Thanks - off to ANA now!

Not a problem. As always, there are people without ANA accounts too, so excuse my tongue in cheek response too :D

Your initial reply was spot on and taken in the manner it was intended ;)

I had no idea I could now use ANA for LX so I've learnt something new ^

Yes, they changed that very soon after I had my, ahem, 'son' join jetfriends to get access to M&M award availability.

Does ExpertFlyer tend to be more accurate than ANA? I'm looking at LX flights from JFK in June and there are plenty of dates for which EF shows availability in J and ANA doesn't.

I believe EF pulls data froma couple of sources - but mainly ANA, as it happens (I'll stand corrected).

I have noticed an increased tendency for ANA to be slightly wide of the mark - seats visible but not available (I mean really not available - esp. LH) and other occasions just like Pat Garret has described.

Am I alone in this feeling?

I'm trying to get from EDI-SFO departing Friday 17th September and SFO-EDI departing 24th September.

I can't seem to find anything in either C or F for these dates. I've tried every route I can think of. Don't suppose anyone here can find the magic availability I can't?

Thanks

I keep hoping LX will get round to releasing premium seats on the new ZRH-SFO service. Even then you'd need to overnight in Zurich (don't get me started on the rubbish connections on LH and LX ex-EDI). If LX do ever release some seats you could do the old APD two-step I guess.

They did release some, but I only recall seeing F seats coming up. It's a bit frustrating as I'm keen to get hold of some as well, but no joy so far.

Any other creative routings to get EDI-SFO? I've tried all the one's listed on Star Alliance but any other suggestions?

If I can't get anything then it looks like it will be paid Y on CO EDI-EWR-SFO. In which case the plan will be to get hammered in the lounge and sleep most of the way.

I've seen some reports that ANA may be playing up? Could someone kindly check availability for 2 x seats in C for:

LHR-IAD or LHR-ORD on 22, 23 or 24 Sept 2010 with UA?

Thanks!

Nothing for C seats on these routes and dates.

This is not unusual for UA : C seats Transatlantic have always been scarce, and with the 777 refit rollout program just starting, I would anticipate UA tempoarily reducing the number of premium seats on the 777s (which are mainly on the IAD route, ORD has 767s) anyway.

I'd agree. There's a proprtionately significant reduction in the number of J/F seats per cabin in the new config (IIRC it's something like 25% in the F cabin) so I'd expect UA to start pulling award seats on 777 routes.

Looks like the days of 3 F award seats on LHR-SFO are gone :(

Thanks guys. I'd better look elsewhere!

I think this problem still exists, because the ICC can only ever see economy seats when I try looking for PEK-PVG on FM (Shanghai Airlines).

I have asked for Business and for First but they only ever see economy (ANA has F & Y available throughout the day). It doesn't seem in the spirit of FT to pay a change fee to downgrade myself...