Only 1 First Class MileSAAver Award Available?
Sep 7, 2009, 11:47 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: SPG Platinum,Hilton Diamond,Hyatt Diamond,WN Companion Pass, AA Plat, Hertz Plat
Posts: 226
Only 1 First Class MileSAAver Award Available?
I'm trying to take the Mrs. on a much need vacation to Hawaii. Usually, I plan far in advance, but this time I'm looking at travelling right before Christmas and yes, I realize this is a popular time to go to Hawaii.
I want to fly both of us in First using MileSAAver awards.
When I conduct the search for 2 tickets, practically nothing shows up.
Then I look at flying from LAX to HNL on 12/16/09 and 1 First MileSAAVer tik is available, so I put it on hold and proceed to select my seat and the entire first class section is wide open! Is AA really only allocating 1 First MileSAAver ticket for these flights?
I try the same thing for the return flight from Maui (OGG) to LAX on 12/24/09 and it's the exact same story. When I try for 2 tickets there is no availability. When I change the request to 1 tik, I can book it. I then check for a seat assignment and I'm the only one in first??!!
I called the Gold desk and the agent had no explanation.
I did try a search for this problem in the forum.
Is AA really only allowing 1 Z ticket First Mile SAAver on these flights??
Thanks in advance for your help.
I want to fly both of us in First using MileSAAver awards.
When I conduct the search for 2 tickets, practically nothing shows up.
Then I look at flying from LAX to HNL on 12/16/09 and 1 First MileSAAVer tik is available, so I put it on hold and proceed to select my seat and the entire first class section is wide open! Is AA really only allocating 1 First MileSAAver ticket for these flights?
I try the same thing for the return flight from Maui (OGG) to LAX on 12/24/09 and it's the exact same story. When I try for 2 tickets there is no availability. When I change the request to 1 tik, I can book it. I then check for a seat assignment and I'm the only one in first??!!
I called the Gold desk and the agent had no explanation.
I did try a search for this problem in the forum.
Is AA really only allowing 1 Z ticket First Mile SAAver on these flights??
Thanks in advance for your help.
Sep 7, 2009, 12:10 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,967
Wirelessly posted (Apple iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20)
Yes, you have answered your own question. AA Revenue Management has decided to release only one MileSAAver First seat on that routing. So, if you search for 2, it won't show up.
If you were EXP, you could try asking the EXP Desk to "ping" a request to RM for one additional seat, but as a GLD, it is not gonna happen. And before everyone jumps down your throat, let me politely point out that there is no Gold Desk.
You said it right. You're looking for award availability to a resort destination at peak season. It is entirely reasonable for RM to be very stingy with capacity-controlled award inventory.
You could always buy one of the tickets and upgrade it with miles+copay. Or do one AAnytime award and one MilesAAver. Or go at a different time of year.
Yes, you have answered your own question. AA Revenue Management has decided to release only one MileSAAver First seat on that routing. So, if you search for 2, it won't show up.
If you were EXP, you could try asking the EXP Desk to "ping" a request to RM for one additional seat, but as a GLD, it is not gonna happen. And before everyone jumps down your throat, let me politely point out that there is no Gold Desk.
You said it right. You're looking for award availability to a resort destination at peak season. It is entirely reasonable for RM to be very stingy with capacity-controlled award inventory.
You could always buy one of the tickets and upgrade it with miles+copay. Or do one AAnytime award and one MilesAAver. Or go at a different time of year.
Last edited by ESpen36; Sep 7, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Sep 7, 2009, 2:21 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PIT/DFW/MEL; AA Exec. Platinum & 4MM, QF WP
Posts: 7,689
I'm trying to take the Mrs. on a much need vacation to Hawaii. Usually, I plan far in advance, but this time I'm looking at travelling right before Christmas and yes, I realize this is a popular time to go to Hawaii.
I want to fly both of us in First using MileSAAver awards.
When I conduct the search for 2 tickets, practically nothing shows up.
Then I look at flying from LAX to HNL on 12/16/09 and 1 First MileSAAVer tik is available, so I put it on hold and proceed to select my seat and the entire first class section is wide open! Is AA really only allocating 1 First MileSAAver ticket for these flights?
I try the same thing for the return flight from Maui (OGG) to LAX on 12/24/09 and it's the exact same story. When I try for 2 tickets there is no availability. When I change the request to 1 tik, I can book it. I then check for a seat assignment and I'm the only one in first??!!
I called the Gold desk and the agent had no explanation.
I want to fly both of us in First using MileSAAver awards.
When I conduct the search for 2 tickets, practically nothing shows up.
Then I look at flying from LAX to HNL on 12/16/09 and 1 First MileSAAVer tik is available, so I put it on hold and proceed to select my seat and the entire first class section is wide open! Is AA really only allocating 1 First MileSAAver ticket for these flights?
I try the same thing for the return flight from Maui (OGG) to LAX on 12/24/09 and it's the exact same story. When I try for 2 tickets there is no availability. When I change the request to 1 tik, I can book it. I then check for a seat assignment and I'm the only one in first??!!
I called the Gold desk and the agent had no explanation.
Personally I'm surprised there's even 1 Z seat, at least this far out. If the seats don't sell as fast as the computer expects, more will open up.
Ever since MileSAAver replaced PlanAAhead, there is no fixed commitment for any particular number of saver level seats. All of the allocations are dynamic.
Sep 7, 2009, 2:57 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: AA Gold, *wood Gold, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 928
[QUOTE=ESpen36;12343615]Wirelessly posted (Apple iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20)
If you were EXP, you could try asking the EXP Desk to "ping" a request to RM for one additional seat, but as a GLD, it is not gonna happen. And before everyone jumps down your throat, let me politely point out that there is no Gold Desk.
QUOTE]
Could you then explain why when I call it says gold desk and the material on AA.com indicates there are gold and plat desks? Obviously, AA thinks they have a gold desk or they wouldn't identify it as such when I call it and am told to enter my advantage number.
If you were EXP, you could try asking the EXP Desk to "ping" a request to RM for one additional seat, but as a GLD, it is not gonna happen. And before everyone jumps down your throat, let me politely point out that there is no Gold Desk.
QUOTE]
Could you then explain why when I call it says gold desk and the material on AA.com indicates there are gold and plat desks? Obviously, AA thinks they have a gold desk or they wouldn't identify it as such when I call it and am told to enter my advantage number.
Sep 7, 2009, 3:08 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PIT/DFW/MEL; AA Exec. Platinum & 4MM, QF WP
Posts: 7,689
well, "desk" does mean you get to the front of the calling queue and you get addressed "as if from" a special desk... if it's a slack time for EXP's you might even get an EXP agent covering overflow...
Sep 7, 2009, 3:34 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP (2MM), HHonors Diamond
Posts: 443
Doesn't surprise me in the least. As someone mentioned, it's not hard to sell seats to Hawaii around Xmas, so why should they be generous with the free seats? Not only that, but you are a little late to the game. I am actually traveling with a companion to Maui this month on the nonstop from DFW and I booked our tickets last October (Z class) and at that I had to choose some alternative dates.......at over 300 days out. So being we're only three months from when you want to travel I'm surprised there is even one seat left.
Sep 7, 2009, 3:56 pm
#8
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
There is an EXP Desk - actually, more than one, but we won't spend time there (particularly after they closed the BDL / Windsor Locks, CT office.)
There is one other "desk" in this context - with several numbers, including the general number, Gold and Platinum numbers. You get the same agents, the calls are merely prioritized.
AA doesn't think they have a Gold Desk, they merely position the Gold number as such.
There is one other "desk" in this context - with several numbers, including the general number, Gold and Platinum numbers. You get the same agents, the calls are merely prioritized.
AA doesn't think they have a Gold Desk, they merely position the Gold number as such.
Sep 7, 2009, 4:01 pm
#9
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Seat charts merely show which seats have been assigned - some seats may be sold without assignment, and are often so sold, as in the cases of tour groups or cruise bookings. So, seeing unassigned seats doesn't mean the cabin is open, and it certainly doesn't mean the airline is not "betting" (via its RM / YM software) it will sell those seats (for money or full miles, especially at that time of year.)
Others have given you good advice - grab the SAAver seat, and use full miles or money + miles to acquire the other. If you are a true gambler, you can wait to see if another award SAAver seat will be released on the same flight, but you might have better odds playing the tables at 'Vegas on this one.
Others have given you good advice - grab the SAAver seat, and use full miles or money + miles to acquire the other. If you are a true gambler, you can wait to see if another award SAAver seat will be released on the same flight, but you might have better odds playing the tables at 'Vegas on this one.
<snip>
Then I look at flying from LAX to HNL on 12/16/09 and 1 First MileSAAVer tik is available, so I put it on hold and proceed to select my seat and the entire first class section is wide open! Is AA really only allocating 1 First MileSAAver ticket for these flights?
I try the same thing for the return flight from Maui (OGG) to LAX on 12/24/09 and it's the exact same story. When I try for 2 tickets there is no availability. When I change the request to 1 tik, I can book it. I then check for a seat assignment and I'm the only one in first??!!
I called the Gold desk and the agent had no explanation.
I did try a search for this problem in the forum.
Is AA really only allowing 1 Z ticket First Mile SAAver on these flights??
Thanks in advance for your help.
Then I look at flying from LAX to HNL on 12/16/09 and 1 First MileSAAVer tik is available, so I put it on hold and proceed to select my seat and the entire first class section is wide open! Is AA really only allocating 1 First MileSAAver ticket for these flights?
I try the same thing for the return flight from Maui (OGG) to LAX on 12/24/09 and it's the exact same story. When I try for 2 tickets there is no availability. When I change the request to 1 tik, I can book it. I then check for a seat assignment and I'm the only one in first??!!
I called the Gold desk and the agent had no explanation.
I did try a search for this problem in the forum.
Is AA really only allowing 1 Z ticket First Mile SAAver on these flights??
Thanks in advance for your help.
Sep 7, 2009, 7:18 pm
#10
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
I notice no one has mentioned the Alaska option, though it would involve a Seattle connection. Is there any prohibition on using them for partner awards to Hawaii?
Sep 7, 2009, 8:36 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PIT/DFW/MEL; AA Exec. Platinum & 4MM, QF WP
Posts: 7,689
I would not maintain any firm expectations, however, about Christmas week availability on the partners...
Sep 7, 2009, 8:43 pm
#12
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
By "in combination with AA" are you saying there has to be a segment in there on AA metal? I was in Victoria last month using Alaska/Horizon, and didn't need an AA segment in there. Is this something unique to Hawaii routes, or am I just reading too much into what you wrote?
Sep 8, 2009, 7:27 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Bend, IN
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,560
Hey, if the OP takes the 1 saver award and then buys another ticket, he'll be living up to his screen name!
Sep 8, 2009, 8:51 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,222
By "in combination with AA" are you saying there has to be a segment in there on AA metal? I was in Victoria last month using Alaska/Horizon, and didn't need an AA segment in there. Is this something unique to Hawaii routes, or am I just reading too much into what you wrote?
Sep 8, 2009, 5:33 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PIT/DFW/MEL; AA Exec. Platinum & 4MM, QF WP
Posts: 7,689