Even though I only fly a few times a year for pleasure i'd still like to attain status with Delta(30 segments for Silver). While playing around on the computer i've found that I can do 7 segments in one direction alone. I figure that using this system I can acquire 12-14 segments on a round trip flight. I haven't been able to check for a 12-14 round trip because Delta's and Travelocity's webpages simply don't have the room to book all the segments. The segments are as follows: Dep: BDL @6:40AM Arr:SRQ @ 10:25PM (1)BDL->JFK, (2)JFK->PHL, (3)PHL->CVG, (4)CVG->TYS, (5)TYS->ATL, (6)ATL->MCO, (7)MCO->SRQ. My question(s) is: Will Delta allow this? Has anyone ever done something like this in order to rack up segments? Is anyone familiar with a website that has the space to book this many segments? In your opinion, would it be worth the trouble of 3 RT's like this just to attain silver status? Any opinions, suggestions, cautions, or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank's in advance, Bill.

Most web based sites have segment limitations and e-tickets have severe segment limitations. You can do it through an agent (travel or airline) though. It can be worth it to maximize your segments but remember "time is money" so if you are not doing something productive (including having fun goofing off ) you may be losing more than your gaining.

You can certainly do this and there is nothing illegal about it. However, you will pay about 3-4 times as much as a direct fare between BDL and SRQ.

On the other hand, if you leave out the first and last segment, and just follow your itinerary from JFK-CVG-TYS-ATL-MCO, you can buy this ticket with a legal fare for the same low price as a direct flight from JFK to MCO.

The one other obvious thing to consider - what if one of your first flights is late and you miss a connection early in the day?

Hmmm if he misses a flight early oro it is delayed/late.. that is the fun part huh? I want to see the agent thing.. "excuse me.. how many flights do we have to rebook you on".. LOL

You face the risk of them rebooking you directly...

Unless DL's web site booking has changed within the last few weeks the maximum number of connections that can be booked via the DL web site is 2 for a one way fare. A triple connection could not be made. There may not be this limitation on other systems but you will not get the DL online rt bonus of 1000 skymiles unless you use the DL web site.

billlwr30,

how did you find the legal routing for that trip? there's another thread in The Buzz on that topic.

I seem to recall that there may be vague wording in DL's (and other airlines possibly) rules that prohibit an excessive number of connections from being eligible for mileage accrual. I don't recall exactly, but I also seem to remember folks getting segments not counted trying a similar scheme.

This may be blasphemy, but if you have to take such extreme measures to reach elite status, then why do you really need it?

On the DL site, check out http://www.delta-air.com/travel/reservations/index.jsp. It shows many (6) lines of Departure-Arrival City pair, each one I guess can be a segment.

I'm writing from MD, after having attempted the following routing: ALB-LGA-PHL-BWI, on US. It was funny when I checked in this morning. The check-in agent looked at my ticket, asked "You're going to Baltimore??", and then said "Well, let's change this routing...". I politely but firmly said "Actually, I prefer to leave it as is", and she left it alone. I booked this on the US site.

Unfortunately, the first segment never left Albany. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we're having equipment problems. Some birds built a nest in the tail section and maintenance is in the process of removing it" - first time I've heard that one! I rebooked a direct ALB-PHL leg and lost 500 miles.

I'm trying the same three segment booking back to Albany in the morning. Hope it works.

[This message has been edited by Papollo (edited 06-02-2000).]

Back when United was having their 50-states special over a decade ago (awards based on how many states you covered during the time period), I talke to a fellow who flew Minneapolis to San Francisco in seven segments! And the fare was still the basic MSP-SFO fare. He changed planes in something like O'Hare, Omaha, Denver, Salt Lake, Reno, and I forget where else.

At the time, he indicated that if there's a valid connection between two cities, it could be substituted for the non-stop. Such as DEN-SLC-SFO instead of DEN-SFO. Then you break the SLC-SFO into SLC-RNO-SFO. Keep going and you can make a cross-country flight take 10 or more segments (and several days!). Don't know if this is all still true, but it's a start.

Just called DL. Rep told me that even she couldn't book a "triple" connection using the routing I wanted. She said that to get that many segments, i'd need to book three separate RT tickets costing approx. $800. Anyone know a way around this? BTW For those who were curious about why i'd want to do this. I love a challenge. Thank's again to those who responded. Any further suggestions would still be appreciated. Bill.

In general, I think there is a rule about having to take "the most direct routing". This would mean you can not take a 4 connection trip if just one connection is possible.

Of course, if your trip requires you to take multiple connections, such as Portland, ME, to Vancouver on Delta....Portland-Boston-Atlanta-Seattle-Vancouver. Except for maybe a nonstop Portland to Atlanta (is there one?), no more direct routing is possible.