The Definitive "How To Search for Low Tier Business Awards" - Page 86

HarryLime · Sep 17, 12, 8:01 pm

I can't find a thing for roundtrip from CDG to NYC September 26-September 28th (short trip, I know). Am I doing something wrong?

3Cforme · Sep 17, 12, 8:35 pm

Are you trying to use NYC as an airport code? That may work in revenue bookings but reports are varied for award bookings. Try JFK. Yes, there is low band award inventory CDG-JFK on 26 Sep,

HarryLime · Sep 17, 12, 9:14 pm

Yes, I was using NYC instead of JFK, so thanks for correcting me there. However I'm still not getting anything really on the search. When I choose Business/First in the drop-down menu, then I start getting 300,000+ mile tickets, but only the inter-european segment is business and the EU-US segment is in economy. What am I missing here? Where do you see the low band inventory?

3Cforme · Sep 18, 12, 4:42 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryLime

Where do you see the low band inventory?

In coach.

I wasn't looking for Business.

HarryLime · Sep 18, 12, 2:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3Cforme

In coach.

I wasn't looking for Business.

heh, well this is the business class awards thread.

3Cforme · Sep 18, 12, 4:31 pm

That's how it is titled but long ago it became an all-award search thread.

DennisSFO · Sep 18, 12, 6:43 pm

Does anybody have problems booking AF award business class for the last couple of days like me from North America to Paris? I'm using KVS tool and Expert flyer, both show available seats LAX-PAR,ATL-PAR or NYC-PAR, delta.com doesn't show them at all, and phone agents can't see them too.Like they are blocking them/ Phone agents pretend where is no problem and it's supposed to be like this/ Same thing was back in March http://thepointsguy.com/2012/03/delt...-class-awards/

mattsteg · Sep 18, 12, 7:08 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by DennisSFO

Does anybody have problems booking AF award business class for the last couple of days like me from North America to Paris? I'm using KVS tool and Expert flyer, both show available seats LAX-PAR,ATL-PAR or NYC-PAR, delta.com doesn't show them at all, and phone agents can't see them too.Like they are blocking them/ Phone agents pretend where is no problem and it's supposed to be like this/ Same thing was back in March http://thepointsguy.com/2012/03/delt...-class-awards/

There are some ongoing issues, but this time around EF was not seeing availability either. As mentioned above, are you using city codes or airport codes in your searching? What time of year are you booking the tickets for? The issues were worst now through may-june sort of time frame.

DennisSFO · Sep 18, 12, 8:16 pm

I'm using airport codes. was trying to look for November.tried APR and May also,same thing.for example NOV 4th ATL-PAR AF689 shows on KVS.but delta agents can't see it. Website shows only Delta coded flights for 325.000 miles.no thanks,I want AF for 100.000!

KVS · Sep 18, 12, 8:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by DennisSFO

I'm using airport codes. was trying to look for November.tried APR and May also,same thing.for example NOV 4th ATL-PAR AF689 shows on KVS.but delta agents can't see it. Website shows only Delta coded flights for 325.000 miles.no thanks,I want AF for 100.000!

AF is currently continuing to block partner Award requests for its TATL routes for departures earlier than ~ 06 Jun 2013.

Please see our reply in the AirFrance.us shows award seats, Delta does not see them Thread.

mattsteg · Sep 18, 12, 9:17 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by DennisSFO

I'm using airport codes. was trying to look for November.tried APR and May also,same thing.for example NOV 4th ATL-PAR AF689 shows on KVS.but delta agents can't see it. Website shows only Delta coded flights for 325.000 miles.no thanks,I want AF for 100.000!

That availability does not show on expertflyer which pulls from a data source more similar to what delta sees. As kvs mentioned, availability from kvstool is currently only valid for AF, which is where that data comes from.

KVS · Sep 18, 12, 9:35 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattsteg

That availability does not show on expertflyer which pulls from a data source more similar to what delta sees. As kvs mentioned, availability from kvstool is currently only valid for AF, which is where that data comes from.

Actually, as explained at AirFrance.us shows award seats, Delta does not see them, KVS Tool users have access to both non-blocked and blocked 'views' of AF Award Availability.

mattsteg · Sep 19, 12, 7:04 am

Is something up with YQ/IOS for award itineraries ex-EU?

DennisSFO · Sep 19, 12, 12:03 pm

Thanks KVS for clarification! as usual Delta agents keep repeating mantra about seats not being available.

redtop43 · Sep 20, 12, 12:27 pm

I am trying to find award space RDU-OTP and back. The outbound will be early August 2013, return mid-August. The over-the-water segment must be business class.

I realize that for some carriers, these flights would not be loaded this soon, so I have searched some other dates to try to refine my search skills.

I learned from my trip this year to search segment by segment, and that sometimes you can put together an award at low miles if you fly coach on the domestic segment, which is fine.

The problem is the European segment. I've found that sometimes it's necessary to book on Tarom from AMS or CDG to OTP to make the trip work. (FCO would be possible also.) But I can't figure out how to actually search on RO. The only tools I'm familar with are DL.dumb and awardtravelr.com. Awardtravelr.com did not come up with any flights at all in August, and I tried another week in April and it came up empty also.

Can someone give me advice on how to search AMS/CDG/FCO-OTP and back? And perhaps also how to search AZ from the USA to FCO? What are the "must-have" tools for this?