Stumped by Delta and Continental in using ff miles

I know the conventional advice about flying off season and being flexible on dates but sometimes our schedules (or the trip/cruise) make that impossible.
I've perused this board and others and am still looking for a magic key to unlock my miles. When I call 330 (or 331) days in advance to book 2 Business Class award seats I can only book the outbound flight. The airlines will not allow me to put a hold until the date to book the return flight comes available. If they issue the ticket, they charge the RT amount of miles even tho I've only been able to book the outboard part. Then they charge again for the inboard flight when it becomes available. We don't have all those miles and what a poor use of miles to boot. If I wait three weeks until the date the return flights can be booked in order to book the whole itinerary, everything is taken on the day (week and sometimes month) we want to depart.
I finally gave up on calling Delta for a trip to France this past September. I keep calling Delta for a trip LAX-Copenhagen-Stockholm- LAX for next August. Nothing. Finally I did get an itinerary using all miles for BC at 115K miles. I called Delta back that evening to confirm one detail and the agent said the reservation was for economy seat (not BC as I requested and was told) and that BC would cost 175K miles...if it were available.
The cruise line connected with this August trip offers discounted BC air (about$2600 pp). The sooner I tell them our dates, the better they can do for us. Should I give up on using miles?
In December 2010 we want to take a 3 week trip to South America. What can I do now to be able to use our miles on Delta or Continental (we won't have enough on United by the time we need to book in 6-8 weeks). for this 2010 trip????

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kybourbon on Nov 10, 09 at 08:54 AM

You can't use Delta miles on Continental anymore. They are no longer Sky Team.
kybourbon on Nov 10, 09 at 08:57 AM

Continental Airlines® has made the decision to end its participation in the SkyTeam® alliance on October 24, 2009. As a result, after this date, SkyMiles® members will be unable to:
Earn miles with the SkyMiles program for travel on Continental
Earn miles towards Medallion® status on Continental
Enjoy elite and lounge privileges on Continental
You may continue to book Award Tickets on Continental flights thru October 24, 2009 for travel thru October 24, 2010.
Jeff_Costa_Rica on Nov 10, 09 at 12:27 PM

These are always tough calls and in the end, no one can tell you what to do. If it were me, I'd say $2,600 is a good price for biz to Europe and I'd grab that, saving the miles for another time when I wouldn't be able to find such a good fare.
Patty on Nov 10, 09 at 12:47 PM

If they issue the ticket, they charge the RT amount of miles even tho I've only been able to book the outboard part. Then they charge again for the inboard flight when it becomes available.

You're correct that a one way ticket would be issued at roundtrip mileage since Delta doesn't have one way awards. However, when adding the return, there should be no additional mileage required provided there's the same tier availability for your return. In example, if you ticketed a low tier one way at 100K miles, there would be no additional mileage for adding a low tier return. There might be a reissue fee of $100 per ticket. They used to waive this when adding a return but I don't know if they do any more.

If I wait three weeks until the date the return flights can be booked in order to book the whole itinerary, everything is taken on the day (week and sometimes month) we want to depart.

Not necessarily, availability can change any time and not all award inventory is released at 331 days. I usually book my awards 6-8 months out. I can rarely plan farther in advance than that.

Having cruise dates to work around does make this more difficult.
Robbietravels on Nov 10, 09 at 08:03 PM

Thanks for the clarification Patty. I'm leaning toward your view Jeff, thanks. kybourbon. I guess I was not clear; we have BOTH Delta miles (about 100K each) and Continental miles (126K each). After October 2010, will there be any partner airlines of Continental that fly to South America? I;m leaning toward your view Jeff, thanks.
cherrybomb on Nov 13, 09 at 12:47 PM

Copa is a Partner of CO that serves South America. I don't know where you are flying from/to, or what your status is, but I am seeing 45K per way in BF on Copa to BA through CO's website.

rkkwan on Nov 13, 09 at 01:53 PM

COPA doesn't have "BusinessFirst" service. Its first class or business class or whatever it'd called is similar to domestic FC on Continental in the US. Big difference in comfort level.

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Stumped by Delta and Continental in using ff miles

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