Problem with direct flights
Jan 5, 2002 | 8:15 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: atlanta, GA
Posts: 2,040
Problem with direct flights
I am having a problem redeeming my Delta FF miles for a direct flight to Italy. Delta has me instead flying from Atlanta through JFK in NYC.
Delta and their partner Alitalia do fly direct between Atlanta and Rome. However, Delta's FF agents say that those flights are not available for redemption with FF miles! This is not a case of there being only a few seats made available as reward flights, but none at all!
Is there any way around this? Any suggestions as to what I should do? I feel like I have been defrauded by Delta.
Delta and their partner Alitalia do fly direct between Atlanta and Rome. However, Delta's FF agents say that those flights are not available for redemption with FF miles! This is not a case of there being only a few seats made available as reward flights, but none at all!
Is there any way around this? Any suggestions as to what I should do? I feel like I have been defrauded by Delta.
Jan 5, 2002 | 8:26 am
#2
Join Date: May 2001
Location: ATL
Programs: FL, AA, DL
Posts: 663
No advice, but just a note that it could be worse. My itinerary back from Warsaw to DC last year looked like:
Day 1: WAW-CDG
Day 1: CDG-AMS
<16 hour layover>
Day 2: AMS-JFK
Day 2: JFK-DCA
This was on an award ticket travel. I didn't mind so much as it was hard to get even this, with capacity controls being what they were.
Day 1: WAW-CDG
Day 1: CDG-AMS
<16 hour layover>
Day 2: AMS-JFK
Day 2: JFK-DCA
This was on an award ticket travel. I didn't mind so much as it was hard to get even this, with capacity controls being what they were.
Jan 5, 2002 | 8:38 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Volunteerland
Programs: Delta GM, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,222
Lemon Thrower, in the last couple of weeks I have booked 5 award seats, in coach, BNA-ATL-FCO with return being FCO-ATL-BNA. These seats are for July travel. I really had little problem except had to have some flexibility on dates. So there are award seats available from ATL to FCO. I wonder if you are somehow being penalized for being in the hub? When are you trying to go? What class of service? What is your status with Delta? Seems like there should be some way around this.
Jan 5, 2002 | 9:41 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Washington, DC -- Delta PM, SAA Gold, USAir SP, CO Silver, SPG Platinum, Marriott Silver, Hilton Gold
Posts: 22
Hey LemonThrower... you the same LT from the Warchant Board? Fancy seeing you over here! I'm celebrating the great news of this weekend by booking my hotels for next year's games... Hilton Points and Noles at the same time!
Jan 5, 2002 | 6:15 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: atlanta, GA
Posts: 2,040
Yes and yes.
Yes, I think there is a rule against direct travel on FF redemptions, so in a way yes I am being punished for being in the hub. At least this is my suspicion. I wonder if there is anything I can do about it.
Yes, I am Lemon Thrower from Warchant. I just finished booking my hotels. I had some poor service at the Doubletree, so we are staying at a variety of places--Courtyard, Ramada, Doubletree and Laquinta. Courtyard on Raymond Diehl had a AAA rate of 80.10 most nights. I reserved every weekend in Sept, Oct. and Nov., and will just cancel when the sched comes out. I even booked Friday and Sat under different reservations, to avoid the 2 night minimum--if the football game is at noon, I will stay Friday night and drive back after the game, and if the game is at night I will drive down before the game and stay Sat. night.
Have you had any luck redeeming Hilton points at the Doubletree in Tallahassee during college football weekends? I am getting married at a Hilton so I should rack up quite a few points. BTW, if you have not already done so, you should take advantage of the 2 no-fee Hilton credit cards and get an easy 17,500 HH points.
Yes, I think there is a rule against direct travel on FF redemptions, so in a way yes I am being punished for being in the hub. At least this is my suspicion. I wonder if there is anything I can do about it.
Yes, I am Lemon Thrower from Warchant. I just finished booking my hotels. I had some poor service at the Doubletree, so we are staying at a variety of places--Courtyard, Ramada, Doubletree and Laquinta. Courtyard on Raymond Diehl had a AAA rate of 80.10 most nights. I reserved every weekend in Sept, Oct. and Nov., and will just cancel when the sched comes out. I even booked Friday and Sat under different reservations, to avoid the 2 night minimum--if the football game is at noon, I will stay Friday night and drive back after the game, and if the game is at night I will drive down before the game and stay Sat. night.
Have you had any luck redeeming Hilton points at the Doubletree in Tallahassee during college football weekends? I am getting married at a Hilton so I should rack up quite a few points. BTW, if you have not already done so, you should take advantage of the 2 no-fee Hilton credit cards and get an easy 17,500 HH points.
Jan 6, 2002 | 6:50 am
#6
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Naples, Florida
Posts: 7,419
Did you talk to the Delta agent for the partner airline Alitalia? They seem to have more inventory.
In 2001 I also had trouble going with Delta to Italy in business class. Ended up going with AF.
Or you may fly to Munich and rent a car - car rentals are much cheaper in Germany than in Italy - and drive to Italy. MUC to Verona is about 4 1/2 hours.
You may save your miles and go with Italiatour
http://www.italiatourusa.com/
Book one of Italiatour's Popular Escapade Packages to Rome or Florence or Naples from $599* and bring a friend along for only $399!!*
Book by December 31, 2001, valid for travel through March 10, 2002
All packages are incredibly priced and include roundtrip airfare with ALITALIA, accommodations and other extras you'll only get with Italiatour, the Italy experts
In 2001 I also had trouble going with Delta to Italy in business class. Ended up going with AF.
Or you may fly to Munich and rent a car - car rentals are much cheaper in Germany than in Italy - and drive to Italy. MUC to Verona is about 4 1/2 hours.
You may save your miles and go with Italiatour
http://www.italiatourusa.com/
Book one of Italiatour's Popular Escapade Packages to Rome or Florence or Naples from $599* and bring a friend along for only $399!!*
Book by December 31, 2001, valid for travel through March 10, 2002
All packages are incredibly priced and include roundtrip airfare with ALITALIA, accommodations and other extras you'll only get with Italiatour, the Italy experts
Jan 6, 2002 | 12:42 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: atlanta, GA
Posts: 2,040
I talked to several Delta, Alitalia, and Air France agents. There seems to be an unwritten or at least non disclosed to passengers rule that you can't fly direct. So since I am in a hub city, I am screwed.
This really seems unfair/illegal and I may contact the attorney general in my state about it.
This really seems unfair/illegal and I may contact the attorney general in my state about it.
Jan 6, 2002 | 2:45 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, Breezy 2
Posts: 12,608
Well that can be easily tested by trying making the reservation but from someplace that only feeds ATL. Then after they find you the seats, tell them that you don't want the tags and you just want the ATL-FCO flights. What are they going to do at that point, tell you that it's a different inventory bucket??