FF ticket + Purchase ticket: How does this work?
 

I've posted to the Airlines forum, thought I'd ask it here, too, as time is short...

<font color="blue">Author: Travelnut
Date: 04/06/2008, 01:51 pm
I can use FF miles on Delta to get an award ticket to Paris, but it will be on a Continental flight. I will also need another ticket for husband. So - do I buy that directly from Continental? Will Continental view that as two itineraries, and are there any problems with that?</font>
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Author: rkkwan
Date: 04/06/2008, 02:08 pm
That will be two itineraries, but there shouldn't be any problem. After you get your tickets, you can call CO to have the two PNRs cross-referenced. This way, if there's any irregular operations, they'll try to keep you guys together when re-accommodating.
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<font color="blue">Will Continental let me choose any seat, as long as it is available? Any other pitfalls? </font>

HI--if the time is truly short, I have found that some airlines will not &quot;release&quot; seats for pre-selection and will make you get your seat assignment at check-in. You have to ask them directly to find out if that is the case.

Call and ask...a ticket is ticket so they should let you choose both seats. I just called and got seats assignments...very nice customer service.

If you make you reservations through Delta FF you will have to call Continental to get your seats.

I have rather recently done this for my grand daughter. She will be departing with them on 4/15.

We have both Delta and Continental confirmation numbers to check online.

Buy direct from Continental online. You have to call Delta to get your FF ticket booked on CO. If you haven't taken care of your FF ticket yet, I suggest getting online and having your ticket all ready to go for purchase while on the phone. Once the FF flight is redeemed over the phone hit purchase. you can be online looking at the seats available and let Delta know what seat you want so that you two are together (assuming that is what you want.) Make sure you get both confirmation #'s as the Delta one will not help you for online/kiosk check in with CO--they use a different confirm.

Hope that made sense. The 2 itineraries are no big deal, though if you have any changes to the flight, you will have to make 2 phone calls--one to Delta on the FF ticket and one to Continental for the purchased ticket.

Continental still lets you choose seats unlike other carriers, unless you are on a partner/codeshare flight. Delta will allow you to choose a seat on the FF ticket even though it is on Continental.

Thanks for the above comments. The flights won't be until Sept but the seat choices for the dates/flights I want are slipping away.

I put a FF ticket on 'hold' with Delta until tomorrow. It already states that I must contact Continental for seats.

Doesn't sound like there is much risk, so I plan to follow through with this. Thank you!

I ordered the tickets! The Delta award ticket was recorded on Continental's website immediately. I went over to the Continental site, typed in the Delta confirm #, and voila!, the itinerary came up with a Continental confirm #. I was able to select our seats online for both the 'award' ticket and the purchased ticket. Sweeeet!