Book now, hope to upgrade with Avios?
Feb 6, 2012, 5:22 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold (thanks to BOB), UA, Flying Blue, Miles & Smiles, Amex BAPP & Platinum
Posts: 392
Book now, hope to upgrade with Avios?
Every other Christmas we travel to SAN and I was very pleased when direct flights resumed last year. For the last few years I have successfully booked and upgraded to CW with miles to any of LAX, SFO or PHX. At the time of writing, only AA flights to LAX have reward availability (in business), none at all to or from the others - let alone SAN!
Question is: shall I book WT+ to SAN for money now and hope (i.e. roll the dice) that upgrades with Avios become available, or grab the AA flights to LAX now?!
All opinions welcome...
Question is: shall I book WT+ to SAN for money now and hope (i.e. roll the dice) that upgrades with Avios become available, or grab the AA flights to LAX now?!
All opinions welcome...
Feb 6, 2012, 5:23 am
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC (Gold), Hilton (Gold)
Posts: 4,168
Business Class is always better than WT+.
It's up to you - but if the availability opens up on BA you could cancel your AA flights for a small fee and rebook with BA...that's what I'd do in your shoes.
BAH
It's up to you - but if the availability opens up on BA you could cancel your AA flights for a small fee and rebook with BA...that's what I'd do in your shoes.
BAH
Feb 6, 2012, 8:15 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold (thanks to BOB), UA, Flying Blue, Miles & Smiles, Amex BAPP & Platinum
Posts: 392
Thanks both. I am inclined to book the AA flights as they are there, so to speak, and check perodically on SAN availability...
Feb 6, 2012, 8:47 am
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,207
The chances of seats opening up before now and then are pretty good I would say. If you're happy with the price for a WT+ ticket then book it and check every day for MFU opportunities.
If the worst comes to the worst flying in WT+ isn't the end of the world especially on the day flight from LHR.
If the worst comes to the worst flying in WT+ isn't the end of the world especially on the day flight from LHR.
Feb 6, 2012, 8:52 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 469
Every other Christmas we travel to SAN and I was very pleased when direct flights resumed last year. For the last few years I have successfully booked and upgraded to CW with miles to any of LAX, SFO or PHX. At the time of writing, only AA flights to LAX have reward availability (in business), none at all to or from the others - let alone SAN!
Question is: shall I book WT+ to SAN for money now and hope (i.e. roll the dice) that upgrades with Avios become available, or grab the AA flights to LAX now?!
All opinions welcome...
Question is: shall I book WT+ to SAN for money now and hope (i.e. roll the dice) that upgrades with Avios become available, or grab the AA flights to LAX now?!
All opinions welcome...
I booked a F redemption for Aug/Sep and at the time I couldn't believe how few seats were available in F or CW. A month or two after 355 and availability was back to 'normal'.
I'm now looking for a Jan 2013 F or CW redemption and once again availability is virtually zero (or it was yesterday). Based on recent patterns I'm hoping availability should start to show up towards the end of this month.....
Feb 9, 2012, 8:57 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold (thanks to BOB), UA, Flying Blue, Miles & Smiles, Amex BAPP & Platinum
Posts: 392
Thanks once more. Needless to say, my dithering and general indecision means that the AA Business seats have now disappeared anyway. I'm back to the 'no flights available on your selected dates', so very familiar to me!
Feb 27, 2012, 5:20 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold (thanks to BOB), UA, Flying Blue, Miles & Smiles, Amex BAPP & Platinum
Posts: 392
Well, finally got the AA Business flights after BA advised only a slim chance to get on the SAN route. Just been reading the Skytrax reports on AA. The trip may be very good or very bad....
Feb 27, 2012, 5:36 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shropshire
Programs: BA Silver, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 407
I struggle to find availability sometimes, but I recently subscribed to KVS on the advice of others on FT and have never looked back.
There was availability around when I wanted it and to the right places, but the online BA system being such a chore to use made it very much a hit and miss affair or at best a lengthy process.
With KVS, stepping through each day +/- is an absolute doddle and being able to reload previously saved itins to check for updated award space makes it really quick and easy.
I was able to find 4 x F awards for MAN-LHR-JFK-LHR-MAN for December in about 10 minutes. Then go to BA and using the exact criteria book the flights I wanted.
There was availability around when I wanted it and to the right places, but the online BA system being such a chore to use made it very much a hit and miss affair or at best a lengthy process.
With KVS, stepping through each day +/- is an absolute doddle and being able to reload previously saved itins to check for updated award space makes it really quick and easy.
I was able to find 4 x F awards for MAN-LHR-JFK-LHR-MAN for December in about 10 minutes. Then go to BA and using the exact criteria book the flights I wanted.
Feb 27, 2012, 9:27 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold (thanks to BOB), UA, Flying Blue, Miles & Smiles, Amex BAPP & Platinum
Posts: 392
I struggle to find availability sometimes, but I recently subscribed to KVS on the advice of others on FT and have never looked back.
There was availability around when I wanted it and to the right places, but the online BA system being such a chore to use made it very much a hit and miss affair or at best a lengthy process.
With KVS, stepping through each day +/- is an absolute doddle and being able to reload previously saved itins to check for updated award space makes it really quick and easy.
I was able to find 4 x F awards for MAN-LHR-JFK-LHR-MAN for December in about 10 minutes. Then go to BA and using the exact criteria book the flights I wanted.
There was availability around when I wanted it and to the right places, but the online BA system being such a chore to use made it very much a hit and miss affair or at best a lengthy process.
With KVS, stepping through each day +/- is an absolute doddle and being able to reload previously saved itins to check for updated award space makes it really quick and easy.
I was able to find 4 x F awards for MAN-LHR-JFK-LHR-MAN for December in about 10 minutes. Then go to BA and using the exact criteria book the flights I wanted.
Feb 28, 2012, 6:46 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
I struggle to find availability sometimes, but I recently subscribed to KVS on the advice of others on FT and have never looked back.
There was availability around when I wanted it and to the right places, but the online BA system being such a chore to use made it very much a hit and miss affair or at best a lengthy process.
With KVS, stepping through each day +/- is an absolute doddle and being able to reload previously saved itins to check for updated award space makes it really quick and easy.
I was able to find 4 x F awards for MAN-LHR-JFK-LHR-MAN for December in about 10 minutes. Then go to BA and using the exact criteria book the flights I wanted.
There was availability around when I wanted it and to the right places, but the online BA system being such a chore to use made it very much a hit and miss affair or at best a lengthy process.
With KVS, stepping through each day +/- is an absolute doddle and being able to reload previously saved itins to check for updated award space makes it really quick and easy.
I was able to find 4 x F awards for MAN-LHR-JFK-LHR-MAN for December in about 10 minutes. Then go to BA and using the exact criteria book the flights I wanted.
Feb 28, 2012, 7:40 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 517
Hi Usually - I subscribed to KVS recently but have been struggling to learn how to construct searches for BA award availability (yours truly is not the sharpest knife in the drawer). Can I ask where you found the explanation of how to do this?
Feb 28, 2012, 10:16 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,190
I have KVS Platinum and I can do the award availability searches.
Tab: Awards/Upgrades
Method: Amadeus: Awards/OneWorld
Select appropriate To, From, Date etc
Hit go!
For example:
[KVS Availability Tool 6.9.4/Platinum - Amadeus: Awards/OneWorld/AU-QFA-SP1]
Hope this helps!
rb211.
Tab: Awards/Upgrades
Method: Amadeus: Awards/OneWorld
Select appropriate To, From, Date etc
Hit go!
For example:
[KVS Availability Tool 6.9.4/Platinum - Amadeus: Awards/OneWorld/AU-QFA-SP1]
Code:
LAS Las Vegas McCarran Intl NV US [KLAS] LHR London Heathrow UK [EGLL] TUE 01 May 2012 | 1 Seat Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive St Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------ AA 348 LAS 12:15 ORD 18:00 0 FS+ YS- -> AA 46 ORD 19:15 LHR 09:05 +1 0 AA 1707 LAS 17:05 LAX 18:10 0 FS+ YS- -> AA 136 LAX 19:50 LHR 14:15 +1 0 AA 348 LAS 12:15 ORD 18:00 0 FS+ YS- -> BA 296 ORD 20:35 LHR 10:00 +1 0 AA 1738 LAS 00:50 ORD 06:10 0 FS+ YS+ -> AA 90 ORD 09:00 LHR 22:45 0 AA 1950 LAS 10:55 JFK 19:05 0 FS+ YS- -> AA 104 JFK 20:50 LHR 09:00 +1 0 AA 1707 LAS 17:05 LAX 18:10 0 FS+ YS- -> BA 268 LAX 21:20 LHR 15:25 +1 0 AA 1950 LAS 10:55 JFK 19:05 0 FS+ YS- -> BA 172 JFK 21:30 LHR 09:20 +1 0 AA 1308 LAS 11:35 LAX 12:50 0 FS+ YS- -> BA 278 LAX 15:40 LHR 10:00 +1 0 AA 1950 LAS 10:55 JFK 19:05 0 FS+ YS- -> BA 114 JFK 21:50 LHR 09:35 +1 0 AA 1554 LAS 09:40 DFW 14:20 0 FS+ YS- -> BA 192 DFW 17:50 LHR 08:45 +1 0 AA 348 LAS 12:15 ORD 18:00 0 FS+ YS- -> AA 98 ORD 21:40 LHR 11:25 +1 0
rb211.
Feb 29, 2012, 2:56 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949