Big Favour: AP Booking Question
Aug 25, 2018, 8:51 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
Big Favour: AP Booking Question
Hello FT!
I'm trying to redeem 330k miles to fly my parents and me to Europe in J over the Christmas / New Years holidays. Our dates are somewhat flexible, we'd like to go for about 10 days, and ultimate destination can be anywhere within driving distance of Alpe di Suisi (MUC, ZRH, MXP, INN, VCE, etc.).
Challenge is I'd be leaving from SFO while they're starting in YOW. I'm not too fussed if some of the domestic segments are in Y as long as the TATL leg is in J for all of us (on the same flight).
I don't mind using my Priority Rewards, but don't think that's possible if these have to be separate bookings. I'd also like to avoid the telephone booking fee if possible.
I've found availability for 3 for YYZ-FRA and YYZ-LHR. But I'm wondering if I go ahead and book (as an example) YOW-YYZ-FRA-MUC for my parents (taking away 2 J seats), is it likely that the remaining J award seat available will be gone when I turn around and try to book SFO-YYZ-FRA-MUC?
Is the best way to do this just to call in and pay the phone fee?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers.
I'm trying to redeem 330k miles to fly my parents and me to Europe in J over the Christmas / New Years holidays. Our dates are somewhat flexible, we'd like to go for about 10 days, and ultimate destination can be anywhere within driving distance of Alpe di Suisi (MUC, ZRH, MXP, INN, VCE, etc.).
Challenge is I'd be leaving from SFO while they're starting in YOW. I'm not too fussed if some of the domestic segments are in Y as long as the TATL leg is in J for all of us (on the same flight).
I don't mind using my Priority Rewards, but don't think that's possible if these have to be separate bookings. I'd also like to avoid the telephone booking fee if possible.
I've found availability for 3 for YYZ-FRA and YYZ-LHR. But I'm wondering if I go ahead and book (as an example) YOW-YYZ-FRA-MUC for my parents (taking away 2 J seats), is it likely that the remaining J award seat available will be gone when I turn around and try to book SFO-YYZ-FRA-MUC?
Is the best way to do this just to call in and pay the phone fee?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers.
Last edited by capedreamer; Aug 25, 2018 at 9:01 am Reason: Dumb typo
Aug 25, 2018, 8:57 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,791
1. You mean transat, not tranpac presumably?
2. If you have more than one priority reward you should be able to use these. For two separate bookings.
3. You might want to test using two different browsers or two different computers in parallel. Wait until you have both ready to be paid before going through that last step. (I often book one reward and one revenue on same or partially same itinerary; however in that case, one can always cancel revenue within 24 hours.)
4. Still, it might be safer to bite the bullet and pay the phoe fee.
2. If you have more than one priority reward you should be able to use these. For two separate bookings.
3. You might want to test using two different browsers or two different computers in parallel. Wait until you have both ready to be paid before going through that last step. (I often book one reward and one revenue on same or partially same itinerary; however in that case, one can always cancel revenue within 24 hours.)
4. Still, it might be safer to bite the bullet and pay the phoe fee.
Aug 25, 2018, 9:01 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
1. You mean transat, not tranpac presumably?
2. If you have more than one priority reward you should be able to use these. For two separate bookings.
3. You might want to test using two different browsers or two different computers in parallel. Wait until you have both ready to be paid before going through that last step. (I often book one reward and one revenue on same or partially same itinerary; however in that case, one can always cancel revenue within 24 hours.)
4. Still, it might be safer to bite the bullet and pay the phoe fee.
2. If you have more than one priority reward you should be able to use these. For two separate bookings.
3. You might want to test using two different browsers or two different computers in parallel. Wait until you have both ready to be paid before going through that last step. (I often book one reward and one revenue on same or partially same itinerary; however in that case, one can always cancel revenue within 24 hours.)
4. Still, it might be safer to bite the bullet and pay the phoe fee.
And thanks for the advice! Sounds like paying the phone fee is the right answer. Just wanted to make sure there wasn't some 'hack' I wasn't aware of since I don't redeem often.
Aug 25, 2018, 9:58 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: YOW
Programs: AC-SE100K, AC-3MM, Marriott- LT Titanium, SPG RIP
Posts: 2,958
These should be bookable online.
use Expertflyer (or similar) and you should be able to see how many Priority Reeards are available.
Watch for married segments- YYZ-LHR may be available but YOW-YYZ-LHR may not have the priority rewards available.
if you determine that there are three or more priority rewards available , you should see the number drop by two as you book your parents tickets.
remember LHR has big fees for premium cabins.
if you want me to look, they me know the dates.
use Expertflyer (or similar) and you should be able to see how many Priority Reeards are available.
Watch for married segments- YYZ-LHR may be available but YOW-YYZ-LHR may not have the priority rewards available.
if you determine that there are three or more priority rewards available , you should see the number drop by two as you book your parents tickets.
remember LHR has big fees for premium cabins.
if you want me to look, they me know the dates.
Aug 25, 2018, 10:07 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
These should be bookable online.
use Expertflyer (or similar) and you should be able to see how many Priority Reeards are available.
Watch for married segments- YYZ-LHR may be available but YOW-YYZ-LHR may not have the priority rewards available.
if you determine that there are three or more priority rewards available , you should see the number drop by two as you book your parents tickets.
remember LHR has big fees for premium cabins.
if you want me to look, they me know the dates.
use Expertflyer (or similar) and you should be able to see how many Priority Reeards are available.
Watch for married segments- YYZ-LHR may be available but YOW-YYZ-LHR may not have the priority rewards available.
if you determine that there are three or more priority rewards available , you should see the number drop by two as you book your parents tickets.
remember LHR has big fees for premium cabins.
if you want me to look, they me know the dates.
Aug 25, 2018, 11:17 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YUL
Programs: ✈ AC 1MM / S100K - SPG Lifetime Platinum = BONVoY Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,496
These should be bookable online.
use Expertflyer (or similar) and you should be able to see how many Priority Reeards are available.
Watch for married segments- YYZ-LHR may be available but YOW-YYZ-LHR may not have the priority rewards available.
if you determine that there are three or more priority rewards available , you should see the number drop by two as you book your parents tickets.
remember LHR has big fees for premium cabins.
if you want me to look, they me know the dates.
use Expertflyer (or similar) and you should be able to see how many Priority Reeards are available.
Watch for married segments- YYZ-LHR may be available but YOW-YYZ-LHR may not have the priority rewards available.
if you determine that there are three or more priority rewards available , you should see the number drop by two as you book your parents tickets.
remember LHR has big fees for premium cabins.
if you want me to look, they me know the dates.
Aug 25, 2018, 12:59 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,213
Aug 25, 2018, 1:01 pm
#11
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: 44,302
It books into I class with a fare basis code of IJBP00 (versus the regular IBP00).
Its availability is actually J class (but a different J than you can look up yourself), though it correlates quite heavily to R, as they're both basically "seats we're willing to give away without payment".
Its availability is actually J class (but a different J than you can look up yourself), though it correlates quite heavily to R, as they're both basically "seats we're willing to give away without payment".
Aug 25, 2018, 1:02 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,213
It books into I class with a fare basis code of IJBP00 (versus the regular IBP00).
Its availability is actually J class (but a different J than you can look up yourself), though it correlates quite heavily to R, as they're both basically "seats we're willing to give away without payment".
Its availability is actually J class (but a different J than you can look up yourself), though it correlates quite heavily to R, as they're both basically "seats we're willing to give away without payment".
Aug 25, 2018, 2:19 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,791
Aug 25, 2018, 2:34 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
Booked a cheapo revenue ticket in United Economy to get myself to YOW (and back). And then the 3 of us are flying YOW-YYZ-MUC-YYZ-YOW in J.
AP balance down to a very pleasing 3,552 miles.
Thanks for all the tips and advice, everyone!
Aug 25, 2018, 2:53 pm
#15
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: 44,302
Otherwise, it needs to be the same booking.
The one time I did this, I was in P, and they wanted the booking reference for my revenue ticket before they'd book my friend's.