Redemption Help: DC redemption : need help checking availability for....
Oct 1, 2010 | 9:51 am
#1396
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,275
For the last few weeks I've been looking for 3 business seats from MAN to MCO, for 23rd July or later, returning 10th August or later. We'd ideally like a stop off in New York for 2-3 days, going out or coming back. I've phoned the ICC a few times, but they don't seem that helpful, just tell me to keep ringing back - I'm trying to be flexible to get the best chance of some seats, but don't feel I can keep asking her to look for more options 
I've tried the ANA tool with no success, probably I'm doing something wrong as it comes up with no flights available. Please can anyone advise whether I'm looking for something that I'm unlikely to find, or whether it really is worth holding on in the hope that more flights will be released?
I've tried the ANA tool with no success, probably I'm doing something wrong as it comes up with no flights available. Please can anyone advise whether I'm looking for something that I'm unlikely to find, or whether it really is worth holding on in the hope that more flights will be released?I think your problem with both ANA and ICC is that the obvious candidates for this (in terms of limited stops/single airlines) would be CO, and they have no availability. Actually the really obvious one would be VS but you need a lot more miles to use them. You can check CO availability on continental.com, you need to be able to book a 'saver' award for it to be bookable through bmi I think, that their long term availability is non-existent, possibly due to the merger which just completed. You could wait and see if this changes - for sure it's the easy way to get to NYC and MCO from MAN, but it's a risk.
If you're okay taking the slow road there's plenty of TATL options on LH/LX routing MAN-FRA/ZRH-ORD/NYC/IAD for 3 in business. You can then add on a UA flight from ORD or IAD down to MCO, but the MCO-NYC leg is again a CO monopoly with no availability.
Therefore you would need to do something like:
MAN-ZRH-IAD-MCO, MCO-ORD-LGA//JFK-ZRH-MAN. And remember, the US internals will be in economy.
If that is an option (ie the third person isn't a three year old
) then either post your preferred dates here, including stopover in NYC at beginning or end, and I'll have a look or PM me directly.Stewie
PS - this is using mostly Miles and More and united.com rather than ANA but I think you need miles with LH and UA to see.
Oct 2, 2010 | 4:04 am
#1397
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 7
Redemption success at last!
For the last few weeks I've been looking for 3 business seats from MAN to MCO, for 23rd July or later, returning 10th August or later. We'd ideally like a stop off in New York for 2-3 days, going out or coming back. I've phoned the ICC a few times, but they don't seem that helpful, just tell me to keep ringing back - I'm trying to be flexible to get the best chance of some seats, but don't feel I can keep asking her to look for more options I've tried the ANA tool with no success, probably I'm doing something wrong as it comes up with no flights available. Please can anyone advise whether I'm looking for something that I'm unlikely to find, or whether it really is worth holding on in the hope that more flights will be released?
I've tried the ANA tool with no success, probably I'm doing something wrong as it comes up with no flights available. Please can anyone advise whether I'm looking for something that I'm unlikely to find, or whether it really is worth holding on in the hope that more flights will be released?Charges were 357 each, I was expecting worse.
Will be my 17 year old son's 1st TATL trip in business, hope Swiss business meets his expectations!
Thank you so much again, I'm amazed at how helpful people are on this forum.
Oct 2, 2010 | 3:24 pm
#1399
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,952
[KVS Availability Tool 5.7.8/Diamond - SNT: Awards/StarAlliance/JP-ANA-STD]
Code:
ZRH Zurich CH [LSZH] MIA Miami Int'l FL US [KMIA] WED 20 Oct 2010 | 1 Seat Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------- LX 64 ZRH 13:05 MIA 17:30 333 0 FS- CS- YS-
Code:
ZRH Zurich CH [LSZH] MIA Miami Int'l FL US [KMIA] THU 21 Oct 2010 | 1 Seat Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------- LX 64 ZRH 13:05 MIA 17:30 343 0 FS- CS- YS-
Oct 2, 2010 | 3:31 pm
#1400
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
Oct 2, 2010 | 3:47 pm
#1402
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 12,412
Oct 3, 2010 | 6:57 am
#1404
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: BAEC Gold, EI Elite, A3 Gold
Posts: 96
thanks again for info guys (and gals) - my ideal date is the 20th as i am on business in Amsterdam and and can save myself the cost of a connecting flight as my company will pay to get me to ZRH on the morning of the 20th
If i cant travel on the 20th I have to return to Belfast which means picking up a CO flight via EWR or something via LHR on a later date
I do appreciate the suggestion of ZRH to JFK to MIA on the 20th its just AMS - ZRH - JFK (immigration) - MIA is a long day
If i cant travel on the 20th I have to return to Belfast which means picking up a CO flight via EWR or something via LHR on a later date
I do appreciate the suggestion of ZRH to JFK to MIA on the 20th its just AMS - ZRH - JFK (immigration) - MIA is a long day
Oct 3, 2010 | 7:15 am
#1405
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: BAEC Gold, EI Elite, A3 Gold
Posts: 96
I now see LH flight options to MIA (some on a 333) out of DUS and FRA and MUC - this may be more convenient (AMS - DUS/FRA/MUC - MIA)
Although I have generally avoided the premium product on LH to date (particularly the 744's)
welcome thoughts
Although I have generally avoided the premium product on LH to date (particularly the 744's)
welcome thoughts
Oct 3, 2010 | 7:18 am
#1406
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold. LH SEN. IHG Diamond. Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 2,391
I still prefer LX F over LH F. Why not have a stopover in NYC if your schedule permits?
Oct 4, 2010 | 9:06 am
#1407
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 8
Thanks IMH for replying to me 
and Yes, I did read Raffles comments and have taken them on board.
I was curious about flights from outside the UK to the states as someone had mentioned that the taxes were a lot more reasonable.
I guess I will just save my points to book my South African flights in 2012
Once again --- thanks to everybody who gave me some advice.
and Yes, I did read Raffles comments and have taken them on board. I was curious about flights from outside the UK to the states as someone had mentioned that the taxes were a lot more reasonable.
I guess I will just save my points to book my South African flights in 2012
Once again --- thanks to everybody who gave me some advice.
Oct 4, 2010 | 9:37 am
#1408
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: LH SEN, BA Gold, SK Gold; Accor Diamond; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meli/HH/Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,682
They are, for premium cabin travel (although Germany's new departure tax just made that country a little less attractive). But remember that you won't save UK departure tax simply by connecting in Switzerland or Denmark wherever.
Oct 5, 2010 | 10:05 am
#1409
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: GLA
Programs: BD (in memoriam), BA
Posts: 1,359
ANA vs EF for LX
I'm looking for availability ZRH-GRU next June. ANA shows no F availability at all the whole month, but EF shows 1 or 2 seats most days. Any idea which is more reliable from the DC redeption point of view? I have a feeling that EF might be showing availability from a M&M perspective, but does that differ from what we can book?
Oct 5, 2010 | 10:20 am
#1410
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, F9 Elite, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,323
I'm looking for availability ZRH-GRU next June. ANA shows no F availability at all the whole month, but EF shows 1 or 2 seats most days. Any idea which is more reliable from the DC redeption point of view? I have a feeling that EF might be showing availability from a M&M perspective, but does that differ from what we can book?
Code:
** BMI - AD ** GRU GUARULHOS INTL.BRSP 239 WE 01JUN 0000 1 LX 092 O2 /ZRH GRU 2 2240 0545+1E0/343 12:05 ** BMI - AD ** GRU GUARULHOS INTL.BRSP 240 TH 02JUN 0000 1 LX 092 O2 /ZRH GRU 2 2240 0545+1E0/343 12:05 ** BMI - AD ** GRU GUARULHOS INTL.BRSP 241 FR 03JUN 0000 1 LX 092 O2 /ZRH GRU 2 2240 0545+1E0/343 12:05