Perhaps someone has insight as to how to snag a FF seat on Delta or United returning from Honolulu to Boston at the end of March. As the story unravels, we originally had great flights but our cruiseline delayed our sailing by one month and when I tried to change our flights the best return I could get was an early AM departure from Honolulu with two stops and a six layover in LAX. We were originally scheduled to return from Maui but nothing there at all, I even tried securing seats on United without success also.

I guess we should be content with what we have but if anyone has any clues, I'd be appreciative. I know it will be difficult to make changes at this late date.

[This message has been edited by Morningstar (edited 01-18-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Morningstar (edited 01-18-2001).]

Morningstar:

I don't have much to help you here, but since no one has replied yet, I though I'd put in my .02 so you won't think you're being ignored.

I got a free ticket on Delta for my wife on a trip from Florida to Maui in Mid-December with about 8 weeks' notice, and had no problem. I think your problem, MAYBE, is Hawaii is hitting the high season, where our December trip was in the OFF season...it don't crank up there until near Christmas time.

BTW, this was a coach ticket. You weren't trying for first class tickets, were you? Because those go FAST. You need to be on the horn 330 days out to have any good chance of scoring these.

Sorry to be of no help, but I do have one possible suggestion that may help: Could you take Aloha or Hawaiian Airlines from Maui to Hono? I know, that won't solve the rotton connection from Hono to Boston. Dis you try the evening Delta departure from Maui to Hono? It's an L10-11, then you get a red-eye back to the states.

Sorry I couldn't be of any real help, but GOOD LUCK, and remember to keep trying...sometimes seats open up!

OK, here's an update. I called Delta, and all award seats are booked for the 23rd, 24th, and 25th of March. They do have an afternoon flight at 1:20 pm out of Honolulu connecting in LAX and ATL arriving in Boston at 9 am. 2 hr. layover in LAX, about an hour in Atlanta.

I don't know the dates you're looking at, and I'm sure you probably already checked this flight out..but on the off chance you haven't, I just thought I'd throw it in.

Again, best wishes and good luck.

As we'll be on a cruise, the earliest we could return would be 3-28. I did try for the 1:20PM flight on 3-30 or 3-31 but it's not available. Our present flight is on 3-30 and yes, I believe it's high season there coupled with the fact that it's weekend travel which isn't helpful either.

Thanks for your suggestion and I'll keep trying, hoping that something opens up.

Sorry. I hope you can snag something...

I believe you have answered your own question, you are coming back from a cruise, and the cruise passengers probably have the planes pretty full.

Not to be too simplistic, but you can fly standby on any Delta skymiles ticket. Why don't you book the ticket that is available and then fly standby on what you want, luggage is always a problem on this plan, but so is a 6 hour layover
Just because there are no skymile seats available does not mean there are no available seats on the plane that are available for standby.




[This message has been edited by GM99 (edited 01-18-2001).]

What if you try one of those lemon/lemondade tactics? Take the 6 hours in Los Angeles and go to a museum, go shopping, go to the Cheesecake Factory in Marina del Rey, etc. Maybe even ask for a longer layover in LA so you can even do more?

Morningstar,

I believe that one layover is allowed on FF tix - at least we've always managed to work in an overnight or longer layover in LA returning from Hawaii. It's a major body and mind saver in my book, well worth the price of a hotel room. You will arrive home able to function, rather than completely ragged out from a long flight with the redeye at the end. If you're under 30, maybe this isn't so important, but even when I was a teenager, I did not like eastbound overnight trips.

Having the whole next day to find a flight might help too. There's a nonstop BizElite 763 twice a day, from LAX to BOS and DL's running a fare sale on it now, so maybe there are seats? In any event, I'd think you have a lot more options from LA if you're not trying to find seats on one of the standard connecting flights from HNL back east.

And yes, GM99's right - standby IS an option. You ought to be able to pack in a 22-incher for a couple of weeks of weeks in Hawaii - cruise ships will do laundry for you and storage space in your cabin is limited anyway - but all you really need to remember is to pack so that you won't need whatever's in your checked bags for a few days. It does help that you'd be standing by for home, not your vacation destination.

We copped standby seats last December 25th LAX-OGG. We also were on the waitlist for FC in July CVG-SFO and SFO-HNL, and HNL-LAX - and made all 3 upgrades - on FF tix we booked about 4 weeks out, so it CAN be done. Good luck!!

GG

Many thanks to all you kind posters who offered suggestions. Standby seems to be a good option at this point; Delta today told me to call for stand-by a day or two before leaving. I thought this could only be confirmed when everyone has boarded? I'm a bit confused as our confirmed flight is in the AM and we would stand-by for a PM flight. If the stand-by didn't clear, then we've missed our flight but Delta said they would give me this info a day or two prior to leaving. Is this correct info?

I've tried for a stop-over in LAX but the rules say you can't have an open jaw and a stopover, it's one or the other and we have an open jaw. If I could find an inexpensive flight the next day to BOS, we'd spend the night but fares seem to be upward of $600.

In the meantime, perhaps I'll get lucky!

Same problem different city, three weeks ago I booked an award travel from SAT to MCO out on Jun 4 back on Jun10. Getting there was no problem coming back was where the problems started the only thing that I currently have confirmed is a 9:15 AM departure from MCO with an almost 12 hour layover in ATL before a 10:15 Departure to SAT. They did waitlist me for several other flights, so I would make sure they have you waitlisted on the flights you want. Now for the interesting part, after calling last week the agent confided in me that Award seats had not yet been allocated for several of the flights I was waitlisted for, anyone know when seats are allocated for award seating. I�m assuming that this would depend on the flight; MCO is another very popular destination for revenue. The agents did tell me that even if the award waitlist does not clear to show up at each flight in ATL and try for standby, this I�m sure will be difficult with three in the group. Hope this helps and good luck, I know I�ll need it.

The stand-by option might work fine for you. I am speaking from experience: last September I flew to HNL on Delta FF ticket. Tried to reserve the seat 3 or 4 months in advance- hopeless. Suddenly, 3 days before departure the seats got open. However, the flights available were not at all what I wanted. Well, beggers can't be choosers, as they say. On the day of departure I went to the airport early and got on the first available flight ( on stand-by ) without any problems. The plane was about 90% full. On the way back, I had to change the original return date. No problem at all with Delta. Went on stand-by again on a way back. Again, the planes were very full.
I hope it works for you too. Good luck.