Now that the ANA tool doesn't work for Star Alliance partner awards (least not for those of us who don't have ANA points)

Does anyone have any tips for checking redemption availability?

The people at the end of the Diamond Club phone line are amongst the best call centre staff I have ever spoken to.

But....even armed with the knowledge about availability gained with the ANA tool - trying to find reemdption flight availalbity on the phone can be hard work.

Any suggestions?

I have seen two cases of seats being offered to me for SQ flights that ANA shows as not available. One I booked so I know it wasn't a dodgy agent issue.

Weird

Yes it does. There are a couple of work around solutions in the thread about the change in the ANA tool. Neither require you to have any points in your ANA account.

Can anyone help with the following;

Want to go from NYC - LON on either 14th or 15th July business.

I have tried to ring DC this morning and the agent said that there was nothing in business for any routes on both dates above.

A quick search hasn't shown me anything on those dates either. Lots of I (business) availability the previous day on LX:

13 July, LX15 and LX17 JFK-ZRH and LX23 JFK-GVA. Any use?

Thanks for checking for me....is that LX flight with the new business class product?

Also, do you think its worth waiting a few days to book it, or would something open up, either via Houston or Canada way???? Would even try Turkish airlines as well??? Or should I just book what is currently open?

LX23 JFK-GVA is showing as an A333 and this Swiss forum thread suggests to me that that means new business. LX15 and LX17 are showing as A343, which I believe means old -- although the Swiss thread suggests that LX15 is, at least sometimes, operated using an A333 with new business.

As to whether to book or wait, only you know how important the trip is and how much you're prepared to risk not getting a seat in C. If it was me, and if flying a day early was fine, then I'd book the LX new C product like a shot.

have the ANA tool but I cant find any availability for any flights to LCA (Larnaca) so I must be doing something wrong I keep putting in various dates nothing comes up

Help!

Basically I have approx 100k dest miles to use for 2 adults, 2 children and we wanted to do a return flight to Larnaca (ideally from manchester but would consider other airports)

Either APril 16-30 2011 or May 28 - June 11

I can search on BA but wanted to save up my BA miles and use BMI instead but struggling to find a route to use

Can anyone help please?

Sam

I'd start by searching for availability on the final leg, i.e. XXX to LCA. Here CheeseToastie's Star Alliance route finder is invaluable in telling us what to search for.

That shows LH flying to LCA from FRA and MUC. OS from VIE is another attractive/convenient option. There are also flights from Warsaw (with LOT) and Cairo (EgyptAir).

Look for availability on those routes, then search separately for flights from MAN to XXX and back. Ask again if you need more specific help and I'm sure someone will assist.

A further option that doesn't come up yet will be A3 (Aegean), who fly to LCA from Athens and Rome. I was very impressed by Aegean (in economy) last month, but the problem for you is that they only became Star Alliance members a couple of hours ago (literally) and it may be a while before you can see availability and redeem for flights with them. Try it!

Thank you will have another go!

Guys,

Just to let you know I just booked up a business class flight from JFK to FRA in business on Singapore Air.....even though ANA showed nothing at all for the 15th July so very happy! Thanks for checking ^

Yeah whats up with that? Even I have managed to get a SQ flight which didn't show on ANA.

Is DC being given extra inventory on SQ?

Nah, all this is adding up to the fact that ANA is simply displaying availability to ANA members (ie Japan based), whereas *A carriers are releasing availability on a originating market basis - this leads to inconsistencies.

And they're getting more noticeable by the day as they seem to be doing things differently, increasingly.

A year ago, what you saw was what you got, they SQ went funny, then married segments became a bigger issue, Scandinavia went for a walk, then LH connecting flights couldn't be bagged and tagged... anyway, it'll all be irrelevant soon enough, as we'll all be using an LH tool.

I have my suspicions that we're already being treated to that via the ICC.

Route finder now has A3 added so the latest LCA list is here.