February 28, 2011
Not too long ago, we all heard BMI program will NOT be merged to LH Miles and More program any time sooner, a big relief. As a BMI GOLD member for few years, I finally had a chance to redeem a flight on BMI metal recenlty.
The flight I wanted had no more business class award open, but as an unpublished benefit of Gold member, you can ask ICC to set up a reservation in coach with waitlist for business class, then ask them to pass the reservation to revenue management team. Since my booking was over the weekend, RM team did not confirm my seat until Monday. If it’s a normal working day, you can even ask ICC to contact RM team while you are still on the phone.
I won’t release any trip detail now, it’s a trip with 3 awards, multiple countries and continents and it will be one of the most interesting redemption. But before that, heading to Tahiti next Monday 
Posted by Troy under 2011 Trip, Award redemption, BMI Diamond Club |
February 27, 2011
The reason I am saying is, there are possibility where you confirmed on certain segments but the actual ticket left those segments. Sounds strange right?
I booked a complicated award trip for someone involves DL,MU,MH and VN from East coast to Asia. The ticket was issued back in early Feb. Today, I got a email from him saying the MH segment was not even on the email confirmation he received. I was shocked and checked Delta.com, yes! if was there under reservation, but It was NOT there under ticket number!!!
I picked the phone to call Delta right the way, the first few agents and supervisor refused to admit the mistake, what they were saying to me was I added MH segments after ticket was issued!!!(they can see the record of change) Because segments were never been calculated, they now require additional 70K for those two segments.
Eventually, I found one re issue desk agent who was willing to admit mistake. she could see the ticket was issued AFTER MH segments were added, and reissued everything without collecting a fee or additional miles.
How to check tickets and segments? After ticket issued, next to the ticket number, there is a “detail” you can click on, match every segments to the reservation, then you will be fine!
Posted by Troy under Award redemption, Delta |
February 25, 2011
Unlike *A or skyteam, American airline doesn’t give Elite member/premium cabin any extra allowance for checked bag, but with recent AA/BA/IB joint venture, they gave extra allowance for premium cabin passengers.
The rule was not very clear on the website, so here is my summary.
Anyone traveling in Business/First class on any of these 3 company can check in up to 3 bags with 70 lbs each. If your AA flight is upgraded, as long as you have one segment cleared before you drop off your bag, then you will be entitled to the extra allowance.
Elite status still doesn’t get you extra allowance right now.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines |
February 22, 2011
Delta just released non US travel award chart, but at same time, increased Trans Pacific and Africa redemption to North America
From North Asia to North America, Economy is 70K, up from 60K, business redemption stays the same
From South Asia to North America, Economy is 80K, up from 60K, business stays the same
From Southern Africa to North America, Economy is 100K, business is 140K, up from 80K and 120K respectively
That’s not all, even worse, I thought Delta would fix some pricing error, but in the end, they did not fix a damn thing!
Few months ago, I mentioned from PEK-MNL is 40K in business one way, 80K for R/T because they price them as 2 separate flights. Later, they “fixed” the error, both one way to R/T to MNL from PEK/PVG is 80K in business, so they just price them as 2 R/Ts. Today, they released the new chart with Japan; Korea, Republic of; Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of; China; Hong Kong SAR; Taiwan, Province of; Micronesia; Philippines are part of North Asia, but how many miles for PEK-MNL in business class now? 115,000!!!!!!
what that mean? that means Delta only increased the redemption level, but did not fix or adjust any routing/ city pair pricing.
Update: Just noticed, For within China travel, delta changed to Distance based award，it’s km based
| 1Within Northern Asia: |
Economy Class |
First Class or BusinessElite |
| Low |
Medium |
High |
Low |
Medium |
High |
| Japan to/from Korea |
7,500 |
20,000 |
30,000 |
15,000 |
30,000 |
40,000 |
| Within Korea |
5,000 |
7,500 |
- |
6,000 |
9,000 |
- |
Within China
(Short Haul)* |
6,000 |
- |
- |
7,500 |
- |
- |
Within China
(Med Haul)** |
15,000 |
- |
- |
17,500 |
- |
- |
Within China
(Long Haul)*** |
30,000 |
- |
- |
45,000 |
- |
- |
| Miles shown are each way based on round-trip purchase. |
| *Short haul is 1-800 km. |
| **Med haul is 800-3,000 km |
| ***Long haul is 3,000-5,000 km |
Posted by Troy under Delta |
February 21, 2011
According to FT thread, SPG lurker has announced new SPG award category for 2011, the change will be effective in March 1st, 2011.Total 84 moving up, 93 moving down
The list is much better than I thought, I was expecting massive amount of properties in China will have increase in categories. SPG changed calculation method for category changes, they used to use past year annual room revenue to calculate, now they are using forward ADR.
There is a hotel surprised me a little, Aloft Beijing, from cat 2 to cat 1. The hotel is selling 650++ per night year round, but they move down to category 1 instead. I guess they are just trying to get more revenue.
Anyway, overall, not that bad. book now for hotel will increase in categories, and later for decrease in categories, but do remember, if you make your booking now and the hotel changes to higher category, any change after March 1st will require more points.
Posted by Troy under Starwood Hotels |
February 17, 2011
I had a conversation regarding the new change effect to Delta Intra Asia award change, here is the information I got from agents
1 Effective immedetently, Asia zone and award level will be changed including
North Asia to North Asia,25K in economy, 45K in business
North Asia to South Asia, 45K in Economy, 70K in Business
South Asia to South Asia, 45K in Economy, 70K in business
25% increase for within North Asia Economy, 125% increase for North/South to South Asia Economy, 75% for North to South Asia business
North Asia includes: China, Mongolia, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Taipei
All else goes into South Asia
2 There maybe change for Trans Pacific flights.
As of now, no one knows what changes will be, or whether they will have a diff award chart for US to North Asia/South Asia, according to the memo, the change will be not be completed until Feb 22nd.
3 Change in for travel related to Africa
According to the memo, Africa award will be changed too, but no detail was mentioned in the memo. I guess they will separate Africa into 2 zones, North and Central/South Africa
There is no miles requirement mentioned in the memo, well, Delta never has miles requirement mentioned other than to or from US anywhere.
Just not too long ago, I mentioned, for people live in Asia, Delta is not a bad program compared to programs in Asia or even UA(lack of bonus), but I will take back what I just said. The award level increases too big and they still charge fuel.
They made everyone aware when they get rid off Mileage expiration date, I was thinking they may figure out a way to increase award level, otherwise, too much liability sit there. well, the increases was sooner than I thought!
Posted by Troy under Delta |
February 17, 2011
I just saw the comment left by readers and don’t have time to check detail yet, it looks like they break the zone btw North Asia and South Asia and increase the award level by nearly 100%
Damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
give me some time, I will have full detail, I just back to States have many things to deal.
Posted by Troy under Delta |
February 16, 2011
Standby earlier or later flight is very common in US, especially for Elite members, but things are totally different in China. I want to share my “Standby” experience the other day
When we standby in US, we can either wait at gate or at lounge, where you can relax while waiting. In china, everything is different. There is no real “standby”, basically, it only happens in 3 scenario
1 you have flexible ticket and you want to take a diff flight, but the flight is full, so you wait at check in supervisor counter for 1 seat in order to exchange the ticket and get boarding pass
2 flight canceled, then you try to get on to another flight which is full, then you wait in the check in supervisor counter for a seat.
3 it’s my scenario now. 10 days ago, I checked the fare from HAK-PVG, only full Y fare was left for sale. I thought the price was not gonna get any lower and Chinese new year peak season was finished, just wait few more days. On Feb 10th, I checked fare again, every single flight was SOLD OUT from HAK-PVG for Feb 12th, 13rd and 14th, I thought I could just find a connecting fare, but EVERY SINGLE flight out of HAK to almost any city in China was sold out for those 3 days. The only option left for me is “Standby”
I got to airport 1.5 hour prior to departure to the airline ticket sales desk to add my name list on the waitlist, then I had to walk around and came back to sales desk until 40 minutes prior to departure. The sales desk then called check in supervisor and told him how many people were on the waitlist and how many “Standby” ticket she could sell. For my flight, there was 2 people “no show” yet, so she sold me a “standby fare” Then I went to supervisor desk to keep waiting, he printed a boarding pass, but could not give me until the boarding process began in case last 2 people showed up.
Lucky enough, there did not show, so I was able to rush to the gate at last minutes, if I was not a Gold card, I won’t be able to get on the flight because there were 2 more people waiting in lane and they got there far earlier than me.
you may wonder why there were only three people on the waitlist when so many people tried to get out the island. It was because airlines don’t like to tell people to “standby”, even if inexperienced traveller asked ticket sales desk in the airport, they won’t tell them to “standby”, so they just walked away.
Posted by Troy under Other Airline Reward Programs |
February 16, 2011
Gary has already mentioned every deal about this offer, I am not going to go over again, all I want to say is “There is no need to fly with them to get miles”
Posted by Troy under US airways |
February 15, 2011
I think Delta just try to in lane with UA and AA, mid tier Elite member have access to lounge when traveling international.
Certainly a good change for Gold member, but for people live in China, this is a useless change because China Southern doesn’t give lounge access to Skyteam Elite plus member for China domestic travel and Delta Asia Gold already have free sky club membership.
Posted by Troy under Delta, Skyteam |
February 15, 2011
Well, I think it’s a useless benefit for frequent Delta Flyer, even if you are not frequent flyer, those miles can be extended with 1 activity in every 2 years.
Posted by Troy under Delta |
