When you see “white unicorn” award space, like on the Delta A350-900 in business class, you have to take it. Thus set in motion a last-minute trip that includes Detroit, Amsterdam, Paris, and Tunis on Delta, Air France, and even the exotic Tunisair.
Tunisia Trip Booked: Business Class On Delta A350, Air France A318 +A330, TunisAir A330
Without notice, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club devalued its Delta redemption pricing during the pandemic. Flights to Asia, Africa, and India that were once 60K in business class suddenly more than doubled in price. My plans to fly from Los Angeles to Shanghai or Tokyo on Delta were not just dashed by the pandemic, but by prohibitive Virgin Atlantic pricing.
But Europe, for whatever reason, was spared (not initially, but it was a concession Virgin Atlantic made after much uproar). One-way nonstop trips to Europe on Delta remain 50,000 miles each in business class and if you are departing from the United States, there are no surcharges, just $5.60 in taxes.
From time to time, I see A330 award space to Amsterdam or Paris available with Virgin miles, but it has been years since I’ve seen A350 space…until now. When space appeared onboard the A350-900 with Delta One suites from Detroit to Amsterdam, I decided to plan a trip around it.
Where to? As much as I’d love to return to Amsterdam, the USA is considered a “high risk” country and it’s my understanding that 5-7 day self-isolation is mandatory. No thanks.
Immediately I thought of Tunisia or Algeria. Both are on my bucket list and both would allow me to take an exotic product (either a Tunisair or Air Algérie A330 on the return to Montreal). Prices to Algiers were sky high (not sure why), so I booked a ticket to Tunis instead.
Folks, a brief pause to say that you should take advantage of most status match opportunities, even if you cannot see at the time how or even if you will utilize the product. For example, I would have bought an Air France economy class ticket to Tunis via Paris had I taken advantage of the ITA Airways status match in December. It was quick, free, and easy. That would have given me lounge access in Amsterdam and Paris.
But no, I didn’t take the five minutes to do that and so I ended up burning miles to fly business class. The upside is of course the chance to fly in business class, including a lie-flat A330 from Paris to Tunis with a business class seat I’ve never experienced before. Plus, my first flight on an A318.
My stay is limited to Paris and Tunis for one night each because I don’t want to be away from my family any longer. That’s always the bitterstreet part of travel these days: trying to balance my quest to see the world and provide fresh blog content with my duties as a father and husband not just to provide, but to be present. I wish I could be in two places at once!
CONCLUSION
I’m so behind in trip reports that I may launch right into the report rather than provide previews, but we’ll see. I’m excited to sampling several new products! Let’s hope my experience on Tunisair will be better than that of Josh Cahill!
image: Olivier Cabaret / Wikimeida Commons
This has all the makings of intrigue and disaster. Can’t wait!
May I suggest the Palais Bayrem for lodging in Tunis? Tunis is not long on western chain hotels, but the Palais Bayrem is in the Medina and oozes charm and character.
Four Seasons booked for this trip, but will consider your choice next time. Hotel looks nice!
Based on Josh’s trip report, looks like only chin masks are enforced on board Tunisair.
Lovely. One of the few bloggers traveling and writing trip reports instead of pushing credit cards or mile deals.
Other blogs are a joke.
Excited to see a trip report from you on an airline other than United and Lufthansa!
Excited to read the upcoming reviews – And thank you for not engaging in hyperbola and credit card shoves like OMAAT.
Indeed, it’s refreshing to see reviews
“Prices to Algiers were sky high (not sure why)”
Not a surprise! There is probably and definitively lack of seats to Algeria (by air at least), done on purpose avoiding new competitors on the services.
And since the bankrupcy of Aigle Azur, it is a nigthmare for the people with Algerian roots to get a flight to go to Algeria.
You would be amazed to see every working day, the number of people waiting in the street on avenue de l’opéra in Paris to get inside the Air Algérie agency. Some want to buy a ticket, and with the pandemy others seems to try to get their ticket refunded for the flights that have been cancelled during covid times.
So right now no discount prices.
When my wife and I were in Paris, we saw the lines!
@matthew, as of Feb 2nd self isolation is no longer required in Netherlands if one has received a booster fyi 🙂
Are you serious? That makes me sad. (bookings already confirmed)
https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad/self-quarantine/mandatory-quarantine
See bullet point number 4 🙂 Maybe next time than 😉 Flew Delta One A350 ATL-AMS last year, was not impressed, neither by the seat, bedding or food compared to Polaris.
Got the same Delta A350 deal w/ Skymiles instead, some of the best business class food I’ve ever had on DTW => AMS. Thank you Omicron!
How did you find Virgin awards on Delta?? There has been zero availability to Europe with Virgin for six months or more. I’m sitting on a ton of Virgin miles I haven’t been able to use so if access is back that’s great news.
Found it just while doing my usual browsing of the Virgin website. There were a few other dates available.
America has ladened itself with a society full of incompetents. It’s a staunch effort to keep America as a so-called status quo country, making sure seats are kept one-dimensional (men, white). Promoting family, friends, and grandfathering people into highly prestigious positions lacking the skills needed. NOW! these incompetents are running our country, siding with our enemies, using dictator talking points….
I see the Chinese communist bots have found their way to liveandletsfly.com. You’d think the bots would be smart enough to at least post on topic. Apparently they’re just as stupid as their creators. Must be those slanted eyes and can’t properly see what they’re coding.