Possible to ask to open up award space on a short domestic leg to complete itinerary?
May 8, 2018, 10:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 5
Possible to ask to open up award space on a short domestic leg to complete itinerary?
I'm looking to book an award CGK-HKG-LAX-SFO in F with the first two legs on CX and the last on AS (no CX award space HKG-SFO on the day I want), but even though every F seat on the AS flight is for sale, there are no award seats available. I tried asking one AS agent if it was possible to put in a request to open a seat to complete the itinerary, but she said that no such process exists. Is this reality or is this a HUCA situation?
May 8, 2018, 10:41 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
I'm looking to book an award CGK-HKG-LAX-SFO in F with the first two legs on CX and the last on AS (no CX award space HKG-SFO on the day I want), but even though every F seat on the AS flight is for sale, there are no award seats available. I tried asking one AS agent if it was possible to put in a request to open a seat to complete the itinerary, but she said that no such process exists. Is this reality or is this a HUCA situation?
I have a similar problem--I'm landing at LAX on New Year's Eve on a CX J award, and there's no saver space that evening or the next day LAX-SEA--so I know that if it doesn't open up at some point I'll just have to buy the segment myself. That's life with awards.
May 8, 2018, 10:45 pm
#3
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
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I'm looking to book an award CGK-HKG-LAX-SFO in F with the first two legs on CX and the last on AS (no CX award space HKG-SFO on the day I want), but even though every F seat on the AS flight is for sale, there are no award seats available. I tried asking one AS agent if it was possible to put in a request to open a seat to complete the itinerary, but she said that no such process exists. Is this reality or is this a HUCA situation?
Alternately: buy cheap Y on AA, don't use the SFO-LAX segment on your award (maybe take a layover in LAX and get a free AS F flight LAX-Mexico/Hawaii), and instead of Alaska Lounge access in LAX you get Qantas F lounge or AA Flagship... oneworld access rules allows access in LAX based on INCOMING flight (but only for OW onward flights, not for AS ones).
May 9, 2018, 4:54 am
#4
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
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'To complete itinerary.' Are you an American AAdvantage refugee? That's a term I associate with AA - which, did, indeed, have such a request (until a few years ago, IIRC).
May 9, 2018, 6:48 am
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
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Not its not a possibility, they will not open space for you. Buy a separate ticket or if you absolutely need it on the same ticket, see if they will let you pay for a separate XYZ-SFO at the going points rate (which is a waste of points)
May 9, 2018, 7:08 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 216
Or book the flights with the last leg in economy, and watch for seats to open up. We did that for a flight in August, it took about 2 weeks before three seats in first opened up---in a cabin with only 12 seats! Once they open up you can call and get upgraded.
May 9, 2018, 9:36 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
This. There’s a reason upgrades are easier on short flights — it’s because almost nobody wants to pay for the seats because F isn’t worth anything on a 337 mile stage length. That also means there’s a reasonable chance F space will open later.
If you have a F award that goes into Y because space isn’t available, do you automatically get Premium? I’m guessing not...
If you have a F award that goes into Y because space isn’t available, do you automatically get Premium? I’m guessing not...
May 9, 2018, 1:37 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 5
Is Y available? We're talking a 400 mile flight...
Alternately: buy cheap Y on AA, don't use the SFO-LAX segment on your award (maybe take a layover in LAX and get a free AS F flight LAX-Mexico/Hawaii), and instead of Alaska Lounge access in LAX you get Qantas F lounge or AA Flagship... oneworld access rules allows access in LAX based on INCOMING flight (but only for OW onward flights, not for AS ones).
Alternately: buy cheap Y on AA, don't use the SFO-LAX segment on your award (maybe take a layover in LAX and get a free AS F flight LAX-Mexico/Hawaii), and instead of Alaska Lounge access in LAX you get Qantas F lounge or AA Flagship... oneworld access rules allows access in LAX based on INCOMING flight (but only for OW onward flights, not for AS ones).
Thanks! This is something I hadn't known about before, and the agent I spoke to didn't either, but after putting me on a long hold, she came back and said she's just learned how to do it.
May 9, 2018, 6:58 pm
#10
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great, i am serious when i say it probably won't clear though, AS often releases upgrade (U) space before low level award (A) space. doesn't make much sense, but it is what it is. given the overall frequency on LAX-SFO, the chances are better than average but that is not saying much.