Originally Posted by
nexusCFX
You're comparing a situation where UA is willing to sell you a JN seat for 180k miles. There is no other program except UA where you will be able to book that.
Nope. USA-TYO is cheaper on NH metal through AC than UA in all cases. UA is minimum 88k miles for business class on partner metal USA-TYO.
I literally gave you an example of this, 75k miles. That is in-line with other programs, and definitely less than 88k UA miles. AC has access to the exact same partner space. Go check SFO-HND on July 1 next year to confirm this.
Anyway, if people confuse themselves into not being able to use AC miles effectively it's only to my benefit. I think people see AC's willingness to sell any cash-available flight for miles and think that's how the pricing is, when in reality the availability corresponding to what was formerly known as saver space is very competitively priced.
But why would I want to fly from SFO-TYO via SEA??? If that's the best routing for 75k, you can have it. I'd rather spend the same and fly direct than have connections. Of course you can find cheaper routings if your willing to have multiple stopovers
"USA-TYO is cheaper on NH metal through AC than UA in all cases" but yet the example I show you indicates AC HAS no inventory. no use in bragging that NH metal is cheaper on AC when it doesn't exist or it's so rare to find. Plus I'd rather pay 88k on UA and have a nonstop flight than 75k on AC and have 2+ layovers. Good luck finding anything direct booked through AC (whether via a partner or their own metal). I have found no such luck. (I unfortunately don't have the luxury of booking flights with a few days notice like your example of SFO-FRA in F for this weekend).
Searching for anything (literally anything) from SFO to Europe, S.AM, Asia via AC's site just spits out ridiculout itineraries. I'm happy to have you prove me wrong, but the 50+ searches I've done does not give me much confidence in finding anything decent.