Jun 10, 2015, 4:39 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
Phantom Award Availability Issues with AA Partners
A number of members report "phantom" award availability using partners' websites to search for AAdvantage awards. BA may have the most reports, but that could be because it's used more than JL or QF. Try using other partner web sites, or one of the travel tools, ExpertFlyer (offers five day trial periods) or KVS.
See:
[b]oneworld and Other Airline (Partner) Awards info, rules 2014 on
and
HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance, discussion
A number of members report "phantom" award availability using partners' websites to search for AAdvantage awards. BA may have the most reports, but that could be because it's used more than JL or QF. Try using other partner web sites, or one of the travel tools, ExpertFlyer (offers five day trial periods) or KVS.
See:
[b]oneworld and Other Airline (Partner) Awards info, rules 2014 on
and
HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance, discussion
Phantom / false AA award availability with AA partners (master thd)
Jul 26, 2017, 11:12 am
#166
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Northwest, United
Posts: 3,256
No guys. I was friendly, polite, and trying to be helpful. She was, frankly, a bit snotty from the start, I ignored that, for a while. I asked simple, direct questions - politely, cordially - to try and get clarity (because what she was telling me seemed disconnected from reality). Only after it became obvious that she was 1) not being honest with me, and 2) was simply trying to dump the call off on another employee who wouldn't be able to help, that I got frustrated and pressed the point.
I have worked on phones before, and I fully appreciate it can be a difficult, thankless task. But that's no excuse to blatantly lie to a customer. I was asking the agent to be clear, confirming (repeating back to her) her responses to me when what she said seemed odd. I don't expect a front line CS agent to be able to overturn their broken IT and anti-consumer policies. But I do expect them to be honest with me, or at least as honest as they can be. When someone tells me over and over that the sun is green and the sky is purple, and I can see they're not, I'm not gonna just say, yeah, OK sure.
I have worked on phones before, and I fully appreciate it can be a difficult, thankless task. But that's no excuse to blatantly lie to a customer. I was asking the agent to be clear, confirming (repeating back to her) her responses to me when what she said seemed odd. I don't expect a front line CS agent to be able to overturn their broken IT and anti-consumer policies. But I do expect them to be honest with me, or at least as honest as they can be. When someone tells me over and over that the sun is green and the sky is purple, and I can see they're not, I'm not gonna just say, yeah, OK sure.
Jul 26, 2017, 11:30 am
#167
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,267
I do that all the time. If the agent can't or won't help and I know I'm in the right, I usually don't push too hard. Why bother? Why waste time that could be spent calling back and having another chance at getting what I want, as opposed to jousting with an agent who certainly won't give me what I want?
Jul 26, 2017, 11:54 am
#168
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
I do that all the time. If the agent can't or won't help and I know I'm in the right, I usually don't push too hard. Why bother? Why waste time that could be spent calling back and having another chance at getting what I want, as opposed to jousting with an agent who certainly won't give me what I want?
Sep 27, 2017, 3:24 pm
#173
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
Constant problem trying to book to Europe from Australia too...... all flights to HEL from Asia show as available..... click through and...nothing.
Must get access to the BA site and try that way... even if it means calling....
Must get access to the BA site and try that way... even if it means calling....
Sep 27, 2017, 7:23 pm
#174
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
This is the best piece of advice here regarding the phantom AY award availability issue. I've booked quite a few AY award segments over the past 6 months, and actual AA availability always matches what BA shows for an Avios booking on AY.
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
Oct 10, 2017, 11:46 pm
#175
Join Date: May 2005
Location: YYJ
Programs: AA platinum, Air France Platinum,, Bonvoy titanium, AC 50k
Posts: 132
Not for me. I see availability on BA site for AY bus awards in July next year for HEL to SFO, but only phantom availability on AA site.
Oct 11, 2017, 1:12 pm
#176
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,005
no AY flights are bookable on AA.com. Availability is shown, but when you want to book and confirm the same page replicates itself. Wake up AA--your website sucks.
Oct 11, 2017, 1:35 pm
#177
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
That simply isn't true - I booked AY flights yesterday (Business in the A350) using my AA miles on aa.com with no problems whatsoever.
Oct 11, 2017, 1:39 pm
#178
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,005
Oct 11, 2017, 1:40 pm
#179
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Oct 11, 2017, 3:11 pm
#180
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,377
