AA [award] space on BA website
Apr 11, 2018, 9:28 am
#46
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,248
I was looking to book a one way nonstop from DFW to Florida. AA.com showed sAAver space in coach, while BA.com showed no availability, period. I called the BA US Executive Club line and was about as lucky as one could get: I received a friendly representative without any wait and she was knowledgeable enough to work around the issue, resulting in me successfully booking the trip. Here's how it went down:
I first treated the call as a regular booking attempt, without first mentioning that I'd already tried to book on BA.com. I wanted to see if the phone rep might be able to see the space right away. That didn't pan out, as the agent couldn't see any space. I then told her that AA was showing low level award availability on this flight, and that the space should therefore be bookable by any OneWorld partner, including BA, so there must be a technical issue. She agreed, and I asked her to speak with the OneWorld desk about the issue (thanks to the above comment by @Pilot37). She put me on a brief hold, then said she could now see the space. Here's where it gets interesting: she saw not only the flight that I wanted, which was the sole nonstop displayed as available on AA.com, but also another earlier nonstop on the same date which was NOT displayed as available on AA.com. Could this mean that it may be best to call BA even if AA.com isn't showing any availability?
After making the booking, the agent attempted to charge me the phone booking fee, which she promptly waived after I objected that the only reason I called is because the technical issue with BA's site made it impossible for me to book online. After all was said and done, I thanked her, complimented her on her knowledge and willingness to work around the issue, and asked her if she could tell me anything that could help me guide a lesser informed phone rep to the techniques that she employed. She only said that she had to change her screen view from "redemption" to "available." She was not keen to elaborate beyond that, but did state that it did not require supervisory authority to do this when I asked. I'm thinking this explains how she came back with another flight which was not available on AA.com. The other flight was available for sale, but not for redemption, and had we tried to "manually" book the award on that flight as opposed to the one showing as available on AA.com, I doubt it would have worked out.
I first treated the call as a regular booking attempt, without first mentioning that I'd already tried to book on BA.com. I wanted to see if the phone rep might be able to see the space right away. That didn't pan out, as the agent couldn't see any space. I then told her that AA was showing low level award availability on this flight, and that the space should therefore be bookable by any OneWorld partner, including BA, so there must be a technical issue. She agreed, and I asked her to speak with the OneWorld desk about the issue (thanks to the above comment by @Pilot37). She put me on a brief hold, then said she could now see the space. Here's where it gets interesting: she saw not only the flight that I wanted, which was the sole nonstop displayed as available on AA.com, but also another earlier nonstop on the same date which was NOT displayed as available on AA.com. Could this mean that it may be best to call BA even if AA.com isn't showing any availability?
After making the booking, the agent attempted to charge me the phone booking fee, which she promptly waived after I objected that the only reason I called is because the technical issue with BA's site made it impossible for me to book online. After all was said and done, I thanked her, complimented her on her knowledge and willingness to work around the issue, and asked her if she could tell me anything that could help me guide a lesser informed phone rep to the techniques that she employed. She only said that she had to change her screen view from "redemption" to "available." She was not keen to elaborate beyond that, but did state that it did not require supervisory authority to do this when I asked. I'm thinking this explains how she came back with another flight which was not available on AA.com. The other flight was available for sale, but not for redemption, and had we tried to "manually" book the award on that flight as opposed to the one showing as available on AA.com, I doubt it would have worked out.
Apr 11, 2018, 10:06 am
#47
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 32
I was looking to book a one way nonstop from DFW to Florida. AA.com showed sAAver space in coach, while BA.com showed no availability, period. I called the BA US Executive Club line and was about as lucky as one could get: I received a friendly representative without any wait and she was knowledgeable enough to work around the issue, resulting in me successfully booking the trip. Here's how it went down:
I first treated the call as a regular booking attempt, without first mentioning that I'd already tried to book on BA.com. I wanted to see if the phone rep might be able to see the space right away. That didn't pan out, as the agent couldn't see any space. I then told her that AA was showing low level award availability on this flight, and that the space should therefore be bookable by any OneWorld partner, including BA, so there must be a technical issue. She agreed, and I asked her to speak with the OneWorld desk about the issue (thanks to the above comment by @Pilot37). She put me on a brief hold, then said she could now see the space. Here's where it gets interesting: she saw not only the flight that I wanted, which was the sole nonstop displayed as available on AA.com, but also another earlier nonstop on the same date which was NOT displayed as available on AA.com. Could this mean that it may be best to call BA even if AA.com isn't showing any availability?
After making the booking, the agent attempted to charge me the phone booking fee, which she promptly waived after I objected that the only reason I called is because the technical issue with BA's site made it impossible for me to book online. After all was said and done, I thanked her, complimented her on her knowledge and willingness to work around the issue, and asked her if she could tell me anything that could help me guide a lesser informed phone rep to the techniques that she employed. She only said that she had to change her screen view from "redemption" to "available." She was not keen to elaborate beyond that, but did state that it did not require supervisory authority to do this when I asked. I'm thinking this explains how she came back with another flight which was not available on AA.com. The other flight was available for sale, but not for redemption, and had we tried to "manually" book the award on that flight as opposed to the one showing as available on AA.com, I doubt it would have worked out.
I first treated the call as a regular booking attempt, without first mentioning that I'd already tried to book on BA.com. I wanted to see if the phone rep might be able to see the space right away. That didn't pan out, as the agent couldn't see any space. I then told her that AA was showing low level award availability on this flight, and that the space should therefore be bookable by any OneWorld partner, including BA, so there must be a technical issue. She agreed, and I asked her to speak with the OneWorld desk about the issue (thanks to the above comment by @Pilot37). She put me on a brief hold, then said she could now see the space. Here's where it gets interesting: she saw not only the flight that I wanted, which was the sole nonstop displayed as available on AA.com, but also another earlier nonstop on the same date which was NOT displayed as available on AA.com. Could this mean that it may be best to call BA even if AA.com isn't showing any availability?
After making the booking, the agent attempted to charge me the phone booking fee, which she promptly waived after I objected that the only reason I called is because the technical issue with BA's site made it impossible for me to book online. After all was said and done, I thanked her, complimented her on her knowledge and willingness to work around the issue, and asked her if she could tell me anything that could help me guide a lesser informed phone rep to the techniques that she employed. She only said that she had to change her screen view from "redemption" to "available." She was not keen to elaborate beyond that, but did state that it did not require supervisory authority to do this when I asked. I'm thinking this explains how she came back with another flight which was not available on AA.com. The other flight was available for sale, but not for redemption, and had we tried to "manually" book the award on that flight as opposed to the one showing as available on AA.com, I doubt it would have worked out.
May 1, 2018, 12:26 pm
#52
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: North of 90° S
Programs: B6 Mosaic, WN A-List
Posts: 565
I found a work around, sort of. If you confirm that there is AA award space yet BA says no flights, you can try this:
- Pull up your desired date and route on BA.
- Click on an alternate date and before it fully loads, click on your desired date.
May 6, 2018, 3:51 pm
#55
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510
I think this is a known issues. There are numerous threads on this issue so a little bit of scrolling through the pages on here will find a similar question and answers.
I suppose this is a downside to the popularity of the BA board that threads often disappear from the first page fairly quickly.
I suppose this is a downside to the popularity of the BA board that threads often disappear from the first page fairly quickly.
Last edited by madfish; May 6, 2018 at 3:56 pm
May 6, 2018, 4:49 pm
#56
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: Aeroplan, Amex AeroPlat
Posts: 977
Avios availability for short haul on AA non-existent??
Trying to grab a couple of seats (economy or business) on JFK-YYZ in mid April 2019, nope nothing. In fact BA says no partner files that route (...?).
May 6, 2018, 5:05 pm
#57
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL / GfL
Posts: 3,257
Pilot37
May 6, 2018, 5:19 pm
#58
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: Aeroplan, Amex AeroPlat
Posts: 977
May 6, 2018, 9:15 pm
#59
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 132
Aug 21, 2018, 6:34 pm
#60
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, AA Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,163
This issue has returned. After booking AA flights a couple of weeks ago on ba.com it is now showing zero availability in Y when AA is showing sAAver flights available. Business is showing up but not for all the options displayed on AA.com.
Really frustrating that this is so unreliable.
Really frustrating that this is so unreliable.