AS ranks last in award availability, per Wall Street Journal
May 16, 2018, 3:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA PLT/5MM; AS MVP GLD 75K; DL DM; EK SLV; HHonors DIAM; Marriott GLD
Posts: 4,092
AS ranks last in award availability, per Wall Street Journal
May 16, 2018, 7:32 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Snohomish, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,796
This is specifically looking at "saver" award availability but I can't find the actual report to see what they mean by saver. Can I always find award flights for 5k on my favourite award route? No. Can I find them at 7.5k? Yes, if I'm willing to adjust my travel by a day or two either way.
Seems like another weird "we're airline experts" report from people who don't know what they're talking about.
Seems like another weird "we're airline experts" report from people who don't know what they're talking about.
May 16, 2018, 7:48 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
http://www.ideaworkscompany.com/wp-c...ard-Survey.pdf
May 16, 2018, 7:59 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,509
Not buying it. WN may claim 100% WGA availability, but they are "priced" dynamically, not always a good redemption value. Also don't believe the 82.1% for AA, unless this too allows for dynamic "prices" - particularly for weekend travel. It appears AS is being penalized for honest use of a mid-tier award bucket.
May 16, 2018, 9:12 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Snohomish, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,796
IdeaWorks has been doing this a long time. They have their detractors but their methods here are sound.
http://www.ideaworkscompany.com/wp-c...ard-Survey.pdf
http://www.ideaworkscompany.com/wp-c...ard-Survey.pdf
Do I really care if there's no 5k award on my route when I can get a 7.5k award? No.
May 16, 2018, 9:56 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
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If it's a $49 fare, it does matter -- and I personally would probably pay cash whether it's a 5k award or a 7.5k award. But the bottom line for me would be the value I am getting for my points, not what the absolute number of points is I am spending.
May 16, 2018, 12:42 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Snohomish, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,796
Which this survey doesn't look at either.
May 16, 2018, 1:25 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
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May 16, 2018, 1:31 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
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A number of those busiest long haul and busiest medium haul routes for the majors are going to be hub-hub routes where frequencies (and opportunities for awards) are going to be higher, particularly at unpopular times of day.
May 16, 2018, 1:32 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: MVP Gold, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 170
Anecdotally, when looking for international award space, finding the correct domestic availability to match the international flight has been increasingly difficult. Again though, that's just my observation and don't know if its indicative of a larger availability trend.