Aeroplan not showing Air China award space
Jul 15, 2016, 10:31 pm
#91
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: YVR
Programs: Non-status bottomfeeder
Posts: 827
Talked with what sounded like a very competent AP rep this evening about changing my YVR-YYZ-IST-FRU award to YVR-PEK-ULN-FRU. She was knowledgeable enough to actually start suggesting alternatives to FRU such as YVR-FRA-ALA then ground transport to FRU, or YVR-FRA-TSE with a side trip on KC (which she explicitly stated that AP wouldn't pay but my insurer may 
) (we all should know that insurers rarely pay out on war, insurrection, or civil disturbance).
She claimed that she had been specifically informed that AP and AP alone had made the decision to stop allowing ticket issuance for itins containing CA; specifically because pax on AP award tix were getting stranded at the CA check-in counter. Until AP and CA could work out the issues, no CA tix.
She also claimed it was the same reason that CM and O6 were not available for a time.
So does the blame with AP or CA? Seems more of a AP issue because I don't think anyone else in *A is having these kinds of issues.
Not sure if I believe anything at all anymore.
) (we all should know that insurers rarely pay out on war, insurrection, or civil disturbance).She claimed that she had been specifically informed that AP and AP alone had made the decision to stop allowing ticket issuance for itins containing CA; specifically because pax on AP award tix were getting stranded at the CA check-in counter. Until AP and CA could work out the issues, no CA tix.
She also claimed it was the same reason that CM and O6 were not available for a time.
So does the blame with AP or CA? Seems more of a AP issue because I don't think anyone else in *A is having these kinds of issues.
Not sure if I believe anything at all anymore.
Jul 25, 2016, 10:03 am
#92
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YYC - not the centre of the universe
Programs: AC*S100K 1MM, LH FTL, Hyatt Globalist, Accor Plat
Posts: 4,768
Sooo... I had booked four miniRTW tickets last October, each of which had two Air China segments. Out of the eight flight segments, all were in business except one. I was told at the time to call in every couple of months and surely the segment could be changed from economy to business. As all of you have experienced, nothing could be further from the truth. Until yesterday.
I finally got through to a magical (mystical?) Aeroplan agent who heard what I said, and took note of it. I pointed out that I had just spoken to Air China and there were 6 seats available for Star Alliance partner redemptions in business (mostly true - the Air China agent confirmed there was more than one). I had used ExpertFlyer to find that there were six business award seats available on the flight in question, and confirmed this with a dummy booking on United.ca.
The Aeroplan agent said "given that, let me try something else." She did what she called a "direct booking" for that segment, and was able to grab the business seat. She needed to reissue the whole miniRTW ticket, which resulted in a small refund due to changes in currency rates (thanks to Brexit).
She told me that if I ever had trouble booking a specific flight again, where I knew there was availability, simply ask an Aeroplan agent to direct book the flight. I think this might have to be done segment by segment - not sure about that.
Anyway, all are now in business for the entire miniRTW, including all Air China segments.
I finally got through to a magical (mystical?) Aeroplan agent who heard what I said, and took note of it. I pointed out that I had just spoken to Air China and there were 6 seats available for Star Alliance partner redemptions in business (mostly true - the Air China agent confirmed there was more than one). I had used ExpertFlyer to find that there were six business award seats available on the flight in question, and confirmed this with a dummy booking on United.ca.
The Aeroplan agent said "given that, let me try something else." She did what she called a "direct booking" for that segment, and was able to grab the business seat. She needed to reissue the whole miniRTW ticket, which resulted in a small refund due to changes in currency rates (thanks to Brexit).
She told me that if I ever had trouble booking a specific flight again, where I knew there was availability, simply ask an Aeroplan agent to direct book the flight. I think this might have to be done segment by segment - not sure about that.
Anyway, all are now in business for the entire miniRTW, including all Air China segments.
Wish me luck.
Aug 8, 2016, 7:08 pm
#93
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YYZ
Programs: TK*G, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 678
Just on hold for 90 min with AP trying to booking a flight from RGN to CTU on CA. The agent sounded knowledgeable and was adamant that the issue was still not resolved and she cannot book any tickets involving CA segments - similar problem with AV.
So far, it seems the availability on the flight i want is wide open...I guess I will wait. Fingers crossed.
So far, it seems the availability on the flight i want is wide open...I guess I will wait. Fingers crossed.
Last edited by ericw; Aug 8, 2016 at 8:57 pm Reason: CA instead of AC:)
Aug 8, 2016, 7:34 pm
#94
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Montreal
Posts: 260
Just on hold for 90 min with AP trying to booking a flight from RGN to CTU on AC. The agent sounded knowledgeable and was adamant that the issue was still not resolved and she cannot book any tickets involving AC segments - similar problem with AV.
So far, it seems the availability on the flight i want is wide open...I guess I will wait. Figures crossed.
So far, it seems the availability on the flight i want is wide open...I guess I will wait. Figures crossed.
Aug 9, 2016, 10:27 pm
#97
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: YSC (and all its regularly scheduled flights)
Posts: 2,516
Is CA still eligible for Y-class points upgrade to F (Chinese airlines don't seem to have J)? I want to do a trek out of LHW for Mid-Autumn festival and work it around my teaching.
Option 1 is points there and back on Shenzhen air on points WUX-XIY-LHW (40k for Y, but 110k for 'first'!!!). Unfortunately, it looks like it won't get me back in time for work since I can't book my return before 7pm Sunday.
Option 2 is China Airlines out of PVG direct (or at least on the return leg). Apparently I can't book CA with points. At the moment I can only book full Y (it is a holiday, I guess). The timing is terrible, but can I at least use points to upgrade?
Thanks
Dr. PITUK
Option 1 is points there and back on Shenzhen air on points WUX-XIY-LHW (40k for Y, but 110k for 'first'!!!). Unfortunately, it looks like it won't get me back in time for work since I can't book my return before 7pm Sunday.
Option 2 is China Airlines out of PVG direct (or at least on the return leg). Apparently I can't book CA with points. At the moment I can only book full Y (it is a holiday, I guess). The timing is terrible, but can I at least use points to upgrade?
Thanks
Dr. PITUK
Sep 12, 2016, 11:13 am
#98
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: YUL (of course)
Posts: 81
Is it too good to be true?
I had given up hope on seeing space on CA for a 2017 trip to Australia from YUL but I just saw just a few minutes ago on the AE website a rare sighting!! Yes, one of the options available was YUL-PEK-SYD on CA on July 31st 2017.
Even if the option does not suit me (a mix of F and Y is offered), I just had to post this before it disappears again
Even if the option does not suit me (a mix of F and Y is offered), I just had to post this before it disappears again
Sep 12, 2016, 11:40 am
#99
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
I had given up hope on seeing space on CA for a 2017 trip to Australia from YUL but I just saw just a few minutes ago on the AE website a rare sighting!! Yes, one of the options available was YUL-PEK-SYD on CA on July 31st 2017.
Even if the option does not suit me (a mix of F and Y is offered), I just had to post this before it disappears again
Even if the option does not suit me (a mix of F and Y is offered), I just had to post this before it disappears again
Last 2 months I didn't see any CA space, now I see some (J & Y) for TPE-PEK or KIX-PEK for Aug-Sep 2017
Not a lot though
Sep 12, 2016, 12:46 pm
#100
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: YUL
Programs: Skymiles Silver Medallion
Posts: 955
I saw some Air China space in Y for Nov 2016 this morning. Sample search returned options like this one:
Not that I'd recommend chancing booking it, mind you. Too many horror stories of the booking mysteriously being cancelled day-of travel.
Not that I'd recommend chancing booking it, mind you. Too many horror stories of the booking mysteriously being cancelled day-of travel.
Sep 12, 2016, 1:46 pm
#102
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,313
I would assume (or at least hope) that if Aeroplan is allowing the bookings again, that they've resolved the issue that caused them to block them in the first place.
Sep 12, 2016, 5:42 pm
#104
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K (*Gold), DL, CZ
Posts: 1,252
I was able to book CA tickets on my latest mini-rtw taken this past July. It was booked right around the time this thread was created late last year.
Specifically:
CMB-MAA AI J
MAA-BKK TG J
BKK-TSN CA J
TSN-TSA CA J
The experience wasn't as horrible as I had read on FT or elsewhere; the food was reasonably good, but on the 738s, there wasn't any IFE that I can recall. I even received an amenity kit on the BKK-TSN segment (and there was only one other person in J).
There were no problems with ticketing, no missing seats, and I was able to phone in and select my seats months ahead. Wouldn't mind trying CA F from say, FRA-PEK, or LHR-PEK (777), or even on the 748 on whichever routes they fly.
Specifically:
CMB-MAA AI J
MAA-BKK TG J
BKK-TSN CA J
TSN-TSA CA J
The experience wasn't as horrible as I had read on FT or elsewhere; the food was reasonably good, but on the 738s, there wasn't any IFE that I can recall. I even received an amenity kit on the BKK-TSN segment (and there was only one other person in J).
There were no problems with ticketing, no missing seats, and I was able to phone in and select my seats months ahead. Wouldn't mind trying CA F from say, FRA-PEK, or LHR-PEK (777), or even on the 748 on whichever routes they fly.
Sep 12, 2016, 5:46 pm
#105
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: YUL
Programs: Skymiles Silver Medallion
Posts: 955