TonyBurr

I have been looking for a saver award PHL-LAX for June and July, and there is not one seat. I know the defenders of Smisek will say, "keep checking back", but I need to get my vacation dates in soon, and I am trying to connect to an international flight on OZ which will not wait months, so waiting for months for UA to open a seat in those two months is not an option. MP = A total waste; Smisek = (I cannot say in polite company). Thanks Jeff for more things " we are goign to love".

JVPhoto

So you are trying to find on all one award PHL-LAX-ICN or two separate tickets?

krazykanuck

As a GM I see open space on July 4th from PHL to both/either ONT and SNA. It's not LAX, but it's close-ish. I assume you checked the nearby airport box.

TonyBurr

It is one ticket PHL-LAX-ICN, so I cannot go into any nearby airports.

TXbizman

I see plenty Saver Award Economy seats (6 flights on June 2nd and 4th) so not sure what the issue is. And there are tons of Standard Award Economy/First for both months

aacharya

Zfv is wide open. Book that and waitlist for PHL.

gya007

Folks - just enough have enough miles to book 2-3 roundtrip Biz to Europe. BUT, UA inventory doesn't show up for me...I'm flexible on the destination too...This is the cheaper redemption, right?

There IS biz inventory - but it's always partner airlines, TK / LH / AC. I'm a lowly Premier Silver. Any chance to get UA biz-class awards? Anyone has any sample dates/itins where it (UA Biz) might be available to Europe?

My home airport is SFO. TIA

SanDiego1K

I was going to suggest that you start with the UA flight from SFO-FRA, then build off of it. I generally find inventory in F 330 days out. So I just played with the route. Coach was routinely available but neither biz or F. It's quite a change. I kept bringing the dates in closer and closer. I finally found 2 dates in January with availability: Jan 19 and Jan 21. And there's Nov 25, 2 days from now. Not good.

Still, use this technique to search UA's routes to Europe. Tick nonstop flights. Check all the routes they have. It doesn't take long to scroll thru availability month after month. Once you find something you want, your challenge is to get the connecting flight to the gateway. I've found UA frustrating in only releasing Y seats domestically. Within Europe, it will be much easier to find C seats. LH and partners are quite good about releasing them.

Good luck.

747FC

In early Sept. I got 2 F award tics SFO-FRA for late July 15. However, I could not find any F award inventory on return about three weeks later, and am booked in award J on AC out of LHR. Hoping something in F opens.

gya007

Thanks SanDiego1k for the tips. I need to first research all non-stop US-EU UA flights from all their hubs and then check the availability...quite painful. but no pains no gains! I'll try your recommendations.

Not too excited about this...it just means that 99% of the cases flying to Europe the lower award-rates (non-partner) are a farce...:-(

Kacee

TK is far superior to UA. If you can score seats on the new SFO-IST nonstop, I would choose that.

UA-NYC

Agreed - and since the biz differential isn't nearly as great as first (for UA to superior partner metal), it's a bit more tempting of an option.

TK is one of my personal faves...I actually like their looooong biz seats more than reverse herringbone. Even if not all-aisle access.

Kacee

Yes a very well cushioned and comfortable seat. Only downside (apart from lack of 100% direct aisle access) is that the video screen is so far away!

szbenny

Interested in the experience of my fellow FTers out there. I am planning to fly to Europe for Christmas using miles, currently looking for a flight from SMF/SFO to CDG/AMS/BRU/FRA around 12/19. Of course there are no saver awards anywhere around those dates.

I have reserved a standard award to CDG but will keep watching and hope to switch to a saver award up to one day to departure (1K thus no change fee) hopefully to J. This strategy was particularly successful over the summer.

I wanted to get an idea of your experience with this approach in the past for end of the year travel. I know that flexibility is key and am ready to add driving or train segments if needed.

Thank you for your feedback.

TennisNoob

I've been safe 3/3 so far in 2014 on switching to saver within 48 hours of departure so far.