how best to check award availability? business to Europe
Apr 16, 2011, 11:26 pm
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: Marriott, Delta, United, AA
Posts: 315
how best to check award availability? business to Europe
So i called AA res number to check for a one way business class ticket from Athens Greece (or Naples/Rome Italy as secondary choices) to NY or ORD. For unique reasons i could go to Chicago or NY after the trip and im willing to travel to Italy if i have to.
AA res told me that there is nothing available and i have searched almost every date in July.
As this a non-AA destination Athens/Naples at least how is it best to partners?
I am even willing to overnight in Europe for a night or two in London or Budapest or Madrid. I cant believe that there is nothing nothing in all of July
What are the tricks the experts use to search the one world availability. I hate that i cant find availability online myself.
I had a similar situation on co 800 number recently for a trip where i was told nothing. Within minutes i found multiple options connecting using multiple partners on continental.com but thankfully their website lists partners for award travel so it was easy. I bet i could come up with some combo if i could search online what do the experts recommend for one world?
AA res told me that there is nothing available and i have searched almost every date in July.
As this a non-AA destination Athens/Naples at least how is it best to partners?
I am even willing to overnight in Europe for a night or two in London or Budapest or Madrid. I cant believe that there is nothing nothing in all of July
What are the tricks the experts use to search the one world availability. I hate that i cant find availability online myself.
I had a similar situation on co 800 number recently for a trip where i was told nothing. Within minutes i found multiple options connecting using multiple partners on continental.com but thankfully their website lists partners for award travel so it was easy. I bet i could come up with some combo if i could search online what do the experts recommend for one world?
Last edited by bdlman; Apr 16, 2011 at 11:37 pm
Apr 17, 2011, 4:40 am
#2
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
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Posts: 14,828
you might be able to use the ba site for your routing....i think that they fly to/from athens & on to ny....i think you will have register to use it....
the experts trick is to look for july flights the prior august....
i would check on aa.com for an award from mad/cdg/fra/bru/lhr/fco to jfk/ord...if you find the aa part, call aa and see if a partner flight might be available or buy 1....good luck....
good luck...
the experts trick is to look for july flights the prior august....
i would check on aa.com for an award from mad/cdg/fra/bru/lhr/fco to jfk/ord...if you find the aa part, call aa and see if a partner flight might be available or buy 1....good luck....
good luck...
Apr 17, 2011, 4:48 am
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
Programs: aa plt 4.9MM LTAC
Posts: 14,828
i just looked at fco-jfk & any time awards seen to be available....good luck...
edit to add....we have a similar problem....want dfw-bdl 12/23 & ret 12/27...no saver 1ston the non stops [don't want conx]....i'm not surprised....but, have had luck w/stickers in years past....however, looking at $650 ea...not hijacking your thread, just offering condolences from a kindred soul...i hope you find something....
edit to add....we have a similar problem....want dfw-bdl 12/23 & ret 12/27...no saver 1ston the non stops [don't want conx]....i'm not surprised....but, have had luck w/stickers in years past....however, looking at $650 ea...not hijacking your thread, just offering condolences from a kindred soul...i hope you find something....
Last edited by clacko; Apr 17, 2011 at 5:22 am
Apr 17, 2011, 6:13 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: 6E Westbound, 4E Eastbound
Programs: AA EXP & 3MM, Priority Club Plat since 1984
Posts: 6,293
There are no saver awards into the New York area at all this summer. It is 100K per ticket each way or nothing.
But. There is a work around of sorts. Try flying into Hartford or another neighboring location. You may get routed through Chicago, but there are saver seats avaiable. (oddly, if you list ORD it won't go through, but BDL will with a connection in ORD)
Good luck!
But. There is a work around of sorts. Try flying into Hartford or another neighboring location. You may get routed through Chicago, but there are saver seats avaiable. (oddly, if you list ORD it won't go through, but BDL will with a connection in ORD)
Good luck!
Apr 17, 2011, 6:42 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,598
I've been monitoring the Saver Awards into FCO for July and August. FCO has turned out to be a difficult ticket this year. I've not seen a J Saver anywhere in the schedule going all the way to 330 days out. With only two flights per day into FCO, it appears they can sell their daily inventory of 56 J seats. About 3-4 weeks ago, even the Y Saver Awards seemed to dry up for this summer.
I booked my Y Saver last Fall to lock in at 30K miles and have been waiting to see if J Savers ever open up. At this point, I have no expectation of this happening. BA may be the only option, but I didn't want to pay the BA fuel charges. I booked (DCA-ORD-FCO) 3 Y seats for $15 taxes + 90K miles.
My return is from CDG in J. Those seats appear to also be gone from Saver availability. That was an incredible bargain, (CDG-DFW-SJC) 3 J seats for $390 taxes + 150K miles.
I booked my Y Saver last Fall to lock in at 30K miles and have been waiting to see if J Savers ever open up. At this point, I have no expectation of this happening. BA may be the only option, but I didn't want to pay the BA fuel charges. I booked (DCA-ORD-FCO) 3 Y seats for $15 taxes + 90K miles.
My return is from CDG in J. Those seats appear to also be gone from Saver availability. That was an incredible bargain, (CDG-DFW-SJC) 3 J seats for $390 taxes + 150K miles.
Apr 17, 2011, 5:38 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
So i called AA res number to check for a one way business class ticket from Athens Greece (or Naples/Rome Italy as secondary choices) to NY or ORD. For unique reasons i could go to Chicago or NY after the trip and im willing to travel to Italy if i have to.
AA res told me that there is nothing available and i have searched almost every date in July.
As this a non-AA destination Athens/Naples at least how is it best to partners?
I am even willing to overnight in Europe for a night or two in London or Budapest or Madrid. I cant believe that there is nothing nothing in all of July
What are the tricks the experts use to search the one world availability. I hate that i cant find availability online myself.
I had a similar situation on co 800 number recently for a trip where i was told nothing. Within minutes i found multiple options connecting using multiple partners on continental.com but thankfully their website lists partners for award travel so it was easy. I bet i could come up with some combo if i could search online what do the experts recommend for one world?
AA res told me that there is nothing available and i have searched almost every date in July.
As this a non-AA destination Athens/Naples at least how is it best to partners?
I am even willing to overnight in Europe for a night or two in London or Budapest or Madrid. I cant believe that there is nothing nothing in all of July
What are the tricks the experts use to search the one world availability. I hate that i cant find availability online myself.
I had a similar situation on co 800 number recently for a trip where i was told nothing. Within minutes i found multiple options connecting using multiple partners on continental.com but thankfully their website lists partners for award travel so it was easy. I bet i could come up with some combo if i could search online what do the experts recommend for one world?
[KVS Availability Tool 6.1.2/Diamond - Amadeus: Awards/OneWorld/AU-QFA-SP1]
Code:
ATH Athens Eleftherios Venizelos GR [LGAV] MAD Madrid Barajas ES [LEMD] FRI 01 Jul 2011 | 1 Seat Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------ IB 3883 ATH 07:10 MAD 10:05 321 CS+ YS+ IB 3887 ATH 14:05 MAD 17:00 320 CS+ YS+ IB 3885 ATH 16:50 MAD 19:40 321 CS+ YS- MA 231 ATH 05:15 BUD 06:15 73G CS+ YS- -> MA 580 BUD 10:25 MAD 13:35 73G
Code:
MAD Madrid Barajas ES [LEMD] NYC New York Metro NY US = JFK LGA FRI 01 Jul 2011 | 1 Seat Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------ IB 6253 MAD 16:50 JFK 19:05 340 FS- CS+ BA 455 MAD 07:05 LHR 08:20 767 FS+ CS- -> BA 185 LHR 10:15 EWR 13:00 777 IB 6275 MAD 11:55 ORD 14:15 340 FS+ CS+ -> AA 358 ORD 15:40 LGA 19:05 M83 IB 3172 MAD 15:25 LHR 16:45 321 FS+ CS- -> BA 183 LHR 20:00 JFK 22:35 744
Apr 18, 2011, 1:22 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, SPG Gold, HH Gold, PC Platinum
Posts: 232
How does the KVS availability tool work? Is it free?
Apr 18, 2011, 1:33 am
#8
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Join Date: Nov 2008
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Posts: 315
Thanks KVS
I will definitely look into that tool. It looks extremely useful!
I will definitely look into that tool. It looks extremely useful!
Apr 18, 2011, 10:01 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Please see the http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...l#post11971225 thread and http://Levels.KVSTool.com/ for membership options.
You're welcome!
You're welcome!
Apr 19, 2011, 1:57 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: AA Lifetime PLT , BA Silver , BD RIP , HH Gold, SPG / Marriott PLT , EF Subscriber
Posts: 6,702
Iberia via Madrid looking at separate sectors on BA.com^
IMHO Iberia's TATL Business Class is also superior to AA, avoid a stopover of more than 24 Hours in UK or your Air Taxes will treble.
IMHO Iberia's TATL Business Class is also superior to AA, avoid a stopover of more than 24 Hours in UK or your Air Taxes will treble.
Apr 19, 2011, 8:44 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA Platinum, 2 Million Miles
Posts: 1,248
I just signed up for ExpertFlyer after a 3 year absence. Pissed to find that they dont support Iberia for awards.
Oh well. Just $10 down the drain. Will give KVS a look. Last time I used KVS (very long time ago), they were free.
Oh well. Just $10 down the drain. Will give KVS a look. Last time I used KVS (very long time ago), they were free.
Apr 23, 2011, 8:37 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 288
It takes data from free airline websites, yet it is not free. In the case of OW, Qantas and BA. So you can get the same data by using those websites directly.
KVS is no longer free, even though the underlying data is. For a solution that has a free version, I use AwardNexus. It uses the same QF and BA airline websites for the OW award search to get the data.
KVS is no longer free, even though the underlying data is. For a solution that has a free version, I use AwardNexus. It uses the same QF and BA airline websites for the OW award search to get the data.
Apr 24, 2011, 10:59 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 288
Not at all. The topic of this thread is award availability, of which all comes from free websites (airlines). Same goes for regular availability and most everything else.
Apr 24, 2011, 12:45 pm
#15
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