Booking AA Award travel on Etihad / EY - [2015-17 ARCHIVE]
Sep 7, 2017, 4:45 pm
#3076
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 118
I was trying to book a flight to JFK and couldn't for next summer because AA shows no seats available. I talked to a supervisor who said this was because the partnership was ending sometime in the near future. I don't quite know if he was right though, because the short-hauls are still available, but he seemed to be sure the partnership ending was causing this. I just booked on CX as I was flying from India, so it is the same number of miles to fly through HKG as AUH.
Sep 8, 2017, 6:17 am
#3077
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 179
Called AUS call center this morning, was able to book Biz AMD - AUH, still no availability for AUH-JFK.
Sep 8, 2017, 7:31 am
#3078
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: WAS (IAD, DCA, BWI)
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, WN CP
Posts: 245
My experience last month was as follows:
- Etihad Guest showed plenty of availability in J from HYD-AUH-IAD/DFW for March 2018.
- Called AA. They saw availability too, and booked two tickets for me.
Took all of 10 minutes or less.
After 10 days, I needed to book two more tickets on the same itinerary:
- Etihad website was up and down intermittently for a few days
- When Eithad website was finally stable, it showed plenty of availability in J
- AA claimed they could see nothing
- I HUACAed a few times - same result: no availability
- Finally had to book J on QR from HYD-DOH-PHL
- Etihad Guest showed plenty of availability in J from HYD-AUH-IAD/DFW for March 2018.
- Called AA. They saw availability too, and booked two tickets for me.
Took all of 10 minutes or less.
After 10 days, I needed to book two more tickets on the same itinerary:
- Etihad website was up and down intermittently for a few days
- When Eithad website was finally stable, it showed plenty of availability in J
- AA claimed they could see nothing
- I HUACAed a few times - same result: no availability
- Finally had to book J on QR from HYD-DOH-PHL
Sep 8, 2017, 11:46 am
#3079
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA Exec Platinum, Delta Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 48
I had a very enlightening talk with an AA US agent this morning, who seemed to really know her stuff, especially when it came to booking BA, CX and EY Aadvantage awards.
When she checked EY availability, she said "Looks like they haven't opened up J and F cabins to us YET. They are probably waiting to make enough profit on the flight before they open this to us." Interesting comment, as profit has been a big issue for EY.
Most agents just tell me there's flat out nothing available but she said to call back once or twice a week to check as this might open up any minute, as she has seen this happen all the time.
She then proceeded to hold the following res for me:
MLE-AUH - EY in F
AUH-CDG - EY in F
CDG-JFK - AA in J
All of this is for April 2018.
So, this is not due to partnership "ending", and I don't believe its because EY web site is not showing correct availability. It very much is showing what's there, but I think there is less of 1:1 correlation now between what's shown as available as "Guest Seat" and what AA can see.
When she checked EY availability, she said "Looks like they haven't opened up J and F cabins to us YET. They are probably waiting to make enough profit on the flight before they open this to us." Interesting comment, as profit has been a big issue for EY.
Most agents just tell me there's flat out nothing available but she said to call back once or twice a week to check as this might open up any minute, as she has seen this happen all the time.
She then proceeded to hold the following res for me:
MLE-AUH - EY in F
AUH-CDG - EY in F
CDG-JFK - AA in J
All of this is for April 2018.
So, this is not due to partnership "ending", and I don't believe its because EY web site is not showing correct availability. It very much is showing what's there, but I think there is less of 1:1 correlation now between what's shown as available as "Guest Seat" and what AA can see.
Sep 8, 2017, 11:54 am
#3080
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,631
My experience last month was as follows:
- Etihad Guest showed plenty of availability in J from HYD-AUH-IAD/DFW for March 2018.
- Called AA. They saw availability too, and booked two tickets for me.
Took all of 10 minutes or less.
After 10 days, I needed to book two more tickets on the same itinerary:
- Etihad website was up and down intermittently for a few days
- When Eithad website was finally stable, it showed plenty of availability in J
- AA claimed they could see nothing
- I HUACAed a few times - same result: no availability
- Finally had to book J on QR from HYD-DOH-PHL
- Etihad Guest showed plenty of availability in J from HYD-AUH-IAD/DFW for March 2018.
- Called AA. They saw availability too, and booked two tickets for me.
Took all of 10 minutes or less.
After 10 days, I needed to book two more tickets on the same itinerary:
- Etihad website was up and down intermittently for a few days
- When Eithad website was finally stable, it showed plenty of availability in J
- AA claimed they could see nothing
- I HUACAed a few times - same result: no availability
- Finally had to book J on QR from HYD-DOH-PHL
Sep 8, 2017, 11:58 am
#3081
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 had a very enlightening talk with an AA US agent this morning, who seemed to really know her stuff, especially when it came to booking BA, CX and EY Aadvantage awards.
When she checked EY availability, she said "Looks like they haven't opened up J and F cabins to us YET. They are probably waiting to make enough profit on the flight before they open this to us." Interesting comment, as profit has been a big issue for EY.
Most agents just tell me there's flat out nothing available but she said to call back once or twice a week to check as this might open up any minute, as she has seen this happen all the time.
She then proceeded to hold the following res for me:
MLE-AUH - EY in F
AUH-CDG - EY in F
CDG-JFK - AA in J
All of this is for April 2018.
So, this is not due to partnership "ending", and I don't believe its because EY web site is not showing correct availability. It very much is showing what's there, but I think there is less of 1:1 correlation now between what's shown as available as "Guest Seat" and what AA can see.
When she checked EY availability, she said "Looks like they haven't opened up J and F cabins to us YET. They are probably waiting to make enough profit on the flight before they open this to us." Interesting comment, as profit has been a big issue for EY.
Most agents just tell me there's flat out nothing available but she said to call back once or twice a week to check as this might open up any minute, as she has seen this happen all the time.
She then proceeded to hold the following res for me:
MLE-AUH - EY in F
AUH-CDG - EY in F
CDG-JFK - AA in J
All of this is for April 2018.
So, this is not due to partnership "ending", and I don't believe its because EY web site is not showing correct availability. It very much is showing what's there, but I think there is less of 1:1 correlation now between what's shown as available as "Guest Seat" and what AA can see.
Still, who knows for sure at this point? Thanks very much for sharing this.
Sep 8, 2017, 12:59 pm
#3082
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,631
Parsing what a telephone agent says is not particularly useful. There is no reason for them to know what is really going on. If an agent happens to be correct in retrospect, it is probably just a random thing. Or maybe a particular agent really is genuinely knowledgeable, but we don't know.
Sep 8, 2017, 2:08 pm
#3083
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SF
Programs: SPG PLT, Hilton Diamond, AS MVP 75k,
Posts: 43
DP: EY showing plenty of guest availability in March 2018 from HYD - AUH - IAD in F, called Aus to put on hold and they can only see few but not my desired dates.
Sep 8, 2017, 2:30 pm
#3084
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
Hmmm...this is one of the more interesting posts here, in that it indicates at least limited AUH-USA availability. Not sure if there's any way to know this, but any sense of why those particular dates were available?
Sep 9, 2017, 8:43 am
#3085
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 264
Expert Flyer Vs Agent
Tried to book the following ticket
EY 103 AUH to JFK (Guest First (O))
Expert Flyer shows 2 seats available in Guest First (O) the agent says no seat available called the Australian Center
EY 103 AUH to JFK (Guest First (O))
Expert Flyer shows 2 seats available in Guest First (O) the agent says no seat available called the Australian Center
Sep 9, 2017, 8:45 am
#3086
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 26
I've tried to book similar with no luck. EY website shows availability but US, Australian and even Brazilian call centers show no availability. Also shows availability on expertflyer website. Frustrating.
Sep 9, 2017, 8:48 am
#3087
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: SYD
Programs: QR Platinum (OWE) / BA GOLD (OWE)/ CI Emerald (ST E+)/ SQ PPS (*G)
Posts: 75
Successfully booked 2 F seats flying AUH-CDG in Jan 2018.
It's highly dependent on route.
Has anyone confirmed the seats on Etihad's website are actually bookable. Some are reporting them being phantom seats as well. So for now I'm siding with the IT side rather than the intentional blocking side.
It's highly dependent on route.
Has anyone confirmed the seats on Etihad's website are actually bookable. Some are reporting them being phantom seats as well. So for now I'm siding with the IT side rather than the intentional blocking side.
Sep 9, 2017, 4:49 pm
#3088
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Successfully booked 2 F seats flying AUH-CDG in Jan 2018.
It's highly dependent on route.
Has anyone confirmed the seats on Etihad's website are actually bookable. Some are reporting them being phantom seats as well. So for now I'm siding with the IT side rather than the intentional blocking side.
It's highly dependent on route.
Has anyone confirmed the seats on Etihad's website are actually bookable. Some are reporting them being phantom seats as well. So for now I'm siding with the IT side rather than the intentional blocking side.
Sep 10, 2017, 10:46 am
#3089
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 220
Tried booking IAD to AMD in biz class for November travel. Seat available on EY site but AA agent in Aus call center couldn't see any biz class from IAD to AUH leg..
Told me try again around start of October or September end..Not sure what is going on. Anyone figure out what might we need to do? Try calling US call center??
Told me try again around start of October or September end..Not sure what is going on. Anyone figure out what might we need to do? Try calling US call center??
Sep 10, 2017, 7:32 pm
#3090
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, United Silver, Alaska MVP
Posts: 4
Just another DP along the same lines:
IAD -> AUH in late November in F or J. Etihad site shows availability, AA Australia call center can't see it.
IAD -> AUH in late November in F or J. Etihad site shows availability, AA Australia call center can't see it.