ARCHIVE: AA Awards on Cathay Pacific (2016)
Jan 12, 2016, 3:34 pm
#121
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
Best availability - 355 day mark, but you'll need a currency other than AA to book that far out.
Ample availability - 330 day mark, but pickings will be comparatively slim and typically just 1 F seat is made available.
Bad/random availability - Between T-14 and T-310 or so. Things pop up, but not often.
Best availability - inside of 14 days.
This is my experience for F awards, I've redeemed close to 50 one-way CX awards, the vast majority with AA. Set up an Awardnexus alert for between T-14 and T-310 and plan on major sleep deprivation inside of T-7.
Good luck - Jamie
Ample availability - 330 day mark, but pickings will be comparatively slim and typically just 1 F seat is made available.
Bad/random availability - Between T-14 and T-310 or so. Things pop up, but not often.
Best availability - inside of 14 days.
This is my experience for F awards, I've redeemed close to 50 one-way CX awards, the vast majority with AA. Set up an Awardnexus alert for between T-14 and T-310 and plan on major sleep deprivation inside of T-7.
Good luck - Jamie
Pretty much this. I've been monitoring availability for my trip at the end of May. I've seen a few single F seats open up (JFK/BOS), and several J (snagged 2 J from ORD-HKG for now). Have not seen 1 F 1 J on the same flight yet. Awardnexus, and then I check later on in the day at least once myself.
In terms of setting the Awardnexus alert, any sense of what time of day (morning in Asia vs US vs Europe) is best?
Jan 12, 2016, 3:38 pm
#122
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,542
I get mine in the am US since I sleep at night and might have missed something. It is easy to check availability myself during the day. CX has released inventory at the equivalent of 0710 EST, 1500 EST and 1935 for my last three requisite awards, so I don't think there's a pattern.
Jan 12, 2016, 3:52 pm
#123
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
I get mine in the am US since I sleep at night and might have missed something. It is easy to check availability myself during the day. CX has released inventory at the equivalent of 0710 EST, 1500 EST and 1935 for my last three requisite awards, so I don't think there's a pattern.
Jan 12, 2016, 4:24 pm
#124
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
Is there any easy way to get bottom tier AA status so the close-in booking fee is waived?
Jan 12, 2016, 4:58 pm
#126
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
Jan 12, 2016, 6:28 pm
#127
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
I get mine in the am US since I sleep at night and might have missed something. It is easy to check availability myself during the day. CX has released inventory at the equivalent of 0710 EST, 1500 EST and 1935 for my last three requisite awards, so I don't think there's a pattern.
Jan 12, 2016, 8:37 pm
#128
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 515
I get mine in the am US since I sleep at night and might have missed something. It is easy to check availability myself during the day. CX has released inventory at the equivalent of 0710 EST, 1500 EST and 1935 for my last three requisite awards, so I don't think there's a pattern.
Jan 12, 2016, 10:12 pm
#129
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
That's what I figured. Thanks.
Jan 13, 2016, 9:38 am
#130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,239
(Though of course I think it's moot, if you were really asking about J->F "upgrades")
Jan 13, 2016, 11:27 am
#131
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: DFW
Posts: 520
DAD-HKG?
any experience on award availability between DAD-HKG on KA? I'm trying to redo a trip and have everything worked out except that one leg and its holding up the whole trip 
I'm looking at coming back March 23-28. One interesting note is that KA is selling tickets for $650ish while CX is $275ish (even though its the same metal)
I'm looking at coming back March 23-28. One interesting note is that KA is selling tickets for $650ish while CX is $275ish (even though its the same metal)
Jan 13, 2016, 11:48 am
#132
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
any experience on award availability between DAD-HKG on KA? I'm trying to redo a trip and have everything worked out except that one leg and its holding up the whole trip
I'm looking at coming back March 23-28. One interesting note is that KA is selling tickets for $650ish while CX is $275ish (even though its the same metal)
I'm looking at coming back March 23-28. One interesting note is that KA is selling tickets for $650ish while CX is $275ish (even though its the same metal)
Jan 13, 2016, 2:40 pm
#133
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: BOS/MHT/PVD/BDL
Programs: Belong to Many but No Longer Loyal to Any
Posts: 880
any experience on award availability between DAD-HKG on KA? I'm trying to redo a trip and have everything worked out except that one leg and its holding up the whole trip
I'm looking at coming back March 23-28. One interesting note is that KA is selling tickets for $650ish while CX is $275ish (even though its the same metal)
I'm looking at coming back March 23-28. One interesting note is that KA is selling tickets for $650ish while CX is $275ish (even though its the same metal)
Jan 13, 2016, 5:22 pm
#134
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: DFW
Posts: 520
Have you phoned in yet? I've never been able to see DAD award availability online. You could take a voluntary downgrade to economy on that leg if award availability is there. Then upgrade for free to J if something on that date or another suitable date becomes available. Actually, what class are you trying to book into?
Jan 13, 2016, 6:30 pm
#135
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 42
Does anyone here have experience booking 330 days out for CX (or JL) F in the latter half of December?
I was seeing a decent amount of availability as recently as 3 days ago but now there's nothing from any North American gateways (and noticeably less in J and W too). Does CX release significantly less award seats or has BA.com been buggy?
Thanks!
I was seeing a decent amount of availability as recently as 3 days ago but now there's nothing from any North American gateways (and noticeably less in J and W too). Does CX release significantly less award seats or has BA.com been buggy?
Thanks!