Thunderroad

Yep. Found two F seats SFO-HKG-PVG (second leg in J, since no F) about a week ago for a trip tomorrow. IIRC, there also were seats available for the day after tomorrow.

FWIW, awardnexus.com is a good site for checking availability across multiple airline sites. Initial membership is free for FTers, I believe, but you pay a modest fee for an enhanced membership that includes it sending email alerts if a seat(s) open up. It can save a lot of time versus phone calls and checking multiple sites.

Also, perhaps you're doing this already, but whether you're calling or going online, it often works best to first try finding CX flights into HKG, and then try to find onward flights from there.

Just did a quick search on awardnexus.com for a few cities to HKG for Nov. 15-17. Found nothing from SFO or JFK, but did find two F seats from ORD on all three days and from LAX on Nov. 16. There's always a small chance that these are "false positives," but you might want to check them out.

Hope this helps!

Happy

Yes, AA took away that button. There actually is a specific thread on this issue, hence the work around. Search FT you will find the thread but the gist is, that workaround kindly provided by LukasVIE is THE ONLY WAY now you could get your receipt with itinerary details and ticket number, so you know your reservation is indeed ticketed - especially after some changes and reissue. And I am sure you know how important that is, to get a fresh Receipt so to make sure your ticket is properly reissued.

I would just let CX airport agent to swipe the passport. Way too much things to fill in online to get it done. OLCI is also not worth the hassle if you already have seat assignment and travel in premium cabins.

VLtone

As far as F5 and that type of nomenclature - I've got to be honest, I don't really know what that means. But I can tell you that the flight I'm looking at on ExpertFlyer it says that...

2 seats are "Premium only"
2 seat are "blocked"
1 seat is "available"
1 seat is "occupied"

Also - I am looking for 2 seats, which I'm sure is a huge stretch.

seawolf

Does AA still send award ticketing email or is that gone as well? It's been hit or miss for me earlier this year.

Thunderroad

I didn't get the ticketing email from AA for an award trip on CX that I'm about to take. I asked and the CSRs said they'd send it. But the only thing I ended up getting from the first CSR was the itinerary and I received nothing from the second CSR.

I did get an emailed itinerary including the ticket number from CX after speaking to a helpful CSR there. However, it involved waiting on the phone for the queue to clear. In my recent experience with CX, the phone queue wait times range from two minutes (just once) to more typically 30-60 minutes.

jamienbaker

Do an availability search for your flight on EF. See the string, it will be F4 A3 J6 and so on.

What's the F number? That's how many seats are for sale.

No reason to think two is necessarily a stretch if F3 or higher. Having claimed 5 F awards I can assure you anything is possible.

sempervivum

In another pickle -

My JFK-HKG (J) - MNL (F) route booked at pre deval F had a plane change, so now that HKG-MNL is a 2 class flight now, changing my class to J for that as well. I haven't been refunded any miles (yet), my record locator is the same, so presumably the whole route is still an "F" booking.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if there are no other 3 class HKG-MNL flights, I won't be getting an F leg.

If an F seat opens on the JFK-HKG, will I experience push back upgrading? I have a gut feeling this probably will be HUCA, but wondering if anyone has experienced this.

TIA

The only reason I noticed was because my flight details weren't appearing on my reservations, so I called AA and they did a refresh, which they need to do manually apparently for schedule changes. Should keep a closer eye on these things...

seawolf

Should have no problem with rebooking JFK-HKG to F if you don't touch your ticket.

Last year, I booked JFK-HKG in F, cancelled the PNR immediately after ticketing. Was able to use this ticket this year for a new JFK-HKG F PNR without issue.

Thunderroad

This is a tough one. My guess - and it's only that - is that you won't get a miles refund unless you point out the change. So if JFK-HKG F opens up, you'll be able to say to AA that this was and is an F ticket and that they'll honor it as such.

But again, just a guess...

JJeffrey

I had the same thing happen on a pre-deval F award BKK-HKG(F)-JFK(J). CX dropped F on the HKG-BKK flight, and pretty soon I couldn't see any details online. Nothing will change with your award until you call in, but keep an eye on it. I found F availability on a new date and had no problem F on the HKG-JFK flight.

However, with everything AA these days, it takes a good AAgent who know's how to process the change at the old mileage rates. I got lucky and had it handled on the first call, but I was prepared to HUACA several times.

sempervivum

Thanks mates, not flying out until January so I'll keep carrying on as usual.

ArthurSFO11

I'm trying to book 2 seats on CX J HKG-ORD on January 2 or January 3. Does anyone have an idea of my chances of finding availability for those dates?

I realize that CX generally releases award availability at the last minute, but since the date is so close to New Year's I'm afraid the flights will be full. Has anyone managed to get CX J awards around New Year's in the past?

ralphs

I've searched for CX J LAX-HKG availability for mid-December every day for the last ~99 days. Frustrating to see no hits.

jamienbaker

Why frustrated? Initial booking window has long since passed, and next window will open sometime around December 1st. You're just wasting your time.

Respectfully, Jamie

FT-hss

Looking for same/similar Jan 6/7 or 8, Is there no chance of getting something open in F to HKG from SFO/LAX 21 days ahead. No status so trying to save $150 by checking daily. Already have F to HKG from SFO, but trying to go few days early if possible.