powellretired

I will shortly have miles for two roundtrip trips to Europe. We took 2008 off because of the Euro exchange rate.

What is the outlook for FFM 2009 trips to Europe. I realize it is never easy to get these flights but I am prepared to order tickets 11 months ahead of our trip.

Thanks in advance.

Anthony

avalon

I just booked upgrades with FF miles to London in March and had my choice of dates.

MelJ

I think it depends on the carrier. I understand Delta is tough to book and I was told to do it on the first allowable day, which I believe is 366 out.

British Airways is always easy to book, so I do so anywhere from 8 months to 3 months out.

Bottom line: If you really, truly absolutely know exactly when you will fly, I'd book it as soon as the window opens.

Byrd

We booked flights to and from Rome in April about a month before the trip, on Delta from Atlanta.

If you are flexible as to dates and destination, I think your chances are good.

Byrd

longboatkey

Are you successful with award tix or upgrades? Any luck with Biz Elite?

Byrd

longboat, are you asking me?

If so, we've never tried to book anything but the cheap flights--50,000 ff miles per round trip.

But over the years we have had two other ff flights to Rome, one to Milan, one to Zurich, and maybe one othe. I'll have to ask John the record-keeper.

The trip to Milan in April 2006 we booked actually 11 days before the trip--booked April 8, flew April 19.

(We didn't stay in Milan. We went to Bologna, Verona, and Venice.)

Byrd

Saraho

Just booked a FF ticket on Continental to Rome for September/October using Delta miles. I generally have good luck both traveling international and domestic flights. In the past few weeks I have booked a FF flight to San Francisco, one to New Orleans - both using United with very little notice and one to New Orleans at Thanksgiving using Delta. Thank goodness for FF miles! It saves me a lot of money!

sherhatfield

Just booked my Paris/Amsterdam trip for May '09. With my work schedule and deadlines, I only have a short window to travel. I've been patiently waiting for days to book and today was the first day to get my ticket.

Gardyloo

<b>powellretired,</b> you need to indicate which airline or alliance, plus where from/to.

For example, using American Airlines, I can see numerous coach and business class &quot;saver&quot; seats every day of the week between Chicago and London for the week of May 12, 2009. If you're not coming from Chicago or going to London, the results will be a little different, but of course you could connect off domestic flights at ORD and onto shorthaul flights at LHR, most likely with no difficulty.

The longer you wait, the more difficulty you may encounter, but not necessarily - I booked some award seats to Europe (savers) a week ago for travel in August.

Therese

Actually it's not particularly difficult to book award travel on Delta in either coach or premium class, and trying to book 11 months out with the expectation that availability is at it best at that time will be very frustrating, as it's not necessarily the case (so you may get discouraged when you needn't be). Award seats are made available at various times according to what Delta (or any other airline) predicts will be the demand on that flight. If they think they can sell the seat then they will severely restrict award availability, but if the flight is expected to go out with empty seats then they're more likely to release some as awards. It's not unusual for award seats to be available just a few weeks ahead of travel, in fact.

For instance, right now there's RT SkySaver from Atlanta to Paris available in August (yes, just a few weeks from now), departing the 8th and returning the 14th (and that was just one example).

The outlook for award travel in 2009 is about the same as award travel in 2008: pretty good.

gracejoan3

I used my Delta FF for my AVL/CDG mid April to mid May, 2009. 331 days out for each part of the reservation.

yestravel

I used AA miles to book 2 biz class seats form DCA to MXP (via JFK) in April. Just booked this week and was surprised to find seats available.

Darnwright

Saraho, how did you book a Continental flight with Delta miles? Did you call Continental or Delta? I just used Continental miles in April '08 for 3 tickets to Prague and Paris last month. I was shocked to get them at such a late date.

Therese

Darnwright, you can typically use miles from one airline alliance on another. At the moment both Delta and Continental are part of the SkyTeam alliance, so it's very common to end up flying on one airline's equipment but booking with another's. You do the booking through the airline with which you've earned the miles.

So, for instance, I'm traveling around the world in January, all on Delta miles. I fly from Atlanta to Philadelphia on Delta, and then on to Paris that day on AirFrance. I stay in Paris for 4 nights and then continue on to Tokyo (direct flight on AirFrance) for 8 nights. I leave Tokyo on Northwest and fly to Los Angeles, and connect through to Mexico City via AeroMexico. I stay in Mexico City for 9 nights (joined by my husband from Atlanta, also on an award ticket) and fly home on Delta. All for 95,000 miles.

Delta's on line award search engine permits you to look for awards on Delta, Northwest, Continental, and AirFrance, but to book on the other partners you have to call and speak with an agent.

gracejoan3

My tickets mentioned above are flying Continental on my return trip. Yes, they are Delta codeshare partners along with Air France, and all the others. I select the flights that have the best time schedule for me. I don't like to arrive home late in the evening, for instance. I will be arriving home, in Asheville, at 4:47..if on time, that is!!

I normally shuttle to either ATL or to CVG for my International flight. I have always avoided the upper east coast. In the Spring I usually go via ATL and often in the fall go via CVG. In Sept. I will go via CVG and return via ATL. In the Spring, I will go via ATL and return via Newark on Continental..I will see how that goes. I did the Cont. in both directions from TPA for daughter and husband this past April. It worked OK for them.

Darnwright

Theresa, Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't aware that you could search for flights on partner airlines. I'll start searching now. Sounds like you've planned a fabulous trip in January and for only 95,000 miles.
Enjoy!

beau

Two weeks ago I booked three tickets on Continental for mid July. We are flying Detroit to London and returning from Edinburgh. There were many flights available to various cities in Europe but we had trouble getting a flight home. We booked the tickets with 25,000 miles each way (50,000 round trip).

Good Luck!

longboatkey

Good info from all of you.....Thanx

SAdamsrec

My advice is to not give up. We went to Paris from Atlanta at the beginning of May. I was unsuccessful in finding FF on Delta availability for awhile. I tried almost everyday for a month or so before getting tickets. We booked in January or February for our May flight. We ended up spending 75,000 per ticket rather than 50,000 but it was worth it. I was just thrilled when availability popped up.

macinpv

We booked with American Airlines to Rome via Heathrow and then returning to LAX from London. We were on the phone every day several times a day as soon as the award schedule was available - 239 days out. After about 8 days of daily checking with agents - were able to get business award seats but had to leave two days earlier and return two days later than originally planned to get mostly nonstop flights for the long legs...it was definitely worth the effort and we are not at all sad about the extra days - be flexible - especially if you want business seats or first class seats. Also be aware of your time zone relative to the time zone of the airline headquarters. American is based in Dallas which is two hours later for us so we were on the phone at 10:00 PM on the days that we knew new schedules were available...according to American agents - new schedules are usually loaded at midnight just prior to the day the seats are available. Good luck!