Using NWA FF miles from MN-MCO?

[DianaPrincessofWales]

I have only booked one trip from DHL (Duluth) to MCO. A few years ago I had been checking almost daily for the miles cost for 2 people to come down from 100,000 miles. And sure enough it dropped to 50,000 and with a 8000 miles off coupon I got the trip for 42,000 for 2 people. This was 3 months out.

Now I'm once again shopping for flights from DHL - MCO for the dates of Oct 13-22. They have actually fallen from 100,000 to 75,000 just yesterday. Is this what I should be booking or should I wait? I know- the eternal question? How low will they go? This is 7 months out.

I know some of you have more experience than I do on booking frequent freebie flights using NWA World Perks. Please share your opinions and advice. What is there lowering miles schedule or is there one?

Have a great cloudy day in MN!

 

[dudspizza]

Have a great cloudy day in MN!

I can't help you with FF miles, just wanted to say that I just looked out my gym door and it is hazy here in Anoka!

On another note, I just booked 3 nights at the Best Western Edgewater's new water park in Duluth. I haven't stayed there since I was in high school when we had section tennis tournament there (I grew up in Grand Rapids).

On that note, GO GRAND RAPIDS in the state hockey tournament..... they play Roseau in the first game Thursday night!

Could my answers have been more OFF topic?

Duds

 

[JC Butterfly]

Well, since you are just going for "opinions" at this point, I'd say wait. I've been trying to use Frequent Flyer points to get from Madison to orlando for a Oct AND a Nov trip!

The inventory has been changing slightly every day. Also, I don't know if you have the flexibility to go the day before or the day after but this has sometimes made a difference as well.

It takes me forever to earn FF miles so I don't like having to use more than the minimum of 25,000 per.

I don't know what their schedule is, but I've noticed that with codesharing with both Continental and Delta, it seems there are more overall options than I had two years ago when I was looking.

 

[dudspizza]

I don't know what their schedule is, but I've noticed that with codesharing with both Continental and Delta, it seems there are more overall options than I had two years ago when I was looking.

This is true. NW did not even offer me flights on NW when I looked for flights to Corpus Christi. I am booked on Delta via Atlanta to Corpus Christi and then I am flying Continental back via Houston. Crazy, but it is what NWA offered using FF miles.

Duds

 

[zulaya]

My guess would be there won't be a good "sale" on FF points to MCO during your time because that's MEA and A LOT of people from MN head to Florida for Food&Wine Fest and Halloween stuff.

But you might as well take my opinion with a grain of salt because I haven't had any luck booking FF tickets to MCO when I want to go. But I haven't really looked hard since the code share...might have to do that.

 

[mjatgoofy]

I just booked 2 flights in June using FF miles. The best I found was 37,500 per ticket. My experience is that it is very difficult to find flights using miles with NW.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

I fly about 100,000 miles a year on NW, and we use our miles to go to Orlando every October during MEA . My DW and 2x DS's love visiting the House of Mouse! The best advise is to plan as far in advance as possible. You can use your frequent flier miles 352 days in advance to your departure date. NW only allows a very small % of their seats to be used by award travel, and once they are filled, that's pretty much it, unless they find a particular plane isn't filling up as per expectations as the year progresses. During MEA, it is a prime time to fly from MSP, as a lot of Minnesotan's take advantage of the long weekend to head to WDW.

I quickly checked your route 13 - 22 Oct., and if you can fly back on the 23rd instead, you can actually get flights at the standard award rate of 25,000 miles, not 37,500. At 37,500 you are rulebusting your return flight, as returning on a weekend (Sunday) is more popular, so seats are not available on this flight.

Hope this Helps. Good Luck!

 

[scootert]

We just booked an award flight for May and the best we could get was 37,500. If you have to have those dates, I'd book it. Our experience for all NW awards is that it's very difficult to find flights.

 

[DianaPrincessofWales]

Thank you nice people! Thanks also to MN Dis Fan for suggesting to look for a different return flight! We are a bit flexible in our plans so this looks really good. Looks like I'll be able to book flights for 2 for 42,000 miles again (after coupon). I was so obsessed with the departure date I wasn't thinking about changing the return date. Let's face it who "wants" to return from WDW. Not me!

If I've said it once I've said it a million times!!

THANK YOU!!!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Personally, I think it is a huge waste of 50,000 FF miles to use them for a trip within the US.

 

[APB513]

Thank you nice people! Thanks also to MN Dis Fan for suggesting to look for a different return flight! We are a bit flexible in our plans so this looks really good. Looks like I'll be able to book flights for 2 for 42,000 miles again (after coupon). I was so obsessed with the departure date I wasn't thinking about changing the return date. Let's face it who "wants" to return from WDW. Not me!

If I've said it once I've said it a million times!!

THANK YOU!!!!

Where did you find the coupon?

 

[DianaPrincessofWales]

The plot thickens...................

I've been trying to use my "miles off E-cert coupon" (APB513-which I get yearly in my Visa WorldPerks statement), but to no avail. Then I realized the problem was it wasn't an entirely NW flight, a leg of each flight are with Delta, making the E-cert invalid. Figures!

Lost-in-cyberspace: The 50,000 miles I am spending are for the "2" of us, making it only cost the standard 25,000 miles per person. Which from MN to FL is a good deal in my book. I will go ahead and book in case MEA week-end fills up and I'm stuck with nothing. I guess I'll save my miles off coupon for a different flight.

Any other helpful hints out there? I'd love to hear it, but I think this is the best I'll do? Agree?

 

[elgerber]

I just booked 2 flights in June using FF miles. The best I found was 37,500 per ticket. My experience is that it is very difficult to find flights using miles with NW.

I totally agree! I stopped trying, I traded my worldperks Visa for a Disney visa after 3 trips of trying to use my miles. Deals are very few out out of MN, especially during MEA. I would take it.

 

[DianaPrincessofWales]

I went ahead and booked it for 50,000 for 2 of us flying. Now that I know I'm going I need another $49 a night resort rate like I got 2 years ago at Pop. It's possible.......not likely but possible!

Thanks everyone.........(still cloudy in MN)

 

[dudspizza]

(still cloudy in MN)

It was gloomy today, but right now it is really dark.

I am watching Hermantown vs Thief River Falls in the State Hockey Tourney. TRF is ahead 3-1 right now. I am pulling for Hermantown!

Really looking forward to Grand Rapids vs Roseau tomorrow night, though I will have to tape the game since I am going to DISNEY ON ICE tomorrow night at Target Center! We will do anything for a Disney fix!

Have fun!

Duds

 

[MN Dis Fans]

DianaPrincessofWales

Glad it worked out for you in the end. Yes, it's really rough that you have to spend another day in WDW!

When we go every year, I always book early, and I always get flights at standard award rate of 25,000 miles per ticket.

lost*in*cyberspce
Must admit that I disagree with your comment about using WorldPerks miles for the USA. For us, if I were to purchase tickets from Fargo - Orlando, they would cost roughly $450 each. Flights to Europe, depending on where / when you go, are right around $800. I equate 25,000 miles to $450; So, a round trip to Europe works out to be not as good of a deal using World Perks miles.
That's my opinion for what it's worth anyway.