klanfa

I am actually able to travel on Tuesday so I'm hoping that might help, along with a lot of flexibility on departure/arrival airports. Thanks for the input! Does no patterns mean space might be released any day, any time of the day, or is AA somewhat consistent in releasing space at midnight/noon/whenever the planets align?

shimps1

Trying to get to MLE in Feb, I have found ORD>PHL>DOH, DOH>CMB>MLE, MLE>CMB>DOH, DOH>ORD available with all segments in business except ORD>PHL and CMB<>MLE. Could anyone help me, as to the AA pricing for 2 on this award? My understanding is ORD>DOH is 70k each, DOH>MLE is 17.5k each, so total for two passengers would be 350k miles, correct?

JJeffrey

Are you planning a stopover in Doha?

The Maldives are part of the ME/Indian Subcontinent award region, so if the fare rules permit such a routing it should be possible to book all of it ORD-PHL-DOH-CMB-MLE as a single 70k award in business, and you can take a voluntary downgrade on the ORD-PHL and CMB-MLE segments. But if you're planning to stop in Doha for over 24 hrs then this would split it to 70k + 17.5k, with both DOH-CMB-MLE being in economy.

Another option, it's definitely possible to get ORD-PHL-DOH-CMB as a single award at 70k. Then just buy a paid separate ticket CMB-MLE, which is often not too expensive.

If you've found availability on all of the segments, then it's best to just call AA first to see what it prices as.

Edit: looking at the fare rules, QR does publish a ORD-MLE fare that allows stops in PHL/DOH/CMB, so it should definitely be possible to get your entire itinerary ORD-PHL-DOH-CMB-MLE as a single award for 70k.

shimps1

No I was not planning stopover, thanks for the help. I can technically get a RTW for 140k PP, ORD>DOH>MLE, then MLE>PVG>ORD on Malaysian operated by China Eastern. only gets me 5 nights in MLE though.

FlightNurse

What is your goal? Fly around the world or just go to MLE?

I wouldn't wait too long to book your tickets as an award to MLE go very quick

OneWorldSapphire

3Cforme

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest non-summer air travel days of the year in the USA.

JJeffrey

Very annoying. Just call the normal reservations number, tell them you were erroneously charged the telephone booking fee. They should be able to refund it without touching your reservation.

shimps1

Our plan has actually changed drastically, I brought up that idea and my wife was not happy with it. Now goal is to spend a day in HKG, and a few days in CNS. Working on it now. A RTW flight would be cool but not if it takes away from the vacation time. That one was just the quickest routing actually.

Thanks again!

OneWorldSapphire

Thanks. Just did it. The agent admitted he had no idea how to do it, so I informed him about my previous traumatic experience and asked him to please consult a supervisor. The supervisor apparently did the refund, and the ticket still looks fine. Whew.

I wonder how many people get charged a $40 booking fee and don't even realise?

sdsearch

By "no patterns" I meant that SAAver space on a given flight may be released at any time over the period of 11 months (between when the flight is put onto the schedule and when it actually files) or not ever at all.

But I don't know whether there's a time-of-day pattern to when AA decides whether to release or not release any space that day.

shimps1

Ok I am looking for a little bit of help here.

I have ORD>DCA xfer to IAD>HKG on hold, should be 70k PP in business.
Then I have on a separate booking, HKG>SYD>CNS on hold, should be 40k PP in business.

I am trying to get back to ORD, and the only routing I have found is via AKL. Both of the below show available via QF website.

CNS>MEL>AKL on one segment, should be 30k PP in business.
Finally, AKL>DOH>ORD on the last segment. I think this would be 780k PP, since it is south Pacific to Continental 48, but I am not sure. I tried to book SIN>DOH>ORD earlier via phone, and was told that prices as two awards. Could anyone help here?

Along with the above, I am actually trying to leave from DSM, but every time I search with DSM origin it comes up unavailable, I think due to lack of business inventory. Can I book the above, and then tack on a DSM<>ORD segment in economy since the region is not changing?

JJeffrey

Both AKL-DOH-ORD and SIN-DOH-ORD will price as two awards because you cannot transit the Middle East region on an award from South Pacific to North America (AKL) or Asia 2 to North America (SIN). In business, this would price as AKL-DOH (80k) + DOH-ORD (70k), so 150k per person to get home, not including the 30k for CNS-MEL-AKL. That is a silly amount of extra flying and miles to waste IMO.
If you're willing to blow 180k each way for business, have you looked at just an AAnytime award from SYD?

You should be able to add on the flight to/from DSM for the same miles, with a few caveats, so if you find availability in coach ask the agent to add it to your existing flights.

shimps1

Thanks. Yes 180k PP is way more than I want to spend, will look at the direct routing. I was hoping to take advantage of a stop in HKG on the way there.

How would i go about searching for an AAnytime award? The AA website only gives me MilesAAver options to CNS. Do I need to find the ORD<>SYD dates I want, and tack on the SYD<>CNS connection via call? Would I be able to do the same with DSM<>ORD connection?

EDIT: Man, I don't think I can make this work in Feb, just no availability. I can get there fine, but getting home is crazy. DSM>ORD>DCA>xfer to IAD>HKG overnight HKG>SYD>CNS no big deal. There is just nothing above economy availability that isn't 180k PP or more, or goes on BA with YQ fees I won't pay. Looked at SIN, HKG, NRT/HND, SYD, PVG, PEK, CAN, HNL, all unavailable

guv1976

AAnytime awards are only available on an all-AA itinerary. To add CNS-SYD or SYD-CNS to an AAnytime award itinerary, you would have to redeem additional miles for separate SAAver awards on QF.