Question: Y award availability on CO/UA Aug 2012
Nov 7, 2011 | 6:13 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YYC
Programs: AC MM, AC E50
Posts: 67
Y award availability on CO/UA Aug 2012
Long time lurker, first post - be gentle. 
I got a Y award booked through AE a few months back.
outbound YVR-YYZ-GRU (AC, in Feb - just in time for carnival)
and
inbound UIO-IAH-ORD-YVR (on CO) for June 5th.
When I booked it, I only randomly picked a return date fully knowing I would change it to 1st/2nd week of August eventually.
Checking on KVS, and having now just talked to AE it seems there is no availability for UIO-IAH for the whole month of July and August in Y.
Has anyone experience with this? Is UA/CO releasing inventory closer to the date or am I out of luck?
I would not think July/August is peak travel season to/from Ecuador...
Worst case I suppose would be AC back out of BOG, but I'd rather safe some fuel surcharges.
Appreciate any help and tips
I got a Y award booked through AE a few months back.
outbound YVR-YYZ-GRU (AC, in Feb - just in time for carnival)
and
inbound UIO-IAH-ORD-YVR (on CO) for June 5th.
When I booked it, I only randomly picked a return date fully knowing I would change it to 1st/2nd week of August eventually.
Checking on KVS, and having now just talked to AE it seems there is no availability for UIO-IAH for the whole month of July and August in Y.
Has anyone experience with this? Is UA/CO releasing inventory closer to the date or am I out of luck?
I would not think July/August is peak travel season to/from Ecuador...
Worst case I suppose would be AC back out of BOG, but I'd rather safe some fuel surcharges.
Appreciate any help and tips
Nov 7, 2011 | 6:19 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz Presidents Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,272
UA does release seats closer to the date, especially domestic. UA/co maybe different though as different people are in charge. My UA experience was this past May.
Nov 7, 2011 | 6:34 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL AC*E50
Posts: 23,584
The lack of award space is unreal.
There is no space on UIO-IAH EVER apart from a couple days in Feb.
There is definitely something wrong here, because there arent even any CO Platinum access seats open.
There are some days in November, so maybe close in there is a better chance.
The only space available is on Copa (useless to Aeroplan)
btw, Air Canada to Brazil - all those fees - and on top of that a change fee for a Y ticket - ouch!
There is no space on UIO-IAH EVER apart from a couple days in Feb.
There is definitely something wrong here, because there arent even any CO Platinum access seats open.
There are some days in November, so maybe close in there is a better chance.
The only space available is on Copa (useless to Aeroplan)
btw, Air Canada to Brazil - all those fees - and on top of that a change fee for a Y ticket - ouch!
Nov 8, 2011 | 5:41 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YYC
Programs: AC MM, AC E50
Posts: 67
Thanks for the input, I will keep monitoring the availability.
And yes, YVR->GRU hurts on AC (it's somewhat better in Y compared to J but nevertheless) but as far as the trade-off went money vs extra connections/longer flights in this case I went for the shorter flight.
And yes, YVR->GRU hurts on AC (it's somewhat better in Y compared to J but nevertheless) but as far as the trade-off went money vs extra connections/longer flights in this case I went for the shorter flight.