Best ways to search ANA award availability?
May 5, 2020, 11:32 am
#16
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,469
Thanks.
You are right.
I wrongly used ANA's availability check tool by using option for -3day/+3days option ticked (my mistake).
Magically, when I tick this option, the web site doesn't show correct award availability.
For example, when I searched -3day/+3days availability for 17Jan (i.e, from 14Jan to 20Jan), it doesn't show any availability.
However, as you wrote, there are spaces on 17Jan and 18jan.
You are right.
I wrongly used ANA's availability check tool by using option for -3day/+3days option ticked (my mistake).
Magically, when I tick this option, the web site doesn't show correct award availability.
For example, when I searched -3day/+3days availability for 17Jan (i.e, from 14Jan to 20Jan), it doesn't show any availability.
However, as you wrote, there are spaces on 17Jan and 18jan.
May 6, 2020, 2:50 am
#17
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Japan
Programs: NH Diamond, JL JGC Diamond, BA Gold Guest List(Gold for life), CX Diamond
Posts: 1,580
Yeah, I have talked with ANA's agent intensively.
According to ANA, it isn't buggy, it is feature.
That option is super UNFRIENDLY user interface and doesn't provide information about its behavior and feature.
For example, even when you specify the first class, it shows availability if availability exists in any class.
For round trip search, if there is no availability in outbound segment, it shows no availability for inbound segment even availability exists in the inbound segment.
ANA says it is the tool's feature.
According to ANA, it isn't buggy, it is feature.
That option is super UNFRIENDLY user interface and doesn't provide information about its behavior and feature.
For example, even when you specify the first class, it shows availability if availability exists in any class.
For round trip search, if there is no availability in outbound segment, it shows no availability for inbound segment even availability exists in the inbound segment.
ANA says it is the tool's feature.
May 6, 2020, 9:44 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: ANA Diamond, JAL JGC Sapphire, Asiana Gold, Marriott Ambassador Elite, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 102
I think I read somewhere that for members with no status, only 2 seats are released at all per flight, meaning you’d have to find a day where no one has booked.
May 7, 2020, 6:30 am
#20
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 152
I've compared seat maps for flights when I could see 2 business class awards available and flights that did not. There are a number of instances when they look identical - 16D, 16H, 20D, and 20H are the only unavailable seats. To your point about status, perhaps only 1 business class award is initially available to non-status members on the weekends when the calendar first opens up?
May 7, 2020, 7:05 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: ANA Diamond, JAL JGC Sapphire, Asiana Gold, Marriott Ambassador Elite, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 102
Oh yes, it does change by day. Search the forum, I think someone posted the exact numbers. There are more released for Platinum and then more for Diamond I think also (depends on class, too).
May 17, 2020, 7:08 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2020
Location: United States
Programs: ANA Mileage Club
Posts: 1
EVA has blocked some award tickets to *A partners, including ANA. For North America specifically on LAX-TPE and YYZ-TPE route during the peak, and I can hardly find availability on JFK-TPE in Dec. From my experience ANA award ticket engine is the most reliable in *A, that is, generally you can book the award ticket from ANA only if you can actually see it on the website unless there's some YQ calculation problems.
May 18, 2020, 1:27 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,469
EVA has blocked some award tickets to *A partners, including ANA. For North America specifically on LAX-TPE and YYZ-TPE route during the peak, and I can hardly find availability on JFK-TPE in Dec. From my experience ANA award ticket engine is the most reliable in *A, that is, generally you can book the award ticket from ANA only if you can actually see it on the website unless there's some YQ calculation problems.
Sep 29, 2022, 4:57 pm
#24
Join Date: May 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, UA, DL, NSA, CIA, MIB
Posts: 537
If I'm looking to get from Tokyo to LAX OW in J and I'm using the search that basically tells me I have to do a RT and I find the flight that has availability for the inbound (not waitlisted) could I use that inbound flight info to call VS and have them book it for me? Or will NH have a fit and not allow it?
Sep 29, 2022, 5:30 pm
#25
Join Date: Jan 2022
Programs: ANA Diamond, JAL JGC, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 250
ANA has different availability for their own programme than for partners. It’s possible Virgin can’t see that availability, but if you have no status with ANA it should be about the same.
Sep 30, 2022, 10:59 am
#26
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Socal
Programs: UA Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Amex Plat, CSR
Posts: 207
If I'm looking to get from Tokyo to LAX OW in J and I'm using the search that basically tells me I have to do a RT and I find the flight that has availability for the inbound (not waitlisted) could I use that inbound flight info to call VS and have them book it for me? Or will NH have a fit and not allow it?
Sep 30, 2022, 5:27 pm
#27
Join Date: May 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, UA, DL, NSA, CIA, MIB
Posts: 537
Sep 30, 2022, 10:18 pm
#28
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 10
You should look for the same flight on United.com and see if it shows up accordingly as award space. If it does and it is less than 330 days out you can book on VS. If not you would have to wait until it is.
Oct 2, 2022, 2:14 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: southUSA
Posts: 398
Anyone have any idea if the 1 J seat on most all longhaul flights is accurate? AC, UA and NH web search tools themself agree, but it seems crazy that NH is only releasing 1 J seat across the board. Ive noticed this for around a year now but I really want to take NH to Jakarta next year.
Oct 4, 2022, 5:12 pm
#30
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TYO / WAS / NYC
Programs: American Express got a hit man lookin' for me
Posts: 4,596
I've been eyeing the SFO-HND redeye on a particular date for months now. Set up an ExpertFlyer alert, and zero availability opened up until today (T-21). Now UA shows 4 business awards available and the seat map is half empty. So.... patience, grasshoppers.