Award: AA.com says NO. EF says YES. AA agent says YES
Dec 23, 2019, 9:39 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 466
Award: AA.com says NO. EF says YES. AA agent says YES
I got an EF alert that BA 207 (lhr-mia), July 4 2020, had 2 mile saver awards available. EF search said they were available.
When I looked on AA.com... and it only showed flights with connections. BA 207 was not listed.
BUT... when I called AA.... the agent saw the 2 mile saver awards as being available. And booked me on that flight.
Any ideas... on what is going on?
When I looked on AA.com... and it only showed flights with connections. BA 207 was not listed.
BUT... when I called AA.... the agent saw the 2 mile saver awards as being available. And booked me on that flight.
Any ideas... on what is going on?
Dec 23, 2019, 3:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SFO or OAK
Programs: AA 1MM GLD, Hertz #1 Gold, bunch of other programs w/no status
Posts: 1,452
Can't say what's going on, but a similar thing happened to me a couple years ago, except it was AA metal. Saw it on EF and not on AA.com, called in and was able to book. Also had agent waive phone fee since I wasn't able to book on AA.com.
Dec 23, 2019, 4:09 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT - 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz Precs Crcl
Posts: 2,212
AA.COM does not show real-time inventory (on initial display), as far as I know. When you actually try to book, then it does and sometimes you are kicked-back because inventory shown is no longer available. EF checks real-time, as do AA agents. Thus newly available inventory may now show immediately on AA.COM. At least that's my understanding.
Dec 24, 2019, 8:19 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 466
AA.COM does not show real-time inventory (on initial display), as far as I know. When you actually try to book, then it does and sometimes you are kicked-back because inventory shown is no longer available. EF checks real-time, as do AA agents. Thus newly available inventory may now show immediately on AA.COM. At least that's my understanding.
Dec 24, 2019, 9:55 am
#6
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,484
Last year when I was looking for award travel to Australia, Expert Flyer caught some Qantas inventory and I called and was able to book it. The AA website never had it.
Dec 24, 2019, 7:48 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT - 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz Precs Crcl
Posts: 2,212
It's not just award searches, it is ANY search, as far as I know. AA.COM does not check real-time every query when it presents a list of possible flights - award or not. I have no idea of the "refresh" cycle, and (I suspect) that it is quite likely that award inventory may be updated less frequently than revenue inventory. I believe that is (at least one of) the reason(s) when you attempt to purchase (or hold) a reservation (of any type) it may kick back saying that the inventory is no longer available. That, of course, is an example of less inventory than presented. It is equally possible for inventory to factually be available that does not appear in your initial section list.
Dec 24, 2019, 8:45 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT - 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz Precs Crcl
Posts: 2,212
Totally agree, and where that works great for CK/EXP, you can get hit with booking charges otherwise. (I believe... Sadly I will be finding out soon enough for myself!)
Dec 24, 2019, 9:02 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: AA ConciergeKey, Marriott Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, United Silver
Posts: 63
Yeah, calling in naturally works best when wait times are low (ex: EXP/CK desks usually have low waits which makes it a bit more convenient)... but I'm sure if you're friendly & nice on the call as a GLD/Plat/PlatPro/etc. elite they'll make an effort to waive the phone fee if you explain why you called in vs. tried booking online.
Last edited by goldtiger; Dec 24, 2019 at 9:02 pm Reason: typo
Dec 24, 2019, 9:08 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT - 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz Precs Crcl
Posts: 2,212
Yeah, calling in naturally works best when wait times are low (ex: EXP/CK desks usually have low waits which makes it a bit more convenient)... but I'm sure if you're friendly & nice on the call as a GLD/Plat/PlatPro/etc. elite they'll make an effort to waive the phone fee if you explain why you called in vs. tried booking online.
