I'm thanking you - In Advance - for your patience with what I'm sure will be stupid questions to you seasoned travelers! I have a ton of FF Delta miles, and want to use them to take the family to Hawaii May 2004 in celebration of my daughter's graduation. When should I begin the process of booking? Can I do it by internet site, or would I fare better calling Delta direct? If I can't get business class all the way (coming from Atlanta), would it be good to get it for the leg over the Pacific? Is it better on us physically to get the good seats going west or coming back east? Thanks for helping!

I suggest you call Delta. Some airlines let you book with FF miles on line, but since you have questions, a live person is the way to start. I would check flights/connections out ahead of time on the website so you have some idea of your options - for example, if you can't go non-stop, which leg do you want to be the longest (for example, you can fly nonstop on some airlines from Dallas-Fort Worth to some places in Hawaii - but do you want to do that or fly to Los Angeles and do it in 2 equal length flights) <BR><BR>Each airline has its own rules about how far in advance you can book, but I suspect none will allow you to book more than a year in advance. Find out how early they will let you book and do it then - don't wait since trips to Hawaii on FF miles are limited and have high demand.<BR><BR>Again, don't know about Delta, but on USAir if you book First Class tickets on FF miles you can change your itinerary/dates without penalty. <BR><BR>

Thank you Gail for your quick answers! I felt that talking to Delta directly would be the way to go, but I wanted to know something about FF tickets beforehand so I could know what questions to ask, and what the best deal is. If you have gone to Hawaii, did you find it harder on you adjusting on the way out, or the way back?

The way back is killer.No 2 ways about it and doesnt matter how far you have to travel.By the time its time to go,nobody wants to leave!!And most flights eastbound leave at night.But just be prepared for rearranging somewhere down the line as far as flight schedules go.Seems that all airlines will be cutting flights to everywhere from everywhere for a long time.So what you book when it comes time will probably change.But thats OK.You'll get there and have the time of your life.It will all be worth it thats for sure.

Thanks BeachBoi. I'll schedule some time to re-adjust at the end of the trip!

Hi, Happy Trails,<BR><BR>I have two answers for questions you haven't asked.<BR><BR>First, having lived in Hawaii for several years, and traveled back and forth from the East Coast, I would heartily suggest a one night stopover on the West Coast. It will greatly reduce the jet lag.<BR><BR>Second, I've been on 21 trips in the past three years, and I can't tell you how often I've been misinformed by people working for airlines, hotels, etc. So, if you are not satisfied with the first answer you get, call back and speak to someone else.<BR><BR>Have a wonderful trip to magnificent Hawaii.<BR><BR>Aloha,<BR><BR>BB

If you only upgrade in one direction, do it on the trip coming home which is usually a night flight when you want to sleep. The daytime westbound flights aren't that bad in coach but the eastbound night flights are no pleasure in the back of the plane. To use miles, reserve as early as possible.

BB and DMG, Thank you! That's exactly what I needed to know!

I have used Delta Skymiles for 3 first class trips to Hawaii. First of all, I think it's easier to talk to a Delta representative on the phone than using the website. Next, you can't book more than a year in advance. The problem with booking far in advance, however, is that they only release a limited number of seats for award travel because they hope to sell them. So I go ahead and get the best I can and keep checking back to improve the flights if possible for the same days of travel. This can be done at no cost as long as you go from and to the same airports. You actually could change the dates for the same itinerary if you want, still no charge. Finally, if you are getting award tickets (not just upgrading purchased tickets), it's 60,000 miles for first class and 30,000 for coach, either one way or round trip. It would take more miles to go first one way and coach the other. If you have the miles, go first class.

Thanks Richard. I have marked my calendar at the one year date to make the calls. This has been so helpful!

Have you checked with Delta yet? I believe it's 331 days in advance. Hawaii awards are difficult to come by so I would recommend you start calling exactly that day. Do not wait. Also as far as I know, Delta doesn't offer mixed class awards, i.e. you cannot go one way coach and one way first class and expect to split the mileage difference. You can elect to go coach on one of your segments if first class is not available but it will still cost you the same amount of points as first class all the way. Hope this helps.

Thanks Patty. I will check with Delta about the exact days ahead you can book.

Patty is correct - it is 331 days. I just checked on Delta's website. I knew that that you couldn't book more than one year in advance but was not sure of the exact maximum number of days.

&quot;...it is 331 days.&quot;

I'm probably missing something here but please indulge me.

Suppose you call 331 days in advance, luck out and get your first choice of outgoing flight (in FC).

Now the kicker...how about the RETURN flight. Obviously at the time you call it's MORE than 331+ days away.

Is that rule waived (because you've booked the outgoing flight successfully), or do you have to make another call 331 days before your expected return flight?

I know this sounds ridiculous, but these days the airlines seem to be crossing every &quot;T&quot; and dotting every &quot;I&quot; in order to get out from under the commitments they made long ago and now seem to be trying, in every which way, to avoid delivering.

Thanks-

Yes, you would call a second time to reserve your return trip. You probably can't do it online.

The airline will probably give you a two-week period from the time you book the award reservations to the time you have to buy the ticket. For example, I made reservations last week for an award trip and it is on hold until March 12 when the reservation will be cancelled if I don't ticket it.

You could call 330 days in advance and book your outbound trip. Then, call back 330 days in advance of the earliest return date that would be acceptable and make a reservation. Call back closer to your optimal date and change the return reservation to that date. Do that until you get to your favored return date. I suppose you could try sliding your departure date too. I expect (but don't know) that the &quot;on hold&quot; clock starts when you make your return reservation.

The 14 day hold usually starts the day you reserve your outbound flight. I've been able to get another 14 day extension when necessary.