Searching award flights
Jun 6, 2019, 5:38 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: OZ Diamond *A Gold / Delta Gold
Posts: 775
Searching award flights
Hello,
I'd like to book some award flights for my mother in law. I was wondering if she could do ICN / JFK and come back 3 weeks later roughly in July, Aug or Sep, in business class.
I used the website from ANA but I find no answer at all. Does that mean there is no seat at all in those 3 months?
What would you guys do in my case?
Any chance that the rep on the phone finds some seats?
I'd like to book some award flights for my mother in law. I was wondering if she could do ICN / JFK and come back 3 weeks later roughly in July, Aug or Sep, in business class.
I used the website from ANA but I find no answer at all. Does that mean there is no seat at all in those 3 months?
What would you guys do in my case?
Any chance that the rep on the phone finds some seats?
Jun 6, 2019, 9:51 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,166
July August September 2019? That's peak travel season for summer vacation, will be tough to find awards now. Your best bet it short notice availability, typically two weeks or less before. But would probably mean that you need to book via a program that allows for one way bookings, so you can do each direction separately. The rsik of course that you might not get a ticket for one of the directions, or need a pretty creative routing.
Jun 6, 2019, 11:06 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: OZ Diamond *A Gold / Delta Gold
Posts: 775
July August September 2019? That's peak travel season for summer vacation, will be tough to find awards now. Your best bet it short notice availability, typically two weeks or less before. But would probably mean that you need to book via a program that allows for one way bookings, so you can do each direction separately. The rsik of course that you might not get a ticket for one of the directions, or need a pretty creative routing.
Jun 7, 2019, 12:31 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,166
ANA release their award inventory 360 days out, and popular options gets blocked quickly. Especially around peak travel periods.
Additonal inventory can be released, there is no guarantee however. Mostly, this tend to happen 14 days before for premium cabins. But as ANA allows for wait listing for awards, any additonal releases may not show, but just be booked immediately.
Check frequently, be flexible on routes, days, and carries, and something may pop up.
Jun 13, 2019, 1:26 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 371
>No, if ANA's website does not show availability, calling ANA will not help
Curious, is this the same with partner availability as well? Few years back I found that I could get better partner options when I called in.
These days it seems like the online system is better and more accurate.
Curious, is this the same with partner availability as well? Few years back I found that I could get better partner options when I called in.
These days it seems like the online system is better and more accurate.
Jun 13, 2019, 4:12 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,166
>No, if ANA's website does not show availability, calling ANA will not help
Curious, is this the same with partner availability as well? Few years back I found that I could get better partner options when I called in.
These days it seems like the online system is better and more accurate.
Curious, is this the same with partner availability as well? Few years back I found that I could get better partner options when I called in.
These days it seems like the online system is better and more accurate.