Jan 14, 2016, 5:43 am
Last edit by: medellinfein
Booking Award Seats on EY / Etihad Airways Using AA / AAdvantage Miles
Also see: Earning AA Miles EQM / EQD / EQS on EY / Etihad (master thread)
This thread is about how to book Etihad / EY award seats using AA AAdvantage miles, and sharing success stories. This wiki is new, so anyone with 90/90 who wishes to add helpful information is, of course, urged to do so.
NOTE:AA has removed most EY and QR award access from aa.com due to a glitch booking these:
Please see the archived threads for previous experiences:
Also see: Earning AA Miles EQM / EQD / EQS on EY / Etihad (master thread)
This thread is about how to book Etihad / EY award seats using AA AAdvantage miles, and sharing success stories. This wiki is new, so anyone with 90/90 who wishes to add helpful information is, of course, urged to do so.
NOTE:AA has removed most EY and QR award access from aa.com due to a glitch booking these:
From One Mile at a Time (link)
Bottom Line
For the time being you’ll have to call American if you want to ticket AAdvantage awards on Etihad & Qatar that aren’t for travel to & from the US or Canada. It makes sense that American took these awards “offline,” and now it also makes sense why so many passengers have been having issues with checked bags on awards.
Bottom Line
For the time being you’ll have to call American if you want to ticket AAdvantage awards on Etihad & Qatar that aren’t for travel to & from the US or Canada. It makes sense that American took these awards “offline,” and now it also makes sense why so many passengers have been having issues with checked bags on awards.
- You can now search or book awards for travel on EY (Etihad) on www.aa.com.
- You can search award availability on EY's website. Look only for seats on flights operated by Etihad Airways that are labeled as "GuestSeats". You can also search on ExpertFlyer
- Note: You may see more availability if you search on EY's website using itineraries that do not originate in the US. In other words, to potentially see more availability on a USA-XYZ segment, search for XYZ-USA-XYZ. Expertflyer does not report this additional availability (if any), and US-based agents probably will not be able to see or book it (but see further below for Fiji).
- To expand on this point a bit, it seems that even if you only want to fly USA-AUH (or to other foreign destinations, since they route through AUH), due to an EY website quirk you need to search AUH-USA-AUH in order to find available USA-AUH routes.
- You no longer have to call AA to book them. You may need to request the AA agent to look up the inventory one segment at a time in order to find the inventory in their system. OR:
- It is often or even typically the case that for first and business class awards US agents cannot see the award space that you see on Etihad's site. Your best bet, then, is to call AA Australia (+61 2-9101-1948 ) then press 3 - or the New Zealand number (+64 09-308-4014) (actually South African contractor Mindpearl in Fiji) or Singapore (+65 6349-8444) as an alternative - what you need is the specific call center which is actually in Suva, Fiji (I believe it's our old South African agency friend Mindpearl) or, according to recent reports, in Trinidad (since there have been some reports that the Fiji center has closed). You can put the EY segments on hold so you can flesh out the award afterward and/or pay the fees in USD through the US call center, or simply buy it through non-US call center if you think you won't be making subsequent routing changes (such as adding AA connecting flights within the USA) that would incur fees. (NOTE: calls may get picked up by the local Brisbane office, or rerouted to Trinidad or the USA. As noted, there are reports that the Fiji call center has closed, but people have still been able to book some of the time, particularly if they reach the Trinidad center since that seems to be the call center that yields the greatest success in late 2017 and 2018 - with the big caveat that there are at least as many failures as successes in calling there, including repeatedly. To increase the chances of success, you may have to call several times, since for some reason a given customer service representative at a given time won't see availability even if it shows at the EY site, but another CSR at the same center may be able to do so even a few minutes later. It's conceivable that this difference is due to some CSRs knowing how to search for award availability better than others do, but that's simply a matter of speculation at this point.)
- Note: EY award holds only last 72 hours...irrespective of what AA reservation hold email states
- Booking connections via AUH / Abu Dabhi using one award is now allowed.
- Get both AA and EY reservation codes/numbers: Upon booking with AA, make sure to get the EY reservation number as well as that of AA from the AA CSR, as without the EY number it will be difficult or impossible to deal with EY, such as for checking or managing your reservation online. And of course, if there is another airline involved in the reservation as well (such as BA), get its reservation number.
- A handy EY route map is here: http://flights.etihad.com/routemap.
- The applicable AAdvantage miles award chart is the oneworld and partner airlines award chart.
- Award routing rules are in the wikipost of this thread.
- If you find EY inventory from your continent but not your city of choice, as usual you can include any other AAdvantage award airlines in order to complete the itinerary. E.g. LHR-xAUH-DEL-xAUH-CDG on EY connecting to CDG-LHR on BA.
- WARNING: While this trick is great for new bookings (especially if you have patience to get lucky for call to be routed to Fiji office), modifying booking on partner airlines is always risky especially when an overseas center is involved, Your original seats are immediately released and while new reservation is supposedly confirmed, it may actually not the case until ticket desk actually issues ticket after approval of the partner liaison. Weekend/Holidays/Time-Difference can delay issuance of ticket and if something goes wrong, there is always risk of being SOL. (Mistakes by agents are rare but not unheard of).
- SEAT ASSIGNMENTS: You cannot choose seats until after ticketing. Even then, the regular web site will not allow seat assignments to be made for AAdvantage award bookings. The mobile site (which can be reached with either a mobile or a desktop browser) may work in some cases. Calling EY to make seat assignments always works, as long as you can give them the EY record locator, and as long as AA has issued the ticket (which can take a few days, you will get e-mail). Call 1-877-690-0767, press 1 for English, then 2 for First/Business, then 2 for existing bookings, then they will tell you the call is ending - but it's not: they have added "press 1 to speak to an agent", so finally, press 1 to continue the call. After this, you should have someone on the line quickly to help you. They will ask you a series of questions such as "What class are you traveling in?" and "Where are you going?" Alternatively, you can choose your seats on the Etihad website and app by using the EY record locator to find your award itinerary.
- Availability: EY award availability using AA miles can be fairly good, including in business and first class - IF you get past the big, aforementioned challenge of actually booking award seats that the EY site shows as available but that AA agents have trouble finding. But it ebbs and flows quite a bit in at least two respects (in addition to the general rule that the further in advance you seek availability, the better, as well as reports that availability is easier to find from one to three weeks before a flight): 1) availability showing at the EY site and 2) even if availability shows at the EY site, the ability of non-US call centers (especially the "least bad" ones for finding availability, which might have been Fiji and might now be Trinidad) to find that availability. So if the EY site is not showing availability for a given day or week, and if you have flexibility, check other dates. And if availability seems to be particularly constrained across many dates, particularly if you are searching many months in advance, check again periodically to see if this has changed (or arrange an alert via ExpertFlyer, if it provides such a service for EY flights).
- "Baby-sit" your tickets: Though this advice could apply to many award bookings, EY's systems can be glitchy and the airline apparently is going through some financial challenges. So it makes sense to check online or via phone occasionally with EY to make sure everything remains in order, particularly if there have been even minor changes in things like your flight times. And if there seem to be problems, including with checking in online or other procedures, the EY forum here at FT can be a source of useful advice about whether or not those problems are worth worrying about.
- Itinerary: You can use https://www.virtuallythere.com/new/login.html to enter your EY record locator and last name to 1)display your complete itinerary 2)save a pdf 3)add to outlook/ical 4)view ticket # and different times the ticket has been reissued
- AA lounge access: If you book a premium cabin itinerary on EY with domestic connections on AA, you will not be able to access the Admiral's Club during your domestic layovers because EY is not a member of OW.
Please see the archived threads for previous experiences:
- How to: Use AA Miles to Book Award on Etihad / EY (Archive - 2015 and earlier)
- Success stories booking awards on Etihad using AA miles (Archive - 2015 and earlier)
- Booking AA Award travel on Etihad / EY - [2015-17 ARCHIVE]
Booking AA Award travel on Etihad / EY (master thread July 2017 onwards)
Nov 22, 2021, 3:32 pm
#1726
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: status free since 2017
Posts: 2,188
So Etihad canceled my ORD - AUH segment. On checking the same flight number is still there only change was its departure was pushed up by 3 hrs, AA is punting to EY and EY claims I was not confirmed first. When pointed out I did the seat assignments on their website they have escalated and I am waiting. Looks like a fraud as the flights are filling up and they want to just cancel and sell any AA award seats. Wonder if they are doing the same to EY frequent flyers. Am I SOL or do I have any remedies against this fraud?
Total d-bag move by EY. They sold dirt cheap tickets prior to US reopening and now these flights are high in demand. So they are changing schedules to bump people off, rebook them on inconvenient routings on inconvenient dates (ofcourse, you can cancel the tix for a partial refund and rebook a much more expensive flight) and THEN they have the gaul to bring the reinstate the old routings (now conveniently sold out).
However they played it, but that was the sequence of visits. Those flights didn't exist for few days and now back on schedule again.
Nov 22, 2021, 4:38 pm
#1727
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
I don't think this is as sinister as described.
Schedule changes are happen often and frequently. It used to only be Summer and Winter, but Covid has changed everything.
It may well be that EY are cancelling the flights, reinstating them and moving pax on their tickets.
Are you sure the new flights are sold out, or they are just not selling tickets so they can accommodate moved pax? Almost every airline zeros out flights when they do this.
Schedule changes are happen often and frequently. It used to only be Summer and Winter, but Covid has changed everything.
It may well be that EY are cancelling the flights, reinstating them and moving pax on their tickets.
Are you sure the new flights are sold out, or they are just not selling tickets so they can accommodate moved pax? Almost every airline zeros out flights when they do this.
Nov 22, 2021, 4:42 pm
#1728
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 5,867
I don't think this is as sinister as described.
Schedule changes are happen often and frequently. It used to only be Summer and Winter, but Covid has changed everything.
It may well be that EY are cancelling the flights, reinstating them and moving pax on their tickets.
Are you sure the new flights are sold out, or they are just not selling tickets so they can accommodate moved pax? Almost every airline zeros out flights when they do this.
Schedule changes are happen often and frequently. It used to only be Summer and Winter, but Covid has changed everything.
It may well be that EY are cancelling the flights, reinstating them and moving pax on their tickets.
Are you sure the new flights are sold out, or they are just not selling tickets so they can accommodate moved pax? Almost every airline zeros out flights when they do this.
Nov 22, 2021, 5:08 pm
#1729
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
Regardless, this is what happens with all partner award bookings. Your flight is cancelled. The partner is responsible for rebooting you unless travel has already commenced.
In cases where you can't rebook, the miles are refunded.
In cases where you can't rebook, the miles are refunded.
Nov 22, 2021, 5:29 pm
#1730
Join Date: May 2005
Location: FL
Programs: DL/PM SM/AMEX/Plat HH/Gold Marriott/Plat Starwood/Plat
Posts: 140
I checked as soon as I got the email and the same flight EY150 was still on just the timing changed. You cannot cancel for a minute and reinstate to bump off partner award tickets. AA is still working with them if this was a mistake and will wait to see if it gets fixed and who is responsible. Have been to the emirates multiple time and have high regards for them. Hate to see their premier airline go so low to earn some $.
Nov 22, 2021, 8:58 pm
#1731
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
I checked as soon as I got the email and the same flight EY150 was still on just the timing changed. You cannot cancel for a minute and reinstate to bump off partner award tickets. AA is still working with them if this was a mistake and will wait to see if it gets fixed and who is responsible. Have been to the emirates multiple time and have high regards for them. Hate to see their premier airline go so low to earn some $.
I highly doubt this was something EY ops did because of award tix. There are a handful of awards on each flight. It really doesn't matter that much to them.
My suggestion is to book whatever flights you can find.
Nov 28, 2021, 1:17 pm
#1732
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: status free since 2017
Posts: 2,188
I don't think this is as sinister as described.
Schedule changes are happen often and frequently. It used to only be Summer and Winter, but Covid has changed everything.
It may well be that EY are cancelling the flights, reinstating them and moving pax on their tickets.
Are you sure the new flights are sold out, or they are just not selling tickets so they can accommodate moved pax? Almost every airline zeros out flights when they do this.
Schedule changes are happen often and frequently. It used to only be Summer and Winter, but Covid has changed everything.
It may well be that EY are cancelling the flights, reinstating them and moving pax on their tickets.
Are you sure the new flights are sold out, or they are just not selling tickets so they can accommodate moved pax? Almost every airline zeros out flights when they do this.
They didn't have the flights zeroed when I checked on EF. Only selling full fare Y. Also, EY agents provided different information when I was trying to get my spouse's flights re-adjusted. One EY agent refused to give me an option where a codeshare was involved. HUCA worked but took about additional 3hrs of hold time. Though they were readily agreeable to give a partial refund (which would be peanuts given this tix was booked prior to US reopen) and 'allow us' to book something more reasonable.
If I wasn't a savvy FTer, I'd be beyond frustrated with how they managed it.
Dec 11, 2021, 6:08 pm
#1734
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: AA PLT, HH Gold, FM Prem, SPG gold
Posts: 581
I have called many times for space I see on AC and EY (guest space), but no AA agent can see it.
Manilla says no space, and even asked if i meant to call United and not AA...
A Caribbean based call center said they did not see the space.
Is it trinadad I need? What is the best chance for time/routing to get to that call center?
Manilla says no space, and even asked if i meant to call United and not AA...
A Caribbean based call center said they did not see the space.
Is it trinadad I need? What is the best chance for time/routing to get to that call center?
Dec 11, 2021, 6:54 pm
#1736
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Houston
Posts: 441
Dec 29, 2021, 4:04 pm
#1738
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 161
With Qatar holding back award space due to the World Cup, I’m trying to find a way home with AA miles and stumbled across booking Etihad. If I were to book Etihad and then subsequently cancel if Qatar space opens up, would I lose all the taxes and fees associated with the booking ($400/pp)? AA’s website doesn’t explicitly say so, so I’m curious if anyone has any knowledge there.
Dec 29, 2021, 4:17 pm
#1739
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
With Qatar holding back award space due to the World Cup, I’m trying to find a way home with AA miles and stumbled across booking Etihad. If I were to book Etihad and then subsequently cancel if Qatar space opens up, would I lose all the taxes and fees associated with the booking ($400/pp)? AA’s website doesn’t explicitly say so, so I’m curious if anyone has any knowledge there.
However, if you switch an award from EY to QR, without changing the origination or destination region or transited regions, there's no need to do a reinstate and reclaim (no need to cancel the award, redeposit the miles, refund the taxes and fees, then claim a new award and re-charge the taxes and fees). You can simply switch the flights. You'll be charged or refunded any difference in taxes.
Dec 30, 2021, 2:13 pm
#1740
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,652
Since the blogs are all saying the A380 is coming back, any conjecture as to when and where? Guess I'll have to keep checking online to see when they load inventory. Booked in to IAD in F but will change that in a heartbeat if the apartment is coming back. I don't even care if they run out of food!