Award search broken on CX website?
 

Anyone else noticed very inconsistent results using the "Flexible Dates" option to search for awards? I started using it recently, and noticed two weird quirks:

1) Many partner awards went from being "Waitlisted" to "Available"! I tried booking one, but didn't have enough miles to confirm. Is this some sort of weird loophole to jump the waitlist?
2) On the other hand, many available partner awards go missing :( This really sucks, because I'd love to use "Flexible Dates" in place of the normal search.

Here's a specific example of what I'm talking about (even tho I've noticed it on many routes and dates). SFO-HKG for 1 pax in economy, 05-08-2019 - 05-15-2019, I put the results in a spreadsheet and took a screenshot:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...bd1d50ceeb.png

The CX Award search is barely functional. When I call MPC I get a complete different set of availability.

Ha, that's rich... when you called them, was it better or worse availability?

I'm probably expecting too much of the CX search, given all the past complaints about their IT department. Digging a bit deeper, I'm also baffled by the Choice and Tailored awards... used to, the higher priority tiers implied better award availability, but now I'm struggling to find a single route where the Choice / Tailored awards offer anything over Standard. It's the exact same award seats, you just pay way more miles (in exchange for being able to book 360 days out, instead of 353). For awards <353 days out, I can't figure out what advantage you get by paying the extra miles... it's almost like an IQ test, to see if you're really paying attention.

Whenever STANDARD is available, then CHOICE is also available. Of course, it would be a stupid selection. But there are many times when CHOICE is available, but STANDARD is not. I have been heavily monitoring flights over the next 10 weeks for several trips, and there are definitely MANY days where CHOICE is available, and STANDARD is not. For example, I looked at CX873 departing the week of Nov 12. On each day you can book a CHOICE (J) seat, but would be waitlisted for a STANDARD seat. If you jump to the following week, and look on Monday 11/19, you can see that a STANDARD (J) seat is available on CX873. Of course, the CHOICE seat is also available, and THAT would be the IQ test you mention. :-) (And all of this could change by the time you read this, but I'm sure you get my meaning.)

I'm not sure I'm following the meaning of "REGULAR". Do you mean "FIXED DATE"? If you are searching were there are multiple days within +/-3 that have availability, then it will display those options. But if nothing is available within that window, it forces you into FIXED DATE, where you must check day by day.

It really is a horrible, cumbersome system.

Better. The MPC are able to unlock seats that the online system cannot see.

Ok, I see it now... I was also looking at SFO-HKG, but around 330-360 days out, there it seems to be no difference between Standard / Choice. I looked at Nov 14, and see the waitlisted Standard Awards, with Choice available.

I'll have to remember this trick the next time, though I do wish CX would just fix their system. Seems with the new website this year, there's more and more things that require calling them to get an answer, I wish they'd go the opposite direction.

On the other hand, it also means there is less competition for the same award seat, no? :D Not everyone know (or willing) to call AM/MPC especially considering the wait time (for non DM). I mean what do you think will happen once CX award seats are searchable on AA website? ;)

I wonder how long before someone figures it out, and sets up an automated call farm to keep calling MPC and reap all those hidden awards ;)

That's because you're DM. You get more seats than the rest of us.

Sydney and Melbourne wiped out as valid destinations today.

Why, are there error fares so CX had to deploy the UA Great Dane fix (delete Denmark from the website)?

P.S. desktop only. Mobile OK.

Sydney and Melbourne restored to desktop as part of this week's changes.

Spoke too soon. HKG-SYD is fixed. SYD-HKG is still broken.

It is not so much the award search is broken but the entire award system that is broken

cheeky but true :D

great to see you back kaka!