Priority Rewards Availability Rules
 

Altitude website indicates (emphasis mine):

Does anyone know what exactly that means?

In the past (IKK days), my understanding (since I never got to experience it), is that any unsold J seat is available for redemption for SE members.

Can someone let me know what the current state of affairs is? I don't redeem AE miles that often, but am trying to find some flights for SFO-TXL around the July 4 week/weekend and finding availability limited to none on most days. Is this par for the course?

99.9% of the time IKK / priority award availability is equal to R availability.

So if you see R availability, there's usually IKK availability. (Most notable exception is if the entire flight is overbooked, though unlikely this far out).

It may be helful to search segment by segment, starting with the TATL segment. I'm pretty sure some of the TATL routes will have R space, and finding R space within North America is generally quite easy >14 days before departure.

Ah - so IKK availability is now based on R space? I was not aware of that. That's unfortunate.

But your tip was a good one. I was able to find (Priority Rewards) redemption space by breaking up the segments. But the return will have at least 3 stops (FRA, YOW, YYZ) so I'm still undecided...

It's been like this for at least 5+ years.

It's probably close to 15 years now than any unsold J seat was available as an IKK award at the regular award level. (There also was a phase were AC charged a premium for IKK awards, but can't remember the exact details)

I'm faily sure you can find a routing with only 2 stops on the return - just need to be creative.;) Have you checked CDG-YUL/YYZ or CPH-YYZ?

This goes to the heart of a point I made in another thread - Air Canada likely knows it can continue to rip apart and degrade benefits, because people just don't pay attention...

Even when searching segment by segment, you may find that even with individual segment availability there is no ability to book on line. This happened to me 2 days ago. When combined into a multi-city, the last segment said no availability for priority rewards. I phoned in and the agent was able to book it (because it WAS available but not bookable online--no surprise). Aeroplan got an extra $30 bucks it needed but I got the ticket. I really hate wasting time just to get what is promised to me.:td:

Thanks, everyone!

Ended up booking SFO-YYZ-FRA-TXL departing Jul 1 and returning Jul 7.

The segment-by-segment search was key for the return. :)

Ok, so I'm clear,
So is it based on R space, or based on unsold J? For example using the priority reward search I can't find the direct AC56 to DXB next July in J. Does that mean I just need to call AP and they will pull from the J inventory for $30, or do I need to noodle through EF to find R space for my family of 4?

It's very closely correlated with R space. J space won't really help you. If it's J9 R0, you won't be able to IKK.

True, however it is important to note that if one finds themselves in this position then

Option # 1: A->B J9R0
Option # 2: A->C->B J2R1

Use Priority Rewards to redeem Option #2 , then show up at the airport at position A and then pay the same day change fee to then fly A->B direct (Option #1 ). This option is available as long as economy class (Y) is not oversold and there is positive business class inventory. (J>=1)

I assume its similar for PY, if O=9, but if N=0, then I can't get a seat?

A little while ago I searched an entire year for R space YOW-SYD-YOW and I needed 4 J seats using points.

I noticed definite trends - for example for SYD there was R availability almost every Tuesday (sometimes up to R9) but very little availability on other days of the week.

Then when I searched on Aeroplan.com for 4 seats, the IKK availability match exactly what I found in EF.

It was an interesting exercise.

what is the rule for Y Priority reward for Europe to Canada? any unsold seat like North America or ? I know J is r space.

EF shows Y class available on CPH-YYZ OCT 15 but i cant get it to show on errorplan.com

Yup... and the beauty of it, we have no way to know if Y is actually overbooked.

Expert flyer may show Y seats being available for revenue sale, but that does not mean that the flight is not overbooked.

At least that is what the folks on Flyertalk told me 6 months ago when I was inquiring about the same thing.

thanks rzr that clarifies.

EF shows AC 883 CPH-YYZ on OCT 15 as J9 C9 D9 Z9 P5 R0 O0 E0 N0 Y4 B4 M4 U3 H3 Q2 V1 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0

Very likely oversold in Y cabin.

If it's overbooked, then by definition, there are no unsold seats.

That's because it's overbooked in Y.

Sure you do. If it's not showing up, it's overbooked (or full - it doesn't have to be "over", just full).

Quick question. Looking at YYZ-LAX flight. Direct is not available on Aeroplan even on priority rewards. It is available on marketplace awards. Does that mean there is Y space and I need to call in to book ?

This could theoretically happen if economy class is overbooked. Feel free to post the date and flight number if you'd like someone to look up fare class availability.

0 Connections

AC (**) 18530YYZ
12/25/18 8:30 PMLAS
12/25/18 10:23 PM763
Daily
74% / 18mJ9 C9 D9 Z9 P9 R9 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H9 Q0
V0 W0 G0 S0 T0 L0 A0 K0

So R9 and H9

Seems very unlikely economy class is overbooked. I'd indeed call Aeroplan (though it may take some luck to find an agent who understands the issue)

Is the issue resolved?

This flight is showing up for me on Aeroplan as being available with a Priority Reward.

I have not yet decided if I will go so did not call in yet. However to answer your question, it shows priority reward for one seat, I need 4-5 seats.

Ahhh- I see the issue.

let us know what happens, if you decide to go.

I guess it could be possible that there is only one Economy seat left for sale before it goes oversold.

Generally I agree but in this case I find it hard to believe when EF is showing 9 seats available all the way to H class. If there is only one Y seat available then I would expect that to be in a high fare class like Y, not H9. If oversold or closed to sold out then I would expect to see Y6/B6 and everything else 0. Even perhaps Y9 but that would be pushing it unless J was also completely empty. In this case J9 and R9 so yes, J is also available. Anyway moot point unless I decide to go.

The magic of Revenue Management! :)

Your expectations are unreasonable.

I've seen flights that were Y9...S5 when it was overbooked already.

If RM thinks that a Christmas flight to LAS has a high likelihood for cancellations or no-shows, they will overbook it more than usual.

The easiest way for an SE to check the load in Y on a flight is to see how many seats you can IKK. IKK is working fine.