BA shows availability on a direct JFK-MAD operated by IB that AA agents cannot see. As an alternative, I've found AA to LHR and trying to combine that with a BA 5xx (operated by IB) or IB flight but again, the agents can't see anything. Same result with 6+ agents

Bump before I give up.. too much frustration for what should be a simple partner booking.

Iberia award availability on AA doesn't sync with BA/Iberia
 

Hi everyone,

I was trying to book an aadvantage flight on iberia for a weekend in june going from MAD -> BOS.

On Iberia and BA it's showing as having 7 seats left but when I phone up the aadvantage desk they are saying that there is no availability.

I actually basically had this exact same issue last summer trying to book this same route. I've never had an issue in terms of award seats not syncing when searching on BA for oneworld partners that aren't available in the AA online system (cathay for example).

Has anyone else had a similar issue with Iberia award available not syncing w/ BA?

BA phantom availability display has been mentioned here many times; that's what you experienced.

Search on QF (either directly or via www.awardnexus.com, the latter having a certain number of free searches if you click on "more signup options" to sign up with your FlyerTalk account). QF (Qantas) is far less likely to show "phantom" availability, as long as you search one leg at a time (ie, if a flight is XXX-YYY-ZZZ, search XXX-YYY separately from YYY-ZZZ. Many oneworld airlines seem to return phantom availability on "through connections" searches and only return true availability on one-leg-at-a-time searches (but BA may return phantom availability "any time it wants" :eek:).

Unlike paid fares, awards are rarely "paired" only when doing a connection (but not available each leg separately), especially outside of AA itself (ie, on its partners). Thus there's not the advantage there is with paid flights of doing "through connections" searches, and there can be the downside of phantom availability.

Btw, the phantom availability on "through connections" search of QR not only showed flights that weren't available to AA, it also failed to show other flights which were available to AA :eek:! So the "phantomness" may be phantom availability or phantom lack of availability!

AA awards on JAL
 

So I searched for a flight on BA's system. For some reason AA has the flight but it doesn't have availability even though BA shows availability.

Has anyone had this happen?

I don't understand the question. AA has the flight, but it doesn't have availability? But your title mentions JAL?

The award flight shows up on BA's system but when I call AA to try to use my points, they say that there is no record of seats being open.

BA is known for occasionally reflecting phantom award availability.

Domestic or international?

BA award does not show up at AA's agent system
 

I called AA today to book reward for LAX-NRT F class that has availability on ba.com for january, but AA agent told me she did not see it and she told me some people have said they saw it on ba.com too.

Anyone here experienced the same issue?

Yes. Since BA award inventory is viewable on AA.com (unlike some other partners), you should use aa.com to see what's available. Also, there's no need to call in to get award travel on BA ticketed.

It's a JL award, not a BA award. OP was simply using BA.com to search for availability.

BA occasionally displays "phantom" award availability that is not bootable.

BA occasionally displays "phantom" award availability that is not bookable.