wandering_fred

My one free luggage in the USA and the availability of QF domestic awards is why I haven't given up totally on AA. When the historic miles are gone? Well I won't let them expire and we'll see what tomorrow brings/

Happy wandering

Fred

bdlman

I hadn't realized how horrible things have gotten. I have an elderly person I am trying to get a business/first class saver ticket for. super flexible on airports and dates.

I was looking for ANY date in later June, July, August or September from JFK, LGA ewr, bos, Btv, alb to ANY of the la airports. I can't find a single date, I know it's summer but doesn't that seem rediculous?? I understand that alot of dates they would want no savers but doesn't it seem crazy there are no dates from so many airports.

Adelphos

Sorry if I wasn't clear - I have thought about crediting all of my AA and Delta flights to American as a NYC flier, predominately to get Alaska miles. However, as someone who has a lot of Alaska miles to begin with through credit cards, I have not been able to use those miles the way I want. In particular, I like to redeem miles for last minute domestic trip at the "anytime" level (whether its Delta, American, or whatever). Alaska doesn't have access to partner inventory in the "anytime" level, only at the saver level, so availability is limited for my purposes. So while it is easy to earn a lot of Alaska miles, for me, it is difficult to burn them. If Alaska had access to all award inventory on American, BA, whatever, it would be a no brainer to credit to them.

stheller

I can find absolutely no availability in Bus/First Milesaver from DFW to PHL for any month that I look at on the calendar. Unless I want to take two hops in regional jets, one of which doesn't even have a premium cabin.

How can AA advertise non-existent products like "Bus/First Milesaver"? Is there anything we can do about it?

eponymous_coward

I imagine nobody would ever credit to AA if AS's program could do everything AA's program could do, but better. But that's fantasy (there is precisely no incentive for AA to allow for this); we might as well be musing on when free ponies are coming to AAdvantage.

If you are primarily interested in spending at AAnytime for domestic last minute flights out of an AA hub, obviously AA is the better program. But your situation might be different from the original poster I was responding to.

diver858

Keep in mind that you are attempting to find saaver award inventory between 2 major international hubs, so there is LOTS of competition.

If the trip is several months out, you can book the 2 stop, hope for a schedule change between booking and departure, then call and ask for the nonstop - have done it several times, always works. You can also set alerts for the desired flights on EF, change if they become available (often within a week or so of departure).

bdlman

yeah but there is also SO SO many connection potential that should exist between hubs. AA just isn't releasing any saver inventory. When there is nothing between DFW and PHL or the entire Northeast and so cal over months they are not releasing them. There are so many random cities between DFW and PHL you could connect thru. On UA i often see them offering EWR-MCI-DEN for example cause they actually have some saver seats. Random connection cities should show even if the non-stops are all in high demand. They are not releasing them except super close in.

Explorer789

There's a ton of savers available right now for thanksgiving week. Even non-stops for LAX-JFK.

I guess it just depends on what time frame you are looking for

stheller

It's actually 1-stop but it isn't even in "first class" the whole way, even regional jet "first class". See the image for an example, but every day is basically the same, i.e., no availability for even regional jet "first class".

I have written to AA about this and got an unresponsive "answer" about how I can't expect availability on every flight. I responded by saying, "Of course not, but there should be inventory available on SOME flights."

cyber1k

AAdvantage miles redemption is ridiculous and has little value any longer. As a CK, I have experienced no greater saaver award inventory. AA has shot itself in the foot. Why bother earning miles that cannot be redeemed at any reasonable level with any reasonable effort?

JIMCHI

Agree 100% !

giants_fan

I'm right there with you. I've barely touched my miles in the last year, and with a new baby coming, I don't see any big trips for a while. It doesn't stop me from looking, though, and the lack of award space for advance travel is sickening. If and when we plan for a vacation, we'll either have to do it last-second... or I'll have to beg revenue management to open some seats... or perhaps AAdvantage miles are best spent redeeming for hotels now.

stheller

I did get another answer back from AA customer service, where the representative said that she shared my comments with Revenue Management. Maybe if enough people do that, they will listen.

Radiant Flyer

I think this is the point AA wants to make, they want you to pay if you want to fly, if you want an upgrade... show them the money. Since consumers now have little choices when they want to fly Airline loyalty is a thing of the past.

Alex_I

In my experience, MileSaver availability decreased even further during last ca. 6 months. You are right that there is no availability for F/J for direct flights DFW-PHL during the summer. However, one-way fares are as low as $332 ai for one way.

What we can do about MileSaver availability? Personally, I have cancelled or stopped using AA credit cards and also start flying other airlines as fit my schedule. You can post on Facebook or Twitter but I don't think AA is listening.