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 5, 2018, 9:22 pm
#1576
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
AAdvantage is still great compared to Delta.
I'm in SFO, let's say I want to fly lie flat to JFK tonight.
AA: 50,000 (1-1 seating in Flagship First)
DL: 147,500 (2-2 seating in "Delta One")
Both are nonstop flights departing in the 10pm hour.
I'm in SFO, let's say I want to fly lie flat to JFK tonight.
AA: 50,000 (1-1 seating in Flagship First)
DL: 147,500 (2-2 seating in "Delta One")
Both are nonstop flights departing in the 10pm hour.
Mar 5, 2018, 9:27 pm
#1578
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Some would say July 1, 1989 was the beginning of the end 
Mar 5, 2018, 9:28 pm
#1579
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
Been busy so haven't booked tickets recently, now the program is a total joke. Quasi-revenue based (as soon as tickets reach certain price point, remove all seats from inventory), hide available seats from partners (12.5k savers unavailable on BA), no inventory on flights where there is inventory to use same exact flight as a connection, etc. When was all this changed?
I am curious. Do they tell you the remaining segment is unavailable (assuming you were unable to book that segment without the other)?
Mar 5, 2018, 9:28 pm
#1580
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,329
Been busy so haven't booked tickets recently, now the program is a total joke. Quasi-revenue based (as soon as tickets reach certain price point, remove all seats from inventory), hide available seats from partners (12.5k savers unavailable on BA), no inventory on flights where there is inventory to use same exact flight as a connection, etc. When was all this changed?
(Great for them, not for you...)
Mar 5, 2018, 9:30 pm
#1581
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,007
I concur. For my usual mid-con domestic route, I did an award search recently... Last minute one way costs around $500. Delta wanted 60,000 miles for that $500 ticket. AA and UA only 12,500 miles. Even with the $75 "expedite fee" the grass is greener for many awards on AA.
Mar 5, 2018, 9:31 pm
#1582
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,988
Been busy so haven't booked tickets recently, now the program is a total joke. Quasi-revenue based (as soon as tickets reach certain price point, remove all seats from inventory), hide available seats from partners (12.5k savers unavailable on BA), no inventory on flights where there is inventory to use same exact flight as a connection, etc. When was all this changed?
Those ffp's that are revenue based?
Married segments?
Saver awards? (as can be used by ff partners award)
The grass in not always greener on the other side
Mar 5, 2018, 9:35 pm
#1583
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 394
It's a flight from FLL to ORD which shows no saver award tickets, but multiple saver tickets if you book FLL-ORD-EWR, same exact first flight. I think I'm just screwed.
Mar 5, 2018, 9:37 pm
#1584
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 394
I'm just comparing it to 5 years ago when they didn't play this many games. More availability and clear as to what is available.
Mar 5, 2018, 9:40 pm
#1585
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Mar 5, 2018, 10:03 pm
#1586
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 394
Trying to use BA points, and 1) they're not sharing the saver availability on the flight to their "partner" BA, and 2) you can't do that with BA points, you have to pay for both flights individually. Now, if they'd show the availability to their "partner" for the first half of the "saver" award I'd be set. I know there are seats...this has become such a joke.
Mar 5, 2018, 10:27 pm
#1587
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
Several key dates that led to AAdvantage downfall over the years:
December 9, 2013:takeover by merger with US Airways closed
April 8, 2014: stopovers eliminated, Anytime Award prices raised (with no notice)
March 22, 2016: many sAAver award prices raised
May 11, 2016: Suzanne Rubin announces resignation
August 1, 2016: earnings become spend based
January 1, 2017: PQD added
December 9, 2013:
April 8, 2014: stopovers eliminated, Anytime Award prices raised (with no notice)
March 22, 2016: many sAAver award prices raised
May 11, 2016: Suzanne Rubin announces resignation
August 1, 2016: earnings become spend based
January 1, 2017: PQD added
Mar 5, 2018, 10:37 pm
#1588
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
OK, I am not this advanced, and I bet that me using BA miles to book an AA ticket makes this even less likely? "Uh...i put this on hold, now drop half...now open up the other half so I can go into my BA account and..."
It's a flight from FLL to ORD which shows no saver award tickets, but multiple saver tickets if you book FLL-ORD-EWR, same exact first flight. I think I'm just screwed.
It's a flight from FLL to ORD which shows no saver award tickets, but multiple saver tickets if you book FLL-ORD-EWR, same exact first flight. I think I'm just screwed.
BA doesn't (or "don't, depending on your version of English) make all award seats open to AA customers, and vice versa.
There is no requirement that award availability be the same among OW members.
Mar 5, 2018, 10:44 pm
#1589
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
WN will also jack up its WGA redemption rate for higher demand travel days.
Mar 5, 2018, 10:54 pm
#1590
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,015
I concur. For my usual mid-con domestic route, I did an award search recently... Last minute one way costs around $500. Delta wanted 60,000 miles for that $500 ticket. AA and UA only 12,500 miles. Even with the $75 "expedite fee" the grass is greener for many awards on AA.
