bmi diamond club - Redemption Release

Hi All,

Just trying to book some flights from SYD - > LAX -> LHR in biz, there is plenty of economy availability for March next year, however nothing at all in biz over a 3 week range. The agent seemed to suggest the biz seats had not been released yet, really just wondering if there was any truth in them releasing the biz seats later (UA/ANZ) than the economy ones.

Any pointers appreciated as I would prefer not to wait on these if people's experiences suggest otherwise :)

Ta

P

Hi All,

Just trying to book some flights from SYD - > LAX -> LHR in biz, there is plenty of economy availability for March next year, however nothing at all in biz over a 3 week range. The agent seemed to suggest the biz seats had not been released yet, really just wondering if there was any truth in them releasing the biz seats later (UA/ANZ) than the economy ones.

Any pointers appreciated as I would prefer not to wait on these if people's experiences suggest otherwise :)

Ta

P

They may be correct in the sense that further C seats may be released - but since they may be released any time soon they shouldn't be suggesting you hold on. It's randomish (to the outside observer :)) as to when they release, and hard to come by on NZ anyway.

I'd book on TG (so not via LAX) or similar in C (or NZ in Y), and keep an eye out for the preferred route becoming available. If it does I think it should be a change fee, plus any new taxes (and unfortunately not a refund of any now-excess taxes). Or if you have enough miles book the new route when it appears, and cancel the old one: higher cancellation fee may be outweighed by returned tax benefits.

I recently tried to use a *A Upgrade (from Miles and More) from Y to C on a NZ flight, and was told they don't allow upgrades until T-28D.

So it's possible something in C might open up 28D prior to departure on NZ, but by then all their own NZ*G will have had a chance to upgrade if they want.

I'm not sure how UA open up. My experience was CO was that it tends to be in dribs-and-drabs, but that getting a US->UK TATL award seat in C was very very hard work.

Thanks for the feedback, I got them out there on TG, but they fancied a wee stopover in LAX on the way home from their 'travelling' (alright for some..:p).

Its not until March so will try again over the next few weeks.

Thanks again!

I've also been chasing a Syd US/CAN LHR return in March but have opted to secure the BKK route pro tem. There appears to be no chance of even getting a seat with SQ via Sin. Any views on the likelihood of bus class opening up on a Syd -YVR - LHR route on AC? Do SQ ever release Bus seats on A380 or 77W services to Europe?

No, Airbus 380, Airbus 340-500 and Boeing 777-300ER seats are generally not released at all in premium cabins. There are options still, such as Asiana via Incheon, Air China via Beijing (on the Airbus 330s they have a decent product) or TG via BKK.

I've also been chasing a Syd US/CAN LHR return in March but have opted to secure the BKK route pro tem. There appears to be no chance of even getting a seat with SQ via Sin. Any views on the likelihood of bus class opening up on a Syd -YVR - LHR route on AC? Do SQ ever release Bus seats on A380 or 77W services to Europe?

AC SYD-YVR very hard to find award business class IME.
UA SYD-LAX/SFO hard unless booked 11 months ahead or a few days before. UA seem to only have standard awards (double miles) available a lot of the time, and of course these are not available to their partners.

In case anyone else is trying this, ended up going for:

SYD -> ICN -> LAX on OZ Biz (hopefully get new seats on ICN/LAX)

Then

SFO -> YYZ -> LHR on AC Biz

Given its all on the right dates, not a bad redemption :)

Ta

P