Trying to book specific plane for MSP-LON, help requested.
Dec 30, 2011 | 8:59 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: MSP
Posts: 1
Trying to book specific plane for MSP-LON, help requested.
Hello all. My wife will be working over in Norway in late Feb and I'm planning on flying out to spend a few days with her in London after her work is done for the week. There are a couple planes I've never flown on before, specifically 777 and 747 and would like to work at least one of those into my outboud trip because I will be flying by myself and don't mind the extra stops. The plan on the way back would be to fly Heathrow MSP on the DL 764. KLM operates both the 777 and 747 out of JFK to AMS but I am having the hardest time being able to book that flight without spending a night in NY, which I don't really want to do. Does anyone know any way around Delta.com's insistance on flying Delta only?
I appreciate any and all help!
I appreciate any and all help!
Dec 30, 2011 | 10:17 am
#2
Moderator, SkyTeam and Germany
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: FRA/STR/NUE
Programs: BA, LH, KL, EY, IHG, Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Radisson, H Rewards
Posts: 5,965
Hi BigIsland, first a very warm welcome to you! Hope to see you from time to time in this corner of flyertalk...
I'm convinced that the forum regulars can help you with the questions on hand!
A happy new year to you all,
Ralf
ralfkrippner, forum moderator
I'm convinced that the forum regulars can help you with the questions on hand!
A happy new year to you all,
Ralf
ralfkrippner, forum moderator
Dec 30, 2011 | 10:41 am
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
You can sometimes get the exact flights you want by doing the advanced search with multi city, although sometimes you must use the search by schedule function to piece the trip together. The disadvantage of this is that you do not see the fare codes or prices until the end, although you can usually first identify the availability and prices on the segments separately.
However, to save time, I usually just call the DM line and tell them what I want after I have looked at the schedules. Nonelites doing it this way pay phone booking fees and risk getting incompetent and lazy agents when they call.
It could be worth paying a real human travel agent their ticketing fee, probably about $35, to get the ticket. A real TA, NOT an online operation, can do more to control whether the flights are booked as codeshares and what ticket stock is used. They can sometimes also do things like writing separate tickets with part exEU when this saves money.
However, I wonder whether your plan makes sense. I would not connect through JFK or ATL when a nonstop directly into MSP is available. If you must connect, pick DTW. If you have GE, pick an airport that has this system to go through customs and immigration if you do not use the MSP non stops.
However, to save time, I usually just call the DM line and tell them what I want after I have looked at the schedules. Nonelites doing it this way pay phone booking fees and risk getting incompetent and lazy agents when they call.
It could be worth paying a real human travel agent their ticketing fee, probably about $35, to get the ticket. A real TA, NOT an online operation, can do more to control whether the flights are booked as codeshares and what ticket stock is used. They can sometimes also do things like writing separate tickets with part exEU when this saves money.
However, I wonder whether your plan makes sense. I would not connect through JFK or ATL when a nonstop directly into MSP is available. If you must connect, pick DTW. If you have GE, pick an airport that has this system to go through customs and immigration if you do not use the MSP non stops.