Dried Up Award Availability to North America
Oct 10, 2012, 10:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
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Dried Up Award Availability to North America
I was just wondering if anyone else had noticed that all availability for both Club and First to the US and to Canada seems to have disappeared for the coming weeks? Not a single seat to any of the gateways, even on days where the revenue classes are wide open. Big change from a few weeks ago. Or maybe I'm going mad.
Oct 10, 2012, 11:02 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: WC1
Programs: BAEC Gold, SK *G, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 660
I've noticed the same! I've been trying to scout for UUA availability to Club from LHR to JFK or EWR for a couple of months now (for next week) and there's absolutely nothing!
Oct 10, 2012, 11:27 pm
#3
Moderator: American AAdvantage & Marriott Bonvoy
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I'm seeing the same for next July -- to virtually anywhere in NA.
I've been monitoring for weeks. Flights in F from NA to LHR are widely available on some routes. Just look at PHX-LHR in July as an example. Virtually every day the flight runs has at least 2 F available.
The return, LHR-PHX in same month, however, has virtually nothing. So frustrating.
Awfully hard to put together a 2-4-1 round trip when all you can get is one-way. I hate to think that might be exactly the point.
I've been monitoring for weeks. Flights in F from NA to LHR are widely available on some routes. Just look at PHX-LHR in July as an example. Virtually every day the flight runs has at least 2 F available.
The return, LHR-PHX in same month, however, has virtually nothing. So frustrating.
Awfully hard to put together a 2-4-1 round trip when all you can get is one-way. I hate to think that might be exactly the point.
Oct 11, 2012, 1:08 am
#5
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Oct 11, 2012, 2:08 am
#7
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Join Date: May 2007
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Availability to North America was usually very good perhaps two to five years ago.
But more recently seats have been much harder to find.
I ascribe this to two factors:
1. Higher levels of economic activity leading to higher demand for these flights and hence fewer reward seats
2. More miles in circulation due to the 100k Chase promo causing people to redeem seats that they would otherwise not redeem.
The solution: go somewhere else where there is availability!
But more recently seats have been much harder to find.
I ascribe this to two factors:
1. Higher levels of economic activity leading to higher demand for these flights and hence fewer reward seats
2. More miles in circulation due to the 100k Chase promo causing people to redeem seats that they would otherwise not redeem.
The solution: go somewhere else where there is availability!
Oct 11, 2012, 2:51 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / HH Diamond / FB Platinium / SPG Gold / Marriott nothing
Posts: 136
GGL effect?
Is there a GGL effect on the availability ? Remember now GGL members do benefit of 2 or 3 special redemptions per year instead of a signle one as it was last year. A good reason for BA to reduce availability accordingly?
GGL members are about 2100 (3% of 70000 GCH) that represent 5000 extra rewards seats, generally in CW or F...
GGL members are about 2100 (3% of 70000 GCH) that represent 5000 extra rewards seats, generally in CW or F...
Oct 11, 2012, 2:54 am
#10
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Is there a GGL effect on the availability ? Remember now GGL members do benefit of 2 or 3 special redemptions per year instead of a signle one as it was last year. A good reason for BA to reduce availability accordingly?
GGL members are about 2100 (3% of 70000 GCH) that represent 5000 extra rewards seats, generally in CW or F...
GGL members are about 2100 (3% of 70000 GCH) that represent 5000 extra rewards seats, generally in CW or F...
Oct 11, 2012, 2:58 am
#11
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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Is there a GGL effect on the availability ? Remember now GGL members do benefit of 2 or 3 special redemptions per year instead of a signle one as it was last year. A good reason for BA to reduce availability accordingly?
GGL members are about 2100 (3% of 70000 GCH) that represent 5000 extra rewards seats, generally in CW or F...
GGL members are about 2100 (3% of 70000 GCH) that represent 5000 extra rewards seats, generally in CW or F...
I rather suspect Half Term, Thanksgiving and Christmas are bigger factors. There is plenty of short term availability across the Atlantic. Also there may be a sale in the offing?
Also some GGLs don't end up using their jokers for all sorts of reasons.
Oct 11, 2012, 3:13 am
#13
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Oct 11, 2012, 3:15 am
#14
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Whilst I do not doubt that this could be a factor it is quite a new feature and availability to N America has been limited for some time now.
This could cause availability to be harder to find in the years to come though.
This could cause availability to be harder to find in the years to come though.
Oct 11, 2012, 3:21 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BA, Marriott, Hertz, Dennis The Menace Fan Club
Posts: 2,015
West coast is a complete no-no for redemption next June to August. East coast is ok at the moment. BAs booking system doesn't help, initially showing availability and then displaying errors or telling you that the last seat has magically been sold between you selecting a date and then trying to select a flight time.
In general though, I suspect it is because there are now a lot more people with miles to spend on BA.
In general though, I suspect it is because there are now a lot more people with miles to spend on BA.