PD-970 "Creative thinking routing"
 

I typically fly 2-3 a year TYS-VIE to see my folks. I'd really need to fly to SLD or BTS, which are closer than VIE to where my folks live, but SLD and VIE have very limited service by OK.

This year I decided that I'd really try to do TYS-SLD or TYS-BTS on SkyTeam airlines, but making sure NW/KL was transat. No luck, it was pricing out at $2500 as full fare. In the process I learnt not to trust Expedia and Orbitz that the fare is really available if it says it is, because it is not until one clicks "Purchase" button and the fare comes back as purchased.

To make a long story short, in the end I decided to go for TYS-VIE once again. But it was pricing at $750plus for the days that I wanted. But I had this PD-970 that was saying $399 + fees and taxes from the East Coast to EU. I also knew from prior talking to NWA CSRs (about TYS-SLD) that DTW/MEM/MSP-AMS was almost sold out on the dates I wanted to fly, but DTW-FRA was somewhat emptier.

So, at nwa.com I plugged in TYS-DTW-FRA-AMS-VIE an back VIE-TYS and what a surprise: total $510 = promised $399 plus fees and taxes.

So, sometimes it takes flying to FRA first, instead of AMS, to get a cheaper fare :D

Just thought I let you guys know as this type of "creative thinking routing" can help someone save some monies in the future...

ha! thats nothing to some of the "creative" routings a few of us flew last year ;)

any suggestions?
 

I am planning year 2005 EQM travels at this point. A total of 4 trips to China are in order and the objective is to achieve Plat status. The first trip, unfortunately, has already been set (BOS-DTW-NRT-PVG) which would only yield 15,800 EQMs.

Possible consideration for the remaining 3 trips: BOS-MSP-LAX-NRT-PVG (18,400 EQMs).

BOS-MSP-HNL-NRT-PVG (20,100 EQMs) would be very exhausting, especially on the return layover in HNL.

Do you have any "creative" routings that you could care to recommend?

Oh, you mean you did better than TYS-DTW-LEX-DTW-MSP-LAX and back LAX-MSP-SDF-DTW-TYS and paid about 55% of asking price for simple TYS-DTW-LAX-DTW-TYS? ;)

If yes than hats off!

I still think it's pretty cool fly to FRA first and then to AMS...