I placed two Cathay Pacific business class flights on hold (for Nov. 1st) from Narita Japan to Tel Aviv (with a layover in HKG) through American Airlines.

Yesterday, several hours before the hold expired, I tried to purchase the tickets and the hold had been canceled. The hold was set to expire Feb. 4, 11:59 PM (JST)). I double-checked the time in Japan; it was still before the expiration. Business class tix on those Cathay Pacific flights were no longer available for the 11-hour & 45 minute leg.

During long conversations with AA reps, I was told that the records indeed showed that Cathay Pacific had wrongly canceled the hold prior to its expiration. (In fact, the hold should have expired during the time I was on the phone with the AA rep.) I was told that since Cathay Pacific canceled the hold – only they could reinstate it. The Cathay Pacific rep I spoke with said that since it was put on hold through AA, CP can’t rectify it. (FYI, there ARE business class seats available on that flight, but none available with FF miles.)

It seems to me that Cathay Pacific should release award seats and honor the hold that they wrongly canceled.

Any suggestions?