Redemption Help: DC redemption : need help checking availability for....
Sep 14, 2010 | 1:29 pm
#1336
Join Date: May 2006
Location: 5 miles from EMA
Programs: BD RIP, BAEC Pleb, VS Pleb, Accor Pleb, HHonors Gold, Big White Season Pass
Posts: 6,335
For example...
[KVS Availability Tool 5.7.4/Platinum - SNT: Awards/StarAlliance/JP-ANA-STD]
[KVS Availability Tool 5.7.4/Platinum - SNT: Awards/StarAlliance/JP-ANA-STD]
The other alternative is UA but availability is patchy to non-existent in the premium cabins on some routes, although you might want to subscribe to ExpertFlyer and set up an alert
[KVS Availability Tool 5.7.4/Platinum - SNT: Awards/StarAlliance/JP-ANA-STD]
Code:
LHR London Heathrow UK [EGLL] IAH Houston George Bush Intercnt'l TX US [KIAH] TUE 17 May 2011 | 1 Seat Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------- CO 35 LHR 09:30 IAH 13:30 777 0 FS/ CS+ YS- CO 5 LHR 11:40 IAH 15:50 777 0 FS/ CS- YS-
Code:
IAH Houston George Bush Intercnt'l TX US [KIAH] ABQ Albuquerque Int'l NM US [KABQ] TUE 17 May 2011 | 1 Seat Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------- CO 2579 IAH 09:00 ABQ 10:07 ERJ 0 FS/ CS- YS- CO 2499 IAH 13:05 ABQ 14:10 ERJ 0 FS/ CS- YS- CO 3157 IAH 14:45 ABQ 15:52 ERJ 0 FS/ CS- YS- CO 2176 IAH 17:55 ABQ 19:04 ERJ 0 FS/ CS- YS- CO 1752 IAH 21:00 ABQ 22:23 735 0 FS/ CS- YS+
Sep 15, 2010 | 6:53 am
#1337
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Pleb, LH M&M Pleb, VS FC Pleb, Hilton Gold, AmEx Plat, Avis Pres Club
Posts: 272
Can I trust Expertflyer?
When it says that VS (for instance) has BD award availability but the VS website doesn't show availability on the same flight, who's right?
Sep 15, 2010 | 7:39 am
#1338
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 8
Hi there
Could someone help with finding availability on a *A flight either from Frankfurt or Zurich to Miami or Fort Lauderdale using my DC points?
Ideal dates are 7th April 2011 returning on 20th April 2011 but we are flexible for a day or two on either side.
It is for 2 adults and 1 child.
I registered for ANA last year but cant access it anymore
Could someone help with finding availability on a *A flight either from Frankfurt or Zurich to Miami or Fort Lauderdale using my DC points?
Ideal dates are 7th April 2011 returning on 20th April 2011 but we are flexible for a day or two on either side.
It is for 2 adults and 1 child.
I registered for ANA last year but cant access it anymore
Sep 15, 2010 | 12:32 pm
#1339
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SIN 5 days out of 7
Programs: BD*G, A3*G, BA-S, Accor Gold, IHG Amb
Posts: 5,505
Expert Flyer says that there is VS award availability: This presumably means that if you are a member of Virgin Atlantic's Frequent Flyer scheme, then you could book flights using for Virgin Atlantic's Frequent Flyer miles.
Expert Flyer says that there is availability on BD when booking through Virgin Atlantic's Frequent Flyer: This presumably means that if you are a member of Virgin Atlantic's Frequent Flyer scheme, then you could book flights on bmi using for Virgin Atlantic's Frequent Flyer miles.
Expert Flyer says that there is BD award availability: This presumably means that if you are a member of bmi's Frequent Flyer scheme, then you could book flights using for bmi's Frequent Flyer miles.
In all cases the the entity that is right is the Frequent Flyer programme that you are trying to use the miles with.
Sep 15, 2010 | 12:34 pm
#1340
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,924
A BD award search on ExpertFlyer is valid for BD flights only. What is the Award & Upgrade search that you are doing that shows VS results?
Sep 15, 2010 | 1:31 pm
#1341
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Pleb, LH M&M Pleb, VS FC Pleb, Hilton Gold, AmEx Plat, Avis Pres Club
Posts: 272
LHR - SFO/LAX in May. An EF search for BD redemptions shows availability on various VS flights on various dates, but if I log onto VS flying club and search, there's MUCH less availability. Seems strange to me that a carrier would have award availabilty to partner airlines FFPs but not its own ...
Sep 15, 2010 | 9:31 pm
#1342
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,924
LHR - SFO/LAX in May. An EF search for BD redemptions shows availability on various VS flights on various dates, but if I log onto VS flying club and search, there's MUCH less availability. Seems strange to me that a carrier would have award availabilty to partner airlines FFPs but not its own ...
Please tell us the exact search (city pair, specific date, class, connecting city if any, etc) so we can see the results you are referring to if that's not it.
Sep 15, 2010 | 10:32 pm
#1344
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Bay Area
Programs: BA - Blue
Posts: 4,720
cheeky bump
Dear DC experts. I'm cheekily bumping this post of mine -- hope I'm not contravening any rules. I was wondering whether it is indeed possible to change the intra-European booking of a married segment, or if that's not possible, a la my dealings with the ICC. Looks like I was v. fortunate in bagging the last two F seats on LX in May (unless someone can see some more??), but would love to depart from VCE or FCO instead of CDG now.
Any suggestions on how I can make this work?
thank you,
tb
Any suggestions on how I can make this work?
thank you,
tb
I somewhat messed up our best-laid holiday plans..and wonder whether FTers can help us out.
We're planning a family trip from BOS to Europe next April/May. We're visiting Rome/Venice/UK/Paris. I bagged our return flight already, and was pleased I could get 2 F seats ZRH-BOS on 7th May (we'll also have our toddler daughter as a lap child), connecting from CDG. However, I then noticed that would put us in Rome in Holy Week/Easter, which given we're not Catholics, and it's our first time in Rome, I've heard is a really bad idea (crowds++, many places shut).
I tried to change the connecting segment only from FCO or VCE to ZRH, instead of CDG (essentially swapping the order of cities) -- although there is plenty of availability for the connecting flight, because it is a married sector, the ICC said they couldn't change it, without cancelling the whole booking: and there would be no guarantee that the two F seats would go back into redemption booking class. Is that correct?
As an alternative, I asked if there are 2F seats ZRH-BOS on any dates a few days either way -- but it seems we have taken the last pair of F seats 2-3 weeks either side of 7th May? Is that right? I would very much appreciate FTers help in either finding F (2 seats) availability on LX in the 1st week of May to Boston, or alternatively, help with changing the intra-European sector only on the 7th May booking.
many thanks,
tb
We're planning a family trip from BOS to Europe next April/May. We're visiting Rome/Venice/UK/Paris. I bagged our return flight already, and was pleased I could get 2 F seats ZRH-BOS on 7th May (we'll also have our toddler daughter as a lap child), connecting from CDG. However, I then noticed that would put us in Rome in Holy Week/Easter, which given we're not Catholics, and it's our first time in Rome, I've heard is a really bad idea (crowds++, many places shut).
I tried to change the connecting segment only from FCO or VCE to ZRH, instead of CDG (essentially swapping the order of cities) -- although there is plenty of availability for the connecting flight, because it is a married sector, the ICC said they couldn't change it, without cancelling the whole booking: and there would be no guarantee that the two F seats would go back into redemption booking class. Is that correct?
As an alternative, I asked if there are 2F seats ZRH-BOS on any dates a few days either way -- but it seems we have taken the last pair of F seats 2-3 weeks either side of 7th May? Is that right? I would very much appreciate FTers help in either finding F (2 seats) availability on LX in the 1st week of May to Boston, or alternatively, help with changing the intra-European sector only on the 7th May booking.
many thanks,
tb
Sep 16, 2010 | 6:35 am
#1345
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Pleb, LH M&M Pleb, VS FC Pleb, Hilton Gold, AmEx Plat, Avis Pres Club
Posts: 272
The Award & Upgrade tool is designed to filter out class codes on flights that are not of the searched airline. If there is a BD flight paired with a VS flight you'll see there are no classes/quantities listed for the VS flight, it doesn't mean there is availability on the VS flight, we're just listing the connecting flight so you know what it is.
Please tell us the exact search (city pair, specific date, class, connecting city if any, etc) so we can see the results you are referring to if that's not it.
Please tell us the exact search (city pair, specific date, class, connecting city if any, etc) so we can see the results you are referring to if that's not it.
It's this - I'm surprised there LOOKS to be both VS and NZ award availability VS Flying Club doesn't show redemptions for those flights, and I thought NZ redemptions were like gold dust ...
Departing Flights
Search Departing LHR on 05/28/11 12:00 AM 3 Day(s) for LAX
Returning on 06/12/11 12:00 AM 3 Day(s)
Flying BD on booking class I
Departing 05/25/11 to 05/31/11
05/25/11 - Wed
05/26/11 - Thu
05/27/11 - Fri
05/28/11 - Sat
05/29/11 - Sun
05/30/11 - Mon
05/31/11 - Tue
Flight Stops Depart Arrive Aircraft Frequency
Reliability
Available Classes
Description Code Seats
0 Connections
BD (NZ) 3981 0 LHR
05/28/11
4:15 PM LAX
05/28/11
7:45 PM 773
Daily
77% / 17m
Business Award I 4
1 Connections
BD (VS) 5099 0 LHR
05/28/11
12:00 PM ORD
05/28/11
2:55 PM 343
Daily
73% / 27m
Business Award I 4
BD (UA) 4050 0 ORD
05/28/11
5:15 PM LAX
05/28/11
7:39 PM 752
Daily
73% / 59m
Create Flight Alert
View Flight Details
View Seat Map
Returning Flights
Search Departing LHR on 05/28/11 12:00 AM 3 Day(s) for LAX
Returning on 06/12/11 12:00 AM 3 Day(s)
Flying BD on booking class I
Returning 06/09/11 to 06/15/11
06/09/11 - Thu
06/10/11 - Fri
06/11/11 - Sat
06/12/11 - Sun
06/13/11 - Mon
06/14/11 - Tue
06/15/11 - Wed
Flight Stops Depart Arrive Aircraft Frequency
Reliability
Available Classes
Description Code Seats
0 Connections
BD (NZ) 3982 0 LAX
06/12/11
4:30 PM LHR
06/13/11
11:00 AM 773
Daily
94% / 36m
Business Award I 4
1 Connections
BD (UA) 4052 0 LAX
06/12/11
11:00 AM ORD
06/12/11
4:54 PM 752
Daily
87% / 27m
BD (VS) 5100 0 ORD
06/12/11
7:00 PM LHR
06/13/11
9:00 AM 343
Daily
77% / 27m
Business Award I 4
1 Connections
BD (UA) 4210 0 LAX
06/12/11
3:10 PM SFO
06/12/11
4:28 PM 319
Daily
69% / 60m
BD (VS) 5050 0 SFO
06/12/11
5:55 PM LHR
06/13/11
12:05 PM 346
Daily
81% / 36m
Business Award I 4
Sep 16, 2010 | 3:28 pm
#1346
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,924
"**NOTE** The Award & Upgrade information is only valid for flights flown on the searched airline (not code shares) and only when using miles/points/certificates from the searched airline, not partner airlines."
Sep 17, 2010 | 2:59 am
#1347
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Pleb, LH M&M Pleb, VS FC Pleb, Hilton Gold, AmEx Plat, Avis Pres Club
Posts: 272
Ah, a code share, now I understand why you were confused. Award/upgrades are only valid for that airlines metal, it isn't a partner award search. That's why we have the following message at the top of the Award & Upgrade results:
"**NOTE** The Award & Upgrade information is only valid for flights flown on the searched airline (not code shares) and only when using miles/points/certificates from the searched airline, not partner airlines."
"**NOTE** The Award & Upgrade information is only valid for flights flown on the searched airline (not code shares) and only when using miles/points/certificates from the searched airline, not partner airlines."
Thanks again ...
Sep 17, 2010 | 9:14 am
#1348
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,924
Thanks ExpertFlyer Voice - just so can I nail this once and for all - it will only show me accurate availability info for BD METAL? Any "availability" it shows for NZ, VS etc is not actually availability? That I would need to search under NZ Airpoints or VS Flying Club for their availability?
Thanks again ...
Thanks again ...
Sep 17, 2010 | 4:45 pm
#1349
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: North & South West England
Programs: BA GfL, M&M Senator, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb & some others
Posts: 271
US-Australia via Japan or via back-track SYD-AKL-other Australian destination - is OK
Called the ICC up, and the first offer given for the SFO-BNE route was a double connection via Tokyo and Auckland with of course it was fine to stopover in one of the two. No availability on the more direct route so this is what their system offered. Asked them to check it was a valid routing, Z3 to Z9 miles too, and indeed it was.^^^
In the end the relatives decided they would rather stop off in Auckland on their way to Brisbane. The only availability was via Vancouver and then Sydney and then Auckland to get to Brisbane (nothing on the more direct US/Canada-Auckland-Brisbane route), and again that was a valid routing, so all booked and ticketed. Had to drip feed this route sector by sector, unlike the via Japan one above, but no problems. Result - 2 tix in biz and tax/fees at around 130 each thought good too (bizarelly the via Japan route is lower on tax/fees at about 120 with either UA or ANA)! ^^^
Last leg AKL-BNE in Economy as Air NZ's Trans-Tasman A320s will be an Economy only service by the time the flight comes round. Was offered availability on the bigger planes in Business but flight times didn't suit.
Hope useful for others who might consider this more circuitous routing to get to where they want to go when direct availability is drying up. And if you are booking far in advance you might find this thread useful too ->http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/bmi-d...-released.html
In the end the relatives decided they would rather stop off in Auckland on their way to Brisbane. The only availability was via Vancouver and then Sydney and then Auckland to get to Brisbane (nothing on the more direct US/Canada-Auckland-Brisbane route), and again that was a valid routing, so all booked and ticketed. Had to drip feed this route sector by sector, unlike the via Japan one above, but no problems. Result - 2 tix in biz and tax/fees at around 130 each thought good too (bizarelly the via Japan route is lower on tax/fees at about 120 with either UA or ANA)! ^^^
Last leg AKL-BNE in Economy as Air NZ's Trans-Tasman A320s will be an Economy only service by the time the flight comes round. Was offered availability on the bigger planes in Business but flight times didn't suit.
Hope useful for others who might consider this more circuitous routing to get to where they want to go when direct availability is drying up. And if you are booking far in advance you might find this thread useful too ->http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/bmi-d...-released.html
Hi there, searched through threads to find an answer but can't, so hopeful someone can help.
Using up as many of my miles as I can so as well as doing loads of travel myself, some of my relatives and friends are getting cheap front of the plane travel too. Anyway for the 2 lucky recipients of cash & miles biz tixs to Brisbane from San Francisco ...
They want to know if they can route it via Tokyo, using ANA, stop there and then get into Brisbane via Auckland with Air NZ (they are retired so have stacks of time on their hands). Availability is there for when they want to go if the route is broken down SFO-NRT then NRT-BNE. There is no direct flight SFO-BNE, closest is Sydney, so what's the chances of getting this itinerary booked as a valid one? I guess they could say the alternative more direct route would be SFO-SYD-AKL-BNE or SFO-AKL-BNE (which is what the Star Alliance routing tool shows) but there is no availability on the dates they want for that routing.
So does anyone know for sure if it is a valid routing US-Australia via the Far East if there is no direct flight between the US and the final destination city? Or do you think they will make me split the booking into 2 awards?
Any help much appreciated.
Cheers
Jonny
Using up as many of my miles as I can so as well as doing loads of travel myself, some of my relatives and friends are getting cheap front of the plane travel too. Anyway for the 2 lucky recipients of cash & miles biz tixs to Brisbane from San Francisco ...
They want to know if they can route it via Tokyo, using ANA, stop there and then get into Brisbane via Auckland with Air NZ (they are retired so have stacks of time on their hands). Availability is there for when they want to go if the route is broken down SFO-NRT then NRT-BNE. There is no direct flight SFO-BNE, closest is Sydney, so what's the chances of getting this itinerary booked as a valid one? I guess they could say the alternative more direct route would be SFO-SYD-AKL-BNE or SFO-AKL-BNE (which is what the Star Alliance routing tool shows) but there is no availability on the dates they want for that routing.
So does anyone know for sure if it is a valid routing US-Australia via the Far East if there is no direct flight between the US and the final destination city? Or do you think they will make me split the booking into 2 awards?
Any help much appreciated.
Cheers
Jonny
Last edited by JONNYBOY; Sep 25, 2010 at 7:23 am Reason: Air NZ's A320s are now Economy only trans-tasman
Sep 18, 2010 | 9:33 am
#1350
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUN
Programs: TK E+
Posts: 11,230
LHR - IST TK F in 77W:
No availability on october 7th.
[KVS Availability Tool 5.7.5/Diamond - SNT: Awards/StarAlliance/JP-ANA-STD]
[KVS Availability Tool 5.7.5/Diamond - SNT: Awards/StarAlliance/JP-ANA-STD]
[KVS Availability Tool 5.7.5/Diamond - SNT: Awards/StarAlliance/JP-ANA-STD]
No availability on october 7th.
[KVS Availability Tool 5.7.5/Diamond - SNT: Awards/StarAlliance/JP-ANA-STD]
Code:
LHR London Heathrow UK [EGLL] IST Istanbul Ataturk TR [LTBA] THU 14 Oct 2010 | 1 Seat Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------- TK 1988 LHR 06:55 IST 12:45 321 0 FS/ CS+ YS- TK 1980 LHR 11:25 IST 17:15 77W 0 FS+ CS- YS- TK 7371 STN 13:45 SAW 19:25 738 0 FS- CS- YS- TK 1986 LHR 16:30 IST 22:20 321 0 FS/ CS- YS- TK 1984 LHR 22:30 IST 04:20 +1 321 0 FS/ CS+ YS-
Code:
LHR London Heathrow UK [EGLL] IST Istanbul Ataturk TR [LTBA] THU 21 Oct 2010 | 1 Seat Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------- TK 1988 LHR 06:55 IST 12:45 321 0 FS/ CS+ YS- TK 1980 LHR 11:25 IST 17:15 77W 0 FS+ CS- YS- TK 7371 STN 13:45 SAW 19:25 738 0 FS- CS- YS- TK 1986 LHR 16:30 IST 22:20 321 0 FS/ CS- YS- TK 1984 LHR 22:30 IST 04:20 +1 321 0 FS/ CS+ YS-
Code:
LHR London Heathrow UK [EGLL] IST Istanbul Ataturk TR [LTBA] THU 28 Oct 2010 | 1 Seat Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------- TK 1988 LHR 06:55 IST 12:45 321 0 FS/ CS+ YS- TK 1980 LHR 11:25 IST 17:15 77W 0 FS+ CS+ YS- TK 7371 STN 13:45 SAW 19:25 738 0 FS- CS- YS- TK 1986 LHR 16:30 IST 22:20 321 0 FS/ CS+ YS- TK 1984 LHR 22:30 IST 04:20 +1 321 0 FS/ CS+ YS-