Jan 25, 2014, 2:56 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
Mar 30, 2017, 8:51 am
#721
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 812
If you just pay for the DSM-XXX, you would find it much easier.
The DSM-XXX is termed as position flight. From smallish places like DSM, it is exceedingly hard to have that segment incorporated into the award, but not that difficult to buy a ticket to get to XXX or return from XXX.
As you can see from the Wiki, DSM does not have a whole lot of options when it comes to flights. ORD seems to be your best bet. Then from there you get to a gateway city for flights to SYD.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Des_Mo...tional_Airport
The award travel booking service certainly would be helpful, but they too, could not find you a flight with award seat for DSM-XXX if there is none available. Chances are, for secondary airports, award seats are very hard to come by. The solution is a position flight that may even involve a connection at ORD or DFW or PHX to get to LAX if using AA, or if you are lucky to find QF DFW-SYD, then you only need DSM-DFW. QF also flies JFK-LAX-SYD, but then it is the "long way" due to backtracking. AA does allow you to do that but it is not easy to find QF seats. Or DSM-ATL-LAX if using DL.
Here is SYD airport info on which airlines fly from where to SYD.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Airport
You can go thru the DSM and SYD wiki and figure out HOW you can get to the US gateways for the flights to SYD. As you can see, LAX is the primary US airport to use.
Not sure if DL allows you to go thru Seoul on KE, that can also be a possibility as KE serves quite a bit of US cities and then you go thru ICN to SYD.
The DSM-XXX is termed as position flight. From smallish places like DSM, it is exceedingly hard to have that segment incorporated into the award, but not that difficult to buy a ticket to get to XXX or return from XXX.
As you can see from the Wiki, DSM does not have a whole lot of options when it comes to flights. ORD seems to be your best bet. Then from there you get to a gateway city for flights to SYD.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Des_Mo...tional_Airport
The award travel booking service certainly would be helpful, but they too, could not find you a flight with award seat for DSM-XXX if there is none available. Chances are, for secondary airports, award seats are very hard to come by. The solution is a position flight that may even involve a connection at ORD or DFW or PHX to get to LAX if using AA, or if you are lucky to find QF DFW-SYD, then you only need DSM-DFW. QF also flies JFK-LAX-SYD, but then it is the "long way" due to backtracking. AA does allow you to do that but it is not easy to find QF seats. Or DSM-ATL-LAX if using DL.
Here is SYD airport info on which airlines fly from where to SYD.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Airport
You can go thru the DSM and SYD wiki and figure out HOW you can get to the US gateways for the flights to SYD. As you can see, LAX is the primary US airport to use.
Not sure if DL allows you to go thru Seoul on KE, that can also be a possibility as KE serves quite a bit of US cities and then you go thru ICN to SYD.
Mar 30, 2017, 7:52 pm
#722
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Carlsbad,CA USA
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanuim/Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Gold, United Silver
Posts: 1,533
Here is something also to watch. I was looking at Business/First Flights from SAN-SYD or CNS. When I did a calendar search by dates it did show multiple Saver Business flights at 80k and First Class at 110K, but the long important leg for SFo or LAX to Australia was in coach.
Mar 31, 2017, 2:42 am
#724
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: AA LT PLT 3 MM+, BA (very) Blue, CO nobody
Posts: 2,640
Here is something also to watch. I was looking at Business/First Flights from SAN-SYD or CNS. When I did a calendar search by dates it did show multiple Saver Business flights at 80k and First Class at 110K, but the long important leg for SFo or LAX to Australia was in coach.
UA lists these types of awards as mixed cabin upfront and by clicking on the link it clearly identifies which segment is in what class without going any further with the search.
Just another possible improvement in the way AA awards can be searched more easily and clearly. Not to mention showing awards for ALL OW members, like UA does. Why this cannot be accomplished is not entirely clear to me.
Mar 31, 2017, 5:18 am
#725
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,967
Correct and moreso 99% of the time it's the shorter, less important leg that's coach not the over the water longer segment.
Apr 2, 2017, 11:02 am
#726
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Murcia, Spain
Programs: AADVANTAGE, Iberia Plus, BA Exec Blue, Hertz #1Gold, HHonors Gold, AS, Paradores Amigos
Posts: 505
Over the past couple of months I've been keeping an eye on what may be available for two of us (Milesaaver First domestic flights). We each have 50K to use, having been persuaded by AA to top up what we'd earned by buying more.
I was finding availability here and there and was hopeful that, when flights started becoming available for our trip next April-May, we would be able to make some (if not best) use of our miles. (Last year we had SLC-PHX-ANC and ANC-SEA-CLT-DCA with which we were rather pleased!)
Now I'm seeing nothing for two people. If I drop down from 2 to 1 passengers there is a little availability, but for two? Nah! Is this now the norm, maximum of 1 First Milesaaver Award per flight?
Our US gateway is a little flexible, depending on what awards we might get, as are our domestic airports within the area we wish to visit. And we have 3 domestic flights, of which we'd hope to book 2 as award flights. But dates are fixed.
Though I have been looking at all days of the week, is Sunday a poor day for awards as a rule?
I was finding availability here and there and was hopeful that, when flights started becoming available for our trip next April-May, we would be able to make some (if not best) use of our miles. (Last year we had SLC-PHX-ANC and ANC-SEA-CLT-DCA with which we were rather pleased!)
Now I'm seeing nothing for two people. If I drop down from 2 to 1 passengers there is a little availability, but for two? Nah! Is this now the norm, maximum of 1 First Milesaaver Award per flight?
Our US gateway is a little flexible, depending on what awards we might get, as are our domestic airports within the area we wish to visit. And we have 3 domestic flights, of which we'd hope to book 2 as award flights. But dates are fixed.
Though I have been looking at all days of the week, is Sunday a poor day for awards as a rule?
Apr 2, 2017, 11:49 am
#727
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 271
Apr 2, 2017, 8:14 pm
#728
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
As the trip is more than 300 days away, it is also worth booking the second ticket with a less optimal 2-stop itinerary, expecting there are will be at least one schedule change between now and then, a phone call or 2 (HUCA) should result in both passengers ending up with the same itinerary.
Apr 3, 2017, 12:36 am
#729
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Murcia, Spain
Programs: AADVANTAGE, Iberia Plus, BA Exec Blue, Hertz #1Gold, HHonors Gold, AS, Paradores Amigos
Posts: 505
Not unusual, I have had some success booking one, revenue management would release a second shortly thereafter. Bit of a risk, but if you are able to cover the second ticket should it not become available, well worth it.
As the trip is more than 300 days away, it is also worth booking the second ticket with a less optimal 2-stop itinerary, expecting there are will be at least one schedule change between now and then, a phone call or 2 (HUCA) should result in both passengers ending up with the same itinerary.
As the trip is more than 300 days away, it is also worth booking the second ticket with a less optimal 2-stop itinerary, expecting there are will be at least one schedule change between now and then, a phone call or 2 (HUCA) should result in both passengers ending up with the same itinerary.
I subscribed for a month to Expert Flyer and this confirmed to me that Milseaavers seem to be an almost extinct creature (as you all know on here anyway!). Difficult to find ANY on ANY flight that I looked at. I vented my displeasure to AA via Twitter message yet again. Not that will change anything but it helped my BP!
Apr 3, 2017, 6:35 am
#730
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: AA LT PLT 3 MM+, BA (very) Blue, CO nobody
Posts: 2,640
Apr 3, 2017, 10:20 am
#731
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Murcia, Spain
Programs: AADVANTAGE, Iberia Plus, BA Exec Blue, Hertz #1Gold, HHonors Gold, AS, Paradores Amigos
Posts: 505
If we were to blow our miles on two (one for each of us) AAnytime First awards, instead of my driving myself insane looking for Saavers, it would mean booking under two Aadvantage numbers as we have the 50K each in our two accounts. Is there a neat way we can ensure booking the same flights online (having first ensured two seats were available on each flight) or would I have to call (yuk!)? Thanks.
In the "good old days" it used to be a pleasure calling the AAdvantage line in Dublin and getting someone from around Europe who was helpful, friendly and knowledgeable as well as, generally, speaking good English and understanding it. Wait times were short too. Aaaah, nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
In the "good old days" it used to be a pleasure calling the AAdvantage line in Dublin and getting someone from around Europe who was helpful, friendly and knowledgeable as well as, generally, speaking good English and understanding it. Wait times were short too. Aaaah, nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
Last edited by johnash; Apr 3, 2017 at 10:23 am Reason: Nostalgic addition.
Apr 3, 2017, 10:37 am
#732
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,896
If we were to blow our miles on two (one for each of us) AAnytime First awards, instead of my driving myself insane looking for Saavers, it would mean booking under two Aadvantage numbers as we have the 50K each in our two accounts. Is there a neat way we can ensure booking the same flights online (having first ensured two seats were available on each flight) or would I have to call (yuk!)? Thanks.
In the "good old days" it used to be a pleasure calling the AAdvantage line in Dublin and getting someone from around Europe who was helpful, friendly and knowledgeable as well as, generally, speaking good English and understanding it. Wait times were short too. Aaaah, nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
In the "good old days" it used to be a pleasure calling the AAdvantage line in Dublin and getting someone from around Europe who was helpful, friendly and knowledgeable as well as, generally, speaking good English and understanding it. Wait times were short too. Aaaah, nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
Apr 3, 2017, 10:43 am
#733
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Murcia, Spain
Programs: AADVANTAGE, Iberia Plus, BA Exec Blue, Hertz #1Gold, HHonors Gold, AS, Paradores Amigos
Posts: 505
Apr 3, 2017, 10:43 am
#734
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
This is fine advice, but I'll also note that one of the few good things remaining about AAdvantage is that AAnytime awards have last seat availability, meaning that any flight with seats for sale will be available. They're also quite flexible if you need to change to a different flight. So I wouldn't stress too much about perfectly synchronizing this; even if one of the flights somehow sold out between booking a first and second tickets, it would be easy to move the initial reservation to a different flight.
Apr 3, 2017, 12:54 pm
#735
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Murcia, Spain
Programs: AADVANTAGE, Iberia Plus, BA Exec Blue, Hertz #1Gold, HHonors Gold, AS, Paradores Amigos
Posts: 505
This is fine advice, but I'll also note that one of the few good things remaining about AAdvantage is that AAnytime awards have last seat availability, meaning that any flight with seats for sale will be available. They're also quite flexible if you need to change to a different flight. So I wouldn't stress too much about perfectly synchronizing this; even if one of the flights somehow sold out between booking a first and second tickets, it would be easy to move the initial reservation to a different flight.
