ARCHIVE: 2018 HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance
Aug 10, 2018, 10:35 am
#436
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
No, it most likely means it's just phantom space showing on QF.
Ultimately it doesn't matter much if award space is showing on ExpertFlyer, BA, QF, etc, if the AA phone agents are not able to see or book it, then there's not much you can do.
Ultimately it doesn't matter much if award space is showing on ExpertFlyer, BA, QF, etc, if the AA phone agents are not able to see or book it, then there's not much you can do.
Aug 10, 2018, 10:45 am
#437
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,321
You may have missed the initial release of award seats - if there was one. Or no seats may be released for Awards until two or more days after the flight opens for bookings. Or if historically that day has had heavy bookings, RM may trickle or not even release seats if bookings follow through.
If you can get AA transatlantic with BA short haul, go for that. The high YA carrier imposed fees come with BA transatlantic (not transiting LHR, etc.)
Also, read HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance, particularly the Wikipost at the top of the page, for many tips. E.g. aa.com does not show some partners. There are partners people don’t know about (like the Air Tahiti Nui LAX-CDG possibility for those aspiring Awards to Paris).
If you can get AA transatlantic with BA short haul, go for that. The high YA carrier imposed fees come with BA transatlantic (not transiting LHR, etc.)
Also, read HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance, particularly the Wikipost at the top of the page, for many tips. E.g. aa.com does not show some partners. There are partners people don’t know about (like the Air Tahiti Nui LAX-CDG possibility for those aspiring Awards to Paris).
With the loss of Airberlin, a lot of good options for Europe using AA miles have dried up, but Iberia seems to also have availability those dates, and has lower fees than BA. (In addition to some availability on ORD and RDU to LHR on AA metal). If you see any flight combo with 4 seats available, I'd book now. Chances of 4 more seats being released on any given flight at this point is low.
Aug 10, 2018, 11:35 am
#438
Moderator: Information Desk, Women Travelers, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 15,653
Moving this to our dedicated AA forum.
chgoeditor
co-mod, Info Desk
chgoeditor
co-mod, Info Desk
Aug 10, 2018, 11:47 am
#439
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
Already cross-posted here, suggest this one be closed.
HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance
HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance
Aug 10, 2018, 2:03 pm
#440
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I don’t think you understand the rule.
If you buy, say for an award thirty days out and change it afterwards so yourbgrip will now be under twenty-one days out, a loophole that existed some years ago, you will be charged $75.00.
But if you buy an award trip, say 300 days out, and you want to change it to 295 days out, there’s no fee incurred. Even on day 290.
If you buy, say for an award thirty days out and change it afterwards so yourbgrip will now be under twenty-one days out, a loophole that existed some years ago, you will be charged $75.00.
But if you buy an award trip, say 300 days out, and you want to change it to 295 days out, there’s no fee incurred. Even on day 290.
Aug 10, 2018, 3:18 pm
#441
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
I don’t think you understand the rule.
If you buy, say for an award thirty days out and change it afterwards so yourbgrip will now be under twenty-one days out, a loophole that existed some years ago, you will be charged $75.00.
But if you buy an award trip, say 300 days out, and you want to change it to 295 days out, there’s no fee incurred. Even on day 290.
If you buy, say for an award thirty days out and change it afterwards so yourbgrip will now be under twenty-one days out, a loophole that existed some years ago, you will be charged $75.00.
But if you buy an award trip, say 300 days out, and you want to change it to 295 days out, there’s no fee incurred. Even on day 290.
Have to say I'm stunned that AA lets you change dates this way. Maybe I'm just gun shy from interactions with UA.
Aug 10, 2018, 3:20 pm
#442
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 387
Ok. Thanks everyone just got the June 17th date.
Aug 10, 2018, 5:45 pm
#443
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
I heard in some other thread (which I can't find now) that someone had trouble getting a partner booking through "normal" AA agents, and then somehow connected to foreign AA agents who were able to do that partner award booking. Apparently those foreign agents had access to the Amadeus reservation system (which a lot of AA's partners use), but the domestic agents only have access to Sabre?
The thing is, I don't know to choose which AA agents you're connecting to, nor how to tell which ones you're connected to.
UPDATED TO ADD:
Oh, just I found at least one such reference to using foreign AA agents for more successful award booking. Someone suggested Australian agents and gave a phone number, and then another person replied they got it booked through Fiji agents, but didn't give a phone number. Here's that portion of that thread:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...l#post30041595 (starting at post 710)
Last edited by sdsearch; Aug 10, 2018 at 5:52 pm
Aug 12, 2018, 10:41 am
#444
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 322
Which AA phone agents?
I heard in some other thread (which I can't find now) that someone had trouble getting a partner booking through "normal" AA agents, and then somehow connected to foreign AA agents who were able to do that partner award booking. Apparently those foreign agents had access to the Amadeus reservation system (which a lot of AA's partners use), but the domestic agents only have access to Sabre?
The thing is, I don't know to choose which AA agents you're connecting to, nor how to tell which ones you're connected to.
UPDATED TO ADD:
Oh, just I found at least one such reference to using foreign AA agents for more successful award booking. Someone suggested Australian agents and gave a phone number, and then another person replied they got it booked through Fiji agents, but didn't give a phone number. Here's that portion of that thread:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...l#post30041595 (starting at post 710)
I heard in some other thread (which I can't find now) that someone had trouble getting a partner booking through "normal" AA agents, and then somehow connected to foreign AA agents who were able to do that partner award booking. Apparently those foreign agents had access to the Amadeus reservation system (which a lot of AA's partners use), but the domestic agents only have access to Sabre?
The thing is, I don't know to choose which AA agents you're connecting to, nor how to tell which ones you're connected to.
UPDATED TO ADD:
Oh, just I found at least one such reference to using foreign AA agents for more successful award booking. Someone suggested Australian agents and gave a phone number, and then another person replied they got it booked through Fiji agents, but didn't give a phone number. Here's that portion of that thread:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...l#post30041595 (starting at post 710)
Aug 15, 2018, 8:57 am
#445
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 387
Hi Guys!
one more question. I am trying to book my return flight.
the first segment is unfortunately BA. the fees are not bad, $384 for us 4. If I find a flight with all AA will they give me my $384 back or do I loose that money?
thank you!
one more question. I am trying to book my return flight.
the first segment is unfortunately BA. the fees are not bad, $384 for us 4. If I find a flight with all AA will they give me my $384 back or do I loose that money?
thank you!
Aug 15, 2018, 10:22 am
#446
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: New York
Programs: Navy A-4 Skyhawk, B727 FE/FO, S80 FO, B757/767 FO, B737 CA
Posts: 1,342
You will if it's a free change. We are coming back from Paris in Oct and the original booking was on BA through LHR. Later on, I changed to the direct AA CDG-LHR flight and got quite a chunk of change back...they charged me the new fee (much lower though I don't remember how much) and then a few days later, the original BA fee was refunded.
Aug 15, 2018, 10:34 am
#447
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 387
You will if it's a free change. We are coming back from Paris in Oct and the original booking was on BA through LHR. Later on, I changed to the direct AA CDG-LHR flight and got quite a chunk of change back...they charged me the new fee (much lower though I don't remember how much) and then a few days later, the original BA fee was refunded.
Aug 18, 2018, 8:37 am
#448
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 138
Hello experts!
I am trying to book 5 Milesaver tickets back from Hawaii next summer, all on the same flight. (We have small children so splitting up on flights is not desirable.) Currently, the only inventory available is limited to 2-3 seats for flights with long layovers. I am fairly confident that availability will open up later on more desirable flights. (This is an educated guess based on two things: 1) looking at dates months prior to when I want to go, seeing Milesaver availability on the "good" (short layover) flights 2) having flown on the good flights before, they have always been wide open, and sometimes almost empty)
So, here are my questions:
1) Can you still call and hold awards for 5 days, hoping that doing so will open up more seats on the same flight? If so, are you still charged a fee for talking to a person instead of booking on aa.com? I will likely be calling twice to put tickets on hold, and maybe once more to ticket (unless you can ticket held flights on aa.com).
2) Can you still change award flights for free, as long as the origin, destination, and dates are the same? If so, I could book the long connection flights now, and try to change them later.
3) Is there any magic formula to when Milesaver seats open up on all flights? (e.g, 180 days out, 60 days out, etc.)
4) Do you have any advice to share? Success stories? Failures?
Please also note that if I need to buy 1-2 tickets, I can, I'd just prefer to use the miles since we have them.
I am trying to book 5 Milesaver tickets back from Hawaii next summer, all on the same flight. (We have small children so splitting up on flights is not desirable.) Currently, the only inventory available is limited to 2-3 seats for flights with long layovers. I am fairly confident that availability will open up later on more desirable flights. (This is an educated guess based on two things: 1) looking at dates months prior to when I want to go, seeing Milesaver availability on the "good" (short layover) flights 2) having flown on the good flights before, they have always been wide open, and sometimes almost empty)
So, here are my questions:
1) Can you still call and hold awards for 5 days, hoping that doing so will open up more seats on the same flight? If so, are you still charged a fee for talking to a person instead of booking on aa.com? I will likely be calling twice to put tickets on hold, and maybe once more to ticket (unless you can ticket held flights on aa.com).
2) Can you still change award flights for free, as long as the origin, destination, and dates are the same? If so, I could book the long connection flights now, and try to change them later.
3) Is there any magic formula to when Milesaver seats open up on all flights? (e.g, 180 days out, 60 days out, etc.)
4) Do you have any advice to share? Success stories? Failures?
Please also note that if I need to buy 1-2 tickets, I can, I'd just prefer to use the miles since we have them.
Aug 18, 2018, 12:03 pm
#449
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,601
Hello experts!
I am trying to book 5 Milesaver tickets back from Hawaii next summer, all on the same flight. (We have small children so splitting up on flights is not desirable.) Currently, the only inventory available is limited to 2-3 seats for flights with long layovers. I am fairly confident that availability will open up later on more desirable flights. (This is an educated guess based on two things: 1) looking at dates months prior to when I want to go, seeing Milesaver availability on the "good" (short layover) flights 2) having flown on the good flights before, they have always been wide open, and sometimes almost empty)
So, here are my questions:
1) Can you still call and hold awards for 5 days, hoping that doing so will open up more seats on the same flight? If so, are you still charged a fee for talking to a person instead of booking on aa.com? I will likely be calling twice to put tickets on hold, and maybe once more to ticket (unless you can ticket held flights on aa.com).
2) Can you still change award flights for free, as long as the origin, destination, and dates are the same? If so, I could book the long connection flights now, and try to change them later.
3) Is there any magic formula to when Milesaver seats open up on all flights? (e.g, 180 days out, 60 days out, etc.)
4) Do you have any advice to share? Success stories? Failures?
Please also note that if I need to buy 1-2 tickets, I can, I'd just prefer to use the miles since we have them.
I am trying to book 5 Milesaver tickets back from Hawaii next summer, all on the same flight. (We have small children so splitting up on flights is not desirable.) Currently, the only inventory available is limited to 2-3 seats for flights with long layovers. I am fairly confident that availability will open up later on more desirable flights. (This is an educated guess based on two things: 1) looking at dates months prior to when I want to go, seeing Milesaver availability on the "good" (short layover) flights 2) having flown on the good flights before, they have always been wide open, and sometimes almost empty)
So, here are my questions:
1) Can you still call and hold awards for 5 days, hoping that doing so will open up more seats on the same flight? If so, are you still charged a fee for talking to a person instead of booking on aa.com? I will likely be calling twice to put tickets on hold, and maybe once more to ticket (unless you can ticket held flights on aa.com).
2) Can you still change award flights for free, as long as the origin, destination, and dates are the same? If so, I could book the long connection flights now, and try to change them later.
3) Is there any magic formula to when Milesaver seats open up on all flights? (e.g, 180 days out, 60 days out, etc.)
4) Do you have any advice to share? Success stories? Failures?
Please also note that if I need to buy 1-2 tickets, I can, I'd just prefer to use the miles since we have them.
2. Yes. In fact, there's no requirement that the dates remain the same, just origin and destination.
3. No. In fact, there could be some flights on which AA chooses never to make SAAver seats available.
4. You might get lucky, but don't count on being able to get five SAAver seats on the same flights.