Finnair (AY) Award Availability

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Nov 1, 2023, 7:12 pm

#151

VegasGambler

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2014

Posts: 10,904

Quote:

Originally Posted by minz56

This isn't quite true. While there is only one booking code, airlines can restrict availability using dynamic availability options, eg restricting by point of sale. Here's a link to what Amadeus offer. I believe that Sabre has the same kind of options.

https://amadeus.com/en/portfolio/air...c-availability

Whether this is the reason for the discrepancy between AY availability I don't know. It could be IT related.

I didn't say it was impossible, just unlikely. I've never actually seen any partner doing this. The closest I've ever seen was Etihad, who used to have POS restrictions on some awards, making booking them through AA difficult. It still wasn't impossible; you just had to call AA in the right country. I'm not sure if they still do this. I still have some Google voice credit from the $10 I loaded up to call AA desks all over the world trying to book Etihad apartments to India.

Nov 1, 2023, 7:17 pm

#152

atcanobbio

Join Date: Jun 2006

Location: PNW

Programs: AS 100K

Posts: 1,552

Quote:

Originally Posted by VegasGambler

That seems unlikely. Most airlines have one booking code per class of service that they use for partner awards, and it's the same for all partners. Either there is availability or there isn't.

I've never seen a mismatch between AA and AS for AY awards before.

While award booking class is the same across partners, it's interesting how the space does not equally show up on all programs. I wonder if some partners block some partners more than others. I would not think so but who knows. Maybe it's just an IT thing. Just earlier this year, when QF dumped a bunch of J/F space, AS and AA could not see it but BA could. Just last week, I booked HEL-SEA for August 2024. QF and IB showed a single U seat. BA, AA, and AS did not. Come to think of it, even Expertflyer didn't show any U space lol, so I figured it was phantom. Thankfully, I had a good stash of Avios (thanks to a xfer bonus) and I booked it through IB, hoping it'd ticket. it did!

Nov 3, 2023, 1:24 am

#153

Mister P.

Join Date: Dec 2016

Posts: 639

Yes, I had not encountered this kind of AY award space restrictions on Alaska before. I explained the agent that I could see (U) award space on AA, AY and BA for ICN-HEL, and asked whether she could check with the Alaska partner desk. Agent said she was the partner desk (!)

Nov 3, 2023, 5:24 pm

#154

QT31415

Join Date: May 2008

Location: "the world is my country"

Programs: Alaska 100K (aka OWS)

Posts: 811

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister P.

All agents are "the partner desk" these days. Means nothing. Most don't know where DPS or CPT is and can look for partner awards just like you can, but that's it. If you have a complicated partner award question, ask for a PIC lead and prepare for a lengthy hold time. One of the many cutbacks that AS has given their loyal customers.

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