Middle_Seat

I'm trying to reserve an award Economy MileSaaver seat from Europe to Austin, and not sure which is the better option. This is for travel in August.

The European city doesn't matter...let's say CDG...and let's say the routing is CDG-ORD-AUS.

Let's say I find availability in Saaver from CDG to ORD, but none from ORD to AUS. There are several flights ORD to AUS every day, so ExpertFlyer may find a Saaver seat in the next couple of months.

Should I:
a) Go ahead and reserve only the CDG to ORD segment as Saaver, and later (when a Saaver seat becomes available) phone in to add ORD to AUS at no extra cost in points?
b) Reserve the entire trip as Anytime (non-Saaver), then phone in when a Saaver seat on the ORD-AUS segment becomes available and try to get the entire trip "downgraded" to Saaver?

Thank you.

lightbulbs

I would venture to guess that if and when the ORD-AUS saaver availibility opens up the TATL saaver will be gone.

George Purcell

This is possible? I thought the origin and destination of an AA award ticket were set once it issued and that changing it would require available inventory (with no guarantee, in this case, that the trans-Atlantic segment would that availability).

swag

Are you EXP? If not, either option will incur a fee. Have you priced out what the one-way flight from ORD-AUS would cost if purchased separately for cash? Grabbing the CDG-ORD saver now and buying the domestic segment may end up cheaper; on some days, ORD-AUS is under $100.

Edit to add - If you do plan on (b) and the hope that saver inventory for both segments is available at some point in the future, there's little benefit to booking the Anytime seats now. Since Anytime mirrors paid Y (last seat) availability, it's unlikely that it will become unavailable months or weeks in advance. All you give up by not booking now is seat selection, and your gain is not having to pay the redeposit fee. But given the scarcity of Saver seats these days, I think you're still better off locking in the overseas segment now.

flyerguy1975

Agree with SWAG above, either option suggested will cost the $150 to redeposit miles as you are changing your destination or downgrading an award. You can upgrade your award for no cost, but not downgrade.

If you have found an MS award from Europe- Grab it! It will gone soon.

sdsearch

What is it with this "when" stuff? The proper word is "if", not "when"! Ie, it is far, far from certain that the ORD-AUS segment will ever become available as a Saver fare. See this giant thread for the evidence:
So every option you list needs to consider what you will do if ORD-AUS doesn't become available, ever. It makes no sense to phrase all your options assuming a certainty that ORD-AUS will become available.

Middle_Seat

Point well taken. Thank you sdsearch.