Booking AA Award travel on Etihad / EY - [2015-17 ARCHIVE]
Jan 22, 2016, 12:14 pm
#481
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 8
Did get my LAX-->AUH officially ticketed as of last night. ^
Was giving her my info and had to give a US cell, at which point she asked "But you are in Australia right?" It was a bit tough to understand each other and I panicked. Not my finest moment, but seemed easier than explaining to her that AA US can't see the awards and had a much longer hold time.
Jan 22, 2016, 12:31 pm
#482
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
I had no difficulty booking USA to AUH in Dec 2016, using the methods described here. However, I wanted to continue to India (CCU) and I cannot find a way to book AUH-CCU.
EY shows availability on AUH-CCU every day in that date range. AA USA cannot see availability on any day. AA Australia cannot see availability on the day needed to connect from my transatlantic flight on hold, but it CAN see it on the previous day.
So after three days of calling Australia and not succeeding in booking the 2nd segment, I asked them to push the entire trip forward by a day, so I would leave the US a day earlier and use the available AUH-CCU flight. Well, that didn't work either, because she tried to do it and said no problem with the transatlantic flight, but "they won't give me the AUH-CCU flight." "You mean it's not actually available?" "No, it's available but they won't give it to me."
Fortunately she was able to give me my original transatlantic date back, but a total of over two cumulative hours of calling Australia and I still don't have a complete reservation. (Note again that EY shows abundant availability.)
Is there a third AA call center that would be able to book AUH-India?
EY shows availability on AUH-CCU every day in that date range. AA USA cannot see availability on any day. AA Australia cannot see availability on the day needed to connect from my transatlantic flight on hold, but it CAN see it on the previous day.
So after three days of calling Australia and not succeeding in booking the 2nd segment, I asked them to push the entire trip forward by a day, so I would leave the US a day earlier and use the available AUH-CCU flight. Well, that didn't work either, because she tried to do it and said no problem with the transatlantic flight, but "they won't give me the AUH-CCU flight." "You mean it's not actually available?" "No, it's available but they won't give it to me."
Fortunately she was able to give me my original transatlantic date back, but a total of over two cumulative hours of calling Australia and I still don't have a complete reservation. (Note again that EY shows abundant availability.)
Is there a third AA call center that would be able to book AUH-India?
From your post it seems like the AUH-CCU segment is the troublesome one, so I would suggest asking if they can hold that segment, then add the US-AUH segment after they get the first to confirm.
Hope this helps...
Jan 22, 2016, 3:13 pm
#483
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,631
There is no real call center in India, just the AA General Sales Agent in Delhi that answers the phone from 9 to 5 (half day Saturday, closed Sunday). I have not found them to be easy to reach, and when reached, they don't have the experience or training in AA issues that AA phone agents have.
Jan 22, 2016, 7:55 pm
#484
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 5
Trying to book an Etihad itinerary for a couple of legs for an upcoming trip in July/August. I'm seeing availability for every single leg on the Etihad site through their guest business / guest first, but I'm calling in and the agent is seeing basically none of the availability on her end.
CDG-AUH-BOM on 7/28 - 7/29 in J or F, and GOI-BOM-AUH-LAX on 8/2 - 8/3 in J. Any tips on trying to be able to book this? Looks like Etihad's site is just showing some ghost availability or something, it's a bit confusing. Even when she looked up just the AUH-LAX leg that I see two J seats on the agent sees nothing.
Last time I booked LAX-AUH-MLE for August 2015 I had no issues and it was booked quickly so a bit concerned for this itinerary.
CDG-AUH-BOM on 7/28 - 7/29 in J or F, and GOI-BOM-AUH-LAX on 8/2 - 8/3 in J. Any tips on trying to be able to book this? Looks like Etihad's site is just showing some ghost availability or something, it's a bit confusing. Even when she looked up just the AUH-LAX leg that I see two J seats on the agent sees nothing.
Last time I booked LAX-AUH-MLE for August 2015 I had no issues and it was booked quickly so a bit concerned for this itinerary.
Jan 22, 2016, 8:41 pm
#485
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 740
Does Etihad ever open up LAX to AUH in business? I found some AUH to LAX but never the other way around.
Jan 22, 2016, 9:01 pm
#486
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: QF, VA, AC, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 3,783
Trying to book an Etihad itinerary for a couple of legs for an upcoming trip in July/August. I'm seeing availability for every single leg on the Etihad site through their guest business / guest first, but I'm calling in and the agent is seeing basically none of the availability on her end.
CDG-AUH-BOM on 7/28 - 7/29 in J or F, and GOI-BOM-AUH-LAX on 8/2 - 8/3 in J. Any tips on trying to be able to book this? Looks like Etihad's site is just showing some ghost availability or something, it's a bit confusing. Even when she looked up just the AUH-LAX leg that I see two J seats on the agent sees nothing.
Last time I booked LAX-AUH-MLE for August 2015 I had no issues and it was booked quickly so a bit concerned for this itinerary.
CDG-AUH-BOM on 7/28 - 7/29 in J or F, and GOI-BOM-AUH-LAX on 8/2 - 8/3 in J. Any tips on trying to be able to book this? Looks like Etihad's site is just showing some ghost availability or something, it's a bit confusing. Even when she looked up just the AUH-LAX leg that I see two J seats on the agent sees nothing.
Last time I booked LAX-AUH-MLE for August 2015 I had no issues and it was booked quickly so a bit concerned for this itinerary.
Jan 22, 2016, 9:26 pm
#488
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 5
My wife and I flew that route in August 2015 so it seems that they do, but when we were building out the itinerary for this trip I couldn't find any availability on that route for the summer. Not sure if it's been snatched up or they're releasing very limited availability for it.
Jan 22, 2016, 11:05 pm
#489
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MEX
Posts: 1,014
Booked a CDG-DOH F award and was ticketed within 2-3 hours. Meanwhile, been 24+ hours and no sign of the EY ticket.
Jan 22, 2016, 11:15 pm
#490
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 740
My wife and I flew that route in August 2015 so it seems that they do, but when we were building out the itinerary for this trip I couldn't find any availability on that route for the summer. Not sure if it's been snatched up or they're releasing very limited availability for it.
So far no luck...
Jan 22, 2016, 11:22 pm
#491
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: QR Platinum, IHG Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 215
I believe Etihad only releases award spaces 330 days in advance, so you might have to check back in about a week or so for Xmas availability.
Jan 23, 2016, 12:21 am
#492
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 5
Yeah I recall it taking a few days to ticket last time I booked an EY fare, so I guess you just have to hang tight for a couple days.
Jan 23, 2016, 7:10 am
#493
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
I had an EY award ticket in hours earlier this week, but when I called to ticket one yesterday I was told it may take a few days - there is the biggest snow storm pretty much ever hitting the East coast right now.
Jan 23, 2016, 10:23 am
#494
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 19
saw available on a few days via EY website, call AU, they still can't see the space.
is there normal these days?
is there normal these days?
Jan 23, 2016, 10:52 am
#495
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 59
Looking at the end of the schedule, it seems that EY releases guestfirst award space (at least on the flights I'm looking at) 319 days out, as opposed to 331 days (when the AA booking window opens). Does anyone know if AA reps would be able to see any availability for the 12 days in-between? Or do I just have to wait until 319 days out? Thanks!