Originally Posted by
kayexalate
I wanted to get people's advice. I am looking to book 4 tix on either CX (or JL) from BKK-SFO, one way, in business class.
I have enough AS miles for all 4 Tix in Business. I have just enough miles on AA for just 2 tickets (70k x 2).
I find it very difficult to use my AA miles in general, so ideally would like to finish those off with 2 tickets being booked on CX through AA and 2 tickets on CX being booked through AS.
My departure date has not been released yet, however, when I call AS to check on their inventory for CX for the dates that are released, it doesn't always match what the AA website is showing for their availability for CX. For example, AS says, they see 4 seats on CX for a specific flight and AA is not showing ANY availability for that flight (even though the BA tool shows the same 4 seats that AS is seeing). It may be because the departure time for the BKK-HKG leg is in the evening and then connects to the HKG-SFO leg at 00:50 on the next day (T-332 days, even though AS can see it).
Is it too risky to try and book 2 tix on AA and 2 on AS? That would be the ideal situation, but of course I'd like to make sure I get all 4 of us on the same flights, in the same business class.
That is interesting that AS shows the seats before AA. You may be right about the connecting flight being on the next day. When you check the AA website for flights that initially have no availability when AS shows availability, does AA then open availability for the flight the next day? If so you know what the situation is. You then have to make the decision of how to book.
Your options seem to be:
1) Book all 4 with AS. Once you book you know you have the seats. You do not get to use your AA miles. Possibly if more seats open up later you can book 2 with AA miles and then cancel two of the AS awards. For bonus points do a test ahead of time by booking a seat on CX on a day you are not flying then see if the availability goes back into inventory when you cancel the seat a day or so later. If it goes back you may be able to use an AS booking to hold the seats, then release them later for pickup with AA. You would be on the hook for the partner booking fee for the test.
2) Book 2 with AS. Wait a day (or a few hours or whatever) until AA opens availability and then book the remaining 2 seats with AA miles. Perfect if the seats are still availabile but some risk involved that someone else may book the seats while you are waiting for AA to open availability. You will have to weigh the risk to reward ratio and compare to your risk tolerance to decide if this is a strategy you are willing to pursue.