Originally Posted by
aa4ever
Just to add one more thing to the OP, four months is not that far out for award travel. People wait for these things and WILL book 330 days out (or whatever it is now). Chances are, in the 7 or so months since these seats became available, people have taken the FF seats. I know that I have booked AAdvantage awards up to 6 months in advance. I have had to book DL nearly a year in advance. IME, AA is by far the best.
I have often had issues getting seats to exotic destinations and realize that sometimes people do have trouble getting seats. I understand that people book early for Europe and hawaii and other international destinations. It does not surprise me in the least bit that I can not find seats to Alaska. What does surprise me is that Alaska airlines has plenty of seats to ANC from SEA and PDX, but that AA has zero flights to SEA and PDX.
We all know to book in advance for Europe and Hawaii. But how many of us really expect to book 330 days out to SEA. Perhaps I have been lucky, but I don't think I have ever flown anywhere within the 48 states on an award and not been able to get a saver seat with a two week window. This has been redeeming awards on AA, UA, CO, DL, NW, and US. Personally, I'd be surprised if there is any city in the 48 states served by mainline United that does not have an open seat to ORD (nonstop or connection) in all of june or july. And if there is I will drop this argument and eat crow.