skimthetrees

Since you are MVPG you can make changes for free if changes are allowed. You will have to pay (or you will get a refund for) any differences in taxes for the new flights. The problem may be that AS has a policy (I believe) that no backtracking is allowed on an award so some agents might not be willing to change NRT-ORD to NRT-ORD-LAX (since ORD-LAX could be considered by some as backtracking) even though you might be able to book this on the website. If you were able to book NRT-ORD-LAX on the website it would be no problem to change this to NRT-LAX if space became available. Also if you had NRT-(F)-ORD-(Y)-LAX (ORD-LAX in coach) and F award space became available for your ORD-LAX segment you could change the award for no fee (I believe even for no status folks).

One thing I have heard but not experienced since I mostly book one-ways is that AS has a policy that you cannot make changes to an award after the first segment of the award is flown (except for Irregular Operations on the day of travel). It would be better for someone more versed in the policy to comment but I believe this would mean, for example, if you ticketed a round-trip LAX-NRT with a NRT-ORD-LAX return you could not change the return portion of the trip after you have flown the outbound (which would mean in this case that you would be stuck with the NRT-ORD-LAX return flight once you have flown the outbound even if a non-stop NRT-LAX opened up). So, for you, with MVPG status and free changes, it is probably better to book two one-ways rather than one round-trip so that you keep your options open for return flight changes.

VegasGambler

Re:backtracking, I had no trouble booking SFO-ORD-NRT when SFO-HND had no availability.

tobikosan

Thank you. SKIMTHETREES:
For example on AS using calendar if I try to book LAX-TOKYO in F on Dec 4th there is no availability in JAL F. If I try to book LAX-HKG on same date then the JAL LAX-TOKYO segment is available. I find this on multiple days and on multiple routes. For example on the return while I can't find TOKYO-LA late Dec I can find NRT to NYC that flies the NRT-LAX JAL F then adds on a LAX-JFK main cabin the next day

skimthetrees

You do not need calendar search for this close in. I think I see what you are talking about. I am guessing you are attempting to book for 2 people? AS shows 1F award available LAX-TYO but not 2F. Searching for 2 AS finds as you describe LAX-TYO(F), TYO(Y)-HKG. BA does not show this. QF does show this. My guess is this is either a POS (Point of Sale) issue or a difference in partner availability. The availability of JL61 on 12/4 is F2 A2 (only 2 F seats left for sale) and I would not normally expect to see the last F seat go for an award this early but it may later. But...., given the fact that both QF and AS show 2F to HKG I would think you have a chance to book this. I would try it. Once it tickets (not before), and this may not happen immediately, then I think you could drop the TYO-HKG segment. Ordinarily you should be able to drop the NRT-HKG segment once booked but before ticketing but this situation is not ordinary. I think if you try to drop the NRT-HKG before ticketing you will be stuck in a new availability check and find only 1F LAX-HKG.

I would definitely try to ticket LAX-NRT-HKG for 2F if you really want it and then ONLY AFTER it tickets drop the NRT-HKG segment. Until you see that AS has issued the tickets and both ticket numbers appear in the reservation you will need to wait. If it takes more than 24 hours to ticket I would call back and ask them to ticket while you are on the phone. I think there is good chance this will work. It may not, but I would risk it, especially if I were MVPG like you since if it does not work out you will only be out the partner fee. This, of course, assumes you have a strategy for a return flight.

Edited to Add: There are 2J awards LAX-NRT on 12/3 if J works for you. Also 2F on 12/4 via SFO.

tobikosan

Thank you again. Yes looking for 2 F awards. My return strategy was the second example, where no TYO-LAX for two but plenty of TYO-LAX-JFK or TYO-ORD-LAX. FYI not free until after the 6th.

skimthetrees

So, you're not free on the 6th? Because there is 2F available LAX-NRT on 12/6 right now.

I would keep checking regularly for availability to open up for days 12/7 and later. Especially around 5PM PST which is around when JAL does their daily inventory update.

tobikosan

Hmmm. Awesome, thank you. So it does not show up in AS calendar search but does when you do it manually day by day. So much to learn.

Deltahater

This married segment thing is a major PITA. I have KOA-NRT (3/3) //HND-SIN (3/9) and want to move the HND-SIN back one day. HND-SIN is available in J on 3/10, but not for KOA-NRT (3/3) and then HND-SIN on 3/10. Having to have the entire int available again makes it soooo much harder.

skimthetrees

This should not be an issue if you already have KOA-NRT (3/3). They should be able to keep that segment without doing a new availability check for it and change the HND-SIN to 3/10 since it is available. The agent was trying to completely replace the itinerary which is wrong. You should hang up and call again. If the agent is not able to do it after you explain that the original segments were obviously not married (since they are more than 24 hours apart they cannot be connecting as married) they should be able to keep the KOA-NRT segment and add a new segment if there is availability, which there is. They can do this.

DG206

Since AS does not book (anyone anyone anymore as I can tell) premium economy, anyone have any luck calling JAL and buying up to PE?

rustykettel

DG206

Thanks for info, will look into that. Looks like Economy on JAL is pretty decent to begin with so not end of the world if we get stuck in the back

rustykettel

DG206

we'll have a lap infant so really looking to avoid 3-3-3 here, not fun we've found. Might just splurge and do business, lap infant is 10% adult fare which comes out to about the cost of 1 PE paid upgrade

Flying for Fun

AS no longer guarantees a lap infant on partner awards. As per their website you will need to redeem for a seat for the infant.

Lap infant ticketing: We are no longer able to guarantee that lap infants will be accepted with your international partner award ticket.
Until further notice, Mileage Plan members will need to book seats for infants at the standard mileage rate on international partner award bookings. For travel wholly within the US, or wholly on Alaska Airlines, standard lap infant policies apply.

James