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Air Travel Forum: Are 50,000 mile trips really out there for European travel?
Air Travel Forum: Are 50,000 mile trips really out there for European travel?
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Are 50,000 mile trips really out there for European travel? |
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I am trying to book a trip using 50,000 delta skymiles round trip to Europe for two people next June 2009. I have started looking online daily (sometimes two or three times daily) with delta.com since the dates opened up and have been unable to find any flights for 50,000 miles. I have also called Delta and still nothing. I have a trip on hold but it's for 75,000 miles and I would have to buy miles $$$$. I really don't want to buy miles but am nervous that if I don't and hold out and wait a month or two still looking for 50,000 mile itineraries, we will end up with nothing. I heard that seats released later as the travel date gets closer are released for ID90's which are travel agent 90% discounted tickets not necessarily mileage tickets. I would appreciate any info on those that have had recent experience using delta skymiles. Thanks! Report as inappropriate |
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I'd suggest that you call Delta. It's been noted by frequent flyer guru Randy Petersen, that the call center has more availabilty than their online system does. If Delta still doesn't have a seat for you, ask them if their partners do. Report as inappropriate | ||||||
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June is high season. While you might get lucky, the odds are against you. Paul Report as inappropriate | ||||||
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Most airlines require more than 50,000 miles per ticket for travel during that time of year since it is the 'high' season. You are correct though, by holding out you will most likely have even fewer choices than you do right now. Report as inappropriate | ||||||
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My wife and I wanted to go to Venice on skymiles. Went online exactly 330 days in advance (Sept 20007) when bookings opened and saw Delta only had tickets for 100 000 points! Phoned to confirm this and only when I asked about partners did the look up Air France availability. We ended up going to Paris and Venice for 50 000 skymiles each. If there is no online availability call and ask about partner airlines. There is a surcharge for booking over the phone, but what is an extra $20 each when you consider the overall cost? Report as inappropriate | ||||||
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The other problem with trying to book on line is that often the system will show you only the dregs (e.g., from the West Coast, redeye to NYC then all day waiting, then another night flight to Europe). I was booking for Christmas in France this year, as soon as there was availability, and I noticed they really played around with the seat supply - there would be NO seats booked at all on a particular flight, yet it was impossible to get even just a pair of FF seats in business class for less than double the normal amount and same with most days for coach (100,000 was the minimum). But I also noticed that as time passed they opened up more with lower mileage. So, my conclusion is that you may want to book well in advance, but it may not be advantageous to book the minute seats are opened up. I also agree that speaking to an agent can be very helpful (they can sometimes override goofy things the computer is doing), although I believe most airlines now charge for using an agent. Report as inappropriate | ||||||
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