Originally Posted by Superorb

When using Award Nexus to setup email alerts for a HKG-JFK CX flight, what time should I run the search? Early morning in North America, Europe, or Asia? Or does it not matter because AA loads the award seats at different times each day?

Originally Posted by nk15

So here is one concern hoping to secure an award in the days before the actual flight. My understanding is that the long haul international leg may open up, but I seriously doubt it that the regional leg will (regional legs may follow different patterns). So, you may get that F seat NYC-HKG, but then you will be stuck in HKG because the regional leg HKG-BKK won't open up. That's my concern.

Originally Posted by ckpeter

Theoretically yes that is a concern, but from my experience booking CX awards in the last few years, CX regional short-hauls (especially TPE and PVG) are fairly available. BKK is somewhat less so, but they still tend to be available with a longer layover. Plus, you can always take a downgrade to economy, which is another strategy to complete the booking.

Originally Posted by nk15

How about SIN, PEN, or KUL? Downgrades to economy could be ok, but economy awards may tend to disappear even faster than the business ones.

Originally Posted by JonNYC

Well, to be honest-- and in yours' (and others' defense)-- it's confusing.

I'm not 100% sure on almost any aspect of these pre-devaluation placeholder bookings -except- that date changes on booked awards will be guaranteed.

Originally Posted by iadisgreat

No one ever needed to worry about locking in a price prior to our current situation. The devaluation coupled with CX somewhat reducing available award inventory has put high pressure on what is out there. Previously, EXP could book and cancel willy nilly without regard to fees (or carrier or cost in miles) and other flyers could lock in something around their desired date and fiddle with it fee free. Now, EVERYONE needs to lock in a price for some time in the future by the same deadline. Since the above has led to almost everything having been spoken for, leaving only close-in flights being available, this method is kind of the last ditch way to take advantage of the low rates.

Basically, in my opinion, no one needed to think about these kind of things due to the pretty generous nature of AA's change rules and associated CX award availability.

Originally Posted by ckpeter

For long-term monitoring, my experience has been that it doesn't matter too much. I have seen CX awards released at different times. I'd just check at a time that is convenient for you to take action on, such as the morning of your own continent.

Originally Posted by transparent

Ok-- so just to make sure I understand re: close-in booking then cancel but NOT redeposit placeholder:

1) Theoretically, it should work as long as the miles are not redeposited and we use the ticket number and have it exchanged for a new PNR in the future, but not 100% sure this will work (therefore this should be last resort as iadisgreat says)

Originally Posted by transparent

2) The only 100% sure "placeholder" is a booked award and changing the date/routing keeping the O/D the same. Changes to origin country, and dropping segments etc.

Originally Posted by transparent

Ok-- so just to make sure I understand re: close-in booking then cancel but NOT redeposit placeholder:

1) Theoretically, it should work as long as the miles are not redeposited and we use the ticket number and have it exchanged for a new PNR in the future, but not 100% sure this will work (therefore this should be last resort as iadisgreat says)

Originally Posted by ckpeter

For long-term monitoring, my experience has been that it doesn't matter too much. I have seen CX awards released at different times. I'd just check at a time that is convenient for you to take action on, such as the morning of your own continent.

Originally Posted by AspiringWorldTraveler

If it is only CX you are monitoring for, the time varies (I have had success at 11 am EST and also at 3 pm EST - both times having called several other times on the same day and being told the calendar wasn't open yet). For JL, the awards load at t-330 10 am JST, I'm sure other carriers have different times as well.

Originally Posted by shootermcgav1n

Just made my first ever combined CX/AA award booking and was charged $92.50/person for taxes and fees, is this right?

1 way booking from ATL->CLT->JFK->HKG->PVG.