What happened to all the availability?
Mar 24, 2022, 10:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 25
What happened to all the availability?
I usually transfer AMEX Points to ANA to book on Asiana when going from the US to Korea.
I am trying to book an outbound flight from US (LAX, SFO or SEA) to S. Korea on Asiana in business class. But literally there is no availability showing on the United or ANA website for Asiana in September, October or November.
Did I miss the memo or something? Is this really a bunch of demand, or is Asiana now releasing seats or am I looking at this wrong?
Any help would be appreciated.
I am trying to book an outbound flight from US (LAX, SFO or SEA) to S. Korea on Asiana in business class. But literally there is no availability showing on the United or ANA website for Asiana in September, October or November.
Did I miss the memo or something? Is this really a bunch of demand, or is Asiana now releasing seats or am I looking at this wrong?
Any help would be appreciated.
Apr 5, 2022, 3:23 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 44
I just called Asiana and they said it's just low availability.
They won't be releasing more mileage award business class seats, only if someone cancels, then an open slot will show up online.
You can buy a flexible economy ticket and then upgrade to business with miles as an alternative.
They won't be releasing more mileage award business class seats, only if someone cancels, then an open slot will show up online.
You can buy a flexible economy ticket and then upgrade to business with miles as an alternative.
Last edited by superbobbay; Apr 5, 2022 at 7:07 pm
Apr 6, 2022, 2:09 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,265
Korean people have only been able to travel for leisure for a few months last year, and severely curtailed again since November 2021 because of the re-introduction of home quarantine upon re-entry due to Omicron - these restrictions were only lifted a few weeks ago.
As such, there is a lot of pent-up demand for seats generally, and particularly using the miles which people have been collecting for the past two years without any chance to use them. There will be a lot of competition for award seats. Since OZ allows waitlisting for award seats, chances of them becoming available to other *A is even lower than usual.
As such, there is a lot of pent-up demand for seats generally, and particularly using the miles which people have been collecting for the past two years without any chance to use them. There will be a lot of competition for award seats. Since OZ allows waitlisting for award seats, chances of them becoming available to other *A is even lower than usual.
Apr 6, 2022, 11:00 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SYD
Programs: OZ Platinum LifeTime; DL PM; QF Gold; VA Gold; HH Diamond; IHG Diamond
Posts: 1,128
I just called Asiana and they said it's just low availability.
They won't be releasing more mileage award business class seats, only if someone cancels, then an open slot will show up online.
You can buy a flexible economy ticket and then upgrade to business with miles as an alternative.
They won't be releasing more mileage award business class seats, only if someone cancels, then an open slot will show up online.
You can buy a flexible economy ticket and then upgrade to business with miles as an alternative.
Apr 9, 2022, 11:48 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 44
I hope you realise that doesn't mean that you can purchase an upgradeable economy ticket and will always be able to upgrade to business with miles. Business upgrade with miles and business mileage redemptions are the same ticket class with OZ. So if all business mileage redemption seats are gone, you still won't be able to upgrade from Y.
I actually have been checking daily for a business class ticket and found one in Oct. So I was able to skip all that mess and directly book a business class redemption ticket.
Apr 12, 2022, 3:09 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: OZ Diamond *A Gold / Delta Gold
Posts: 775
Hmmm that's weird. When I was talking to the Asiana rep over the phone, I asked her if it was possible to purchase an economy ticket, then use miles for upgrading to business, since there's no Sept availability for a business class mileage redemption. She said yes, there's plenty of seats in Sept for an economy flexi ticket, then I could use 80,000 points to upgrade to a business class. So in total it would cost $1250 for a round trip flexi ticket, then I would spent 80,000 points to upgrade to business class.
I actually have been checking daily for a business class ticket and found one in Oct. So I was able to skip all that mess and directly book a business class redemption ticket.
I actually have been checking daily for a business class ticket and found one in Oct. So I was able to skip all that mess and directly book a business class redemption ticket.
Apr 12, 2022, 3:17 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 44
Apr 13, 2022, 12:02 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: OZ Diamond *A Gold / Delta Gold
Posts: 775
I am on a ICN-JFK return flight for Aug and seats... well they are non existent hahaha. I hope two people give up so that I can sneak in something!
May 18, 2022, 9:44 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 42
Yeah. I had 5 award seats booked 2019 prior pandemic border closures then canceled and rebooked 2021. At those times I was easily seeing 5-6 seats per flight. I just checked LAX-ICN in April and May of next year and saw 0. The best alternative would be EVA air through Taipei but only 2 award space. I really hope I can recreate the trip and not have my miles go to waste…