ARCHIVE: Success stories of award booking on Etihad using AA miles
Feb 10, 2013, 11:35 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Yes I have noticed this too. Quite possibly a result of the increase in F redemptions with AA partnership. When the partnership started it was not uncommon to see the entire F cabin available for redemption. Now I never see more than 2. For a family of four, we'd have to do 2F and 2J to have any chance of getting us all on the same trip
Feb 10, 2013, 11:45 am
#47
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,499
I agree with the frustration. Though sometimes with as few as 6 seats in an F cabin (like CX), it's understandable
Feb 10, 2013, 3:50 pm
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Feb 10, 2013, 4:26 pm
#49
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,499
Very true. Would not be unreasonable to open up 4 in J particularly given they must often fly half empty. I have seen a few flights where J opens up in the seven days before departure, but that doesn't work for me when going with family. Vacations center around school breaks and in the summer around swim meets. Not much flexibility!
Feb 10, 2013, 5:05 pm
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Very true. Would not be unreasonable to open up 4 in J particularly given they must often fly half empty. I have seen a few flights where J opens up in the seven days before departure, but that doesn't work for me when going with family. Vacations center around school breaks and in the summer around swim meets. Not much flexibility!
Feb 10, 2013, 5:11 pm
#51
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Programs: UA GS, AA Exec Plat, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 348
Feb 11, 2013, 4:32 am
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Feb 11, 2013, 7:23 pm
#53
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ECP
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 1,658
Has anyone used NH or AA to book EY awards 320+ days out? NH agents see much more award space 250-300 days out and absolutely zero 325-330 days out.
Feb 12, 2013, 11:59 am
#54
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,632
Last year, I was able to book EY ORD-AUH-DEL and return 331 days in advance, in J, with AAdvantage miles, over the peak travel period in the second half of Dec 2012. For Dec 2013, however, there is absolutely nothing for ORD-AUH and back.
Feb 12, 2013, 1:14 pm
#55
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, AC *S, Marriott Gold Elite, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 9,689
I was able to get 1 seat in J YYZ-AUH-KHI abot 6 weeks in advance. Very easy booking process and only $60 of tax!
Feb 12, 2013, 1:41 pm
#56
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: centurion
Posts: 157
Just booked a flight SYD - AUH 1st class, very happy as its a long flight on a nice product. Question for any SYD experts: will this ticket allow me to use the Qantas loounge at SYD i.e. it is all one terminal I think, so given its an AA code share, is this sufficient?
Feb 12, 2013, 2:29 pm
#57
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
Feb 12, 2013, 3:30 pm
#58
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: centurion
Posts: 157
Thanks, I thought as a code share AA flight it might work, but the Air NZ lounge in SYD is quite okay IIRC so perfectly acceptable
Feb 12, 2013, 4:01 pm
#59
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ECP
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 1,658
I'm guessssssing that EY releases space to partners after several weeks in order to give their own members first pick. Not unreasonable, but I wish I knew the way it's released so I can plan... I also can't seem to figure out why the wide open space extends into December for AUH-USA, but only until Nov 30 for the other direction...