I just got off the phone to SMS, which I called to ask for an extension of the hold on a couple of FC award seats I grabbed for LexPassener and me to go to the SAN Flyertalk "do" in late July. I found the seats 2 weeks ago.

The very nice SMS agent said she could extend the hold for another week. I asked her if she could make it two weeks (having read elsewhere on this forum that you can usually get these kind of seats held at least one month). She said she was sorry, but they have a new system which only allows seats to be held ONE WEEK! She also said the system is automatic (hence not subject to overrides?). Finally, when I asked, she said the system had gone into place last week.

Well, maybe a week will be enough time. We've actually been looking for imaginable fares to buy tickets, but maybe we'll just use our award tickets.

Does anyone know what this is all about?