Hi5z

After few months of consistent checking award availability on my CX flight, JAL.com finally shows one First Class award seat available. I called AA reservation immediately, but twice I called them AA said no award available on that date. Is this normal? Is there discrepency between JAL.com and AA?

Hi5z

Checked BA, it also has 1 first class award, called AA third time, no availability

Scotttheking

I'm having this same problem with AA right now. Maybe there's a data connection problem. I want that seat!

seawolf

I seriously believe that there is blocking by AA. When I see CX J show up for to/from EWR in BA, it is avail (IME) on AA. F award to/from JFK, YMMV. I don't think it is a GDS system issue.

My suggestion is to call AA frequently to check. 3-4 prior to departure, the "block" gets removed.

Dr. HFH

IME this happens from time to time. I don't really understand why, though. I usually solve it with persistence.

JonNYC

Agree with both sentiments 100%. The link goes down periodically, and them comes back up-- usually pretty quickly (in the case if CX anyway.).

Not blocking, technical issues.

Hi5z

called 2nd day, still nothing. this blows lol

seawolf

I've seen F seat appear to JFK for 4 days on BA not on AA before the seat disappears off BA (guess someone else claim it). I find it hard to believe the link is down for 4 days while within the same 4 day period, HKG-EWR newly appears on BA and bookable in AA. If it is a link issue, it's even harder to conceive the link outage only appears to affect JFK but not EWR flights.

That is why I believe it is a blocking issue.

To further test my theory, I'm currently looking for HKG to Europe flights for mid-Oct. Currently it is available to CX members. When it opens up for BA, I'll see if it is immediately available to AA. My theory is that it will be as there are probably less AA members are chasing HKG-Europe CX flights.

JonNYC

I'll "match" that experiment in this way; as/if/when that happens, once AA says no to that seat 2x, I'll go on my BA.com account and try and book it. Reason being that with JJ, we found that BA calendar showed available, but errored out in final stage of booking-- during the absolute last step, credit card verification.

So, if you're game, PM me as soon as you see it open for BA redemption and when 2 AA agents say no over, say, a period of 36 hours. Would be good to have solid evidence to present to AA.

if you prefer to pick a date that's one you're -not- looking to use, I'll do that to. I'll cancel the seat soon thereafter. Probably best to pick a flight that BA says has more than one award availability so the experiment doesn't prevent someone from getting a seat they need.

Hi5z

10/2 JFK-HKG CX841 F available on both jal and ba, although i havent tried to purchase it on ba to get to the last page

JonNYC

And you checked with AA just now/within last hour or so?

JonNYC

Well, you're both right-- I called AA, confirmed that that seat (10/2 JFK-HKG CX841 F) was not available through them and then immediately booked it on BA.com (I'll now cancel the booking immediately, needless to say.)

I'd still maintain that this is more likely an AAgent training issue and/or temporary outage and would require tons more info before I, personally, would accept that it's CX (or AA) blocking/being blocked "in front of" other OW partners, but, for now, there's clearly an issue, I'd agree.

JonNYC

I have since cancelled that booking and the seat *instantly* returned to award-availble on BA. Might try AA again, maybe what I did kinda "shook it lose" (kidding, of course.)

Hi5z

Its funny that i've been checking the availability almost once everyday since i booked C last december, i was so thrilled F showed up finally but such a downer AA doesnt have it lol.

Scotttheking

Has this resolved for anyone? I'm tired of calling AA to ask if they see it!