FlyWorld

OK. Jul/Aug is the time period I'm focused on too, so our observations now appear to match. So, you're describing a dearth of saver availability on all relevant *A airlines, using KVS tool to check. So perhaps this is some kind of pattern bigger than UA?

cheltzel

That is my assumption at this point. Like I said, I wasn't looking before I read the recent posts on this thread about it. Just started looking out of curiosity.

It appears that there is some availability from Asia to either LAX or SFO in early June. But once you get to June 22, it really dries up.

WhyPayRent

Glad it isn't just me. I have been using EF and UA (occasionally NH's site) to search for HKG to the US in late August. There is almost 0 saver availability on any of the start alliance airlines to SFO, LAX, IAH, IAD, EWR, ORD, or JFK.

I have been hoping to find something better than HKG-NRT-LAX-SFO on NH that I booked months ago.

FlyWorld

Now that a bunch of us have looked at this, it will be interesting to monitor and see what happens in June. Since the planes are actually empty, this will be a good test of the theory that the space is just being held back until closer in. If we look again in June and we see the planes are still having low loads, and July is still blocked, then it'll be even harder to understand.

WhyPayRent

Luckily I am checking every couple of days. The time spent now will likely save me from some pointed words from the GF after 22 hours of travelling on the way home. NH Business, but still...

FlyWorld

Not sure what you are saying. If your GF gives you "pointed words" because you bought her a ticket in J on NH, then you need a new GF. But maybe that's not what you are saying. ;-)

uastarflyer

But it is a 3 hop, instead of a non-stop

fjfv19

I'll take three hops in NH J over TPAC coach any day. Heck, I might even take three hops in NH J over UA J direct.

cheltzel

+1

I fly UA to earn miles so I can fly premium cabin awards on LH, LX, NH, TG and OZ.

cesco.g

What booking site did you use in lieu of / addition to EF?

zombietooth

ANA and .bomb.
My EF alerts are mainly what I don't trust.

TheCount2

In early March I was able to book saver business EWR-NRT connecting in IAD to ANA for July. This was the only availability for a several day window. The only return available was standard coach (which I booked) or standard business.

This morning the availability calendar shows a total of 7 days in July and August for NRT-EWR with saver coach, which I believe are all on ANA with a connection. No saver business shows on the calendar.

Similarly in January (for June) I booked EWR-LYS (stopover)-AMS-EWR and could only book coach standard award to LYS, coach LYS-AMS (which I was able to upgrade to I yesterday as LYS is the destination) and AMS-EWR in O but not I. I have been looking for outbound saver business since then and have found nothing.

PETERPNYC

I have wife booked on ATH/ JFK A3 820 connecting LX 22 June 19th Saver award in Biz. I believe its I for 50K
Also booked MIL in coach as a saver award on same flight, cause no more Biz award available for 30K

Question is does anyone think Biz Saver (50K ) will open up closer in ?

Checking every day or 2 and plenty Coach available on same flights. Would Expert Flyer or KVS improve my chances and which is recommended.

Thanks

jtkohl

I'm going to summarize here what I think I learned from your
collective wisdom in this thread. Please critique and/or suggest any
improvements.

My situation: No status. I do have MP explorer card (Chase-issued
MasterCard). I have just over 100,000 miles in my MP account, I'm
intending to drain the bank for this trip.

Desired trip: Planning ahead for summer 2014, which is not yet
bookable. But in case it matters to book when flights are loaded, I
want to be prepared so I'm asking now... :-)

What I want: 4 coach saver round-trip tickets, BOS-YVR, July 2014 (to
get to port for a cruise departing Monday July 14, 2014). Flexibility
is limited to a couple of days prior to embarkation (we plan to be
tourists in Vancouver for Sat/Sun July 12/13 2014), and hoping to
return home the day the cruise returns, Monday July 21, 2014.
Passengers are 2 adults and 2 children (too young to travel alone) so
we need either 4 tickets on same flight, or 2 tickets each on 2
separate flights. If I can get 3 saver tickets, I'd consider paying
cash for a 4th ticket (to be booked only after I have 3 saver tickets
at good times, since I don't want to pay a change fee for the cash
ticket.)

Now, let me see if I understand MP's rules for award ticketing.
(http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...ticketing.aspx)
I'm a general member, so I am not charged to change the date or time
of the tickets, as long as the flights are > 21 days in advance, and I
retain BOS-YVR routing. These changes can include adding or removing
connections (changing hub cities, for example).

Do I have that right?

Q: can I also change the *A carrier, say if I book travel on UA, can
I switch to AC flights without fee? Or vice versa?

As a GM, I incur a $150 fee for each ticket to cancel the trip and
redeposit miles to the account.

Your accumulated experience in this thread says that award inventory
can appear anytime between when flights are loaded for sale (e.g. 330+
days before departure) and day of departure.

So, some questions:

Anybody have a clue what the pattern has been for BOS-(hub) and
(hub)-YVR saver Y inventory release for summer travel?

Would you advise to book as many saver award tickets as soon as I see
them? Someone suggested booking a same-day round-trip in saver, if
you find outbound space before the real desired return flights are
loaded/available. Then keep looking for desired return-date
availability and change the date when you find it.

Can I change date/time on-line or does it require a phone call? (If I
call, be prepared with specific flights and times to guide the agent,
right?)

Do you recommend separate PNRs for each passenger, or put as many on
one PNR as possible to start? (Can I split the PNR later if I'm
finding one-seat availability on a desired flight and want to move
just one passenger?)

Ways to find inventory:
1. on united.com: set the # of flights show very high in the advanced options.
Also, try building multi-stop trips explicitly through *A hubs to put together a trip.
2. ANA tool
3. Aeroplan (Air Canada)
4. Consider paying to join ExpertFlyer Pro
5. pay for KVS

Once something is booked, call an agent to wait-list for a preferred
flight (different date and/or different time on same date)

So, have I missed anything? Any extra advice?

TheCount2

Saver First opened up this evening on the late June EWRxFRA-LYS routing for which I had booked standard coach, posted above, for Mrs. Count2. I had not set an EF alert as there are numerous possible routings, but found it running an EF query which covers most routings, then changed the ticket on-line. However there is no Saver Business available on the route.