Is AB releasing J awards to AA & BA
Jun 3, 2016, 7:12 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BER
Posts: 512
Finding award space on AB has never been easy, as they typically release two seats early out (if at all). Once those are booked no more seats will be released. Availability can be checked on airberlin.com and ba.com, inventory is the same for AB topbonus and oneworld partners.
Jun 5, 2016, 2:34 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Flying between BER, ZRH, EZE, COR
Programs: LH SEN, UA 1K, A3*G, AR Platino, BA Gold
Posts: 113
For Gold and Platinum Elites airberlin has a waiting list. So far I have alway received an award space through the waiting list although there was no award space available anymore.
Jun 6, 2016, 2:14 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,307
I was looking at some dates this summer to TXL. AB had J space available on a few dates on aa.com. Mostly on the ORD-TXL flights. Keep in mind that AB's 332s only have 20 J seats to begin with.
Jun 6, 2016, 7:18 am
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,636
Jun 8, 2016, 10:31 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 16
Just grabbed J on Bos-Dusseldorf through AA for June 28. Already had an Alitalia to FCO and on to MAD through DL but figured I'd just look for fun and it was there.
Jun 10, 2016, 1:45 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,620
When does AB actually release seats that can be booked? Seems to me the best way to do it is to book the moment inventory is released. I'm having no luck trying to find business class seats using AB's own TopBonus program.
Jun 14, 2016, 6:41 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: MilagePlus AAvanntage
Posts: 1
Jun 16, 2016, 2:33 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BER
Posts: 512
Aug 6, 2016, 11:39 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Northwest, United
Posts: 3,256
Some airlines release award inventory predictable (a very limited number, but predictably as they load inventory into their system, say 330 or 359 days in advance). Some airlines load that award inventory and make it available only to their own FF members for a few weeks, so their own get first crack at the seats, and only after some interval (eg 30 days) then if there are any award seats left, partners get access.
Is there any rhyme or reason to how AB makes award inventory available (to their own FF members and also to partners)?
Thanks for any insights/suggestions.