Too good to be true

Dillon Pyron <dmpyronINVALID@austin.rr.com> pounded away at his
keyboard resulting in:
:I just got an email for Air Taihiti Nui. RT from LAX for $325, TA
:rate. I suddenly have to decide if I want to be raped for a hotel
:room.

Don't the Aggressors have a boat there?

Dan Bracuk
If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

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Dan Bracuk wrote:
> Dillon Pyron <dmpyronINVALID@austin.rr.com> pounded away at his
> keyboard resulting in:
> :I just got an email for Air Taihiti Nui. RT from LAX for $325, TA
> :rate. I suddenly have to decide if I want to be raped for a hotel
> :room.

Air Tahiti Nui is hard up for passengers going to Papeete, Tahiti.

I was interested their flight from LAX to Auckland, NZ; and return
from Sydney to LAX, but they REQUIRE a stopover in Papeete both ways,
instead of direct flights, and their itineraries are very restricted.

So, I booked a FREEBIE on Korean Air instead, with my CO Freq Flyer
miles.

>
> Don't the Aggressors have a boat there?

That's in Rangiroa, another hop, step, and jump from Papeete.
Rangiroa is in the Tuamotu Island group, whereas Tahiti is in the
Society Island group.

Great diving in everyone of the island groups there!

-- Bob.

"Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1123075972.791741.76640@g43g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...

> So, I booked a FREEBIE on Korean Air instead, with my CO Freq Flyer
> miles.

How is that airline? I got Bali/Wakatobi tickets on Singapore Air with miles
but could have done the same upfront seating on Korean Air for 10,000 less
miles per seat, but my wife wanted to shop Singapore so I took that option.
Korean Air is certainly becoming a big presence at the rewards desks of most
major carriers, even though they limit the airlines that code-share with on
revenue flights. I think they have rewards programs with almost every
airline servicing the East from the US.

Have you flown them before? Are they the equal or close of Singapore Air,
Malaysia Air or Thai Air?

Right now I'm looking for flights to PNG and both Singapore and Korean Air
can get me to the mainland OZ to catch the Air Nugini flight over to Moresby
> Rabaul, in biz class for 120,000 per seat. That's pretty good compared to
CO which has no biz class to Australia and so looks for 160,000 per seat in
First Class.

Ross Garrett wrote:
> "Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1123075972.791741.76640@g43g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
> > So, I booked a FREEBIE on Korean Air instead, with my CO Freq Flyer
> > miles.
>
> How is that airline?

Dunno yet. I couldn't get a good freebie connection on Qantas, so
that left Korean Air.

> I got Bali/Wakatobi tickets on Singapore Air with miles
> but could have done the same upfront seating on Korean Air for 10,000 less
> miles per seat, but my wife wanted to shop Singapore so I took that option.
> Korean Air is certainly becoming a big presence at the rewards desks of most
> major carriers, even though they limit the airlines that code-share with on
> revenue flights. I think they have rewards programs with almost every
> airline servicing the East from the US.
>
> Have you flown them before? Are they the equal or close of Singapore Air,

Nope. I think so, three classes: First, Business, and Peasant.
But I've flown only Peasant class (sucks) form SIN to Bali.

> Malaysia Air or Thai Air?

Never flown those either.
>
> Right now I'm looking for flights to PNG and both Singapore and Korean Air
> can get me to the mainland OZ to catch the Air Nugini flight over to Moresby
> Rabaul, in biz class for 120,000 per seat. That's pretty good compared to
> CO which has no biz class to Australia and so looks for 160,000 per seat in
> First Class.

I have Delta (ATL-LAX), Korean (LAX-AUK; SYD-LAX), Delta (LAX-ATL).

100,000 for Peasant; no seats available for Business (150,000), and
I don't want to squander 400,000 CO miles on First (200,000 per seat).

But I got the exact flight schedule I needed; instead of having to
get to Auckland 7 days too early on Qantas.

-- Bob.

"Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1123089314.766814.81110@g47g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
> Ross Garrett wrote:
>> "Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:1123075972.791741.76640@g43g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>>
>> > So, I booked a FREEBIE on Korean Air instead, with my CO Freq Flyer
>> > miles.
>>
>> How is that airline?
>
> Dunno yet. I couldn't get a good freebie connection on Qantas, so
> that left Korean Air.

I know you were looking for a freebie, so I don't know if you looked at
prices, but Qantas has become fabulously expensive upfront over the past 4
or 5 years. When my best option to Australia was SA thru Singapore I
considered buying a more direct flight on Qantas. That's when the sticker
shock hit like a tank. $ 9,400.00 US for a Biz seat LAX > CNS. Today they
are trading at $ 11,904.00 US. Meanwhile a 2 stop coach seat can be had for
$ 1,100.00.

>> Malaysia Air or Thai Air?
>
> Never flown those either.

If the opportunity arises, and your rewards options don't work, you might
consider giving them a try. Both are very good airlines and comparitively
inexpensive. I think SA or BA are the best in the air but Thai Air comes in
very close to those two and far far ahead of any Amercian airline servicing
the same region (I am sorry to say).

>> Right now I'm looking for flights to PNG and both Singapore and Korean
>> Air
>> can get me to the mainland OZ to catch the Air Nugini flight over to
>> Moresby
>> Rabaul, in biz class for 120,000 per seat. That's pretty good compared to
>> CO which has no biz class to Australia and so looks for 160,000 per seat
>> in
>> First Class.
>
> I have Delta (ATL-LAX), Korean (LAX-AUK; SYD-LAX), Delta (LAX-ATL).

What it looks like I have is (on Delta SkyMiles) Singapore Air....LAX > SIN
> BNE and then back, with a 3 day in Singapore going and a 2-day in Brisbane
on the way back (the stays are planned). It's Air Nugini for BNE > POM > RAB
and return (these I pay for and can only get coach).

> 100,000 for Peasant; no seats available for Business (150,000), and
> I don't want to squander 400,000 CO miles on First (200,000 per seat).

I agree whole-heartedly. CO's international First Class is very very good,
but that's a lot of burned miles.

Ross Garrett wrote:
> "Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1123089314.766814.81110@g47g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> >
>
> I know you were looking for a freebie, so I don't know if you looked at
> prices, but Qantas has become fabulously expensive upfront over the past 4
> or 5 years. When my best option to Australia was SA thru Singapore I
> considered buying a more direct flight on Qantas.

Qantas simply sucks, at any price.

> That's when the sticker
> shock hit like a tank. $ 9,400.00 US for a Biz seat LAX > CNS.

Business or First seats are always outrageously expensive to buy.
I NEVER purchased a First Class or Business First ticket. Flown
on PLENTY of them (hundreds free on CO First), and freebie upgrades
on international.

I flew LAX to CNS on CO a couple years ago.

> Today they
> are trading at $ 11,904.00 US. Meanwhile a 2 stop coach seat can be had for
> $ 1,100.00.

Qantas freebies for my trip would have cost 80K CO FFMs, whereas
Korean Air for the same cost 100K. Peasant Class of course.
>

> If the opportunity arises, and your rewards options don't work, you might
> consider giving them a try. Both are very good airlines and comparitively
> inexpensive. I think SA or BA are the best in the air but Thai Air comes in
> very close to those two and far far ahead of any Amercian airline servicing
> the same region (I am sorry to say).

I stick with CO for awhile. Still have over a million FFMs unused.


> >> CO which has no biz class to Australia and so looks for 160,000 per seat
> >> in
> >> First Class.

You're confused (as many folks are). The pecking order of classes for
CO is Business First/FIrst/Coach. For Singapore Air and other
airlines,
its First/Business/Coach. So, CO's Business First is the equivalent
of First, and CO has ONLY Business First for international travels.
It's 120K (EasyPass) for Business First freebie; and 50K for coach
upgrade.

> > I have Delta (ATL-LAX), Korean (LAX-AUK; SYD-LAX), Delta (LAX-ATL).
>
> > 100,000 for Peasant; no seats available for Business (150,000), and
> > I don't want to squander 400,000 CO miles on First (200,000 per seat).
>
> I agree whole-heartedly. CO's international First Class is very very good,
> but that's a lot of burned miles.

The 200K per seat is to use CO miles on Korean Air. It would have
only cost 120K on CO Business First flights or 50K for upgrades.
I have plenty of miles to burn, but 400K miles is STILL too much to
consider. :)

-- Bob.

Thus spake "Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> :

>
>Ross Garrett wrote:
>> "Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:1123089314.766814.81110@g47g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>> >
>>
>> I know you were looking for a freebie, so I don't know if you looked at
>> prices, but Qantas has become fabulously expensive upfront over the past 4
>> or 5 years. When my best option to Australia was SA thru Singapore I
>> considered buying a more direct flight on Qantas.
>
>Qantas simply sucks, at any price.
>
>> That's when the sticker
>> shock hit like a tank. $ 9,400.00 US for a Biz seat LAX > CNS.
>
>Business or First seats are always outrageously expensive to buy.
>I NEVER purchased a First Class or Business First ticket. Flown
>on PLENTY of them (hundreds free on CO First), and freebie upgrades
>on international.

Oh yeah. When I was doing a lot of traveling for work, I had a flight
from Austin to DFW. 1 hour gate to gate. I was an AAdvantage Gold
member and got bumped to 1st to make room for more plebs in coach.
Paid $228 for my ticket. The guy next ot me actually paid $1100!!!

>
>I flew LAX to CNS on CO a couple years ago.
>
>> Today they
>> are trading at $ 11,904.00 US. Meanwhile a 2 stop coach seat can be had for
>> $ 1,100.00.
>
>Qantas freebies for my trip would have cost 80K CO FFMs, whereas
>Korean Air for the same cost 100K. Peasant Class of course.
>>
>
>> If the opportunity arises, and your rewards options don't work, you might
>> consider giving them a try. Both are very good airlines and comparitively
>> inexpensive. I think SA or BA are the best in the air but Thai Air comes in
>> very close to those two and far far ahead of any Amercian airline servicing
>> the same region (I am sorry to say).
>
>I stick with CO for awhile. Still have over a million FFMs unused.
>
>
>> >> CO which has no biz class to Australia and so looks for 160,000 per seat
>> >> in
>> >> First Class.
>
>You're confused (as many folks are). The pecking order of classes for
>CO is Business First/FIrst/Coach. For Singapore Air and other
>airlines,
>its First/Business/Coach. So, CO's Business First is the equivalent
>of First, and CO has ONLY Business First for international travels.
>It's 120K (EasyPass) for Business First freebie; and 50K for coach
>upgrade.
>
>> > I have Delta (ATL-LAX), Korean (LAX-AUK; SYD-LAX), Delta (LAX-ATL).
>>
>> > 100,000 for Peasant; no seats available for Business (150,000), and
>> > I don't want to squander 400,000 CO miles on First (200,000 per seat).
>>
>> I agree whole-heartedly. CO's international First Class is very very good,
>> but that's a lot of burned miles.
>
>The 200K per seat is to use CO miles on Korean Air. It would have
>only cost 120K on CO Business First flights or 50K for upgrades.
>I have plenty of miles to burn, but 400K miles is STILL too much to
>consider. :)
>
>-- Bob.

I'll burn 70K for "first" to Hawai'i. But I try to fly DFW to HON or
OGG. The LAX to HON is just a hop, not much longer than AUS to LAX.
And first on a MD80 is not much to crow about. Especially if I've
already had breakfast.

Hawaiiand used to have a "first" class. This was nothing more than
reserved seats at the front of the plane. But our advantage miles at
the time "paid" for them. Now Hawaiian is a separate charge and
"first" has been dropped. But I'll still take AUS-DFW-HON-KON over
AUS-LAX-KON.
--
dillon

Linux, it's not just an OS, it's a way
of life.

And a damn fine one, at that.

Dillon Pyron wrote:
> Thus spake "Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> :
>
> >
> >Ross Garrett wrote:
> >> "Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >> news:1123089314.766814.81110@g47g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> >> >
> >>
> >> I know you were looking for a freebie, so I don't know if you looked at
> >> prices, but Qantas has become fabulously expensive upfront over the past 4
> >> or 5 years. When my best option to Australia was SA thru Singapore I
> >> considered buying a more direct flight on Qantas.
> >
> >Qantas simply sucks, at any price.
> >
> >> That's when the sticker
> >> shock hit like a tank. $ 9,400.00 US for a Biz seat LAX > CNS.
> >
> >Business or First seats are always outrageously expensive to buy.
> >I NEVER purchased a First Class or Business First ticket. Flown
> >on PLENTY of them (hundreds free on CO First), and freebie upgrades
> >on international.
>
> Oh yeah. When I was doing a lot of traveling for work, I had a flight
> from Austin to DFW. 1 hour gate to gate. I was an AAdvantage Gold
> member and got bumped to 1st to make room for more plebs in coach.
> Paid $228 for my ticket. The guy next ot me actually paid $1100!!!

AA has always been poorly run. That's why it's going broke. I was
PLATINUM on both AA and CO one year. I get upgraded to First on CO
on every flight. I have to use AA's crummy tokens, each worth 500
miles. So, I NEVER used AA again even thought I was Platinum on it.
I traded all my useless AA miles for HHilton points.
>
> >
> >I flew LAX to CNS on CO a couple years ago.
> >
> >> Today they
> >> are trading at $ 11,904.00 US. Meanwhile a 2 stop coach seat can be had for
> >> $ 1,100.00.
> >
> >Qantas freebies for my trip would have cost 80K CO FFMs, whereas
> >Korean Air for the same cost 100K. Peasant Class of course.
> >>
> >
> >> If the opportunity arises, and your rewards options don't work, you might
> >> consider giving them a try. Both are very good airlines and comparitively
> >> inexpensive. I think SA or BA are the best in the air but Thai Air comes in
> >> very close to those two and far far ahead of any Amercian airline servicing
> >> the same region (I am sorry to say).
> >
> >I stick with CO for awhile. Still have over a million FFMs unused.
> >
> >
> >> >> CO which has no biz class to Australia and so looks for 160,000 per seat
> >> >> in
> >> >> First Class.
> >
> >You're confused (as many folks are). The pecking order of classes for
> >CO is Business First/FIrst/Coach. For Singapore Air and other
> >airlines,
> >its First/Business/Coach. So, CO's Business First is the equivalent
> >of First, and CO has ONLY Business First for international travels.
> >It's 120K (EasyPass) for Business First freebie; and 50K for coach
> >upgrade.
> >
> >> > I have Delta (ATL-LAX), Korean (LAX-AUK; SYD-LAX), Delta (LAX-ATL).
> >>
> >> > 100,000 for Peasant; no seats available for Business (150,000), and
> >> > I don't want to squander 400,000 CO miles on First (200,000 per seat).
> >>
> >> I agree whole-heartedly. CO's international First Class is very very good,
> >> but that's a lot of burned miles.
> >
> >The 200K per seat is to use CO miles on Korean Air. It would have
> >only cost 120K on CO Business First flights or 50K for upgrades.
> >I have plenty of miles to burn, but 400K miles is STILL too much to
> >consider. :)
> >
> >-- Bob.
>
> I'll burn 70K for "first" to Hawai'i.

Only on coach (Easy Pass).

> But I try to fly DFW to HON or
> OGG. The LAX to HON is just a hop, not much longer than AUS to LAX.
> And first on a MD80 is not much to crow about. Especially if I've
> already had breakfast.

HON is Huron, not Honolulu. So, I don't get your point.

>
> Hawaiiand used to have a "first" class. This was nothing more than
> reserved seats at the front of the plane.

Are you talking about CO or AA? CO has Business First to HNL
(Honolulu) but NO First. Otherwise, I would have always flown
First Class all those times (dozens and dozens) to HNL, Micronesia
and Asia.

> But our advantage miles at
> the time "paid" for them. Now Hawaiian is a separate charge and
> "first" has been dropped. But I'll still take AUS-DFW-HON-KON over
> AUS-LAX-KON.
> --
> dillon

CO never liked the people in Texas, especially those in AUS and DFW.
I fly from ATL through Houston to CZM much cheaper than people
flying only from Houston to CZM on the same plane.

-- Bob.

"Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1123180429.665581.197970@o13g2000cwo.googlegr oups.com...
>
> Ross Garrett wrote:

> Business or First seats are always outrageously expensive to buy.
> I NEVER purchased a First Class or Business First ticket. Flown
> on PLENTY of them (hundreds free on CO First), and freebie upgrades
> on international.

Oh hell, I've bought more than I care to remember. Sometimes rewards seats
just don't work for what I need schedule-wise....and I just can't fly coach
on anything longer than 4 hours.

> I flew LAX to CNS on CO a couple years ago.

If that's the one thru Guam I checked it out and they were offering First
for 160,000 per seat. Too much in my view when SA provides the same for
40,000 less miles.

> Qantas freebies for my trip would have cost 80K CO FFMs, whereas
> Korean Air for the same cost 100K. Peasant Class of course.

I've never had real bad luck with Qantas. They are, in my view, the
equivalent of a US carrier and at best, not quite up to snuff with the
gooder airlines of the world.

>> If the opportunity arises, and your rewards options don't work, you might
>> consider giving them a try. Both are very good airlines and comparitively
>> inexpensive. I think SA or BA are the best in the air but Thai Air comes
>> in
>> very close to those two and far far ahead of any Amercian airline
>> servicing
>> the same region (I am sorry to say).
>
> I stick with CO for awhile. Still have over a million FFMs unused.

While CO doesn't have any code share routes (at least last time I checked)
with either airline they have reward share with both. That's a little
information some people don't understand (though I suspect you do).

Example: I cannot buy a Singapore Air flight thru a Delta desk as a code
share, but I was able to book a miles ticket on Singapore Air using SkyMiles
thru a Delta Rewards desk.

> You're confused (as many folks are).

For a non-domestic flight, when you ticket the top cabin class on CO
**thru a partner airline rewards desk**, your class is called International
First, because Continental does not allow partner rewards to use all the
amenities that Business First customers get to use.....particularly complete
access to all Presidents Club Lounge. It actually becomes another cabin
class even though you sit with CO's Business First customers on the plane.

Ever since Saeta went belly-up, I always ticket thru miles on Continental
when I go to Galapagos and that is always 663 down and 886 back. And unless
I am using OnePass miles my cabin class is always International First, even
though the person sitting next to me with a revenue or OnePass ticket is in
Business First.

This is probably not evident to you because you have so many OnePass miles
that you don't book Continental rewards with another airline's miles. I, on
the other hand, since Continental abandoned the Denver market, have to use
different miles for different rewards all the time. They have made it so
easy anymore to use one airline's miles for another airline's rewards, even
though the two airlines don't have code share agreements for the route in
question.

Thus spake "Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> :

>
>Dillon Pyron wrote:
>> Thus spake "Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> :
>>
>> >
>> >Ross Garrett wrote:
>> >> "Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:1123089314.766814.81110@g47g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>> >> >

<snip>
>> I'll burn 70K for "first" to Hawai'i.
>
>Only on coach (Easy Pass).
>
>> But I try to fly DFW to HON or
>> OGG. The LAX to HON is just a hop, not much longer than AUS to LAX.
>> And first on a MD80 is not much to crow about. Especially if I've
>> already had breakfast.
>
>HON is Huron, not Honolulu. So, I don't get your point.

Fumble finger.

>>
>> Hawaiiand used to have a "first" class. This was nothing more than
>> reserved seats at the front of the plane.
>
>Are you talking about CO or AA? CO has Business First to HNL
>(Honolulu) but NO First. Otherwise, I would have always flown
>First Class all those times (dozens and dozens) to HNL, Micronesia
>and Asia.

American's "first" is really business to Hawai'i.

>
>> But our advantage miles at
>> the time "paid" for them. Now Hawaiian is a separate charge and
>> "first" has been dropped. But I'll still take AUS-DFW-HON-KON over
>> AUS-LAX-KON.
>> --
>> dillon
>
>CO never liked the people in Texas, especially those in AUS and DFW.
>I fly from ATL through Houston to CZM much cheaper than people
>flying only from Houston to CZM on the same plane.

We fly CO to CZM out of IAH. Since Carol's parents live in Houston,
we just spend the night before with them, catch the early flight out
and be in the hotel by 1.

>
>-- Bob.

--
dillon

Linux, it's not just an OS, it's a way
of life.

And a damn fine one, at that.