No standard rewards for Asian First Class
Dec 23, 2010, 7:25 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New York
Programs: United, Delta
Posts: 8
No standard rewards for Asian First Class
Longtime CO Platinum Elite, Million Miler here, trying to use miles for EWR-China (Beijing,Shanghai,Hong Kong). In March or April 2011 - i.e. several months forward - most of the First Class cabins on these routes are empty or nearly so. So many unsold seats.
Yet despite that, and my Elite status which supposedly allows better reward access, there is zero availability of reward First Class seats for Standard Miles - only the more expensive mileage level.
To me, this is an affront to the loyal customer, and I hope Continental (United) takes a different approach to mileage allocation of reward seats going forward.
Any others have experience that helped in such situations?
Alternatives like taking a direct rather than nonstop and adding--say--8 hours to a trip--to me are the opposite of Platinum Elite upgrading!
Yet despite that, and my Elite status which supposedly allows better reward access, there is zero availability of reward First Class seats for Standard Miles - only the more expensive mileage level.
To me, this is an affront to the loyal customer, and I hope Continental (United) takes a different approach to mileage allocation of reward seats going forward.
Any others have experience that helped in such situations?
Alternatives like taking a direct rather than nonstop and adding--say--8 hours to a trip--to me are the opposite of Platinum Elite upgrading!
Dec 23, 2010, 7:34 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: CLE
Posts: 9,816
Longtime CO Platinum Elite, Million Miler here, trying to use miles for EWR-China (Beijing,Shanghai,Hong Kong). In March or April 2011 - i.e. several months forward - most of the First Class cabins on these routes are empty or nearly so. So many unsold seats.
Yet despite that, and my Elite status which supposedly allows better reward access, there is zero availability of reward First Class seats for Standard Miles - only the more expensive mileage level.
To me, this is an affront to the loyal customer, and I hope Continental (United) takes a different approach to mileage allocation of reward seats going forward.
Any others have experience that helped in such situations?
Alternatives like taking a direct rather than nonstop and adding--say--8 hours to a trip--to me are the opposite of Platinum Elite upgrading!
Yet despite that, and my Elite status which supposedly allows better reward access, there is zero availability of reward First Class seats for Standard Miles - only the more expensive mileage level.
To me, this is an affront to the loyal customer, and I hope Continental (United) takes a different approach to mileage allocation of reward seats going forward.
Any others have experience that helped in such situations?
Alternatives like taking a direct rather than nonstop and adding--say--8 hours to a trip--to me are the opposite of Platinum Elite upgrading!
Dec 23, 2010, 7:44 am
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Welcome to FlyerTalk!
I'm actually guessing that the OP is looking at co.com and looking for BF seats, not F, and seeing limited inventory. I do not generally see CO seats on those dates but there is AC inventory scattered around and they run a pretty solid product. It is always possible to book the available AC flight and then waitlist for the non-stop CO flights and hope that it clears.
Also, 3-4 months out isn't really all that far in advance for award seats.
I'm actually guessing that the OP is looking at co.com and looking for BF seats, not F, and seeing limited inventory. I do not generally see CO seats on those dates but there is AC inventory scattered around and they run a pretty solid product. It is always possible to book the available AC flight and then waitlist for the non-stop CO flights and hope that it clears.
Also, 3-4 months out isn't really all that far in advance for award seats.
Dec 23, 2010, 8:27 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Dec 23, 2010, 8:54 am
#5
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I do see a lot of standard economy seats to all 3 cities. The original poster can "Plan B" it -- redeem a BusinessFirst award but only confirm economy, and then waitlist for BusinessFirst. CO will release the BF seats for awards when and if bookings are trailing their forecasts/expectations, and you'd be "first" in line to get them. Sometimes they clear relatively quickly (sometimes they don't). I think revenue management may consider who is on the waitlist when deciding to release award inventory (though I could be wrong, I know CX definitely does this for their top tier elites).
In some ways this strategy of CO's to be cautious on publicly releasing BF inventory in advance is preferential for CO OnePass members who are able to waitlist for the space. If it was just available for anyone, you could see the awards being snapped up more quickly by Star alliance partner members.
But if you do find business class award availability on another partner with a connection, you're probably better off booking that and then waitlisting for the nonstop CO flight (like was suggested), because at least that way you're assured a business class seat.
Dec 23, 2010, 8:58 am
#6
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Try OZ/NH - better experience than any of the US carriers. Easy/nice connecting airports too.
Dec 23, 2010, 9:05 am
#7
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But it is pretty far out to expect many paid BusinessFirst seats to be sold.
I do see a lot of standard economy seats to all 3 cities. The original poster can "Plan B" it -- redeem a BusinessFirst award but only confirm economy, and then waitlist for BusinessFirst. CO will release the BF seats for awards when and if bookings are trailing their forecasts/expectations, and you'd be "first" in line to get them.
I do see a lot of standard economy seats to all 3 cities. The original poster can "Plan B" it -- redeem a BusinessFirst award but only confirm economy, and then waitlist for BusinessFirst. CO will release the BF seats for awards when and if bookings are trailing their forecasts/expectations, and you'd be "first" in line to get them.
Dec 23, 2010, 10:12 am
#9
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Dec 23, 2010, 10:35 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 252
AC should have a lot of available saver award seats in ExecutiveFirst from US to China connecting through YYZ or YVR. YYZ has better availability than YVR. Unless you really want the non-stop or BusinessFirst on CO.
Dec 23, 2010, 11:12 am
#11
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I'd take the AC flights...
Dec 23, 2010, 11:36 am
#12
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Dec 23, 2010, 3:29 pm
#13
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So what I really was asking was whether there were flat beds in J on OZ or NH. It would certainly be an important factor in whether those two airlines "provided a better experience than the US carriers."