IB-Phantom Award Availability?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
IB-Phantom Award Availability?
I am looking to book an IB award with IB Avios for next January. The flight date is currently outside the 11 month window to book awards on Iberia.com, but inside the longer window that phone reps can see and use.
BA.com and Expert Flyer both show availability for the day I want to fly but two calls two Iberia resulted in "no availability".
I seem to be missing a piece of the puzzle. Does anyone have an idea on what is going on?
Thanks.
BA.com and Expert Flyer both show availability for the day I want to fly but two calls two Iberia resulted in "no availability".
I seem to be missing a piece of the puzzle. Does anyone have an idea on what is going on?
Thanks.
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 4,783
BA.com and Expert Flyer
Both sides quoted me tons of availability for certain JL-flights.
On the phone, these flights never had any availability at all.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
It seemed to me that the seats BA showed as available as awards on IB metal were in fact available for BA Aviios. Does BA have seats available as awards on IB flights that IB does not?
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
Does anyone know if BA availability for IB awards holds up through booking? If so, lack of same availabilty on IB would suggest IB blocking its own flights in favor of BA awards with fat fees. If not, then normally reliable BA award search engine may be broken.
#6
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/iberi...ilability.html
Would have preferred to use Avios, but ticketed just fine on AA. Seems like partner availability (U bucket) is different than what they offer internally.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
I had the same issue recently:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/iberi...ilability.html
Would have preferred to use Avios, but ticketed just fine on AA. Seems like partner availability (U bucket) is different than what they offer internally.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/iberi...ilability.html
Would have preferred to use Avios, but ticketed just fine on AA. Seems like partner availability (U bucket) is different than what they offer internally.
#8
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
#10
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
I think the same root cause is the issue, though: the inventory available directly through IB is different than inventory IB makes available to partners. IB released partner inventory at T-355, but they have not released any internal inventory since it is not yet T-330. Also, once the T-330 threshold is hit, there isn't necessarily a guarantee that IB will open their own space for IB+ Avios redemption.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
I think the same root cause is the issue, though: the inventory available directly through IB is different than inventory IB makes available to partners. IB released partner inventory at T-355, but they have not released any internal inventory since it is not yet T-330. Also, once the T-330 threshold is hit, there isn't necessarily a guarantee that IB will open their own space for IB+ Avios redemption.
#12
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
Ah, I assumed that since it was outside of the booking window, that it wouldn't be available to check on the website at all; I've never tried looking at it myself that far out.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
All of which leads back to thread title of Phantom Award Availability.
And in light of devaluations this week by BA and IB, one has to ask why should anyone even bother dealing with these conditions?
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
This issue-availability for IB award booking but not for partner award booking-is no longer just a matter of when the awards open for advance booking. Rather, IB is clearly blocking awards to partner programs which it has available for booking with IB Avios.
I have been tracking flights for next spring-well within all programs' opening dates-that are availble for booking on IB.com using IB Avios. These flights are not available via BA.com, Qantas or Expert Flyer. Also, phone call to AA results in 'no availabilty' response'.
This is, unfortunately, a trend I see more and more with European carriers such as AF and LH. To be clear, there is no status involved either way; this is just naked blocking of awards to alliance partners.
I have been tracking flights for next spring-well within all programs' opening dates-that are availble for booking on IB.com using IB Avios. These flights are not available via BA.com, Qantas or Expert Flyer. Also, phone call to AA results in 'no availabilty' response'.
This is, unfortunately, a trend I see more and more with European carriers such as AF and LH. To be clear, there is no status involved either way; this is just naked blocking of awards to alliance partners.