armus

There's a difference between load vs. bookable on website at 33x days out. Some details are quoted in post 336 of this thread (which quotes me), but the short answer is that the seats generally appear at noon of the departing timezone, but they won't be bookable until it's at/after midnight in Dallas.

In the long post I speculated that the seats might be bookable before midnight in Dallas by calling. I haven't tried but based on recent observations I'm inclined to think they are because I've seen seats from Europe get booked hours before it was midnight in Dallas (I doubt anyone was eager to pay aanytime or full-fare so far in advance).

david55

The stroke of midnight PST. At least that is when I logged on and saw a change.

david55

I see an available itinerary that works well for us:

MRS-LHR-DFW-SEA. The itinerary is all on one day but gets us into SEA after midnight.

I would like to stop in DFW for the night and pick up the first available flight the next morning to SEA.

The problem is that I have noticed a 1 or 2 day lag time before domestic AA flights are loaded after the international. So the flight I want the next morning is not showing yet.

Should I book the itinerary as presented all the way through to SEA and then call the next day when the other flight ( I hope) opens to change that last leg... or would it be easier to just book the itinerary only to Dallas and then add the other flight the next day via a hold or call.

Hope I am not too confusing.

dwcatty

Interesting question and calling for an interpretation of the LIFO rule, as there is still a leg available on the same day when you arrive in DFW. I'd be curious too. Maybe put the MRS-LHR-DFW segment on hold and add whichever leg is necessary, the later-on-the-same-day leg to SEA (which is likely to be available this far out) or the LIFO leg the next morning when it shows up? Or if you want to be extra cautious maybe put two itineraries on hold (if there are enough seats); MRS-LHR-DFW and MRS-LHR-DFW-SEA and release whichever one you don't want tomorrow?

david55

I called and asked.... the gentleman I got said either way is fine. Put on hold the itinerary as it shows online ( straight through) and then call to change the last leg when it opens the next day or just book it as far as DFW and then add the last segment the next day.

Pressed to answer whether one approach was easier then the other...he said no.

JJeffrey

I'd agree with the AAgent, both of these are basically the same. Since your connection at DFW is international you have up to 24 hrs to connect. That is, you can take any available flight to SEA within 24 hrs, it doesn't have to be the first one out the next day.

david55

SEA-DFW-BJX ( Leon Mexico)

Because the DFW-BJX segment is coach only it will not show a Business/Firstsaver award. ( I think)

But I can get a 25K B/F saver to DFW and a 17.5 Economysaver to Leon with great legal connections ( the same being offered on revenue tickets).

A call to AA CS said I cannot combine these two for a single award but it would be treated as two separate awards. 42.5K vs. 30K

Does this right?

dkerr

Is the connection at DFW less than 4 hours? If not it may not be eligible for a single award and would need to be two separate awards.

DAK

david55

It is less...it is two. Which made it ideal.


Why would less than 4 make a difference?

dkerr

AAdvantage rules require you to take a connecting flight within 4 hours, or the next scheduled flight. Else it is considered a "stopover" which is not permitted on awards. So a connection more than 4 hours might trigger requirement that each segment be ticketed separately.

There are exceptions to the 4 hour rule for certain destinations (like Hawaii) which is, I think, 18 hours and international long haul itineraries can have up to 24 hour connections.

DAK

3Cforme

USA-Mexico follows the international 'not more than 24 hours' rule, not the domestic/Canada/Puerto Rico/USVI 'not more than 4 hours' rule defining a connection.

There is no 'international long haul' rule for stopovers.

OP is encouraged to see the International contract of carriage.

http://www.aa.com/i18n/Tariffs/AA1.html

david55

Sorry to be so dense.....
I guess I don't understand why these two cannot be joined as one 30K award? There is a 65 minute connection which is tight but legal.

The itinerary:


25Kaward 1094 5:10AM SEA 10:59AM DFW
American Airlines
Aircraft: 32B Booking Code: Z
Total travel time: 3hr 49min Cabin: First

connecting to:

17.5Kaward 5878 12:05PM DFW 2:33PM BJX
Operated by Mesa Airlines As American Eagle
Aircraft: CR9 Booking Code: T
Total travel time: 2hr 28min Cabin: Economy

dwcatty

Have you tried the FT standby and called again? Just give them the flights and dates and tell them you want to book the first leg in business and don't mention what class for the second.

KennyBSAT

Business class int'l awards using AA miles must be in business class on the primary international segment (nevermind that is the shorter flight in this case). So if the fare classes were reversed, you'd be fine.

Using AS miles, on the other hand, you can book this at 30K no problem.

david55

Thanks!