Dec 19, 2016, 12:10 pm
Last edit by: missydarlin
Technical Issues:
We've discovered that using the award calendar isn't always displaying the lowest level award for return flights. If you look at the same cities/date as one-way, or in schedule view, it's working correctly.
We've discovered that using the award calendar isn't always displaying the lowest level award for return flights. If you look at the same cities/date as one-way, or in schedule view, it's working correctly.
Cheaper Award Tickets (12/19/2016 Announcement)
Jan 18, 2017, 2:52 pm
#46
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: AS
Posts: 31
I'm trying to look at award availability on Alaska's website to determine which flights I can book using Avios before calling BA. I used to be able to do so by just finding flights offered at 12,500 miles. Does a segment under 700 miles now have to show availability at 5K in order for it to be bookable by a partner airline?
Jan 18, 2017, 5:20 pm
#47
Moderator Communications Coordinator, Signatures
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: deep within the Eskimo lair
Programs: TubWorld, Bar Alliance, Borratxo Legendarium
Posts: 16,968
I'm trying to look at award availability on Alaska's website to determine which flights I can book using Avios before calling BA. I used to be able to do so by just finding flights offered at 12,500 miles. Does a segment under 700 miles now have to show availability at 5K in order for it to be bookable by a partner airline?
Jan 20, 2017, 8:00 am
#48
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
Most AS W Saver Award fares can be booked using Avios. I at one time believed it was 100%, had an example in Nov '16 where BA insisted a SAN-OGG was not available - was able to book as an AA Saaver Award.
Aug 25, 2018, 3:33 pm
#49
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
An old thread I know but curious if anyone else has encountered this behavior when booking short routes that have 5k availability.
I’ve noticed that if i look at EF and see W5 that I can get all 5 of my family award seats but not all techniques yield the same result where there are some, but not 5, of the 5k level awards available.
If you search for 5 at once you may see 7500 or 10k per ticket. But if you do a few searches you might see that you can first buy 3 for 5k and then you would expect to go back and pay 7500 or 10000 for the remaining 2 tickets. Only, that isn’t what sometimes happens for me. It seems like if i buy the 3 at 5000 and then quickly return to buy the 2 more W awards, they also most of the time also price at 5000 each. Not sure if this is Revenue Management on the fly releasing the remainder of the W bucket at the 5000 level or a glitch that doesnt reset from 5k to 7500 or 10k for a few minutes. But either way, it makes sense to try to do as 2 reservations, not only to get at least a couple at 5k but also because you may be able to get more at the 5k level thru 2 reservations than thru one reservation.
I’ve noticed that if i look at EF and see W5 that I can get all 5 of my family award seats but not all techniques yield the same result where there are some, but not 5, of the 5k level awards available.
If you search for 5 at once you may see 7500 or 10k per ticket. But if you do a few searches you might see that you can first buy 3 for 5k and then you would expect to go back and pay 7500 or 10000 for the remaining 2 tickets. Only, that isn’t what sometimes happens for me. It seems like if i buy the 3 at 5000 and then quickly return to buy the 2 more W awards, they also most of the time also price at 5000 each. Not sure if this is Revenue Management on the fly releasing the remainder of the W bucket at the 5000 level or a glitch that doesnt reset from 5k to 7500 or 10k for a few minutes. But either way, it makes sense to try to do as 2 reservations, not only to get at least a couple at 5k but also because you may be able to get more at the 5k level thru 2 reservations than thru one reservation.
Aug 25, 2018, 4:01 pm
#50
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 917
An old thread I know but curious if anyone else has encountered this behavior when booking short routes that have 5k availability.
I’ve noticed that if i look at EF and see W5 that I can get all 5 of my family award seats but not all techniques yield the same result where there are some, but not 5, of the 5k level awards available.
If you search for 5 at once you may see 7500 or 10k per ticket. But if you do a few searches you might see that you can first buy 3 for 5k and then you would expect to go back and pay 7500 or 10000 for the remaining 2 tickets. Only, that isn’t what sometimes happens for me. It seems like if i buy the 3 at 5000 and then quickly return to buy the 2 more W awards, they also most of the time also price at 5000 each. Not sure if this is Revenue Management on the fly releasing the remainder of the W bucket at the 5000 level or a glitch that doesnt reset from 5k to 7500 or 10k for a few minutes. But either way, it makes sense to try to do as 2 reservations, not only to get at least a couple at 5k but also because you may be able to get more at the 5k level thru 2 reservations than thru one reservation.
I’ve noticed that if i look at EF and see W5 that I can get all 5 of my family award seats but not all techniques yield the same result where there are some, but not 5, of the 5k level awards available.
If you search for 5 at once you may see 7500 or 10k per ticket. But if you do a few searches you might see that you can first buy 3 for 5k and then you would expect to go back and pay 7500 or 10000 for the remaining 2 tickets. Only, that isn’t what sometimes happens for me. It seems like if i buy the 3 at 5000 and then quickly return to buy the 2 more W awards, they also most of the time also price at 5000 each. Not sure if this is Revenue Management on the fly releasing the remainder of the W bucket at the 5000 level or a glitch that doesnt reset from 5k to 7500 or 10k for a few minutes. But either way, it makes sense to try to do as 2 reservations, not only to get at least a couple at 5k but also because you may be able to get more at the 5k level thru 2 reservations than thru one reservation.
Aug 25, 2018, 10:34 pm
#52
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
An old thread I know but curious if anyone else has encountered this behavior when booking short routes that have 5k availability.
I’ve noticed that if i look at EF and see W5 that I can get all 5 of my family award seats but not all techniques yield the same result where there are some, but not 5, of the 5k level awards available.
If you search for 5 at once you may see 7500 or 10k per ticket. But if you do a few searches you might see that you can first buy 3 for 5k and then you would expect to go back and pay 7500 or 10000 for the remaining 2 tickets. Only, that isn’t what sometimes happens for me. It seems like if i buy the 3 at 5000 and then quickly return to buy the 2 more W awards, they also most of the time also price at 5000 each. Not sure if this is Revenue Management on the fly releasing the remainder of the W bucket at the 5000 level or a glitch that doesnt reset from 5k to 7500 or 10k for a few minutes. But either way, it makes sense to try to do as 2 reservations, not only to get at least a couple at 5k but also because you may be able to get more at the 5k level thru 2 reservations than thru one reservation.
I’ve noticed that if i look at EF and see W5 that I can get all 5 of my family award seats but not all techniques yield the same result where there are some, but not 5, of the 5k level awards available.
If you search for 5 at once you may see 7500 or 10k per ticket. But if you do a few searches you might see that you can first buy 3 for 5k and then you would expect to go back and pay 7500 or 10000 for the remaining 2 tickets. Only, that isn’t what sometimes happens for me. It seems like if i buy the 3 at 5000 and then quickly return to buy the 2 more W awards, they also most of the time also price at 5000 each. Not sure if this is Revenue Management on the fly releasing the remainder of the W bucket at the 5000 level or a glitch that doesnt reset from 5k to 7500 or 10k for a few minutes. But either way, it makes sense to try to do as 2 reservations, not only to get at least a couple at 5k but also because you may be able to get more at the 5k level thru 2 reservations than thru one reservation.
Because W is treated as a lower bucket than R, purchasing the first 3 seats may not actually decrease the number of R seats available.
Aug 26, 2018, 8:18 pm
#53
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
The number of miles required is based on revenue fare bucket availability - for example, if a flight is R3W5 and the 5k miles level corresponds with R in that market, only 3 seats will be available at the 5k level.
Because W is treated as a lower bucket than R, purchasing the first 3 seats may not actually decrease the number of R seats available.
Because W is treated as a lower bucket than R, purchasing the first 3 seats may not actually decrease the number of R seats available.
Aug 28, 2018, 5:09 pm
#55
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
There are worse cent-per-mile returns possible, but do you have any inclination toward partner redemptions in the future? Because 50k can get you a one-way two or from Asia with a HKG stopover on CX, in business class. That's worth a hell of a lot more than $890.