Booking problem

[cindi]

I have been not so patiently waiting to purchase my airline tickets for our Jan 2009 trip. I want to upgrade to first class with FF miles, so I am going to bite the bullet and pay the asking price rather than chance waiting for a sale, etc.

My problem is, when I go to the NW site, I pick my flights and then I either get a code that says that flight is no longer available or when I try again it tells me my flights are out of the 330 day range.

Well, if they are out of the 330 day range, why are those dates showing up on the grid?

I am looking at Jan 24 and returning on Feb 4.

Hard to believe I am actually cutting my second week short, isn't it? I have the first week in the Westin in Maui and the second at the Marriott on Oahu.

Hmmm, maybe I should reconsider after all.

[Dave M]

Unlike many airlines, NW puts new flights into its system about 50 weeks in advance rather than 330 or 331 days in advance. Thus, both of your dates are within NW's normal reservation window. I just checked a couple of flights for February 4, 2009 to be sure. That doesn't mean your specific flights are available yet, but they should be - within a day or two, if not today.

If NW followed a 330-days practice, you wouldn't be able to make reservations for another three weeks or so.

[cindi]

Thanks Dave,

It just threw me that the dates were showing as available via the calendar as well as allowing me to actually chose the flights, only to then throw me to the curbside.

I will just have to keep trying.

Anyone have a link to the figuring our 330 day thing? I lost all my favorite bookmarks when I bought a new computer.

[Luanne]

Originally Posted by cindi

Anyone have a link to the figuring our 330 day thing? I lost all my favorite bookmarks when I bought a new computer.

There is a sticky under the Travel FAQs here on the Travel board.

[Dave M]

However, if you are planning on getting tickets on NW, please don't plan on waiting until 330 days. Read my above post carefully.

[cindi]

Originally Posted by Dave M

However, if you are planning on getting tickets on NW, please don't plan on waiting until 330 days. Read my above post carefully.

I got the flights all booked and all on first class.

And the doggone website threw another curve ball at me. I selected my flight choices and then on both the flight down and the flights home, there was one leg that didn't list anything. Didn't say first class, didn't say coach, it was just blank.

So I had everything all lined up to purchase and I got on the phone with NW and had the person go over it all to see if they could tell about the first class thing. She had me complete the purchase and give her the confirmation number and it was all good to go first class. I can't figure out why it would be blank, but at least it all worked out.

We absolutely loved hawaii but DH and I hated that long flight and always told ourselves we would only go back if we could fly first class. To be honest, I haven't ever flown first class, so this is going to be a real treat.

Another thing that really made me happy was I was able to upgrade for only 35,000 miles per ticket. I had gotten an email from NW some time ago saying they were raising the "cost" of the ff miles to bump up to first class, up to 50,000 miles each. I don't know if that hasn't taken effect yet or what, but I am happy.

[cindi]

Originally Posted by Luanne

There is a sticky under the Travel FAQs here on the Travel board.

Thanks.