Air Berlin transatlantic award availability in different programs
Aug 31, 2016, 11:28 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,421
Air Berlin transatlantic award availability in different programs
For coach travel, the AB Germany to Northeast USA awards can be attractive at only 20,000 Avios points. But the problem is that AB never seems to load more than 2 seats. This time, I'm traveling with a party of 3. When I go to the Avios site, sure enough, I see 2 seats available. If I want a third seat, will any of Air Berlin's partners have more availability? For example, I'd be interested in redeeming Etihad Guest points for that third seat (especially since I recently transferred miles to them at a discount from Citi). Considering Etihad essentially owns Air Berlin, do they get additional award availability? Or is the same two seats available to all their partners?
Aug 31, 2016, 6:54 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,421
As I say, it's a problem if you have more than 2 pax. The hassle of flying your party on multiples flights generally doesn't outweigh the savings (usually 10,000 miles each way) compared to the alternatives. But I've never looked for seats directly from topbonus or with Etihad.
Sep 2, 2016, 6:54 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,421
I did call Etihad Guest to ask about their availability on the Air Berlin flight I wanted (it's not as annoying to talk to them as their reputation). Unfortunately, they get the exact same "two seat" award allocation as the other partners. I went ahead and booked the 2 seats with Avios (10,000+ miles cheaper than with Etihad Guest), and booked my third ticket on a "competing" UA flight (as a 1K, I can refund it if Air Berlin ever loads an additional award seat).
Frustrating, because these AB transatlantic award seats would be very useful, if they made it easier for more than 2 people to travel on the same flight!
Frustrating, because these AB transatlantic award seats would be very useful, if they made it easier for more than 2 people to travel on the same flight!
Sep 2, 2016, 1:12 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ZRH / SIN
Programs: FB Ulti, QR-Gold (OWS), TK *Gold, Bonvoy Ambassadort Elite, GHA Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 531
In coach I saw a lot of transatlantic flights with more than 2 award seats available. the problem is mostly in Business but this is due to their quite small cabin.