PD, PK certs -- do they make a difference?
Jan 5, 2005 | 7:47 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,725
PD, PK certs -- do they make a difference?
I've been playing around on nwa.com looking for a nice president's day weekend trip. I have a PK003 zone certificate and a PD841 $35 off $200 fare certificate. And I don't see that either of them make a difference. ONT-BUD in mid-February prices at $546.70 (VLXS49E) with or without a certificate.
ONT-LGW prices at $384.45 with out without a certificate.
I've had them save me money in the past, but I guess the other spring sales are just too good.
Anyone else with similar experiences?
tom
ONT-LGW prices at $384.45 with out without a certificate.
I've had them save me money in the past, but I guess the other spring sales are just too good.
Anyone else with similar experiences?
tom
Jan 5, 2005 | 10:09 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 129
Certificates
I think it just depends on fare availability.
I am trying to use one for the same weekend to AMS and it saves me about $75.
I used one to go to YVR in Jan and it saved me a bunch of money.
I searched on NW website and restricted the search at the bottom of the search page under E-CertSM Fares "Check here if you only want to search for this offer."
Good luck!
I am trying to use one for the same weekend to AMS and it saves me about $75.
I used one to go to YVR in Jan and it saved me a bunch of money.
I searched on NW website and restricted the search at the bottom of the search page under E-CertSM Fares "Check here if you only want to search for this offer."
Good luck!
Jan 5, 2005 | 10:29 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: SAN Diego (Hillcrest); formerly LEXington, KY; still like the nym
Programs: DL Platinum; Marriott Lifetime Platinum; married to Hilton Elite
Posts: 3,029
Tried to use a PD972 on numerous routings before mid Feb. All came up cheaper on regular fares except the AMS run which we decided to do in WBC sale fares for the 1.5 miles. Remember, the cert quoted price does not include all the add-ons for segments and fees. Almost anywhere WN is running a sale to will be cheaper straight out. But sometimes we find the coupons -- which arrive in the mail -- save some cash. Just not this year.
Jan 6, 2005 | 7:41 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Programs: NW-PE, Blue Star SeaSmiles
Posts: 6,789
I've had good luck using the PD zone certificates for trips to Europe. The savings have not been substantial but still cheaper than fare sale prices for CVG. I really like the PI certs to Europe that sometimes come in the NWA weekly e-mail's. Also have a PD $35 off cert that never seems to work when tried.
Jan 6, 2005 | 11:48 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: TK Gold, Etihad Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Gold, IHG Gold.
Posts: 806
When you start flying out of Small midwest cities and start travelling to odd cities in Europe, you can save a bundle. If you use big cities like LAX and SFO to London, Paris, or Amsterdam there might not be a big difference, in fact, I have been using normal fares to most of France, yet if I would go to Athenes or Oslo, or Helsinki, I would definitely use a zone certificate.
Timo
Timo
Jan 6, 2005 | 8:27 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,725
Originally Posted by timo469
When you start flying out of Small midwest cities and start travelling to odd cities in Europe, you can save a bundle. If you use big cities like LAX and SFO to London, Paris, or Amsterdam there might not be a big difference, in fact, I have been using normal fares to most of France, yet if I would go to Athenes or Oslo, or Helsinki, I would definitely use a zone certificate.
Timo
Timo
tom
Jan 6, 2005 | 9:52 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: mill valley, ca, usa
Programs: Northwest Gold, UAL PremExec, Motel 6 Frequent Snorer
Posts: 154
The basic fact of NWA zone fares is that they are nothing-special, mid-range fares. Most of the time, on ordinary travel days, the spot fares on most routes will price out cheaper. But the zone vouchers can be big-time money-savers in two circumstances: 1) at times of peak demand (holidays) when market fares may well have doubled but if you can work around the blackout dates you can still get the zone fares; 2) the zone vouchers require 7-day advance booking -- a huge benefit if you find a good fare and then see that it has to be booked 14 or 21 days ahead!
Jan 7, 2005 | 4:56 am
#8
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Louisville, KY, US
Programs: QF Plat - OW EMD | DL Gold / Starwood Gold
Posts: 6,106
Originally Posted by mot29
I've been playing around on nwa.com looking for a nice president's day weekend trip. I have a PK003 zone certificate and a PD841 $35 off $200 fare certificate. And I don't see that either of them make a difference. ONT-BUD in mid-February prices at $546.70 (VLXS49E) with or without a certificate.
ONT-LGW prices at $384.45 with out without a certificate.
I've had them save me money in the past, but I guess the other spring sales are just too good.
Anyone else with similar experiences?
tom
ONT-LGW prices at $384.45 with out without a certificate.
I've had them save me money in the past, but I guess the other spring sales are just too good.
Anyone else with similar experiences?
tom
SDF_Traveler
Jan 7, 2005 | 3:20 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
Originally Posted by manwillneverfly
The basic fact of NWA zone fares is that they are nothing-special, mid-range fares. Most of the time, on ordinary travel days, the spot fares on most routes will price out cheaper. But the zone vouchers can be big-time money-savers in two circumstances: 1) at times of peak demand (holidays) when market fares may well have doubled but if you can work around the blackout dates you can still get the zone fares; 2) the zone vouchers require 7-day advance booking -- a huge benefit if you find a good fare and then see that it has to be booked 14 or 21 days ahead!
For small, NW-dominated airports to other small airports with little competition, these zone certs have been useful in saving a pretty penny and then some.