Last edit by: JDiver
Awards: Success stories of award booking on Etihad using AA miles (>= 2015)
This thread is about our members' successful award bookings on Etihad / EY using AAdvantage miles. Please do not post to this thread if you want tips and assistance on booking Etihad awards with AA miles but see this thread: How to use AA miles on Etihad / EY (Consolidated / Master Thread). The wikipost of that thread also contains instructions on how to search for EY availability.
Note: posts prior to 2015 about this topic (with the exception of a few 2014 end of year posts brought forward for continuity) may be found at ARCHIVE: Success stories of award booking on Etihad using AA miles
Success stories booking awards on Etihad using AA miles (Archive - 2015 and earlier)
#571
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
This was part of the "enhancement" to the program a few months back which was meant to open up more space with the miles required going up but hasn't happened.
#572
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: DFW
Posts: 411
I had been monitoring daily for the past few weeks (using KVS Tool).
I have never flown EY F, so I was very pleased AUH-SYD opened up (I had confirmed seats LAX-SIN-SYD SQ A380 in F, which I will cancel today. That was a difficult decision!)
#573
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 706
I found and booked AUH-SYD (A380 in F) yesterday, for travel next week. I also booked LAX-AUH on the same award. 150k AA miles + USD$26.40.
I had been monitoring daily for the past few weeks (using KVS Tool).
I have never flown EY F, so I was very pleased AUH-SYD opened up (I had confirmed seats LAX-SIN-SYD SQ A380 in F, which I will cancel today. That was a difficult decision!)
I had been monitoring daily for the past few weeks (using KVS Tool).
I have never flown EY F, so I was very pleased AUH-SYD opened up (I had confirmed seats LAX-SIN-SYD SQ A380 in F, which I will cancel today. That was a difficult decision!)
- In fact, what time/timezone was it specifically too?
- How many seats opened up? What was the pattern that you saw?
#574
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: DFW
Posts: 411
6
- In fact, what time/timezone was it specifically too?
I found the space around 5am PDT 22nd Sept. It could have opened up within a 12hr window before I checked at that time though; i.e when I was asleep
- How many seats opened up? What was the pattern that you saw?
1 seat in F (the LAX-AUH F seat has been available for several days). Unfortunately I am not seeing a pattern. I just checked KVS for the same award AUH-SYD 29-Sep through 06-Oct, and there is nothing available in F.
I do see however:
- 2 x F AUH-SYD dep 24-Sep (77W)
- nothing on 25-Sep
- 1 x F AUH-SYD 26-Sep (388!!)
- 2 x F AUH-SYD dep 27-Sep (77W)
- nothing on 28-Sep
Hope this helps.
#575
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 706
- Exactly how many days before your flight did EY A380 availability open up?
6
- In fact, what time/timezone was it specifically too?
I found the space around 5am PDT 22nd Sept. It could have opened up within a 12hr window before I checked at that time though; i.e when I was asleep
- How many seats opened up? What was the pattern that you saw?
1 seat in F (the LAX-AUH F seat has been available for several days). Unfortunately I am not seeing a pattern. I just checked KVS for the same award AUH-SYD 29-Sep through 06-Oct, and there is nothing available in F.
I do see however:
- 2 x F AUH-SYD dep 24-Sep (77W)
- nothing on 25-Sep
- 1 x F AUH-SYD 26-Sep (388!!)
- 2 x F AUH-SYD dep 27-Sep (77W)
- nothing on 28-Sep
Hope this helps.
6
- In fact, what time/timezone was it specifically too?
I found the space around 5am PDT 22nd Sept. It could have opened up within a 12hr window before I checked at that time though; i.e when I was asleep
- How many seats opened up? What was the pattern that you saw?
1 seat in F (the LAX-AUH F seat has been available for several days). Unfortunately I am not seeing a pattern. I just checked KVS for the same award AUH-SYD 29-Sep through 06-Oct, and there is nothing available in F.
I do see however:
- 2 x F AUH-SYD dep 24-Sep (77W)
- nothing on 25-Sep
- 1 x F AUH-SYD 26-Sep (388!!)
- 2 x F AUH-SYD dep 27-Sep (77W)
- nothing on 28-Sep
Hope this helps.
#576
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: DFW
Posts: 411
I'm not completely sure about that to be honest (assuming you've made the redemption with AA miles?); when I've done this previously, space for all pax opened up (ref: CX Y-F ex HKG in Jan this year). I've never tried to upgrade only 1 pax.
#577
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Yes, this can be done. PNR would be split, reinstate the old miles, refund old taxes and recollect new taxes, etc., but should be no problem to get one of the pax on the existing PNR onto a new one and into the higher award booking class.
#578
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ORD
Posts: 86
Yeah, I noticed that close in; I'll see some availability. Has any one discovered any consistencies with the searches, i.e. T14 for LH F?
#579
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,590
I found and booked AUH-SYD (A380 in F) yesterday, for travel next week. I also booked LAX-AUH on the same award. 150k AA miles + USD$26.40.
I had been monitoring daily for the past few weeks (using KVS Tool).
I have never flown EY F, so I was very pleased AUH-SYD opened up (I had confirmed seats LAX-SIN-SYD SQ A380 in F, which I will cancel today. That was a difficult decision!)
I had been monitoring daily for the past few weeks (using KVS Tool).
I have never flown EY F, so I was very pleased AUH-SYD opened up (I had confirmed seats LAX-SIN-SYD SQ A380 in F, which I will cancel today. That was a difficult decision!)
I was able to book 2 388 F seats on SYD-AUH earlier this year before the lockdown. Now just 2 days away and getting very excited as we head towards MLE!
Last edited by 869; Sep 23, 2015 at 1:46 pm
#580
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
I don't think that any increase in award availability would be enough to satisfy the huge demand which developed as a result of all the bloggers heavily plugging the EY Apartments. I would guess that, even if they opened up all the Apartment seats for award, the demand will still outweigh the supply.
#581
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,590
just need to raise the price then, stargold
#582
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
Given that the additional demand comes from partner awards rather than EY Guest miles, it's difficult without creating an extremely messy situation viz. partner redemption prices.
For example, AA has a single chart for all partners. If EY want to change how much they are paid for awards on EY F, they will either have to insist that AA create a separate chart for EY awards, or just block AA miles from redeeming on EY F.
For example, AA has a single chart for all partners. If EY want to change how much they are paid for awards on EY F, they will either have to insist that AA create a separate chart for EY awards, or just block AA miles from redeeming on EY F.
#583
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: CLT
Posts: 495
On Sept. 22, easily booked IKA-AUH-JFK for departure Oct 24, with a full day layover in AUH to visit some friends. IKA-AUH in J, AUH-JFK in F, on EY 103 (the Etihad/non Jetairways flight) for 90k miles plus $33. AAgent had no problems seeing and booking the flights.
#584
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EXP (LT Plat 2MM), Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat75, UA1K
Posts: 1,248
Just managed to change our MLE-AUH-MEL-BNE flying in J/F/J to MLE-AUH-BNE in J/F. The AUH-BNE leg wasn't open for F redemptions when I ticketed these back in May and just happened to take a look today after reading this thread and it was available. Very easy conversation with EXP AAngel - she saw the flight and was able to make the change and request seats for us. Even save a whopping $0.80 on the taxes! :-) Really wanted to fly on the A380 to SYD but figured that the First Studio on the B789 isn't too shabby.
#585
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1P, Marriott Platinum, SPG Platinum, Avis First
Posts: 44
AA agent can't see EY F seat
I searched through Etihad's website and can see Guest First available from both CDG/LHR to AUH. However, when I called the EXP desk, AA told me that they can only see coach seats available. I tried to call EXP desk at different time and talked with different people but got the same answer. Anyone noticed any issues with AA/EY's systems recently? Thanks a lot for the help.