Originally Posted by
Dr. HFH
Had an interesting experience today. I'm trying to get some awards to Asia nailed down before the July 15 increase. Was looking for a J seat in KVS using the ANA method. Found what I wanted and called Aeroplan. Unavailable. Agent explained that just because the operating carrier has the availability doesn't mean that it's available to AC. OK, I already know that.
Checked AC method (beta?) on KVS and, sure enough, it wasn't available.
Called Aeroplan again, got a different agent. Made the same request. Agent searched for all availability for the city pair and date. The flight I wanted still showed unavailable. Then she said, "Let me try another way." This time she searched by date and flight number and the availability was there!! Grabbed the seat, all set.
I've never heard of this happening before. Does the manner in which the agent requests availability really produce different results? Anyone know anything?
Yes.
The new booking platform that agents are using is 'selective' as to what options are displayed to the agent.
It sounds like your agent went and used the 'old' booking system where they can search by date, airline, and flight number. I didn't think they had access or were allowed to use it anymore. Supervisors have access to the old system. That system will return results with the seats available if they have been released to *A partners via Starnet while the new system may or may not.