DL: Back-to-back ticketing HELP!
 

So I have been researching some milage runs to complete with the 2x europe promo and have an intresting senario.

I can book PHL-MUC roundtrip and MUC-PHL round trip for under $1000.

Trip A
PHL-ATL-MUC Depart 2/1 1Arrive 2/12
Trip B
MUC-ATL-PHL Depart 2/12 Arrive 2/12
Trip B
PHL-ATL-MUC Depart 2/17 Arrive 2/18
Trip A
MUC-ATL-PHL Depart 2/18 Arrive 2/18

I want to fly all the ticketed segments - typically back-to-back ticketing is used get a lower price on the return segment and then not using the rest of the ticket.

I found another route that was a little more than $1200 but it's a KILLER
PHL-ATL-LAX-HNL-LAX-ATL-MUC-ATL-LAX-HNL-LAX-ATL-PHL that nets over 30k miles booked as PHL-HNL and HNL-MUC. It takes 7 days to complete - and would be completely 'legal' - but I dont think I could make it that long!

So for either trip, just how many miles would it be and what woud the cpm end up being?

And what exactly is the "2x Euro Promo"?

The 2 tickets to MUC are 1058.62$ total

MQM: 666+4800+4800+666 = 10,932 x 2 = 21,864TotalMQM or 0.04CPM
SM: 666+4800+4800+666 = 10,932 x 2 = 21,864 + 19,200 bonus miles = 41,064 TotalSM or 0.025CPM

http://www.delta.com/eurorewards

The milage for PHL-HNL&HNL-MUC:

MQM: 666+4502+4502+4800+4800+4502+4502+666 = 28,940Total MQM or 0.043CPM
SM: 666+4502+4502+4800+4800+4502+4502+666 = 28,940Total + 9,600 bonus miles = 38,540 TotalSM or 0.032CPM

OP, what is your question, please? What do you need help on?

Sorry my post may not have been clear.

I believe that my routing with the 2 tickets to MUC is not 'legal' in the view of DL. I wanted to get clarification before I book the tickets - I don't want to arrive in MUC and find out they won't let me board the return flight because I have 2 tickets and they are going to consider it 'back-to-back' ticketing

The key issue is whether the way your itinerary is created violates "applicable tariff rules such as advance purchase and minimum stay requirements." Stated differently, are you "combining multiple overlapping round-trip tickets to circumvent Saturday or other overnight stay requirements?" If not -- in other words, if there is no conflict between the rules of the tickets -- you should be fine.

I don't see it that way - but Delta may.

If I were to book two trips without overlaping the fare would be much higher - but I am using all segments of the both tickets.

I just want to make sure I am not in a situation where I am in part of the segment and a DL agent stops me....

If trip A has a saturday night stay and/or 7 day stay requirement (as seems likely) wouldn't the nested trip be a clear violation of the rules - as SAT lawyer has provided links to?

Isn't THAT another of the typical uses of back-to-back ticketing? (I'm not convinced that just flying all segments puts you in the clear...)

I know nothing about Delta.. and have never flown them... but I thought this was an interesting thread so looked at those links...

It seems a pretty clear statement to this "newbie"! :(

How about flying the nested portion on a different airline?:D

Delta has a promotion where certain European cities will net you double miles on the JFK-Europe or ATL-Europe segments only. Not all cities, only certain destinations from each gateway. Since I fly to Berlin about once a month, I will be able to get double miles on my JFK-TXL flights. Requires r/t travel according to the rules.

Best to book the two tickets seperately, o two different search engines.. ie one with delta's website, and another through say, Expedia.

It won't matter much though, as if the ticket counter agent pulls up the reservations by FF#, both reservations will pull up...

JP

It's not the ticket counter you need to worry about, it's their internal reservations. And FF # will be the smoking gun.

Or rather their Revenue Protection Unit, who may well audit the FF account and deny any miles at all on all segments.

Of course they'll consider it back-to-back ticketing, it's the very definition of back-to-back ticketing. While many folks get away with back-to-back ticketing, if I had to bet on one airline most likely to catch it and sanction an FF for using it, Delta would be the one.

This is not true, as I said what you propose is the very definition of back-to-back tickeitng, buying a round-trip ticket with no intention of using the return portion is called throw-away ticketing.

Isn't this example "nested" ticketing?
Bad, as in this case, if you return to the point of origin.
Not so bad if you return and depart from another airport.