timing on award flight availability
Jun 29, 2017 | 4:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: AKL, YUL
Programs: NZ*GE, UA*G
Posts: 364
timing on award flight availability
Hi, I usually fly NZ so apologies for my ignorance in this area: I need to book an AA award flight LAX-AKL in two weeks. Currently there are biz award tix available for 80k miles on the 2nd, 4th, and 8th. These were not available a week or two ago.
The earliest I can fly is the 10th and so I'm wondering if, in general, biz award availability at the last minute like this tends to open up in some window ahead of the date of travel? That is: should I just book a date that works now (in Y at 40k) or wait a few days to see if biz availability should open up for the week of the 10th?
Again apologies as I have no idea how this kind of thing works at AA, being NZ*E.
The earliest I can fly is the 10th and so I'm wondering if, in general, biz award availability at the last minute like this tends to open up in some window ahead of the date of travel? That is: should I just book a date that works now (in Y at 40k) or wait a few days to see if biz availability should open up for the week of the 10th?
Again apologies as I have no idea how this kind of thing works at AA, being NZ*E.
Jun 29, 2017 | 4:52 pm
#3
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Join Date: Mar 2001
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You can set an expertflyer alert for the seats, might as well set an alert for the 9th as well as that might yield some insight as you're waiting.
Date change and up-cabin (from a ticketed award) are free, redeposit is not.
Date change and up-cabin (from a ticketed award) are free, redeposit is not.
Jun 29, 2017 | 4:56 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: OW Emerald
Posts: 1,452
If you're prepared to fly Y, book a Y ticket on a date that suits you and if J becomes available you'd just pay the difference in miles.
These routes tend to vary a bit by day of week (note that 2nd and 8th are on same day of week, so one might infer - correctly or incorrectly - that 15th would be a best guess).
These routes tend to vary a bit by day of week (note that 2nd and 8th are on same day of week, so one might infer - correctly or incorrectly - that 15th would be a best guess).
Jun 29, 2017 | 9:20 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: AKL, YUL
Programs: NZ*GE, UA*G
Posts: 364
Jun 30, 2017 | 4:53 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: OW Emerald
Posts: 1,452
As pointed out above, there's a fee if you redeposit the miles. To avoid a redeposit with fee, you should (a) make sure you're willing to fly the Y award you book if nothing opens up in J, and (b) make sure you're doing a "straight swap" from Y to J award... unless I'm mistaken you couldn't go from an AAnytime Y to a SAAver J without the redeposit, for example.
Jul 1, 2017 | 9:42 am
#7
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 26,113
If you're prepared to fly Y, book a Y ticket on a date that suits you and if J becomes available you'd just pay the difference in miles.
These routes tend to vary a bit by day of week (note that 2nd and 8th are on same day of week, so one might infer - correctly or incorrectly - that 15th would be a best guess).
These routes tend to vary a bit by day of week (note that 2nd and 8th are on same day of week, so one might infer - correctly or incorrectly - that 15th would be a best guess).
However, broadening it, 2nd, 4th, and 8th are all non-workdays. 2nd is a Sunday, 4th is a US holiday, and 8th is a Saturday. So the pattern i see (with that limited data set) is not specific days, but more likely on weekend days or holidays.
Jul 1, 2017 | 5:00 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: OW Emerald
Posts: 1,452
Your math is off. There are 7 days in a week, not 6. And 8-2=6.
However, broadening it, 2nd, 4th, and 8th are all non-workdays. 2nd is a Sunday, 4th is a US holiday, and 8th is a Saturday. So the pattern i see (with that limited data set) is not specific days, but more likely on weekend days or holidays.
However, broadening it, 2nd, 4th, and 8th are all non-workdays. 2nd is a Sunday, 4th is a US holiday, and 8th is a Saturday. So the pattern i see (with that limited data set) is not specific days, but more likely on weekend days or holidays.
Generally for travel to Australia and NZ, Friday is one of the peak days and Tuesdays are quiet - irrespective of what dates they are!