This has been a real PITA for a long time but this time for some reason it has really set me off.

Trying to book BCN-AMS-MSP. There is actually standard award availability on my dates AMS-MSP in C. But NW can't book this because there is no C availability BCN-AMS on KL.

There is Y availability on KL.

Do I care if the 90-minute flight is spent in the identical seat in front of the movable curtain or behind the movable curtain? Notice I didn't say "in C or Y" because of course there is no more C on KL (though Europe Select can evidently be booked as C).

So if I have an itin with award availability in C both ways across the water and in F around the US but there is only Y on a KL leg, I can't book it because NW cannot split class of service.

Question: if people only have RJ service to their city, does that mean they can never book a C award?

Another question: can anyone think of a good reason for this restriction, or is it stupidity, or is it another super-secret way to prevent us from spending our (admittedly easily-won) miles?



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-alan in sitges, home of Si-Do

Alan, see my post in the other thread, on-line KLM1674 BCN-AMS has "D" avail. on Aug 29

The key hurdle to a successful split class itinerary must be getting the KL segments in the higher (C) class. I've had no problem getting split class award seats where the NW segments were in the lower (Y) class. Of course the redemtion cost will be for C class, and you will be waitlisted.

One itinerary. Two threads??????????

One question, ten question marks?

This topic is pertinent to other FTers trying to book award travel. I should have given it a better title.

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-alan in sitges, home of Si-Do

There should be absolutely NO problem booking this award. You may have to use W on the intra-Europe segment, or D for KL's version of moving the curtain forward or back, depending on how many Main Class customers are booked vs. Business Class.

Is this something that can be done online and e-ticketed?

I wish! Other people seem to have different results but if I search AMS-MSP "best available" I get scores of options and routings. If I do BCN-MSP I get "the selected city pair is invalid" errors. Same with other intra-Europe flights. Basically, I cannot book an award flight that includes BCN online. Other people seem to be able to.


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-alan in sitges, home of Si-Do

Actually, you CAN split the class of service, as I have done few times with 90,000 miles for WBC class on MSP-NRT and Y class on NRT-PVG. But you have to call the elite line to book it. The NWA web site won't allow it. (Something for improvement?)

What happened is, the NW agent has to manually book such award and overides the computer. In fact, my account was charged 110,000 miles instead of 90,000 miles. The additional 20,000 miles will be eventually re-deposited to my account after ticketed.

I still do not understand why they charge me 20,000 miles more before ticketing. Also, often it takes a month to complete the process because NW agents could "foeget" to issue my ticket manually :-):-):-).




[This message has been edited by BOS-NWA (edited 08-17-2003).]

Have to say that the situation you are facing is bizarre considering europe select goes empty. We flew to BCN from AMS on August 3rd. There were 6 people in ES, although there were about 12 seats in front of the curtain. We returned from VCE on Aug 15th. Again, about 12 seats curtained off but only myself, my husband and one other person in Europe Select. The lack of released seats is unfathomable.

I've never been able to book award travel online into BCN. The AMS-BCN flight on KL is always a huge problem. If I try to look for awards from SDF-BCN, I get the city pair invalid error. Even if I use another originating city, same problem.

However, if I want to purchase a revenue ticket SDF-BCN on nwa.com, no problem. Takes about 30 seconds once I find a schedule I like (typicaly I get about 4 variations of SDF-DTW/MEM-AMS-BCN) -- but for an award, it's a pain.

For my next trip to BCN (October) I was able to book an award in early July, but had to use the WorldPerks line to get it. They managed to get me in C/J (Business Class) the entire way out and then they couldn't do anything on the return because of nothing being available from BCN-AMS. Even though there was Y seating available, but WBC across the pond, they couldn't mix classes and do it.

The result, they booked me out of MAD on CO in economy; However, I changed that to DL (now that WP members can book DL award travel) for $50 and got BusinessElite from MAD-JFK and FC onward with DL. Ironically, they also had BusinessElite award availability out of BCN on DL to both JFK & ATL. I gladly would of taken the BCN departure on DL, but I had already booked a one-way BCN-MAD on UX and pre-paid for a hotel in MAD the night before my return departure. (Plus a one day adventure in MAD sounds fun)

Alan, since DL awards can now be booked via the WorldPerks desk (not sure about online), you may want to try the BCN-JFK or BCN-ATL route with DL and then connect onward from there. With DL now being available for award redemption, it should make things much easier for you in BCN (that is, if you don't mind flying Delta ).

DL Business Class award redemtion is 80k, unlike CO (100k). You can also mix & match between NW & DL by using NW/KL one direction and DL in the other if necessary. It should open up a lot of opportunities for you to use your mileage.

Best of luck,

SDF_Traveler

[This message has been edited by SDF_Traveler (edited 08-17-2003).]