herb_sims

Everyone,

Using the ITA software I can get (using only Delta)
HSV-ATL-RDU-CVG-DTW-PHL

and returning

PHL-CVG-RDU-ATL-HSV

Can anyone do better to get me more segments/miles? This route is cheaper than HSV-ATL-PHL and PHL-ATL-HSV by $35!

Thanks,

Herb

MrAOK

we are missing a price here. better than what?

drtravix

The routing for HSV-PHL on DL is:

Too busy to figure out availability right now, but if you play with the routing you may be able to get something better.

Looks like there are no restrictions on TRANSFERS for this fare (the one I'm looking at is $243), but I'm not that familiar with DL so perhaps they have a systemwide limit.

herb_sims

OK am I reading this correctly?

HSV - GTR - MEM - ATL or CVG - TYS or BNA or LEX or SDF or IND ???

When I try this in ITA it tells me that it can't make it work.

Herb

herb_sims

HSV-PHL-HSV is $344 according to ITA.

My route is $35 cheaper aslo according to ITA.

Herb

drtravix

The routings don't always equal a valid route (without dropping certain cities). You are correct in that you could fly those cities you mentioned... but only:

1) if the FLIGHT APPL section allows the flights that get you between those cities (on DL, since the routing requires it), and
2) if other rules in the fare rules don't prohibit certain segments to be used together, for certain flights to be taken (which schedule-wise may cause other flights to not work out).

Overall, it's pretty complicated to *completely* create a valid routing from fare rules because of the schedule and flights of each individual carrier, but it serves as a starting point to tell you what cities you should look at and in what order.

For example, DL may not have flights that connect GTR-ATL. But, in the first line of the routing, this would be a "valid" routing because you can remove the intermediate stop MEM.

Next, there may not be seats available for the fare you are looking at, on the flights that you are searching for. This may be because you have 3 flights earlier in the day which cause you to arrive at city AAA after the last flight out of that city to BBB.

There are so many factors to consider, that it's just a giant puzzle where you have to adjust individual factors to get to a final solution which fits together.

One thing you can do - go to Expedia, get the complete fare rules (by making a sample booking) and then see what flights you can fly on, what the other restrictions are. Then, get a copy of the DL timetable and see if the segments you put together are actually possible in the timeframe that you want. Then, see if you can't get ITA to show those flights.

dhflies

Are you looking to travel certain dates or is this purely a mileage run that you can travel any time?

herb_sims

Purely a MR (my sisters/brother live in Philly) hence looking at that.

Herb