ARCHIVE: Expanded / additional MileSAAver award and upgrade availability for EXP
Aug 12, 2008, 12:56 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Chitown
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 46
ARCHIVE: Expanded / additional MileSAAver award and upgrade availability for EXP
I'm about to hit EXP for the first time (Thanks to everybody on this forum for contributing valuable information to help me get to this level). I'm pretty clear about what to expect from EXP status but wonder about one stated benefit: Expanded MileSAAver award availability
This seems very vague and I don't see it discussed anywhere here on this board.
Could anybody explain what "Expanded" means in this context? Is there a significant and noticeable difference in availability? Any examples from experience?
I'm particularly interested in transatlantic MileSAAver awards in Business (eg, ORD-FRA), which i have found almost impossible to obtain in the past.
This seems very vague and I don't see it discussed anywhere here on this board.
Could anybody explain what "Expanded" means in this context? Is there a significant and noticeable difference in availability? Any examples from experience?
I'm particularly interested in transatlantic MileSAAver awards in Business (eg, ORD-FRA), which i have found almost impossible to obtain in the past.
Aug 12, 2008, 7:26 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA EXP, 1 MM, AC, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 4,010
This has been discussed in the past, you might start here.
The consensus is that the expanded availability for EXP does not show up online or in other sites that check availability, and you'll need to call the EXP desk to take advantage of this perk.
The consensus is that the expanded availability for EXP does not show up online or in other sites that check availability, and you'll need to call the EXP desk to take advantage of this perk.
Aug 12, 2008, 7:28 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EP; WN CP;UA SILVER; MARRIOTT TITANIUM; HH DIAMOND; IHG PLAT; RADISSON PLAT; HYATT GLOBAL
Posts: 1,938
I am also curious about this.
Aug 12, 2008, 8:11 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA & UK -- AA EXP 3.5MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Avis President's Club
Posts: 6,411
I've had many good experiences with this. EF and AA.com show no award availability, yet it's available from the EXP desk. It certainly doesn't happen every time, but it does happen often enough to be very noticeable.
Aug 12, 2008, 8:25 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro 2MM, HH Diamond, WoH Globalist, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,207
Same here. I have also had a few upgrades confirm instantly, even though EF didn't show upgrade inventory.
Aug 12, 2008, 8:32 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: St. Louis, MO
Programs: AA EXP, MR Plat, PC Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 279
An Example...
My recent experience was as follows:
No MileSAAver award availability for STL->EWR for my Mom on desired routes according to AA.com. I called EXP desk to see if anything can be done because my mother's friend has already booked on desired routes. Agent checks and is able to book my Mom's ticket using my miles on the desired route.
ZakkW
No MileSAAver award availability for STL->EWR for my Mom on desired routes according to AA.com. I called EXP desk to see if anything can be done because my mother's friend has already booked on desired routes. Agent checks and is able to book my Mom's ticket using my miles on the desired route.
ZakkW
Aug 12, 2008, 9:26 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,968
My recent experience was as follows:
No MileSAAver award availability for STL->EWR for my Mom on desired routes according to AA.com. I called EXP desk to see if anything can be done because my mother's friend has already booked on desired routes. Agent checks and is able to book my Mom's ticket using my miles on the desired route.
ZakkW
No MileSAAver award availability for STL->EWR for my Mom on desired routes according to AA.com. I called EXP desk to see if anything can be done because my mother's friend has already booked on desired routes. Agent checks and is able to book my Mom's ticket using my miles on the desired route.
ZakkW
That's the key: the miles MUST be coming from an EXP account in order to take advantage of the expanded MileSAAver inventory. It doesn't matter who is traveling.
Jan 4, 2009, 7:35 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Boston, MA (BOS)
Programs: AA PLT Pro 2MM, DL Gold, UA Silver, Marriott Ambassador + LT Plat, COFC Venture X, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 5,587
EXP Benefit: Expanded MilesAAver Availability
Can any current EXPs comment on or share their experiences with the expanded milesaver availability benefit? With my current travel plans this year, I should make EXP sometime in October and am certainly looking forward to the added perks. While it would be almost impossible to pinpoint exactly how much additional inventory is available to EXPs than GLD, PLT or regular members but would you say as an EXP it is easier to find MilesAAver awards particularly in premium cabins?
Thanks
Thanks
Jan 4, 2009, 7:40 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,968
Well, it definitely has helped me recently with locating mileage/eVIP upgrade inventory. EF was showing C0, but the EXP Desk was able to clear the upgrades. In both cases, the agent said "it's because of your EXP status; it lets me clear your upgrades when others can't."
I also had the expanded MileSAAver inventory over the summer on a LGA-YYZ leg.
I also had the expanded MileSAAver inventory over the summer on a LGA-YYZ leg.
Jan 4, 2009, 7:40 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 1,615
Can any current EXPs comment on or share their experiences with the expanded milesaver availability benefit? With my current travel plans this year, I should make EXP sometime in October and am certainly looking forward to the added perks. While it would be almost impossible to pinpoint exactly how much additional inventory is available to EXPs than GLD, PLT or regular members but would you say as an EXP it is easier to find MilesAAver awards particularly in premium cabins?
Thanks
Thanks
Jan 4, 2009, 7:44 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SAT
Programs: AA EXP BA Gold, TK Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AS 100K, QR PLT, SAS Gold, IHG Spire, AMR
Posts: 5,898
I don't think there is a formula that releases more seats to you as an EXP. However, the EXP desk has more powers to request award seats to be released to us.
It is a soft benefit that you can't demand or insist upon, but it is very real
It is a soft benefit that you can't demand or insist upon, but it is very real
Jan 4, 2009, 7:52 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: AA EXP 1.27M Hyatt Diamond Marriott SLVR HHonors GLD
Posts: 239
We've had great luck - more than 20 MilesAAver tickets over the past 3 years, even when AA.com shows no availability. That's why I always do it through the EXP desk.
Jan 4, 2009, 7:59 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: AA ex-EXP, 2MM (ex DL, ex TWA)
Posts: 1,433
Jan 4, 2009, 7:59 pm
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 1,615
