Jan 25, 14, 3:56 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Be sure to check the lengthy http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...elections.html and oneworld and Other Airline (Partner) Awards info, rules 2014 on threads, as many members have posted questions - and useful answers - there. See the wiki posts for informative summaries.
Also be aware - AA have reduced capacity and apparently chosen to make MileSAAver flights significantly less available during predicted periods of high demand and high demand flights, undoubtedly keeping seats available for those willing to pay higher fares and use the new tiered AAnytime awards.
Older posts as of 1 Jan 2015 and later may be found in thd archived thread ARCHIVE: MileSAAver / SAAver award reduction discussion post 2015 AAdvantage merger
Older posts may dating from Aug 2011 through the AAdvantage program merger January 2015 be found in the archived thread here.
MileSAAver / SAAver award reduction / scarcity discussion
Jan 16, 17, 11:47 am
#76
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,893
So nothing replaces an actual search for availablity.
Without searching for availability, how in the world does a list of carriers help? With a search for availability, why do you even need a list of carriers with better availability - they'll either show up in your search or not.
There are valid reasons to create lists of carriers, such as which ones have better seats, better service, whatever, but I don't see the point of an abstract list of carriers that have better availability.
Jan 16, 17, 11:49 am
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,893
AA is not showing 5 legs -after no luck with OMA-HEL I started brainstorming and did a search OMA-MAN landing around 7 am (57.5k) then put in LHR-HEL and it shows 22.5k is available so I know I can get there for 80k. My question is will I be able to book this routing for only 57.5k?
Jan 16, 17, 1:22 pm
#78
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Omaha
Programs: AA Life Plat 4mm, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,434
No, I had to call. I tried everything for early July - the stupid AY phantom inventory kept messing me up so I finally on a lark put in OMA-MAN and 2 J Saver seats showed on AA metal - thinking I could always then pay my from MAN-HEL; BA showed award availability, she was skeptical it would work but I now have 2 ticket numbers. Talk about a long trip we leave at 7am and arrive 11:45pm the next day, at least now I can search periodically to a find better routing.
Jan 16, 17, 4:01 pm
#79
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,383
No, I had to call. I tried everything for early July - the stupid AY phantom inventory kept messing me up so I finally on a lark put in OMA-MAN and 2 J Saver seats showed on AA metal - thinking I could always then pay my from MAN-HEL; BA showed award availability, she was skeptical it would work but I now have 2 ticket numbers. Talk about a long trip we leave at 7am and arrive 11:45pm the next day, at least now I can search periodically to a find better routing.
How would your transit work? At MAN you'd enter the UK to fly to LHR, then at LHR you exit the UK to fly to HEL? Holy hell that sounds painful!
Hopefully your bags will be tagged all the way through ...
Jan 16, 17, 4:02 pm
#80
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,383
Oh man that sounds painful ... I'm hoping the award gods have mercy on you and open up JFK-HEL space. Because otherwise ...
How would your transit work? At MAN you'd enter the UK to fly to LHR, then at LHR you exit the UK to fly to HEL? Holy hell that sounds painful!
Nice job finding all that space though. Hard to use AA pesos without getting creative these days. Hopefully your bags will be tagged all the way through ...
How would your transit work? At MAN you'd enter the UK to fly to LHR, then at LHR you exit the UK to fly to HEL? Holy hell that sounds painful!
Nice job finding all that space though. Hard to use AA pesos without getting creative these days. Hopefully your bags will be tagged all the way through ...
Jan 16, 17, 5:27 pm
#81
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
Jan 16, 17, 9:12 pm
#82
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Omaha
Programs: AA Life Plat 4mm, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,434
Oh man that sounds painful ... I'm hoping the award gods have mercy on you and open up JFK-HEL space. Because otherwise ...
How would your transit work? At MAN you'd enter the UK to fly to LHR, then at LHR you exit the UK to fly to HEL? Holy hell that sounds painful!
Hopefully your bags will be tagged all the way through ...
How would your transit work? At MAN you'd enter the UK to fly to LHR, then at LHR you exit the UK to fly to HEL? Holy hell that sounds painful!
Hopefully your bags will be tagged all the way through ...
I realize Saver inventory has deteriorated but I will be very surprised if I don't improve on this. Does AY ORD-HEL ever really come available?
Jan 16, 17, 9:50 pm
#83
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
I didn't even think about entry issues, please tell me this won't be a pain, land at MAN 7am leave 9:50 - don't leave LHR until 6:40p. We pack light (summer) so will carry on.
I realize Saver inventory has deteriorated but I will be very surprised if I don't improve on this. Does AY ORD-HEL ever really come available?
I realize Saver inventory has deteriorated but I will be very surprised if I don't improve on this. Does AY ORD-HEL ever really come available?
I wouldn't worry too much about the connection at MAN. Almost 3 hours is enough time, unless your JFK-MAN flight is very delayed. Plus, you have plenty of time in LHR so being put on the next flight wouldn't be a problem, I imagine.
Jan 16, 17, 9:57 pm
#84
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
I've been researching AY space for the summer as it fits my plans, and successfully booked 3 J tix MIA-HEL and onward in EU.
ORD-HEL showed spotty availability -- either none or one, sometimes two -- during the July timeframe I was searching. JFK-HEL seemed to have (at least according to the BA site) much, much better availability, even showing "5 left" on a few dates.
I realize BA can show some phantom availability as well, but AA was able to see and ticket what I found for my needs with no problems.
ORD-HEL showed spotty availability -- either none or one, sometimes two -- during the July timeframe I was searching. JFK-HEL seemed to have (at least according to the BA site) much, much better availability, even showing "5 left" on a few dates.
I realize BA can show some phantom availability as well, but AA was able to see and ticket what I found for my needs with no problems.
Jan 17, 17, 9:28 am
#85
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 4,615
Based on my prior experiences trying to book one of those award seats showing on BA.com, what you're seeing here is almost certainly all phantom availability.
Jan 17, 17, 11:46 am
#86
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
Most of this didn't show up properly on aa.com, and what AY space *did* show up, was never bookable online. I called AA to book, fed the agent the date, route and flight #, and had it booked in 10min.
So, may be worth a shot calling up AA and asking.
Jan 17, 17, 11:54 am
#87
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CLT
Programs: AA PPro; Avis PC; Hertz PC; Marriott LT Gold; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,090
Not disputing anyone's prior experience, but I was able to locate on BA's site, and then book, 3 J awards on AY's MIA-HEL and HEL-BUD in the mid-July peak summer travel period.
Most of this didn't show up properly on aa.com, and what AY space *did* show up, was never bookable online. I called AA to book, fed the agent the date, route and flight #, and had it booked in 10min.
So, may be worth a shot calling up AA and asking.
Most of this didn't show up properly on aa.com, and what AY space *did* show up, was never bookable online. I called AA to book, fed the agent the date, route and flight #, and had it booked in 10min.
So, may be worth a shot calling up AA and asking.
Jan 17, 17, 12:17 pm
#88
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 78
Just tried to upgrade our flights to Hawaii in September. "No availability" and this is 9 months out! Not even one seat available as an award upgrade. Talk about scarcity. Now what to do with the 246,000 miles we have sitting in my husband's account. Guess we will have to find someplace else to fly to burn them off .... if we can.
Jan 17, 17, 9:39 pm
#89
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,869
Just tried to upgrade our flights to Hawaii in September. "No availability" and this is 9 months out! Not even one seat available as an award upgrade. Talk about scarcity. Now what to do with the 246,000 miles we have sitting in my husband's account. Guess we will have to find someplace else to fly to burn them off .... if we can.
If you're amenable to a first class award (instead of upgrade), have you checked Alaska (AS) availability? They tend to be better with first class awards to Hawaii with lots of gateways from the west coast.
-FlyerBeek
Jan 17, 17, 10:36 pm
#90
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 78
Unfortunately we are very far from any Alaska airlines route. 
Guess when we upgraded on American to first class this past April we must have been lucky. Both are mid week flights and booking 9 months out. This time I was even a little earlier booking.
Guess when we upgraded on American to first class this past April we must have been lucky. Both are mid week flights and booking 9 months out. This time I was even a little earlier booking.
