Nov 19, 2014, 9:27 am
Last edit by: Prospero
Awards: All Cathay Pacific / CX (Including First and Business Class)
Questions, Availability, Discussion
NOTE: Multiple reports starting in June 2021 that CX is allowing only a 24 hour hold and could cancel reservations not being ticketed beyond 24 hours.
Please feel free to use this thread for questions regarding CX Economy, Premium Economy, First and Business Class award redemption using AAdvantage miles, as well as questions regarding award availability, routings and related issues. Please go to the Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Forum to discuss or ask about meals, equipment, service, etc. on CX, as there is an existing wealth of information there - and this is the American Airlines AAdvantage Forum
.
AA Flight award chart for oneworld® and partner airlines
Other related threads that may be of interest:
FT Discrepancy between CX Award Search and AA availability: Discrepancy between QF and CX award search and AA availability
FT How , When to Select CX Seats on CX Award: How / when to select seat on a Cathay (CX) award / flight (consolidated)
FT Cathay Pacific Experience - Seats / Interline/ Baggage FAQs: Cathay Pacific Experience / Seats / Interline / Baggage FAQs
Also, for Rules about awards, see AA oneworld and Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (2015 on).
Expert Advice:
Only "MileSAAver" awards apply to oneworld and AA partners.
Premium Economy seats are not available with AAdvantage awards, may be soon as AA sells Premium Economy Feb 2017.
Be aware that what you see on the BA, JL, or QF sites may not be visible to the AA reservations folks. You may want to note the flight on which the F award seat is shown as "available" on those sites and if the AA agent doesn't see any availability suggest that the AA agent check that specific one again. If the AA agent still cannot see it, thank them, hang up, and call back a little later.
Sometimes CX will make flights available for award booking to CX frequent flyers, but not release the seats immediately for other oneworld frequent flyers. Usually though, the seats, if not taken by CX frequent flyers, are released after a while to other OW programs.
Although CX may release seats for award earlier, AA can book them no more than 331 days prior to departure. The awards that CX does release are available as early as 355 days prior to departure for CX and BA frequent fliers, and sometimes that means the awards you want w AA miles will be snatched up prior to the 331 day mark.
*** AA does not have a set schedule to load flights. They can load it anytime after midnight 331 days out. Most of the time it is within a couple to 12 hours of that. Other times, it can be a full day or a day and a half afterwards, especially on the weekends where there's most variability. Unlike JL award space, it is not a specific time of day.
4Keep in mind that when booking eastbound space to North America that it's one day later in HKG so that space usually becomes available 330 days in advance to North America; this is not always true, since CX has already loaded the availability a month prior to AA - it is just up to AA to load and release the seats on SABRE, so it typically ends up being 330 days out, but not necessarily.
Similarly... if you are trying to book westbound, US->HKG->Somewhere then AA may not be able to book the HKG->Somewhere segment 331 days in advance of the US->HKG flight, if it is still 332 days out in HKG. As it is the flights from US->HKG that are hardest to get, if you find a seat US->HKG at the 331 day mark when it is first available for booking through AA but cannot book the continuation, you can just put that US->HKG segment on hold with AA, then call back the next day when connecting flights will be loaded into the system to try to book the onward flight from HKG.
AA does not charge "YQ" surcharges [what they sometimes call "fuel surcharge"] on CX award segments (BA Avios does), thus the taxes and fees on your "free" ticket on CX or KA are almost always significantly less than for the same routing on BA.
There is a Hong Kong Departure Tax (HK) of $120 HKD (approx $15.50 USD) on every segment departing Hong Kong. Exemptions apply. If your ticket includes this tax and you qualify for an exemption, a refund can be applied for either in person at HKIA landside or via post to Civil Aviation Department. AA charges this tax for children under 12 years of age despite the exemption. In order to obtain a cash refund at HKIA, you will need passenger passport, passenger boarding pass, passenger ticket receipt showing the fare calculation line which will show the HK tax being charged. This receipt can be obtained at any AA counter worldwide including HKIA as well as Airport Express in-town check-in (AA check-in). As the AA counter at HKIA operates only during limited hours, Airport Express in-town check-in would be the the convenient option.
Not all CX flights offer First class; CX Business is markedly different on long haul and regionally configured aircraft.
If you're looking for multiple seats in First on a particular flight but can find only some but not all that you're looking for, take what's available in F, then take the rest of the seats you want on J (if available) on the same flight, and check back periodically to see if an F seat has opened up for award. There is no additional charge (in money, although there will be in miles) to change to an award to a higher cabin of service (e.g., J to F, Y to F, Y to J) as long as the award keeps the same origin/destination airports.
Be aware your award must conform to some rules on a) MPM (Maximum Permitted Mileage - your award routing can not exceed 125% of the most direct routing available); a useful tool is Great Circle Mapper.
The Most Significant Carrier (transpacific usually, CX in most of these posts,) must offer a non-"constructed" fare between your origin and destination (you might find an unconstructed fare between DFW and SIN, but might not from Killeen to SIN).
If you can't pick your CX seats online, either due to them being blocked or you just want to call, you need to first get the CX PNR from AAdvantage at 1-800-882-8880. Then call CX at 1-800-233-2742. Some seats that are blocked on CX website are assignable via AA reservations. Close to departure AA can even assign 2A, 2K.
Note: if the Cathay Manage booking tool doesn't appear to recognize your CX PNR, you need to enter your first name AND middle name, separated by a space, in the "First Name" field.
AAward bookings containing CX flights that are put on hold will be restricted to only 24hrs, not the usual 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the patterns for west coast routes?
Because LAX has 4 daily flights to HKG, it tends to be the easiest option for blocks of 3 or more J award seats. SFO and YVR only have 2 daily flights and even if 5 award seats were initially released at 355 days prior to departure, some of those may be gone by the time the 331 day mark rolls around. If you need 4 or 5 J award seats on these west coast routes, either use Avios to book at 355 days or consider routing through LAX where there may still be availability at 331 days out.
Can I visit my companion in First Class if I'm in Business Class?
"Up-cabin visits" are not permitted per CX policy, though have been granted under special circumstances. But putting crew in the awkward position of being asked to violate policy is generally frowned upon. Down-cabin visits are permitted ex-USA. However, on flights to the USA, down-cabin visits are not permitted and this rule is vigorously enforced.
Posts made in 2017 may be read in ARCHIVE: 2017 AA Awards in Cathay Pacific / CX, KA...
Posts made in 2016 may be read in ARCHIVE: AA Awards on Cathay Pacific (2016).
Posts made in 2015 may be read in ARCHIVE: AA Awards on Cathay Pacific (2015).
Posts made in 2014 may be read in ARCHIVE: Awards: CX / Cathay Pacific / (inc. F and J) - 2014.
N.B. Older posts have been moved and archived to: Cathay Pacific / CX (inc. First and Business Class) award - ARCHIVED.
Questions, Availability, Discussion
NOTE: Multiple reports starting in June 2021 that CX is allowing only a 24 hour hold and could cancel reservations not being ticketed beyond 24 hours.
Please feel free to use this thread for questions regarding CX Economy, Premium Economy, First and Business Class award redemption using AAdvantage miles, as well as questions regarding award availability, routings and related issues. Please go to the Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Forum to discuss or ask about meals, equipment, service, etc. on CX, as there is an existing wealth of information there - and this is the American Airlines AAdvantage Forum
.AA Flight award chart for oneworld® and partner airlines
Other related threads that may be of interest:
FT Discrepancy between CX Award Search and AA availability: Discrepancy between QF and CX award search and AA availability
FT How , When to Select CX Seats on CX Award: How / when to select seat on a Cathay (CX) award / flight (consolidated)
FT Cathay Pacific Experience - Seats / Interline/ Baggage FAQs: Cathay Pacific Experience / Seats / Interline / Baggage FAQs
Also, for Rules about awards, see AA oneworld and Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (2015 on).
Expert Advice:
Only "MileSAAver" awards apply to oneworld and AA partners.
Premium Economy seats are not available with AAdvantage awards, may be soon as AA sells Premium Economy Feb 2017.
Be aware that what you see on the BA, JL, or QF sites may not be visible to the AA reservations folks. You may want to note the flight on which the F award seat is shown as "available" on those sites and if the AA agent doesn't see any availability suggest that the AA agent check that specific one again. If the AA agent still cannot see it, thank them, hang up, and call back a little later.
Sometimes CX will make flights available for award booking to CX frequent flyers, but not release the seats immediately for other oneworld frequent flyers. Usually though, the seats, if not taken by CX frequent flyers, are released after a while to other OW programs.
Although CX may release seats for award earlier, AA can book them no more than 331 days prior to departure. The awards that CX does release are available as early as 355 days prior to departure for CX and BA frequent fliers, and sometimes that means the awards you want w AA miles will be snatched up prior to the 331 day mark.
*** AA does not have a set schedule to load flights. They can load it anytime after midnight 331 days out. Most of the time it is within a couple to 12 hours of that. Other times, it can be a full day or a day and a half afterwards, especially on the weekends where there's most variability. Unlike JL award space, it is not a specific time of day.
4Keep in mind that when booking eastbound space to North America that it's one day later in HKG so that space usually becomes available 330 days in advance to North America; this is not always true, since CX has already loaded the availability a month prior to AA - it is just up to AA to load and release the seats on SABRE, so it typically ends up being 330 days out, but not necessarily.
Similarly... if you are trying to book westbound, US->HKG->Somewhere then AA may not be able to book the HKG->Somewhere segment 331 days in advance of the US->HKG flight, if it is still 332 days out in HKG. As it is the flights from US->HKG that are hardest to get, if you find a seat US->HKG at the 331 day mark when it is first available for booking through AA but cannot book the continuation, you can just put that US->HKG segment on hold with AA, then call back the next day when connecting flights will be loaded into the system to try to book the onward flight from HKG.
AA does not charge "YQ" surcharges [what they sometimes call "fuel surcharge"] on CX award segments (BA Avios does), thus the taxes and fees on your "free" ticket on CX or KA are almost always significantly less than for the same routing on BA.
There is a Hong Kong Departure Tax (HK) of $120 HKD (approx $15.50 USD) on every segment departing Hong Kong. Exemptions apply. If your ticket includes this tax and you qualify for an exemption, a refund can be applied for either in person at HKIA landside or via post to Civil Aviation Department. AA charges this tax for children under 12 years of age despite the exemption. In order to obtain a cash refund at HKIA, you will need passenger passport, passenger boarding pass, passenger ticket receipt showing the fare calculation line which will show the HK tax being charged. This receipt can be obtained at any AA counter worldwide including HKIA as well as Airport Express in-town check-in (AA check-in). As the AA counter at HKIA operates only during limited hours, Airport Express in-town check-in would be the the convenient option.
Not all CX flights offer First class; CX Business is markedly different on long haul and regionally configured aircraft.
If you're looking for multiple seats in First on a particular flight but can find only some but not all that you're looking for, take what's available in F, then take the rest of the seats you want on J (if available) on the same flight, and check back periodically to see if an F seat has opened up for award. There is no additional charge (in money, although there will be in miles) to change to an award to a higher cabin of service (e.g., J to F, Y to F, Y to J) as long as the award keeps the same origin/destination airports.
Be aware your award must conform to some rules on a) MPM (Maximum Permitted Mileage - your award routing can not exceed 125% of the most direct routing available); a useful tool is Great Circle Mapper.
The Most Significant Carrier (transpacific usually, CX in most of these posts,) must offer a non-"constructed" fare between your origin and destination (you might find an unconstructed fare between DFW and SIN, but might not from Killeen to SIN).
If you can't pick your CX seats online, either due to them being blocked or you just want to call, you need to first get the CX PNR from AAdvantage at 1-800-882-8880. Then call CX at 1-800-233-2742. Some seats that are blocked on CX website are assignable via AA reservations. Close to departure AA can even assign 2A, 2K.
Note: if the Cathay Manage booking tool doesn't appear to recognize your CX PNR, you need to enter your first name AND middle name, separated by a space, in the "First Name" field.
AAward bookings containing CX flights that are put on hold will be restricted to only 24hrs, not the usual 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the patterns for west coast routes?
Because LAX has 4 daily flights to HKG, it tends to be the easiest option for blocks of 3 or more J award seats. SFO and YVR only have 2 daily flights and even if 5 award seats were initially released at 355 days prior to departure, some of those may be gone by the time the 331 day mark rolls around. If you need 4 or 5 J award seats on these west coast routes, either use Avios to book at 355 days or consider routing through LAX where there may still be availability at 331 days out.
Can I visit my companion in First Class if I'm in Business Class?
"Up-cabin visits" are not permitted per CX policy, though have been granted under special circumstances. But putting crew in the awkward position of being asked to violate policy is generally frowned upon. Down-cabin visits are permitted ex-USA. However, on flights to the USA, down-cabin visits are not permitted and this rule is vigorously enforced.
Posts made in 2017 may be read in ARCHIVE: 2017 AA Awards in Cathay Pacific / CX, KA...
Posts made in 2016 may be read in ARCHIVE: AA Awards on Cathay Pacific (2016).
Posts made in 2015 may be read in ARCHIVE: AA Awards on Cathay Pacific (2015).
Posts made in 2014 may be read in ARCHIVE: Awards: CX / Cathay Pacific / (inc. F and J) - 2014.
N.B. Older posts have been moved and archived to: Cathay Pacific / CX (inc. First and Business Class) award - ARCHIVED.
AA Award: Cathay Pacific / CX availability, etc. (2018-2022 archive)
Nov 6, 2019, 8:37 am
#1216
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 53
I'm in the same boat but further out. CX canceled my HKG-IAD flight and I need to find another option. I called last night but got offered an AA flight via DFW which is not my first choice; I would prefer another CX flight connecting in another US city. Will I be able to get that? Can AA get CX to open space if needed?
Nov 9, 2019, 11:59 pm
#1217
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
My theory is that even if CX is releasing close-in awards they are automatically going to people who have waitlisted with Asia Miles.
I am basing this theory solely on the increased activity in the thread regarding CX waitlist using Asia Miles, so I might be wrong. However, when I started flying CX quite a number of years ago that thread didn't have close to the amount of activity than its had over the past year - from 2014 until 2018 there is a 61 page thread; for 2019 a new thread was opened and it's up to 47 pages already thus far.
So I see more and more people utilizing the Asia Miles waitlist feature and last minute awards are most likely going directly to them rather than being released to partners.
Again this is just my personal theory and I may be way off but I've been seeing way less close in availability over the past year and much more people stating in that CX thread that they're doing waitlist so to me 1 + 1 = ...
I am basing this theory solely on the increased activity in the thread regarding CX waitlist using Asia Miles, so I might be wrong. However, when I started flying CX quite a number of years ago that thread didn't have close to the amount of activity than its had over the past year - from 2014 until 2018 there is a 61 page thread; for 2019 a new thread was opened and it's up to 47 pages already thus far.
So I see more and more people utilizing the Asia Miles waitlist feature and last minute awards are most likely going directly to them rather than being released to partners.
Again this is just my personal theory and I may be way off but I've been seeing way less close in availability over the past year and much more people stating in that CX thread that they're doing waitlist so to me 1 + 1 = ...
Nov 10, 2019, 12:25 am
#1218
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,801
My theory is that even if CX is releasing close-in awards they are automatically going to people who have waitlisted with Asia Miles.
I am basing this theory solely on the increased activity in the thread regarding CX waitlist using Asia Miles, so I might be wrong. However, when I started flying CX quite a number of years ago that thread didn't have close to the amount of activity than its had over the past year - from 2014 until 2018 there is a 61 page thread; for 2019 a new thread was opened and it's up to 47 pages already thus far.
So I see more and more people utilizing the Asia Miles waitlist feature and last minute awards are most likely going directly to them rather than being released to partners.
Again this is just my personal theory and I may be way off but I've been seeing way less close in availability over the past year and much more people stating in that CX thread that they're doing waitlist so to me 1 + 1 = ...
I am basing this theory solely on the increased activity in the thread regarding CX waitlist using Asia Miles, so I might be wrong. However, when I started flying CX quite a number of years ago that thread didn't have close to the amount of activity than its had over the past year - from 2014 until 2018 there is a 61 page thread; for 2019 a new thread was opened and it's up to 47 pages already thus far.
So I see more and more people utilizing the Asia Miles waitlist feature and last minute awards are most likely going directly to them rather than being released to partners.
Again this is just my personal theory and I may be way off but I've been seeing way less close in availability over the past year and much more people stating in that CX thread that they're doing waitlist so to me 1 + 1 = ...
Nov 12, 2019, 10:22 am
#1219
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 523
My theory is that even if CX is releasing close-in awards they are automatically going to people who have waitlisted with Asia Miles.
I am basing this theory solely on the increased activity in the thread regarding CX waitlist using Asia Miles, so I might be wrong. However, when I started flying CX quite a number of years ago that thread didn't have close to the amount of activity than its had over the past year - from 2014 until 2018 there is a 61 page thread; for 2019 a new thread was opened and it's up to 47 pages already thus far.
So I see more and more people utilizing the Asia Miles waitlist feature and last minute awards are most likely going directly to them rather than being released to partners.
Again this is just my personal theory and I may be way off but I've been seeing way less close in availability over the past year and much more people stating in that CX thread that they're doing waitlist so to me 1 + 1 = ...
I am basing this theory solely on the increased activity in the thread regarding CX waitlist using Asia Miles, so I might be wrong. However, when I started flying CX quite a number of years ago that thread didn't have close to the amount of activity than its had over the past year - from 2014 until 2018 there is a 61 page thread; for 2019 a new thread was opened and it's up to 47 pages already thus far.
So I see more and more people utilizing the Asia Miles waitlist feature and last minute awards are most likely going directly to them rather than being released to partners.
Again this is just my personal theory and I may be way off but I've been seeing way less close in availability over the past year and much more people stating in that CX thread that they're doing waitlist so to me 1 + 1 = ...
Interesting theory, but I don't think explains it. We are seeing flights regularly going out F6, F5, etc, with no award availability. If waitlistees we eating up the space, the revenue buckets would get hit.
Nov 12, 2019, 1:05 pm
#1220
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,638
This concur with my observations. CX is/has been letting F go out less than half full which is vastly different than how they operated a year ago when they will allow up to 5 F awards last minute.
Nov 13, 2019, 11:46 am
#1221
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
Going out F5 and F6 is practically empty, not even close to half full as there are only 6 F seats on most, if not all, flights USA-HKG. I wonder why they would go out close to empty rather than releasing awards and making something rather than nothing.
Nov 13, 2019, 3:59 pm
#1222
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
Maybe they want to get rid of F and want to wean people off of it?
I have seen instances close in where no partner F was available but AsiaMiles had an F award available so it definitely seems they are favoring AsiaMiles which is not surprising. 1F seems to be available to partners near schedule open (US routes). If I were looking for more than one or I missed the initial F drop I would be looking to AsiaMiles.
I have seen instances close in where no partner F was available but AsiaMiles had an F award available so it definitely seems they are favoring AsiaMiles which is not surprising. 1F seems to be available to partners near schedule open (US routes). If I were looking for more than one or I missed the initial F drop I would be looking to AsiaMiles.
Nov 13, 2019, 5:43 pm
#1223
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
In the meantime while the aircraft and route still has those F seats it's silly to have them fly out almost all empty IMO.
I have seen instances close in where no partner F was available but AsiaMiles had an F award available so it definitely seems they are favoring AsiaMiles which is not surprising. 1F seems to be available to partners near schedule open (US routes). If I were looking for more than one or I missed the initial F drop I would be looking to AsiaMiles.
Nov 13, 2019, 6:06 pm
#1224
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,638
A couple of years ago, my friend purchased 4J tickets but then 48 hours prior to departure, J awards were available so my friend purchased and redeemed AA miles and refunded J because it was $1.5K cheaper per ticket from passenger perspective. The difference between what CX gets from AA for the J award and the revenue ticket refunded is probably even greater than $1,500 per passenger. CX lost $6-$8K from my friend because they made the J seats available last minute.
The ones we can afford to buy F is also able to arbitrage this by buying miles to redeem F last minute and refund their F revenue ticket.
Nov 13, 2019, 6:43 pm
#1225
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
Seems like the last few months CX has totally spiked all intra-Asia short to mid-haul J avail.
Nov 13, 2019, 6:56 pm
#1226
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,801
Yes CX should remove predictability https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...l#post29972783
Nov 14, 2019, 12:06 am
#1227
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,539
I’d say most people who got J or F awards, were not canceling revenue tickets. If it’s a real problem, add on a $500 cancellation fee for 7 days or less.
I’d buy revenue tickets if they were affordable in J or F, but I’m usually buying 3 tickets, so sub 2k each would be my target price. That’s usually close to the cash value of the points for awards, these days.
I’d buy revenue tickets if they were affordable in J or F, but I’m usually buying 3 tickets, so sub 2k each would be my target price. That’s usually close to the cash value of the points for awards, these days.
Nov 14, 2019, 12:13 am
#1228
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,801
Nov 14, 2019, 7:42 pm
#1229
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
A couple of years ago, my friend purchased 4J tickets but then 48 hours prior to departure, J awards were available so my friend purchased and redeemed AA miles and refunded J because it was $1.5K cheaper per ticket from passenger perspective. The difference between what CX gets from AA for the J award and the revenue ticket refunded is probably even greater than $1,500 per passenger. CX lost $6-$8K from my friend because they made the J seats available last minute.
The ones we can afford to buy F is also able to arbitrage this by buying miles to redeem F last minute and refund their F revenue ticket.
The ones we can afford to buy F is also able to arbitrage this by buying miles to redeem F last minute and refund their F revenue ticket.
I’d say most people who got J or F awards, were not canceling revenue tickets. If it’s a real problem, add on a $500 cancellation fee for 7 days or less.
I’d buy revenue tickets if they were affordable in J or F, but I’m usually buying 3 tickets, so sub 2k each would be my target price. That’s usually close to the cash value of the points for awards, these days.
I’d buy revenue tickets if they were affordable in J or F, but I’m usually buying 3 tickets, so sub 2k each would be my target price. That’s usually close to the cash value of the points for awards, these days.
I would also purchase J if the fares were under $2k, however I just don't see that happening. Ever.
Nov 15, 2019, 12:26 am
#1230
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,638
Sorry, I don't think this should be a question at all. They made F available because as long as the seats physically exist on the aircraft those seats were going to go out empty anyway so rather than getting $0 they got at least something for it by making awards available. Not sure why they would stop getting that income whatever it may be.
CX finally figured out what other major airlines have known all along, making awards predictably available last minute will result in lower revenue overall especially in premium cabins because margins are higher and so every revenue ticket that gets converted to an award is a large hit to margin.
When AA offer to sell miles at a promotion, it comes out to $0.02 per mile to acquire. If no promotion, $0.03 per mile. AA charge 110k for one way N.A. Asia award. Let’s assume AA is selling the miles for no profit margin during promotions (unlikely). That would mean CX gets $2,000 for the F award seat.
CX making F award predictably available mean they are telling F passengers to go refund their $10k F ticket, buy the miles from AA and redeem the award.
So if F is filled with 3 F revenue, total is $30k. If they fill it with 5 awards seat instead, they get only $10k (very likely CX gets less than $2k a seat). Less revenue on current flight and F loses the “exclusiveness” which revenue paying F passengers expect which in turn eventuality dampens future revenue F sales as news spread why spend $10k when buying AA miles for $5k gets you the same seat?
Furthermore, the last minute F award seat being so predictable leads to inventory manipulation by those with enough disposable income to buy up a couple of F seats on fully refundable fares on the desired flights, wait till 24 hours to departure, refund the F tickets, and redeem the award which pops up predictably.
So to answer your question, letting F/J seat go out empty instead of making them available as an award actually results in higher margin from a long term perspective. Now if CX and OW switch to dynamically priced awards then I would agree F/J seats should not go out empty.
I’d say most people who got J or F awards, were not canceling revenue tickets. If it’s a real problem, add on a $500 cancellation fee for 7 days or less.
I’d buy revenue tickets if they were affordable in J or F, but I’m usually buying 3 tickets, so sub 2k each would be my target price. That’s usually close to the cash value of the points for awards, these days.
I’d buy revenue tickets if they were affordable in J or F, but I’m usually buying 3 tickets, so sub 2k each would be my target price. That’s usually close to the cash value of the points for awards, these days.
Last edited by seawolf; Nov 15, 2019 at 7:55 am