Waitlist for awards?
Feb 27, 2015, 2:18 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: try to stay home
Programs: AY, M&M, BAEC ...and don t care of status anymore
Posts: 2,041
Waitlist for awards?
Does anyone knows if waitlist for awards usually clears? For my flights it looks like they have only about five seats left - but scheduled for next week. If they won t clear I need to book alternatively (same lh flights ex ARN still cheap).
Jul 9, 2019, 2:51 pm
#5
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,163
I know this is an ancient thread, but the title says it all and the question has become very topical, as upgrades and awards now shares the same bucket.
So if an J upgrade (bucket U) can be waitlisted, can a J award (bucket U) be waitlisted?
This is of great interest, also because the availability in U has dwindled now that robots control upgrades.
So if an J upgrade (bucket U) can be waitlisted, can a J award (bucket U) be waitlisted?
This is of great interest, also because the availability in U has dwindled now that robots control upgrades.
Jul 9, 2019, 3:00 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,732
Yes. I've waitlisted both X and U awards as Plat, and they have cleared, too. However, all three cases have been last minute awards only a few days, or even a few hours, before take-off.
I currently also have a waitlisted U award to DXB with flights several months out. My guess is that this booking might not clear, and I will probably think of something else rather than waiting it out.
I currently also have a waitlisted U award to DXB with flights several months out. My guess is that this booking might not clear, and I will probably think of something else rather than waiting it out.
Jul 9, 2019, 3:52 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: AY+ Platinum / FlyingBlue Gold
Posts: 834
Yes, my 2 passenger Economy award AMS to KUO just beore Christmas and back right after NYE got cleared within a week. Still many months until flight to go. Sometimes you’re just very lucky 
Last edited by EuroFlash; Jul 10, 2019 at 1:04 am
Jul 10, 2019, 12:42 pm
#9
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,163
So I called in and it seemed like a very regular request, no hesitation on how to handle it. They can produce a reservation confirmation too and it can be pulled on MMB. Itinerary clearly states "RESERVATION WAITLISTED, BUSINESS (U)"
Interesting observation was that they don't charge taxes until waitlist clears, and I guess this means they must process waitlisted awards a bit earlier than the T-37 hours used for upgrades. (I think she told me the cut-off-time, but I didn't hear it well enough)
Interesting observation was that they don't charge taxes until waitlist clears, and I guess this means they must process waitlisted awards a bit earlier than the T-37 hours used for upgrades. (I think she told me the cut-off-time, but I didn't hear it well enough)
Jul 10, 2019, 1:33 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: AY+ Platinum / FlyingBlue Gold
Posts: 834
So I called in and it seemed like a very regular request, no hesitation on how to handle it. They can produce a reservation confirmation too and it can be pulled on MMB. Itinerary clearly states "RESERVATION WAITLISTED, BUSINESS (U)"
Interesting observation was that they don't charge taxes until waitlist clears, and I guess this means they must process waitlisted awards a bit earlier than the T-37 hours used for upgrades. (I think she told me the cut-off-time, but I didn't hear it well enough)
Interesting observation was that they don't charge taxes until waitlist clears, and I guess this means they must process waitlisted awards a bit earlier than the T-37 hours used for upgrades. (I think she told me the cut-off-time, but I didn't hear it well enough)
Jul 10, 2019, 3:33 pm
#11
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,163
I have intel saying there is one more pax on waitlist, but I don't know if that is upgrade or award.
Jul 14, 2019, 1:33 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,591
Not a good thing as I think over this. U waitlist can get very long at least on some routes and then the revenue mgt algorithms surely interprets that ad high demand and opens no awards and holds inventory at higher prices for cash too etc till last minute, a vicious cycle hanging on. No good. Just like speculative hotel room booking behaviour (I am part of that, sorry) in popular cities where you see high prices all over and then often prices drop vastly at last minute when people cancel their flexible=speculative bookings.
Jul 14, 2019, 2:31 am
#13
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,163
My award cleared approx 5 days out, with payment request on mail the morning after, with a 5h deadline to make payment.
Despite short time on waitlist it rendered me one throw away ticket and one flex ticket cancelled.
So, yes waitlist as the go-to solution for rev mgmnt is bad for everyone but if they make stupid rule, we play the game.
Despite short time on waitlist it rendered me one throw away ticket and one flex ticket cancelled.
So, yes waitlist as the go-to solution for rev mgmnt is bad for everyone but if they make stupid rule, we play the game.
Jul 15, 2019, 7:14 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: ATL/KEF/HEL
Programs: AY Silver, BA Silver, FI Saga hopeful
Posts: 63
I had two U awards clear in three days for HEL-KEF about 60 days out, on a flight that had already sold out all the cheap buckets. They are also during the tail end of high season.
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DJ
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DJ
Jul 21, 2019, 10:25 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,732
I was waitlisting for an award to DXB over Christmas and New Year's. A359 J, of course. I waited several weeks, but it didn't clear, and I needed to make other plans, so I cancelled the waitlist via chat. Points were returned instantly.
I booked an award to LPA for the same period. There was availability for dates that suited me, but a couple of days after ticketing the award online, I waitlisted another return date that would work better. Chat-Janica said it doesn't look good (which I knew, having checked availability online) but it was still waitlisted. And it cleared within two days! ^ The flight shows Y3 B3 H2 K1, and is for January 2020, so I'm really happy and a bit surprised that it actually cleared, and so fast, too.
I booked an award to LPA for the same period. There was availability for dates that suited me, but a couple of days after ticketing the award online, I waitlisted another return date that would work better. Chat-Janica said it doesn't look good (which I knew, having checked availability online) but it was still waitlisted. And it cleared within two days! ^ The flight shows Y3 B3 H2 K1, and is for January 2020, so I'm really happy and a bit surprised that it actually cleared, and so fast, too.
