ARCHIVE: Expanded / additional MileSAAver award and upgrade availability for EXP
Jan 11, 2010, 7:44 pm
#106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,968
Good point. But F seats can be limited because so many people (try to) claim First Class flight awards to/from Hawaii.
Still, when I asked Diane at the HNL AC about it, she says that she regularly sees X inventory on boarding passes departing HNL, so I guess that's a good sign!
Jan 11, 2010, 9:06 pm
#107
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,399
Good point. But F seats can be limited because so many people (try to) claim First Class flight awards to/from Hawaii.
Still, when I asked Diane at the HNL AC about it, she says that she regularly sees X inventory on boarding passes departing HNL, so I guess that's a good sign!
Still, when I asked Diane at the HNL AC about it, she says that she regularly sees X inventory on boarding passes departing HNL, so I guess that's a good sign!
Jan 11, 2010, 9:39 pm
#108
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SAT
Programs: AA EXP BA Gold, TK Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AS 100K, QR PLT, SAS Gold, IHG Spire, AMR
Posts: 5,898
I agree, I never not had stickers clears for me on Hawaii bound/return flights. I would not waste an eVIP to Hawaii unless they expired soon
Jan 11, 2010, 9:55 pm
#109
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,949
I think it's important to distinguish between LAX/SFO-Hawaii and DFW/(soon to be again ORD - Hawaii flights which considering the use of SWU/Miles or waiting out a sticker UG. IME the DFW and ORD flights are a challenge for EXPs shooting for X upgrades. I use SWUs/Miles in a heart beat. Flying for LAX or SFO I'd wait out the sticker upgrade.
Jan 11, 2010, 10:23 pm
#110
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,953
HNL strategy
Good point. But F seats can be limited because so many people (try to) claim First Class flight awards to/from Hawaii.
Still, when I asked Diane at the HNL AC about it, she says that she regularly sees X inventory on boarding passes departing HNL, so I guess that's a good sign!
Still, when I asked Diane at the HNL AC about it, she says that she regularly sees X inventory on boarding passes departing HNL, so I guess that's a good sign!
I think it's important to distinguish between LAX/SFO-Hawaii and DFW/(soon to be again ORD - Hawaii flights which considering the use of SWU/Miles or waiting out a sticker UG. IME the DFW and ORD flights are a challenge for EXPs shooting for X upgrades. I use SWUs/Miles in a heart beat. Flying for LAX or SFO I'd wait out the sticker upgrade.
Jan 12, 2010, 12:14 am
#111
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: AA-EXP & 1.6 MM
Posts: 79
1. Weekend after Thanksgiving
2. First flight out of HNL in the morning with many connections to the East Coast.
Jan 12, 2010, 1:44 am
#112
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: back to AA PLT, 1.6+MM
Posts: 771
As a newly minted EXP, I can confirm the "hidden" C inventory. Currently in Europe on a trip I booked on 01/04. Last week I called the EXP desk for the first time to ask to be waitlisted for UG's, since EF showed C0 for both the outbound and the return. Instead the AAgent cleared the outbound immediately, then almost apologized for having to waitlist the return, and said chances of it clearing looked very good. 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.
Mar 16, 2010, 9:29 am
#113
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AA EXP - 2.4 mm, Starwood PLT
Posts: 427
EXP Additional MileSaaver Availabliity?
Apparently one of the EXP perks is additional availability for Milesaaver awards. Would I be able to view this availability via AA.com if I were logged in or do I need to contact the EXP desk?
Last edited by dstan; Mar 16, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Mar 16, 2010, 9:56 am
#115
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Nice
Programs: Marriott Titanium, AA Concierge Key, Delta, United, Emorates, and others
Posts: 4,694
Calling the EXP desk often gets things you cannot get on the website. I plan whatever I want online then call EXP to reserve. They usually get whatever I want on pretty decent terms including Milesaver. The EXP desk is the best EXP perk of them all, barring eVIP's of course.
Mar 16, 2010, 9:57 am
#116
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AA EXP - 2.4 mm, Starwood PLT
Posts: 427
You need to call. It's a stated benefit, not "apparently," but availability will vary.
There's also a consolidated thread on this here. (Search terms expanded milesaaver)
There's also a consolidated thread on this here. (Search terms expanded milesaaver)
Mar 16, 2010, 10:04 am
#117
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA EXP, 1 MM, AC, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 4,010
Aug 24, 2010, 2:21 pm
#118
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1P, DL PM
Posts: 34
Expanded C inventory for EXPs
Interesting data point of which I wasn't previously aware. Flying LHR-ORD in November with a non-status companion on a separate PNR (linked to mine), both waitlisted for eVIP upgrades from my account.
Today the agent told me that she was showing one seat available and offered to process the upgrade for me. I told her to give it to my companion, but she said it was unavailable to him, and that as an EXP I have access to expanded upgrade inventory (not visible, to my knowledge, on EF).
Today the agent told me that she was showing one seat available and offered to process the upgrade for me. I told her to give it to my companion, but she said it was unavailable to him, and that as an EXP I have access to expanded upgrade inventory (not visible, to my knowledge, on EF).
Aug 24, 2010, 6:30 pm
#119
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,399
Interesting data point of which I wasn't previously aware. Flying LHR-ORD in November with a non-status companion on a separate PNR (linked to mine), both waitlisted for eVIP upgrades from my account.
Today the agent told me that she was showing one seat available and offered to process the upgrade for me. I told her to give it to my companion, but she said it was unavailable to him, and that as an EXP I have access to expanded upgrade inventory (not visible, to my knowledge, on EF).
Today the agent told me that she was showing one seat available and offered to process the upgrade for me. I told her to give it to my companion, but she said it was unavailable to him, and that as an EXP I have access to expanded upgrade inventory (not visible, to my knowledge, on EF).
Aug 24, 2010, 6:43 pm
#120
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY (finally); previously NYC, BOS, AUH
Programs: AA EXP, 6MM; BA GLD
Posts: 17,249
Interesting data point of which I wasn't previously aware. Flying LHR-ORD in November with a non-status companion on a separate PNR (linked to mine), both waitlisted for eVIP upgrades from my account.
Today the agent told me that she was showing one seat available and offered to process the upgrade for me. I told her to give it to my companion, but she said it was unavailable to him, and that as an EXP I have access to expanded upgrade inventory (not visible, to my knowledge, on EF).
Today the agent told me that she was showing one seat available and offered to process the upgrade for me. I told her to give it to my companion, but she said it was unavailable to him, and that as an EXP I have access to expanded upgrade inventory (not visible, to my knowledge, on EF).