Mileometer

Booked LHR-AUH-LHR for December in Business Class for 60,000 miles R/T

Outbound is a daytime flight on the A380 and inbound is another daytime flight on the 777-300ER.

Not nearly as impressive an award booking as US-UAE but at least I get to try two Etihad aircraft in Business class before the devaluation

Dave Noble

A lot more useful though if in the UK

tng11

Since the Australian AA centre was unable to change my CPH-DUS-AUH-SYD itinerary, they had to scrap the entire reservation and redo it as follows. After an hour on the phone, I got the following in about a week from now:

CPH-LHR BA J (2h 25m connection)
LHR-AUH EY F A380
- STOP - (2 days)
AUH-SYD EY F A380

Close in availability has been quite good. However, I didn't expect LHR-AUH to open at all seeing how they've had 5 or 6 empty seats and didn't release any space even on the day of departure.

whimike

I stumbled across 2 seats in F apartments AUH-JFK and came running to this thread when AA couldn't see it, nor could they see anything on 9W metal which has availability the entire month. Quickly called up the AU center, after reading about it here, and got the tickets issued.

jamienbaker

Curious what dates? I'm thinking of parking some AA miles into an AUHJFK reservation ahead of the devaluation, at the edge of the booking window come March. But I only see 9W F awards far out, and A380 F awards <24 hours. Was your apartment res for an imminent departure (i.e. I see 2 for tomorrow's AUHJFK, and today's departure (now flying) had 3 apartments this time yesterday).

Jamie

whimike

In October 2016.

jamienbaker

You got lucky! Sep-Oct nothing AUHJFK on A380, just 9W.

But that's ok. I have 4 F reservations DXBJFK on EK (on 2 different flights), just thinking I might prefer Etihad. But not thrilled with the departure hour. Still, seems like a good place to park AA currency ahead of the devaluation, so I'll probably just grab 2 F seats on 9W and hope to move to the A380 inside of 24 hours before departure. If not, refund back to my account.

txflyer77

Successfully booked AMS-LHR-AUH-MLE in F on EY for two (AMS-LHR on BA). Placed on hold via the AUS call center, ticketed with domestic call center.

iadisgreat

Able to place on hold AUH-MEL for October 2016 for 2 in F.

JonNYC

Sounds like a great way to do it!

maiglesi

How did any of you call the Australia number? Is it toll free or will I be charged if I call from my cell phone?

SFO777

Yes, you will be charged for using your cell phone.
In order to avoid that, use a VOIP service like Skype.

txflyer77

Use Skype. Took me 20 minutes when I spoke with them which cost all of five cents.

zig2

Today is not an easy day. After several calls I finally got AMM-AUH-SFO reissued.

I found some of the Australian agents are very incompetent. I asked one to add AMM-AUH segment to the already issued AUH-SFO ticket. She said, "sorry sir, I can't do that". "But I should be able to change tickets?" "Yes sir, you can change tickets. But we can't add flights to existing tickets. You have to book a separate reservation." Well...

Then I called the one in China, and to my surprise the agent is able to find award on an AMM-AUH flight even though the EY's site say no guest award open. I was happy to take that but fell into the argue whether the 150$ change fee should be waived for EXP. I asked him to consult others but after 50 mins I ran out of patience. I just hung up and call the exp desk to reissue. The first exp desk agent is incompetent and sounds very sleepy. So I had to call again to have the additional taxes paid and ticket reissued.

I am not that happy to spend so many time on such a simple ticket. But it is done.

Does anyone know what the fare class for the BusinessSaver and BusinessFreedom? I am guessing some agents can see these seats as well.

edy4eva

These are the paid fare buckets. They're NOT redemption seats, certainly NOT anything similar to anytime awards.
EY allows to exchange miles for cash -at a ridiculous rate.