When will AA Upgrade the Award Search Tool With Partners?
Jun 27, 19, 9:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: UA Plat, 2MM
Posts: 1,696
When will AA Upgrade the Award Search Tool With Partners?
When you try to book an international Award with partner airlines to a destination AA does not fly to, you have limited ability to see flights. You can see some BA and CX, but not a wide variety. UA has a much better tool to find other Star Alliance flight's available. You have to call AA for so much (far too much) partner availability. Besides being frustrating, it ties up agent time. When will AA give a full Award availability search tool?
Jun 27, 19, 9:27 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA LT GLD 1MM
Posts: 801
Partner awards cost AA money. They'd rather you just book an AAnytime on aa.com
The good news is now that you know, you potentially have a much better shot of getting a nice seat since not everyone can see it right on aa.com
The good news is now that you know, you potentially have a much better shot of getting a nice seat since not everyone can see it right on aa.com
Jun 27, 19, 10:43 pm
#4
Moderator: American AAdvantage, TAP, Mexico, Technical Support and Feedback, and The Suggestion Box
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,802
It’s pretty much useless speculation to ask when AA will have a great Award Search tool, because the answer may well be “never”. AA is running in a very old system with layers over layers of enhancements and improvements. AA had an agreement with H-P to develop s new PSS (to be called Jetstream), but that ended with bankruptcy and Doug Parker’s choice to migrate everything to Sabre, the existing AA PSS.
In the meantime, the Wikipost in this thread documents a lot of information related to searching for AAdvantage awards. HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance
In the meantime, the Wikipost in this thread documents a lot of information related to searching for AAdvantage awards. HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance
Jun 28, 19, 4:25 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,801
and dont forget when you are looking for a J saver award, be careful, you may find the exact flights you are looking for,
only to see that nasty footnote that not all segments are in J, in very tiny letters and when you actually look at the entire trip.. all the long hauls are in coach UGHHHHHH
only to see that nasty footnote that not all segments are in J, in very tiny letters and when you actually look at the entire trip.. all the long hauls are in coach UGHHHHHH
Jun 28, 19, 5:10 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,091
Originally Posted by TonyBurr
When you try to book an international Award with partner airlines to a destination AA does not fly to, you have limited ability to see flights. You can see some BA and CX, but not a wide variety. UA has a much better tool to find other Star Alliance flight's available. You have to call AA for so much (far too much) partner availability. Besides being frustrating, it ties up agent time. When will AA give a full Award availability search tool?
Jun 28, 19, 7:26 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA ExPlat, Delta GM, Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Titanium Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 140
Originally Posted by fotographer
and dont forget when you are looking for a J saver award, be careful, you may find the exact flights you are looking for,
only to see that nasty footnote that not all segments are in J, in very tiny letters and when you actually look at the entire trip.. all the long hauls are in coach UGHHHHHH
only to see that nasty footnote that not all segments are in J, in very tiny letters and when you actually look at the entire trip.. all the long hauls are in coach UGHHHHHH
Jun 28, 19, 7:54 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: GCM, formerly DFW
Programs: AA Plat Pro
Posts: 116
Originally Posted by dantheflyingman
Not sure if it's because I'm originating in Chicago, but I'm seeing this less and less when searching for awards (minus those wonderful phantom awards on IB).
Jun 28, 19, 11:35 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold, MR Gold, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 15,424
Originally Posted by bscooter26
What are phantom awards on IB?
Jun 29, 19, 3:18 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: Delta, AA, United, Marriott
Posts: 396
Originally Posted by javabytes
Flights that show up in search results as available, but really aren’t, and they error when you try to book.
Jun 29, 19, 3:52 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,554
Originally Posted by Clay_C.
I am not even getting that. I just looked for IB availability from ORD to MAD for the first time in a few months and I am shaken to my core by what I saw.
Jun 30, 19, 2:11 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,740
Originally Posted by Clay_C.
I am not even getting that. I just looked for IB availability from ORD to MAD for the first time in a few months and I am shaken to my core by what I saw.
Sep 14, 19, 3:56 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: Delta, AA, United, Marriott
Posts: 396
Originally Posted by linglingfool
With IB flying 359s and only 7x weekly even in summer, the glut of seats ex-ORD that used to be available no longer exists.
Sep 16, 19, 12:27 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,740
Originally Posted by Clay_C.
Glad to say I am able to locate a few seats here and there, but you are right...it is nothing like it was just a few years ago.
I've given up on trying to book premium cabin TATL awards on OW ex-ORD. Stopping over in CLT or PHL is lousy eastbound since it leaves no time to sleep, and the nonstop longhauls are either on BA or a tiny AA 788 cabin that never has any availability. Shame to see the flying decimated from just a few years ago, but AA has made it clear their ORD flying is LHR + popular seasonal leisure destinations.
Sep 16, 19, 1:55 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold, MR Gold, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 15,424
I have to admit, with how scarce award availability is, I selfishly like that many partners are not easily searchable on AA.com. Having to go to EF, BA.com, etc. weeds out competition.
