AA is not trying to fill 777s with 350/400k award tickets. Whether it does or does not is irrelevant to the viability of the route.

Ohhhh, you're right! Last time I was there in November, HbF is now a full-scale construction site. Good reminder to avoid it, if possible. But still, this is a much better option than going the 3-day RDU-LHR/LGW-SZG route.

That wasn't my point. I was wondering whether cargo is essentially funding the route during the off season?

But you asked in a thread about awards? AA’s pricing on its own metal is dynamic and on just about every route is ridiculously high. Cargo is completely unrelated to the pricing of awards. If AA was actually worried about “funding the route during the off season”, economics dictate that award pricing would be lower. Cargo is completely unrelated to the pricing of awards. If you were wondering if cargo is funding the route, then why ask if it was replacing award tickets?

Transporting cargo LAX/SYD is a weight issue. Fewer pax, more cargo. Higher award prices & fewer award pax=less weight, which means more cargo. Paying pax -award pax+more cargo=higher margins for the flight.
Everything on a flight is inter-related. Nothing is a stand-alone issue. Now you know.

AA has ridiculously priced awards on ALL its own metal. It has absolutely nothing to do with cargo. Now you know.

I would also say that all award pricing is not dynamic.

A month ago, there was obvious dynamic pricing on 3 class awards, on JFK-FCO and return. Including in F. There were genuine, great deals available, in all three classes.

At some point, AA seemed to realize, 'oh .... - we didn't mean to do that in F'. Overnight, every day in F went static too in the 400K family, across the board. Hasn't changed since. Just like every other 3 class F route AA flys.

It's total BS believing pricing is truly dynamic now on most international J and F routes. It's not.

This....it's the closest thing to a World Cup atmosphere as you can get without being at a World Cup. The other federations don't have the depth that UEFA does....you could engorge yourself on a lot of really great matches if you can get to Germany this summer.

So I'll admit that I *don't* actually know...but I wonder if this is a side effect of the programs wanting to be able to market "no blackouts, seats (nearly) always available". 20 years ago, programs had standard awards that could be tough to get, "rulebuster" awards often for 2x miles but only on your own program's metal, and then - very often - no availability at all if there was a partner segment. And with long lists of blackout dates where there would be nothing at all at any level.

Now the marketing has changed, so the airlines will show you availability, but priced so far beyond a ridiculous level that it might as well be no availability.

Whether they do this because they think they're going to sell revenue tickets or fly the seat empty and add 150kg of cargo, I don't really know or care. Point is....they think they can get more value out of the capacity than letting someone book an award at the old "standard" level.

If I had to guess, I'd say it's simply that demand is outstripping supply throughout a lot of the aviation world and the window of off-peak deals has gotten quite narrow.

This probably best sums up the whole situation.

Looking to book business award tickets ATL- BLR in May 2025, can only see main cabin for Etihad/Qatar , any idea if they will open up seats anytime soon or is there a hidden way to book?
Tried calling , but they seem to have the same info as website.