Jan 1, 2015, 8:43 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
MODERATOR GUIDEPOST
This is the ARCHIVE through 2015 for older posts from the MileSAAver / SAAver Award Availability - Help, Assistance & Discussion (consolidated) thread.
This wikipost can be edited by members with 90 days' tenure and 90 posts; wiki contents may be printed by using the
(lower right wiki corner).
Other useful resources include:
MileSAAver / SAAver award reduction / scarcity >= Aug 2011 onward (consolidated)
oneworld and Other Airline (Partner) Awards info, rules 2014 on
Help with British Airways / BA surcharge / YQ (AA award on BA, consolidated)
UK APD / Air Passenger Duty charged for UK departures
This is the ARCHIVE through 2015 for older posts from the MileSAAver / SAAver Award Availability - Help, Assistance & Discussion (consolidated) thread.
Some of you might have found your thread merged into this "consolidated" thread. If your desire is to become thoroughly familiar with the knowledge that has been accumulated about the process for acquiring MileSAAver awards feel free to read this entire thread. If you only want the assistance from those who have the knowledge your request has been merged at the end. Feel free to wait for a forthcoming answer.
If you have reached this thread by using the search process you have the same choices as above. Read the thread and become knowledgeable or post at the end and wait for a forthcoming answer.
thanks
~magic111
If you have reached this thread by using the search process you have the same choices as above. Read the thread and become knowledgeable or post at the end and wait for a forthcoming answer.
thanks
~magic111
This wikipost can be edited by members with 90 days' tenure and 90 posts; wiki contents may be printed by using the
(lower right wiki corner).Other useful resources include:
MileSAAver / SAAver award reduction / scarcity >= Aug 2011 onward (consolidated)
oneworld and Other Airline (Partner) Awards info, rules 2014 on
Help with British Airways / BA surcharge / YQ (AA award on BA, consolidated)
UK APD / Air Passenger Duty charged for UK departures
ARCHIVE: 2009-2015 MileSAAver / SAAver Award Availability Help etc.
Jun 4, 2015, 11:34 am
#6166
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,173
Looking at businesssaver awards for dfw/ogg and AA has blocked all available and only releases it when it is closer than 21 days out so they can get $75 on your award booking?!? newly released today, space on june 24....looking at empty seats up front for lots of dates in june, but since they can't <take our> $75 until less than 21 days out they will remain unavailable....AA is playing games, the same routes were widely available through USair before the merger, now AA runs the show...greedy <people> blocking awards....I know the airline can run their FF program any way they want, but this pattern of profiteering ought to be illegal.
Last edited by Microwave; Jun 4, 2015 at 11:27 pm Reason: Rephrased unnecessarily colourful wording
Jun 4, 2015, 6:53 pm
#6167
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
Have HND-SFO-PHX. Schedule change for SFO-PHX causes misconnect, no other US flight to PHX remainder of day. No longer any other JL availability since bloggers told everyone and their grandmothers about wide open JL space. (Aside: I don't particularly have a problem with that, except that it personally hinders me after the fact in this situation so I'm grumbling.)
I could do the overnight in SFO but would rather either stay in Tokyo another day or two if I can find the space, or find a way home the same day.
Anyone got any suggestions?
I could do the overnight in SFO but would rather either stay in Tokyo another day or two if I can find the space, or find a way home the same day.
Anyone got any suggestions?
Jun 7, 2015, 6:23 am
#6168
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,965
Strategy backfire?
I played the award game and I may have lost.
I bought a bunch of miles to top off our account during the recent AA mile promo sale.
I had been tracking flights from SEA-CDG for the last month and the inventory in AA business and even BA First was really good at the 330 day mark all through April 2016.
Then last week ( a few days before it is our turn to book) the inventory became very sporadic and/or really lousy routing. I am even getting up at midnight to see what opens at that 330 day out.
Originally we were going to buy Saga Class tickets on Icelandair. Easy, relatively inexpensive Business class and the exact days I wanted. Because we used that money to buy AAmiles....I might have shot myself in the foot.
Question: After the original 330 day posting... do new award seats occasionally pop up in the system? I certainly have not seen this in the last month of my research...they just disappear as they are claimed with no new additions.
I bought a bunch of miles to top off our account during the recent AA mile promo sale.
I had been tracking flights from SEA-CDG for the last month and the inventory in AA business and even BA First was really good at the 330 day mark all through April 2016.
Then last week ( a few days before it is our turn to book) the inventory became very sporadic and/or really lousy routing. I am even getting up at midnight to see what opens at that 330 day out.
Originally we were going to buy Saga Class tickets on Icelandair. Easy, relatively inexpensive Business class and the exact days I wanted. Because we used that money to buy AAmiles....I might have shot myself in the foot.
Question: After the original 330 day posting... do new award seats occasionally pop up in the system? I certainly have not seen this in the last month of my research...they just disappear as they are claimed with no new additions.
Jun 7, 2015, 6:44 am
#6169
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
In my experience, award availability does change. I have been tracking a triangle oneworld award route (South America – Europe – North America – South America) in business/first since about six months out. During that period, availability on all three of the long-haul legs has gone dramatically down and then up again several times. The exception is AA/US for which there has never been ANY business/first availability, although economy is plentiful. I can use BA without surcharges (YQ, YR, etc) since they are prohibited by law for tickets issued in my country of origin. By checking daily on BA.COM I was able to get the entire itinerary within one day of my desired dates. Expertflyer.com doesn’t help much since neither BA nor JJ are included.
Jun 7, 2015, 9:08 am
#6170
Formerly known as jlars77
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ORD
Posts: 361
Are you searching out of multiple US cities? You might not get the exact flight you want but you will certainly find J availabilty to CDG. I see AA space out of JFK and scads of BA space *gulp* in a worse case scenario. If you have any flexbility with other cities in Europe you can fly into/out of it will open up more options and perhaps make for a better trip.
I played the award game and I may have lost.
I bought a bunch of miles to top off our account during the recent AA mile promo sale.
I had been tracking flights from SEA-CDG for the last month and the inventory in AA business and even BA First was really good at the 330 day mark all through April 2016.
Then last week ( a few days before it is our turn to book) the inventory became very sporadic and/or really lousy routing. I am even getting up at midnight to see what opens at that 330 day out.
Originally we were going to buy Saga Class tickets on Icelandair. Easy, relatively inexpensive Business class and the exact days I wanted. Because we used that money to buy AAmiles....I might have shot myself in the foot.
Question: After the original 330 day posting... do new award seats occasionally pop up in the system? I certainly have not seen this in the last month of my research...they just disappear as they are claimed with no new additions.
I bought a bunch of miles to top off our account during the recent AA mile promo sale.
I had been tracking flights from SEA-CDG for the last month and the inventory in AA business and even BA First was really good at the 330 day mark all through April 2016.
Then last week ( a few days before it is our turn to book) the inventory became very sporadic and/or really lousy routing. I am even getting up at midnight to see what opens at that 330 day out.
Originally we were going to buy Saga Class tickets on Icelandair. Easy, relatively inexpensive Business class and the exact days I wanted. Because we used that money to buy AAmiles....I might have shot myself in the foot.
Question: After the original 330 day posting... do new award seats occasionally pop up in the system? I certainly have not seen this in the last month of my research...they just disappear as they are claimed with no new additions.
Jun 7, 2015, 11:03 am
#6171
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
I played the award game and I may have lost.
I bought a bunch of miles to top off our account during the recent AA mile promo sale.
I had been tracking flights from SEA-CDG for the last month and the inventory in AA business and even BA First was really good at the 330 day mark all through April 2016.
Then last week ( a few days before it is our turn to book) the inventory became very sporadic and/or really lousy routing. I am even getting up at midnight to see what opens at that 330 day out.
Originally we were going to buy Saga Class tickets on Icelandair. Easy, relatively inexpensive Business class and the exact days I wanted. Because we used that money to buy AAmiles....I might have shot myself in the foot.
Question: After the original 330 day posting... do new award seats occasionally pop up in the system? I certainly have not seen this in the last month of my research...they just disappear as they are claimed with no new additions.
I bought a bunch of miles to top off our account during the recent AA mile promo sale.
I had been tracking flights from SEA-CDG for the last month and the inventory in AA business and even BA First was really good at the 330 day mark all through April 2016.
Then last week ( a few days before it is our turn to book) the inventory became very sporadic and/or really lousy routing. I am even getting up at midnight to see what opens at that 330 day out.
Originally we were going to buy Saga Class tickets on Icelandair. Easy, relatively inexpensive Business class and the exact days I wanted. Because we used that money to buy AAmiles....I might have shot myself in the foot.
Question: After the original 330 day posting... do new award seats occasionally pop up in the system? I certainly have not seen this in the last month of my research...they just disappear as they are claimed with no new additions.
Jun 7, 2015, 11:16 am
#6172
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,965
I have been spoiled rotten by what I have been seeing in April. SEA-ORD-CDG ( or DFW) in J and even a bunch of BA SEA-LHR-CDG (fuel laden) in F.
I know I can piece something together.....and will use IB and a JFK departure as the last resort....as well as look at less ideal departure dates.
I know I can piece something together.....and will use IB and a JFK departure as the last resort....as well as look at less ideal departure dates.
Jun 8, 2015, 12:03 am
#6173
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 133
i'm trying to book an award seat from the US to BKK in C or F. The only availability for my dates is IAH-DOH-BKK on QR. Is this a valid routing? The AA rules seem to indicate that transit through the ME isn't allowed to Asia. Seems like that should be allowed since QR joined OW. Allowable?
Jun 8, 2015, 12:07 am
#6174
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,606
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Not allowed. The AAdvantage Partner award chart clearly indicates that awards between North America and Asia may only be routed via the Pacific.
Originally Posted by HanBkk
i'm trying to book an award seat from the US to BKK in C or F. The only availability for my dates is IAH-DOH-BKK on QR. Is this a valid routing? The AA rules seem to indicate that transit through the ME isn't allowed to Asia. Seems like that should be allowed since QR joined OW. Allowable?
Jun 8, 2015, 6:11 am
#6175
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,965
Question about a Hold
I was able to put on hold a decent route for an upcoming trip...just a day or two too early from my ideal departure date.
If the ideal flights open up in the next few days BEFORE this hold expires....will the system allow me to book another hold?
And if so, how do I cancel the first hold? I don't see anywhere to do that.
Thanks.
If the ideal flights open up in the next few days BEFORE this hold expires....will the system allow me to book another hold?
And if so, how do I cancel the first hold? I don't see anywhere to do that.
Thanks.
Jun 8, 2015, 7:46 am
#6176
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Omaha
Programs: AA Life Plat 4mm, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,462
I was able to put on hold a decent route for an upcoming trip...just a day or two too early from my ideal departure date.
If the ideal flights open up in the next few days BEFORE this hold expires....will the system allow me to book another hold?
And if so, how do I cancel the first hold? I don't see anywhere to do that.
Thanks.
If the ideal flights open up in the next few days BEFORE this hold expires....will the system allow me to book another hold?
And if so, how do I cancel the first hold? I don't see anywhere to do that.
Thanks.
Jun 8, 2015, 8:02 am
#6177
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,965
When I discussed this with my husband this morning ( I got up at midnight to grab these seats...good thing...this morning all that was left were poor routings), we agreed that an extra day in Paris is not such a bad thing...so I think we will just keep these flights.
Last edited by JDiver; Jun 8, 2015 at 10:02 am Reason: ** use to avoid filters not OK
Jun 8, 2015, 8:30 am
#6178
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: AVL
Programs: Hhonors Diamond, Bonvoy LT Plat, TSA vilifier extraordinaire, Once upon a time... US Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 1,313
So what time do they load new FF seats? Midnight what time zone?
PS I agree; an extra day in Paris is not such a bad thing.
PS I agree; an extra day in Paris is not such a bad thing.
Last edited by dwcatty; Jun 8, 2015 at 8:30 am Reason: add ps
Jun 8, 2015, 10:03 am
#6179
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Jun 8, 2015, 10:58 am
#6180
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 ticketed ORD-DFW-CDG-DOH-MLE all in first class (except DOH-MLE as they only have J) using a mix of AA & QR. Had been using AA.com, EF and KVS Tool to check availability. KVS helped me snag the F seats CDG-DOH on the A380. Funny thing - when I logged into AA.com to do my searches, it only showed J availability ORD-CDG and did not offer me F availability flying ORD-DFW-CDG. In fact, when I just checked for DFW-CDG availability in F, the flight showed up online as having Y awards only. Thought I would have to pony up the F miles @ 90K per person to get the F space on QR (the only leg in F of the bunch). When I went to ticket, I asked the AAgent if there was any F MilesAAver space on DFW-CDG and she said "yes, there sure is" and was able to grab two seats. So, now we are doing First on all legs but one, still have some time in Paris between flights and I won't feel like I am "throwing away" over 20K miles per person to get a 6 hour leg in F (although a VERY sweet 6 hours I am sure!). Not sure if this is considered the "expanded" award availability for EXP's - but I'll take it!
Moral of the story: never hurts to call and ask!
Moral of the story: never hurts to call and ask!