danger

We don't use that word around these parts.

honzeek_cz

No. You cannot get it without accomodation

BoarderX

Booked this LAS-BOM on Delta outbound and Virgin return via Expedia, at $2,000 during spring break. Shows up instantly in Delta account as an IT fare paid and booking class Z, all segments. IT is the designation for an exception fare.

As a Delta exception fare ticket, MQD is calculated as 20% of the RDMs earned...not 20% of miles flown. That's $6,092 in EQDs, pretty good for a $2,000 ticket.

Unless the Medallion bonus on RDMs stacks to the calculation. As a Diamond, my RDMs go up to 36,552. Does that bump the EQDs to $7,310? Delta's exception fare FAQ seems to suggest that's how it is calculated.

ATLConsultant

I used this expedia bundled fare to get SkyTeam out of Atlanta to Mumbai in August for $2085 R/T. I had Delta on both legs across the Atlantic too! AirFrance to/from Bombay. Not fond of that aircraft (former Joon) as there is zero privacy between seats and you actually rub elbows with your seat partner....don't recommend. The KLM 787 is much much better in terms of hard product on that route if you can get. Or VA. And while AF almost always has great service in Business, their food is disastrous. Food on this flight was gross but it was a 2:00 am flight so food wasn't a priority. Luckily, on the way back to Europe, I had no seat partner (biz class half full) but on the way to Mumbai it was full and my seat partner loved to play the elbow game.

Notes:

1. LIke the OP has in his original link, only buy one night of hotel. You get no points for hotel on expedia. But you DO get all your MQDs and MQMs on the bundled fare.

I bought this deal again 2 days ago out of Atlanta, with the e new direct flight on Delta (in SkySuites) to BOM out the outbound and KLM and Delta connecting on the way back for $2385

ATL

ATLConsultant

It's not an error fare and when expedia does this it usually lasts a long time. They've done it 2 or 3 times in the past year to Mumbai.

ATL

ATLConsultant

LOL!!

ATLConsultant

You can call Delta agents and ask. They have access to the MQDs and MQMs you will acquire for a flight, while we do not through the website UI, after it is booked. fyi

ATL

mspflier

Yes, 20% MQD vs 40% would be a key determining factor before booking

ATLConsultant

On my flight this past August i paid $2085 for it and got $6,700+ MQDs and 27,750 MQMs -- if that helps.

jjclancy

GEG is on offer.

planes&trains

Pricing at $1,900. Still a good fare. Will keep checking.

mspflier

Thx. This was AF/KL marketed?

BoarderX

Yes, it does. Thanks for the data point, consistent with Delta's published info re: exception fares.

Confirms that a Delta exception fare (IT) in Z class (which is how an Expedia package tickets on Delta-marketed flights) earns EQDs = 20% * actual RDMs (miles flown + 50% class bonus + 20% Diamond Medallion bonus).

ijgordon

DL MQDs are never a function of elite status. It’s a multiplier of miles flown, period, with the multiplier determined by fare class. It works out to 20% of RDMs earned, excluding any elite bonus (but including class of service bonus).

Also, there’s the ~$2400 fare on DL’s nonstop JFK-BOM for lots of dates next year (that may be with Amex IAP discount). Not entirely sure I’d do a double connection to save $600 especially if it’s partially on sub-par AF equipment. Unless I really needed the MQDs.

BoarderX

Delta is quite clear on how exception fare EQDs work, and it isn't class-adjusted miles flown:


Which is why ATLConsultant earned $6,700 EQDs rather than $5,550 (.2*miles flown*1.5 class bonus) for his trip. The 20% difference is the elite bonus adjustment to RDMs because he's Diamond.

For my trip, the LAS-BOM math is clear. A $2,000 ticket to BOM with just one-stop (EWR or LHR) in each direction (including a long Suites segment) is no different than a non-package flight, but substantially less expensive than a regular Delta ticket from out here in the West. The extra $5,000 in EQDs is gravy.