
Sounds fantastic. Good to hear you have something positive to add, as usual, to a discussion. Hope to continue to hear your positive contributions.
Aug 23, 2009, 1:05 pm
#1092
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Charlotte, NC, USA | CLT, formerly LHR & AMS (with just a bit of PSP)
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, BonVoy Titanium, (soon former) Caesars7*, (former) Wynn Black, HR "Icon"
Posts: 8,172
45K RT first class
BOS-ATL-SEA-ATL-BOS
for November 2009
BOS-ATL-SEA-ATL-BOS
for November 2009
Aug 23, 2009, 1:16 pm
#1093
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,497
Got a 35k BOS-MSP-ATL-BOS for Thanksgiving a couple of weeks ago.
Since I haven't burned any of my re-deposits, I'm holding off to see if fares come down from the $500 price range or so to a more reasonable level.
Since I haven't burned any of my re-deposits, I'm holding off to see if fares come down from the $500 price range or so to a more reasonable level.
Aug 23, 2009, 2:04 pm
#1094
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ/New York, NY/ATL
Programs: DL DM MM, BIS 2.4MM, EK Gold, SQ Gold, Marriott Gold, HH Gold,
Posts: 5,220
snagged JFK-ATL-LAX-ATL-JFK for Thanksgiving/Christmas travel, 45K, in F.
Last edited by DLATL777; Aug 23, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Aug 23, 2009, 3:35 pm
#1095
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Rural TN (but WAS native)
Programs: National Executive Elite, none of the others matter
Posts: 23,823
Just placed on hold a trip to AUA in F, precise flights and dates I wanted. BNA-ATL-AUA-ATL-BNA, low-tier redemption both ways.