[award to Asia] "Try and call back tomorrow to see if seats have opened up."
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 36
[award to Asia] "Try and call back tomorrow to see if seats have opened up."
If I hear the above message can I assume no seats?
Trying to book Economy international ticket for Dec 2012, but only availability is Business/First.
Does economy "open up" about a month prior to my ticket, making daily calling until December be wasted effort since I'm so far out until boarding date?
Thanks much.
Trying to book Economy international ticket for Dec 2012, but only availability is Business/First.
Does economy "open up" about a month prior to my ticket, making daily calling until December be wasted effort since I'm so far out until boarding date?
Thanks much.
#2
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AA EXP - 2.4 mm, Starwood PLT
Posts: 427
Are you trying to book an AA award ticket? If so Have you considered using the online booking tool? Also expert flyer may be useful and can notify of availability. Only reason I can think to actually call would be for a Partner Award.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, LH Senator *Gold, AA EXP OWE Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,556
expertflyer.com will alert you when seats open up. No need to keep calling.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 36
I have to call since its a trip to Asia (Cathay/Japan Air) so the site won't let me book...
thanks for the tip on expertflyer.. I'm looking to book with my miles (not $$$) so hopefully they have that option on their site, since I know seats reserved for miles are much less.
thanks for the tip on expertflyer.. I'm looking to book with my miles (not $$$) so hopefully they have that option on their site, since I know seats reserved for miles are much less.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, LH Senator *Gold, AA EXP OWE Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,556
awardnexus.com is another great site for checking award avails for almost all airlines, including CX and JL.
#6
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
If you could tell us a little bit more about your plans, we might be able to be a bit more helpful. E.g. mentioning it is an award trip, your ultimate destination, timeline, etc. might result in more helpful answers.
As well there are copious award threads that might offer additional information; it is likely this will be merged into one of them.
As well there are copious award threads that might offer additional information; it is likely this will be merged into one of them.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,731
I have to call since its a trip to Asia (Cathay/Japan Air) so the site won't let me book...
thanks for the tip on expertflyer.. I'm looking to book with my miles (not $$$) so hopefully they have that option on their site, since I know seats reserved for miles are much less.
thanks for the tip on expertflyer.. I'm looking to book with my miles (not $$$) so hopefully they have that option on their site, since I know seats reserved for miles are much less.
For CX inventory, JL website is the most reliable source - it matches 100% with AA's.
For JL inventory, I believe some new government rules have made the award seats now are not bookable further than 6 months out. I dont remember whether it is for all JL award seats.
In any case, you can sign up a BA FF membership and use BA award booking engine to search for the availability - this would be more reliable than use JL's own because JL's may make more awards available for its own members while what BA sees should match with what AA sees.
#8
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
...
In any case, you can sign up a BA FF membership and use BA award booking engine to search for the availability - this would be more reliable than use JL's own because JL's may make more awards available for its own members while what BA sees should match with what AA sees.
In any case, you can sign up a BA FF membership and use BA award booking engine to search for the availability - this would be more reliable than use JL's own because JL's may make more awards available for its own members while what BA sees should match with what AA sees.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,731
FYI, notwithstanding wait-list availability, I have never seen a case where JAL award seats available to its own member is not available to other partner airlines. In other words, JAL does not reserve any special inventory for its own members and any award seat is available to everyone.
#10
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,335
For JL inventory, I believe some new government rules have made the award seats now are not bookable further than 6 months out. I dont remember whether it is for all JL award seats.
In any case, you can sign up a BA FF membership and use BA award booking engine to search for the availability - this would be more reliable than use JL's own because JL's may make more awards available for its own members while what BA sees should match with what AA sees.
In any case, you can sign up a BA FF membership and use BA award booking engine to search for the availability - this would be more reliable than use JL's own because JL's may make more awards available for its own members while what BA sees should match with what AA sees.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,731
I never heard of it before either until I have come across several such reported incidents in past month or two, scattered among various threads - it seems OneWorld award booking is not affected but All Partner award is.
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
If you search AA forum you would find several posts on this seemingly newly imposed rules by the Japanese government. Or so the AA members are being told, (by EXP desk no less). Dont remember whether it only affects domestic JL flights or including the Int'l flights also.
I never heard of it before either until I have come across several such reported incidents in past month or two, scattered among various threads - it seems OneWorld award booking is not affected but All Partner award is.
I never heard of it before either until I have come across several such reported incidents in past month or two, scattered among various threads - it seems OneWorld award booking is not affected but All Partner award is.
#13
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,335
And you won't be able to book domestic awards 6 months out anyway. And not to mention I get the impression that those EXP agents aren't that reliable anyway...just read about they didn't even know how to look for the right inventory to ticket QF F two days ago on AA forum
#14
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,335
I have not read such thing on AA board and the search didn't give me any results. Do you have the links?
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
There are several posts reporting that an AA agent refused to book a JL domestic flight more than 6 months in advance of the flight, citing a Japanese government regulation. The agent subsequently admitted he or she was in error because the regulation does not apply to international itineraries that happen to include JL domestic flights. This has happened for both oneworld awards and all-partner awards.