business class miles to Europe

Old Nov 11th, 2006, 07:22 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
business class miles to Europe

seems like Delta and Contintental will no longer honor whats posted for business class miles to Europe (~100,000 miles).....no matter what you do they will not let you use the non-elite or lower amount of miles , but try to herd you into using the 250,000 mile category....anyone found a way around this new scam? I have successfully used both Carriers in the past --but this seems like a new game they are playing.....
Stino is offline  
Old Nov 12th, 2006, 07:03 AM
  #2  
mjz
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Where (in Europe) and when are you trying to go? I've always found it easy to redeem miles on Delta/BE to Europe. Continental I have no experience.
mjz is offline  
Old Nov 12th, 2006, 08:02 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Last Wed Ibooked two Business Class tickets from ATL to Frankfurt on DL using skymiles.

A few suggestions..
1. BOOK EARLY. I booked last Wed for next Sept.
2. Call. The website for DL only shows DL flights, not any partner airline sites.
3. Be flexible. Yes you want the non stop from JFK, BOS or ATL. However, you may have to adjust. For example when flying to Athens a few years ago I had to go Nashville, Atanta, MIAMI, Zurich, Athens (last two were on Swissair) with the same deal on the return.

CarolA is offline  
Old Nov 12th, 2006, 08:11 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,503
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Not sure it is accurate to call it a scam, but the fact is that flights to Europe are quite full these days so reward seats are at a premium. The lower mileage "Standard" rewards have always been hard to come by and now are even more difficult to find. The "EasyPass" rewards that require higher mileage are much more available - as with anythign, you get what you pay for, whether it is dollars or miles. Another option is to buy a coach ticket an upgrade - costs a fee but the total price winds up being much less than buyuing a seat up front, and you earn miles to boot.
Seamus is offline  
Old Nov 12th, 2006, 10:51 AM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
trying to book from NY area to Rome or Milan next September or October ..we are very flexible and have been able to book this twice in the past......from the tone of the conversations with Delta and Continental I can tell there are not going to help me find a flight....in the past , they would give you advice as to when to call etc etc...now they just keep pushing us to pay full fare or use double the miles , which we dont have......in a way its false advertising, because they are refusing to get me on a flight.......any other suggestions? I guess part of it is flying out of NY,,,,but you would think Milan flights are not so competitive, no?
Stino is offline  
Old Nov 12th, 2006, 03:34 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I believe that Delta flies more to Italy than any other US carrier-Milan, Venice, Rome and soon to Florence(Pisa,Tuscany area) next spring. Between those cities and being able to fly out of JFk, Atlanta or Cincinnati,you should be able to find something if you are flexible. Although I know that those "Italian flights" are usually full at those times of the year.
dutyfree is offline  
Old Nov 13th, 2006, 03:20 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Try going to Europe during the winter. During the summer months they would rather sell the tickets. Otherwise, call the airlines on the phone and tell them you want to fly to any city in Europe and out of any city. You can book a budget ticket within Europe on your own.

How about upgrading using miles? I had no trouble using miles last year during June and July with British Airways during June and July. However, they charged me $238 for taxes, fees, fuel surcharges and Internet booking fee. But the food was actually pretty good in coach class and the meal did include a before dinner drink (alcohol) and three wines.

In the meantime, I would avoid the Continental, Delta and Northwest credit cards unless you are retired or can fly on the dates that the airlines dictate.
wally34949 is offline  
Old Nov 13th, 2006, 05:53 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,032
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I disagree with avoiding the Delta (at least) SkyMiles Amex card. I have one personal and one business and charge as much as possilbe on them. The result is I have enough miles (at the lower rate) for a pair of business class tix to Europe or Asia every year. And as I use them for leisure trips (and thus can book early) I've never had a problem getting what I wanted, within a day or two.

Also, by charging $25000 on each of the cards I get 20000 elite qualification miles (MQMs) which is 80% of the way to the lowest elite level. Unfortunately, they will not let me assign those qualifying miles to my wife (I don't need them as I have permanent elite already).
NoFlyZone is offline  
Old Nov 13th, 2006, 06:50 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,370
Received 79 Likes on 8 Posts
Unfortunately, they will not let me assign those qualifying miles to my wife (I don't need them as I have permanent elite already)

Perhaps if the card was in your wife's name?
Gardyloo is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
habroms
Air Travel
5
Jul 15th, 2011 04:00 PM
denice7
Air Travel
5
Feb 20th, 2008 11:04 AM
girlonthego
Air Travel
13
May 11th, 2007 03:49 AM
jbee
Air Travel
27
Mar 22nd, 2005 01:39 PM
richardab
Europe
14
Oct 6th, 2004 12:15 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -