July 2012 award help
Aug 2, 2011, 11:50 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: OAK
Programs: AS MVPG 100k
Posts: 3,756
July 2012 award help
I'm trying to book a pair of F award seats from the west coast to Italy - I've been looking for a few days.
I'm looking at early July out and mid-July back.
Most of the return seast LHR-LAX/SAN/LAS/PHX seem to be snapped up within a couple of days - for example 7/17/12 and 7/18/12 are available right now, but very slim pickings earlier in the month; the seats for the 18th got loaded a few hours ago, so I assume that is the 330 day (or whatever) window.
The problem is that the intra-EU flights seem to be loading about a week behind the TATL seats.
I have considered booking with a stopover in LON on the way back, and then changing the res to eliminate the stopover when the Italy-LON award seats are loaded. However, I don't want to pay the confiscatory UK taxes on the return TATL leg that are inherent in a stopover.
So, a couple of questions:
1 - Is my supposition correct wrt the intra-EU award seats loading about a week after the TATL award seats
2 - If I do book the stopover and then later change to eliminate the stopover, will I be refunded the !@#$% UK taxes automatically and in full ?
Really appreciate any advice anybody can give
I'm looking at early July out and mid-July back.
Most of the return seast LHR-LAX/SAN/LAS/PHX seem to be snapped up within a couple of days - for example 7/17/12 and 7/18/12 are available right now, but very slim pickings earlier in the month; the seats for the 18th got loaded a few hours ago, so I assume that is the 330 day (or whatever) window.
The problem is that the intra-EU flights seem to be loading about a week behind the TATL seats.
I have considered booking with a stopover in LON on the way back, and then changing the res to eliminate the stopover when the Italy-LON award seats are loaded. However, I don't want to pay the confiscatory UK taxes on the return TATL leg that are inherent in a stopover.
So, a couple of questions:
1 - Is my supposition correct wrt the intra-EU award seats loading about a week after the TATL award seats
2 - If I do book the stopover and then later change to eliminate the stopover, will I be refunded the !@#$% UK taxes automatically and in full ?
Really appreciate any advice anybody can give
Aug 3, 2011, 12:35 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: Lord OPebble - Mucci of the Hour. Diamond Class MUCCI.Chevalier du Circle Intime de Pucci
Posts: 7,088
Don't forget that there is a small event called the Olympics in London next July/August and award seats are very scarce.
I had a look at JNB<>LHR next July and there was absolutely zilch available in F and CW.
I had a look at JNB<>LHR next July and there was absolutely zilch available in F and CW.
Aug 3, 2011, 1:18 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Dammed Olympics.
I would book the LH now and worry about the SH later. Alternatively, if you can get it all at once, take it. If you eliminate the SH later, you will get back taxes in full (but not straight away, it takes a few days).
I don't know if SH availability is loaded a week later than LH.
I would book the LH now and worry about the SH later. Alternatively, if you can get it all at once, take it. If you eliminate the SH later, you will get back taxes in full (but not straight away, it takes a few days).
I don't know if SH availability is loaded a week later than LH.
Aug 3, 2011, 8:38 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: OAK
Programs: AS MVPG 100k
Posts: 3,756
UK tax, so booking LH separately from SH doesn't work. My understanding is that I'll get hit with full tax on the TATL portion unless my connection in LON is <24 hrs.
Aug 3, 2011, 8:44 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Bloomsbury
Programs: BA Silver, AF Ivory
Posts: 2,202