Award Ticket Success - Post It Here
Feb 16, 2010, 11:30 am
#1306
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: DL - Plat, Marriott - Plat, Hilton - Diamond, SPG- Plat, National- ES
Posts: 1,857
ATL- LHR 5/25 Business Class, lie flat (via JFK) CDG - ATL 6/1 Coach. Total 70,000 miles.
Did have to call because I could not get the system to take my "on hold" ATL-LHR business class and add the CDG-ATL coach, but worth the fee. Didn't take long at all for the agent to see what I wanted and do it.
Did have to call because I could not get the system to take my "on hold" ATL-LHR business class and add the CDG-ATL coach, but worth the fee. Didn't take long at all for the agent to see what I wanted and do it.
Feb 16, 2010, 2:25 pm
#1308
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Naples, Florida, USA
Programs: DL Diamond, 2MM; Hilton Diamond; IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 791
Having said that, I'll be darned if, just as avidflyer says above, the very next day one of the flights had "changed" leaving me with a 38 minute connection in ATL for me to catch ATL-SYD. (I had violated my own rule of thumb by booking only at 1.5 hour layover originally). I immediately called and they quickly changed me to a much earlier flight.
The moral of the story is that avidflyer is right that having snagged an upgraded BE ticket, you've still got to watch the flight changes like a hawk.
Feb 27, 2010, 10:01 am
#1310
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,516
Slightly off topic of pure award seats, but I picked up the phone on Friday night and had no problem booking the following using PMU's to upgrade to BE:
MEM-ATL-SYD-ATL-MEM for December 2010
TUP-ATL-LHR-ATL-TUP for July 2010
I was able to do this getting the exact flights I wanted on the exact days I wanted for all legs.
Before folks point it out, I of course realize that I am very lucky that I can make arrangements to use PMU's far in advance, and that my plans are very unlikely to change once made. In other words, I realize that I am exactly the type of flyer for whom PMU's are a great benefit. Indeed, for the past six years or so, I am 100% booking upgraded int'l BE tickets, and I always use all of my PMU's for that purpose.
MEM-ATL-SYD-ATL-MEM for December 2010
TUP-ATL-LHR-ATL-TUP for July 2010
I was able to do this getting the exact flights I wanted on the exact days I wanted for all legs.
Before folks point it out, I of course realize that I am very lucky that I can make arrangements to use PMU's far in advance, and that my plans are very unlikely to change once made. In other words, I realize that I am exactly the type of flyer for whom PMU's are a great benefit. Indeed, for the past six years or so, I am 100% booking upgraded int'l BE tickets, and I always use all of my PMU's for that purpose.
Feb 27, 2010, 6:13 pm
#1312
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
I'm looking for J class to BKK from JFK for travel in April and only coming up with medium tier miles (240K).
Feb 27, 2010, 7:21 pm
#1313
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,543
ATL- LHR 5/25 Business Class, lie flat (via JFK) CDG - ATL 6/1 Coach. Total 70,000 miles.
Did have to call because I could not get the system to take my "on hold" ATL-LHR business class and add the CDG-ATL coach, but worth the fee. Didn't take long at all for the agent to see what I wanted and do it.
Did have to call because I could not get the system to take my "on hold" ATL-LHR business class and add the CDG-ATL coach, but worth the fee. Didn't take long at all for the agent to see what I wanted and do it.
Feb 28, 2010, 11:27 am
#1314
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: South Florida USA
Programs: DL-MM/FC/FO AA-EXP/MM Starwood-Platinum Marriott-Platinum Hilton-Gold Hyatt-Diamond
Posts: 1,515
Ft Lauderdale - Maui 2011
2 Coach FLL/OGG
14JAN FLL/DTW
14JAN DTW/LAX
15JAN LAX/OGG
22JAN OGG/LAX
22JAN LAXDTW
23JAN DTW/FLL
40K
It still amazes me that by clicking START OVER and then GO, LOW mileage levels appear where on the first try only MED and HIGH show. Wonder how many unaware DL flyers book more expensive awards "by mistake"
TW
14JAN FLL/DTW
14JAN DTW/LAX
15JAN LAX/OGG
22JAN OGG/LAX
22JAN LAXDTW
23JAN DTW/FLL
40K
It still amazes me that by clicking START OVER and then GO, LOW mileage levels appear where on the first try only MED and HIGH show. Wonder how many unaware DL flyers book more expensive awards "by mistake"
TW
Feb 28, 2010, 11:33 am
#1315
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Newport, Or, USA
Programs: DL PM, 2 Million Miller
Posts: 267
I can't complain about award availability. In late January I was able to get a business class flight from the west coast to AMS and back. Outbound on DL and return on KLM. At the same time I booked an award swat on SQ, 1st class, LAX-SIN-BKK and return for the last week of May.
Feb 28, 2010, 6:01 pm
#1316
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SLC
Programs: DL PM,1MM
Posts: 690
Booked for my sister-in-law (her miles, no status) 2 tickets SAN-HNL May-June 2010 for 40,000 each. She couldn't figure out the site, so called me. Alaskan on the outbound and the new DL nonstop on the return.
Feb 28, 2010, 6:08 pm
#1317
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
Since my original post never got merged into this thread, here it is again:
BOS-AMS-TXL (07/02/09), AMS-BOS (07/13/09) for 60,000 miles. Taxes and fees are $136.85. This flight is $1000++ when booked without miles.
BOS-AMS-TXL (07/02/09), AMS-BOS (07/13/09) for 60,000 miles. Taxes and fees are $136.85. This flight is $1000++ when booked without miles.
Feb 28, 2010, 9:58 pm
#1319
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,543
Partners, please.
Can we please put the carrier that is booked for these award flights? Often times, it's only partners that are available, and the more info we have, the more we can see what partners and routing are successful.
Mar 1, 2010, 12:33 am
#1320
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: DAY
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Spire, National Exec Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 456
It took a couple months, but I finally won the battle with delta.com
This isn't exactly the itinerary I wanted and I've been searching for about 3 months now. However, I was on hold to book anything because the other half's passport was MIA until we finally found it last week. But I digress...
4/6: SEA-MSP-ATL-BCN (DL)
4/9: BCN-CDG (AF)
4/11: CDG-AMS (KL) AMS-MSP-DAY (DL)
60K each = 120K total + $192 taxes/fees
Same itinerary is $2,370 each per an ITA search, so that calculates out to 3.95 cpm.
I can't complain too much, considering I ended up with an open-jaw + stopover award at the lowest level. But I know that I've literally spent 60+ hours clicking on the website to get to this point.
4/6: SEA-MSP-ATL-BCN (DL)
4/9: BCN-CDG (AF)
4/11: CDG-AMS (KL) AMS-MSP-DAY (DL)
60K each = 120K total + $192 taxes/fees
Same itinerary is $2,370 each per an ITA search, so that calculates out to 3.95 cpm.
I can't complain too much, considering I ended up with an open-jaw + stopover award at the lowest level. But I know that I've literally spent 60+ hours clicking on the website to get to this point.