ARCHIVE: Expanded / additional MileSAAver award and upgrade availability for EXP
Nov 7, 2010, 12:50 pm
#136
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SFO/OAK
Programs: AA EXP 3.4MM, BAEC, UAMP, Skyteam (<10k) HH Gold, IHG Plat, Hertz Gold, GE/TSA TT
Posts: 2,723
Oh come on, you can't post such nonsense. If the agent sent your request off to RM for approval, that judgment call was made by a human being in either approving or declining your request.
The expanded inventory is an automated function and the release of seats is obviously based on algorithms.
Anyway, since you have gotten seats released, you have benefited from the perk.
The expanded inventory is an automated function and the release of seats is obviously based on algorithms.
Anyway, since you have gotten seats released, you have benefited from the perk.
As for award tickets, perhaps i should have said "YMMV", as videomaker has pointed out, rather than "myth". In any case, I look forward to the day when I can actually book a saver award ticket when it's not showing online (but I'm not holding my breath).
Nov 7, 2010, 2:18 pm
#137
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: los angeles
Programs: Hyatt Courtesy card. Delta 2MM Diamond. AA platinum pro
Posts: 1,898
In my experience I have often [at least 50% of the time] been given an upgrade or an award when it did not show available on EF or aa.com.
However, it is often necessary to ask the rep to check manually because apparently it does not automatically show on their screen. My success has usually been weeks or months before travel.
However, it is often necessary to ask the rep to check manually because apparently it does not automatically show on their screen. My success has usually been weeks or months before travel.
Nov 8, 2010, 7:41 am
#138
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AA EXP, AMEX Platinum, Global Entry, TSA PreCheck
Posts: 312
Ho-Hum, zero success here. I call EXP Desk, I ask, they quickly respond that nothing is available 100% of the time. Is there a secret password maybe? 
Nov 8, 2010, 7:06 pm
#139
Join Date: May 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP 1MM
Posts: 119
I just told that there is no additional mile saver awards unless I am traveling. She asked me if I was the one traveling and I said no it is for my father and she said well then if you want a mile saver award he will have to on x date. That is the same date I can see on AA.com.
Guess I will call back in an hour or so and see what the next one says.
Rod
Guess I will call back in an hour or so and see what the next one says.
Rod
Nov 11, 2010, 9:37 pm
#140
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: ORD/PSP
Programs: AA LT Plat, 6.0 MM, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,002
I would accept your theory that I have benefited (twice in 3 years, out of dozens of attempts) except that it was probably a coincidence that i called about when the upgrades were to be released anyway.
As for award tickets, perhaps i should have said "YMMV", as videomaker has pointed out, rather than "myth". In any case, I look forward to the day when I can actually book a saver award ticket when it's not showing online (but I'm not holding my breath).
As for award tickets, perhaps i should have said "YMMV", as videomaker has pointed out, rather than "myth". In any case, I look forward to the day when I can actually book a saver award ticket when it's not showing online (but I'm not holding my breath).
As I've been told several times by the EXP desk, and experienced directly more than once, they can see more award inventory than I can.
Nov 12, 2010, 4:34 am
#141
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
I just told that there is no additional mile saver awards unless I am traveling. She asked me if I was the one traveling and I said no it is for my father and she said well then if you want a mile saver award he will have to on x date. That is the same date I can see on AA.com.
Guess I will call back in an hour or so and see what the next one says.
Rod
Guess I will call back in an hour or so and see what the next one says.
Rod
The expanded inventory is for your personal use as an EXP not for you to 'gift' to someone else along with your miles. So as the AAgent told you, if you are the one travelling she can help you with the expanded inventory but if not then what you see online is what you get.
Dec 15, 2010, 1:14 pm
#142
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: SNA, LAX
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,293
Can someone give me a hint so to where they hide this? I've got 2 flights - #136 on 12/17 and #37 on 1/2 which are playing hide and seek.
Dec 15, 2010, 1:51 pm
#143
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
Dec 15, 2010, 1:55 pm
#144
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: LI, NY
Programs: AA PLT, AAdv since Day One
Posts: 2,682
You can see C inventory on ExpertFlyer.com by doing an Awards & Upgrades search and selecting the C class. And also set a Flight Alert to see if it opens up in the future.
However, this will not show any additional inventory that might also be available for EXPs (if there is any). For this you need to call the EXP desk.
However, this will not show any additional inventory that might also be available for EXPs (if there is any). For this you need to call the EXP desk.
Dec 15, 2010, 2:01 pm
#145
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,535
Dec 15, 2010, 4:39 pm
#147
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,968
Following my usual practice when I was a PLT, I set an EF Alert for C inventory on the return, so I could call an confirm as soon as some opened up. I happened to check my reservation a few days later and noticed that the return has cleared, 
having never gotten the Alert from EF.
having never gotten the Alert from EF.That's typically how it happens for me. As EXPs, we are often cleared into C without C inventory being publicly "released" into the system. In other words, RM grabs the PNR and moves it to C without actually creating C space for longer than the instant necessary to clear the upgrade. So, it bypasses the automatic process.
Usually what happens for me is that I keep an eye on the revenue booking classes (J, D, I) in the days before the flight, as well as my PNR on AA.com. As long as it's showing J4 D4 I1 or so a few days before departure, it's likely that I will clear suddenly, and without an alert from EF.
Then, at the 3-4 hour mark before departure, when any remaining J inventory gets released into C, I finally get the EF notification (though my upgrade cleared hours and hours earlier).
Feb 1, 2011, 2:23 pm
#148
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA PPro, 1MM
Posts: 505
Applies to flights on hold?
Does anyone know if I can call the EXP desk to ask about C inventory for a flight that's on hold (but not purchased)?
Feb 1, 2011, 3:15 pm
#150
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
That's typically how it happens for me. As EXPs, we are often cleared into C without C inventory being publicly "released" into the system. In other words, RM grabs the PNR and moves it to C without actually creating C space for longer than the instant necessary to clear the upgrade. So, it bypasses the automatic process.
So it is perfectly possible for AA to release C inventory, have it sitting there for some time and then pick it up and use it for queued requests all without EF actually noticing it is there.
Hard to be precise and EF do not publish the details but if you are still a couple of days before the flight I wouldn't be surprised to find that there are at least a couple of hours between checks from the EF end based on what I've experienced.