Award Travel - Seats Not Available
Apr 26, 1999, 4:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 483
Award Travel - Seats Not Available
Dear British Airways Frequent Flyers,
I'm trying to make a booking for travel on 11th, june 99 and I'm not getting any seats. The award travel specialist says that there is no way to pay more money or use more miles to bump my class of service. I guess they allocate only a few seats for award travel in each flight.
I desperately want to travel on June 11th.
Any suggestions how to get a seat on my preferred date of travel.
thanks
venkat
I'm trying to make a booking for travel on 11th, june 99 and I'm not getting any seats. The award travel specialist says that there is no way to pay more money or use more miles to bump my class of service. I guess they allocate only a few seats for award travel in each flight.
I desperately want to travel on June 11th.
Any suggestions how to get a seat on my preferred date of travel.
thanks
venkat
Apr 26, 1999, 5:23 pm
#2
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Location: Seattle
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Posts: 10,690
I think this late in the game you just might have to be a little flexible. I'm flying British May 21 (LHR/SEA) and I know for sure that the entire plane is oversold in business and coach--you couldn't get any ticket whatsoever unless you wanted to pay Cash Money for First Class.
My daughter, on the other hand just picked up a business class award ticket from LHR/SEA for June 1, 1999. As I understand it she had to move her travel dates around a bit.
If there were award space available on June 11th in Bus or 1st, I am sure they would let you have if you were willing to part with the additional miles. I think in many cases the award seats are fully booked months in advance--especially in the summer.
My daughter, on the other hand just picked up a business class award ticket from LHR/SEA for June 1, 1999. As I understand it she had to move her travel dates around a bit.
If there were award space available on June 11th in Bus or 1st, I am sure they would let you have if you were willing to part with the additional miles. I think in many cases the award seats are fully booked months in advance--especially in the summer.
Apr 27, 1999, 10:29 am
#4
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Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
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Posts: 483
Hi Nick:
I want to fly british airways from San Francisco to Madras via London on June 11th. The first available date is june 23rd. The problem sector is London to Madras. I have enough miles for the roundtrip travel.
British Airways do't have waitlisting for award travel. Any suggestions?
thanks
venkat
I want to fly british airways from San Francisco to Madras via London on June 11th. The first available date is june 23rd. The problem sector is London to Madras. I have enough miles for the roundtrip travel.
British Airways do't have waitlisting for award travel. Any suggestions?
thanks
venkat
Apr 27, 1999, 11:08 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 1999
Posts: 3,065
London - Chennai with BA is a difficult route, there are only two flights a week.
You could consider the following options:
1. Assuming you are a US Exec Club Member: Use miles to upgrade the London - Madras sector (maybe only necessary one way?).
2. Fly London - Bombay with BA and pay for a domestic Bombay - Madras with Jet Airways.
3. Try and get a routing with Emirates via Dubai, using BA Exec Club Miles.
4. Try a routing via Helsinki with Finnair, using BA Exec Club Miles.
Nick
You could consider the following options:
1. Assuming you are a US Exec Club Member: Use miles to upgrade the London - Madras sector (maybe only necessary one way?).
2. Fly London - Bombay with BA and pay for a domestic Bombay - Madras with Jet Airways.
3. Try and get a routing with Emirates via Dubai, using BA Exec Club Miles.
4. Try a routing via Helsinki with Finnair, using BA Exec Club Miles.
Nick
Apr 27, 1999, 4:43 pm
#6
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Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 483
Hi Nick,
First, thankyou for the suggestions. I already tried the business class option and flying to Mumbai and delhi. They all are not available.
Then as you suggested, I called BA executive club reservations of flying finair from SFO to London and Emirates from London to mumbai or delhi. The agent says I can only fly BA for award travel. I'm a member of US BA executive club. Have you used finair / emirates before for a BA award travel.
Please help
thanks
venkat
First, thankyou for the suggestions. I already tried the business class option and flying to Mumbai and delhi. They all are not available.
Then as you suggested, I called BA executive club reservations of flying finair from SFO to London and Emirates from London to mumbai or delhi. The agent says I can only fly BA for award travel. I'm a member of US BA executive club. Have you used finair / emirates before for a BA award travel.
Please help
thanks
venkat
Apr 28, 1999, 1:36 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 1999
Posts: 3,065
Venkat: Call again and hopefully you will get the right answer!
If they say you have to fly BA, just ask them if the have ever heard of the OneWorld alliance!!!!
Ask for a supervisor. Get them to check the rules Finnair and Emirates are availabe for reward travel.
Nick
PS: Apparently space is very scarce because of celebrations for the 300th anniversary of Sikhism.
[This message has been edited by Merry (edited 04-28-99).]
If they say you have to fly BA, just ask them if the have ever heard of the OneWorld alliance!!!!
Ask for a supervisor. Get them to check the rules Finnair and Emirates are availabe for reward travel.
Nick
PS: Apparently space is very scarce because of celebrations for the 300th anniversary of Sikhism.
[This message has been edited by Merry (edited 04-28-99).]
Apr 30, 1999, 3:28 pm
#8
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My experience is that award seats are booked long time in advance (I booked award seats around the millenium a month ago!) however I would be great if BA would allocate a fwe more award travel seats on their planes, especially busy legs.
Apr 30, 1999, 3:46 pm
#9
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Posts: n/a
I recently (Mar/Apr) flew to India on BA on very short notice, made the reservation within a week of the flight and paid the express delivery charge. Plenty of empty seats on the Denver<->London legs which were on a 747 (heard that it is a 777 now, which has less passenger capacity), full flights London<->Delhi.
Apr 30, 1999, 4:38 pm
#10
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Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 483
Hi Nick:
I called BA again to check if they allow award travel on Finnair and Emirates Air. They don't seem to allow. They would allow travel on Finair only if I want to fly to Helnsinki and not to london!! Emirates is not a partner at all it seems.
Do you know anyone who used finnair for award travel to london?
thanks
venkat
I called BA again to check if they allow award travel on Finnair and Emirates Air. They don't seem to allow. They would allow travel on Finair only if I want to fly to Helnsinki and not to london!! Emirates is not a partner at all it seems.
Do you know anyone who used finnair for award travel to london?
thanks
venkat
May 1, 1999, 7:49 am
#12
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Venkat - try getting on either Canadian Airlines to Bangkok or Cathay Pacific . Then get a return flight from Bangkok to Chennai as the fares are cheap there.
Good luck!
Otherwise - it might be cheaper to just buy the ticket there. Fly via the Pacific on Singapore Airlines - they usually have good deals!
Good luck!
Otherwise - it might be cheaper to just buy the ticket there. Fly via the Pacific on Singapore Airlines - they usually have good deals!