Discrepancy between QF and CX award search and AA availability
#46
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New York
Programs: AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 592
Are you talking about award seats? If so, it would be helpful to say so.
QF uses Amadeus, in which inventory is loaded 355 days out. AA uses Sabre, in which inventory is loaded 330 days out. Thus, QF flyers always have a 25-day head start on available award seats. As you don't say what date you're looking at, it's impossible to know if that is the reason.
I'm not aware of any evidence that either AA or QF limits the number of seats available to AA flyers (compared with what is available to QF flyers). However, there have certainly been instances of AA agents being unable to 'see' available seats on QF. All you can do is tell them to keep looking or call back and try a different agent.
QF uses Amadeus, in which inventory is loaded 355 days out. AA uses Sabre, in which inventory is loaded 330 days out. Thus, QF flyers always have a 25-day head start on available award seats. As you don't say what date you're looking at, it's impossible to know if that is the reason.
I'm not aware of any evidence that either AA or QF limits the number of seats available to AA flyers (compared with what is available to QF flyers). However, there have certainly been instances of AA agents being unable to 'see' available seats on QF. All you can do is tell them to keep looking or call back and try a different agent.
#47
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MEL
Posts: 2,441
Because the flight stops in Brisbane, have them try looking for DFW-BNE and then BNE-SYD. It appears there may be more availability DFW-SYD than there is DFW-BNE so depending on what day you are looking for and how the AA agent is looking at the flights, have them look at both DFW-SYD and DFW-BNE and BNE-SYD.
What day are you looking at?
What day are you looking at?
#48
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New York
Programs: AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 592
Because the flight stops in Brisbane, have them try looking for DFW-BNE and then BNE-SYD. It appears there may be more availability DFW-SYD than there is DFW-BNE so depending on what day you are looking for and how the AA agent is looking at the flights, have them look at both DFW-SYD and DFW-BNE and BNE-SYD.
What day are you looking at?
What day are you looking at?
#50
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New York
Programs: AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 592
#52
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MEL
Posts: 2,441
QF reports 3 seats available DFW-SYD on December 30 in J but only 1 seat to Brisbane. Your date appears to be 330 days out but I'm not sure exactly when the inventory gets loaded - just have to keep having them check DFW-SYD.
#53
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New York
Programs: AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 592
#54
Join Date: May 1998
Location: australia
Posts: 5,755
Is POS variable availability a reality for award bookings?
I have been trying to change the date of an award booking LHR-SYD on QF in 1st.
The Qantas website, Expertflyer and the BA award booking engine all showed 2 dates with 1 seat available in P (1st class redemption bucket). 5 calls to the EXP line over 5 days and talking to 5 different agents and they were unable to find the availability that I could see elsewhere. 10 minutes after my last fruitless call to the EXP desk and after reading this thread and the suggestion of POS variable availability I thought I would try the local Australian reservation number. I think that the call was rerouted to an Asian Reservation Line and the agent could immediately see the availability that the EXP desk could not.
Is there any other plausible explanation beside variable availabilty depending on POS?
The Qantas website, Expertflyer and the BA award booking engine all showed 2 dates with 1 seat available in P (1st class redemption bucket). 5 calls to the EXP line over 5 days and talking to 5 different agents and they were unable to find the availability that I could see elsewhere. 10 minutes after my last fruitless call to the EXP desk and after reading this thread and the suggestion of POS variable availability I thought I would try the local Australian reservation number. I think that the call was rerouted to an Asian Reservation Line and the agent could immediately see the availability that the EXP desk could not.
Is there any other plausible explanation beside variable availabilty depending on POS?
#56
Join Date: May 1998
Location: australia
Posts: 5,755
While that may be good advice when trying to piece together an itinerary it doesn't seem to have any relevance to the situation I'm describing which is that different AA offices seem to see different award availability.
Even if the EXP desk was able to see individual availability for LHR-SIN and SIN-SYD I wouldn't have been able to re-ticket as my Oneworld award was issued LHR-SYD
Even if the EXP desk was able to see individual availability for LHR-SIN and SIN-SYD I wouldn't have been able to re-ticket as my Oneworld award was issued LHR-SYD
#59
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Mundelein, Il
Programs: Executive Platinum
Posts: 480
I have been trying to learn all the ins and outs associated with booking All Partner and to some degree One World Business/First Class saver awards.
As suggestion on flyertalk by others I registered for Qantas FF so that I could monitor seat availability. It is very clear when searching for flights at the 355 day window and the 331 (or whatever it is for American) that AA FFs are at a great disadvantage when it comes to finding Business/First Saver awards during the initial release of the seats. I notice this because when I check the Qantas site, I see almost no availability within the AA window, but many seats available outside of the AA booking window. This is because Qantas and BA FFs can find and book the seats well perfer we can. I just want to confirm that my understanding is correct. Is it?
I have to accept that fact, but please check my logic. This disadvantage exists for the initial seats released prior to the AA booking window. Once you are within the window the advantage for Qantas and BA FFs no longer exists. AA FFs will be able to book any additional seats at the same time as Qantas and BA FFs. Is my understanding correct?
The bottom line is that it will be difficult for AA FFs during the initial release, but we have equal opportunity for any new seats released. This should mean that availability closer to the flight date should be easy to get?
I think I get it, but I just want to be sure. Thank you.
As suggestion on flyertalk by others I registered for Qantas FF so that I could monitor seat availability. It is very clear when searching for flights at the 355 day window and the 331 (or whatever it is for American) that AA FFs are at a great disadvantage when it comes to finding Business/First Saver awards during the initial release of the seats. I notice this because when I check the Qantas site, I see almost no availability within the AA window, but many seats available outside of the AA booking window. This is because Qantas and BA FFs can find and book the seats well perfer we can. I just want to confirm that my understanding is correct. Is it?
I have to accept that fact, but please check my logic. This disadvantage exists for the initial seats released prior to the AA booking window. Once you are within the window the advantage for Qantas and BA FFs no longer exists. AA FFs will be able to book any additional seats at the same time as Qantas and BA FFs. Is my understanding correct?
The bottom line is that it will be difficult for AA FFs during the initial release, but we have equal opportunity for any new seats released. This should mean that availability closer to the flight date should be easy to get?
I think I get it, but I just want to be sure. Thank you.