I'm CO Gold, and want to get 3 reward tix from Newark to LAX in early April. CO tells me they haven't released reward seats that far in advance. Now 2 days later, I call and they say there are none left (Sat to Sat).

Is there some trick to getting reward seats? I thought by doing this4 months in advance, I would be safe. I can't figure out the "system" to get these free seats.

Any advice? PLEASE!!!

Wow, you want 3 tickets, all on the same plane!!! We don't call it NonePass for nuthin"

What are are dates of travel? Do you absolutely need a direct flight?

If not, then call CO and ask if there is availability on Alaska. I wanted to take my family (four people) to Seattle in early April. No availability on CO (big surprise). However, I was able to get four seats for EWR-SEA on Alaska, on standard reward levels, no problem.

You would be connecting in Seattle, but you'll get there without too much difficulty.

http://usr.v7.com/wpaa/ to find Continental reward flts.

... and a FF ticket is never 'free' IMHO...

Aloha

Partners are NW, DL, and AS. If you don't ask CO to check the partners, they will not check them. There are seats out there on NW, but you need to ask for them.

There are also seats on CO EWR-IAH/CLE-LAX (you'll need to ask for connections), or EWR-SNA (you'll need to ask for SNA).

Great advice - never knew you had to ask about the partners. Unfortunately, lots of connections (I'm traveling with 2 little ones).

I'm hoping to travel 4/3-4/10 which I just found out is Easter ion the return.

Any other advice?

Yup. CO has to pay cash out to the partners for reward tickets, so don't expect them to volunteer partner award seats.

Seats might open up 21 days before departure, but otherwise if you want the direct flights, you're SOL. You're also asking for reward seats on a holiday weekend.

Do you have to travel on 4/3 and 4/10? And do you have to travel to LAX? If you're flexible, there are at least three standard reward seats available on the direct EWR-SNA (Orange County) flights leaving 4/2 and coming back 4/12. Seats are available on EWR-SNA CO286 (leaving 8:50a) and CO387 (leaving 12:05p). On the return seats are available on CO306 (leaving 3:45p) and 1686 (leaving at 9:15p). (I'm seeing this on CO.COM logged in as elite.)

Is this your first time traveling with the little ones? Will you be by yourself? You might want to consider the connecting flights if the above EWR-SNA flights won't work for you. After about three hours or so, you might need a break, and the kids will get a chance to run around a bit. Take this from the proud father of a 4 1/2 and 1 1/2 year old, who have 30+ flights between them.

Playing around with a few more dates, and there are three standard reward seats for EWR-LAX (one-way) leaving on 4/5. CO1002 leaving at 7:15a, and CO1502 leaving on 5:40p.

There is currently nothing available for the return for the entire seven day period of 4/8 - 4/15.

What you could do is fly to LAX on 4/5 and come back from SNA on 4/12 if you can only stay the seven days.

I have redeeming a few times on Delta JFK - LAX on their BusinessElite. It's 40,000 miles per ticket but it's easier than CO's F. The seat is also more comfortable.

BE on a 767-300ER? That's a 2-2-2 configuration, talk about a tight squeeze on a 767.

[This message has been edited by cab747 (edited Dec 08, 2003).]

It has been my experience that redeeming miles for frequent flyer travel is like playing a game. Being an airline employee and formally working in a frequent flyer desk in past; I have a sense that most airlines operate the same way. Keep in mind I have never worked for CO or I do not represent or speak for CO's behalf. But I am a onepass member with CO with a lot of miles sitting of the account from accumulating miles from the long distance service.

Basically, an airline's yield managment will allot on average 8-12% of totally seating capacity on an aircraft on each flight (this is just a guess but most flights that I have seen have this many award seats available). Keep in mind the average is also determine the aircraft used and how popular the market is (i.e. an airline will allot more award seats on a 777 aircraft, and maybe less than avergage on a ERJ aircraft since ERJ has less seats. Also, an airline will allot more or less seats than average during certain times and demand/popularity of flights depending of the market being served. For example, an airline will offer minium award seats for New Orleans during Marki Gra season. They know they can sell all or most seats so they do not feel the need to open up freebie seats. You will also find award seats difficult to get especially in warm climate states especially in Florida markets, Carribean, and Mexican beach cities during the spring break season. Yet you will find plenty of award availability for flights to i.e. Wichita--the airlines know places like Wichita is not a place people want spend spring break. The buttom line is that you pretty much have to be flexible with your dates, time of departures, and routing. If you wanting to use your miles for a flight from EWR-LAX. If the nonstops are not available for awards, then ask about connecting flight connecting via CLE or IAH. If no luck, then ask about using one of their partners. The last option I would recommend if all else fails is ask the agent if they could try to request to have a seat(s) "cleared". Basically, they will put your specific flight on a "pending" status and send a message via computer to their yield management office. The yield analysis will determine if they could open another award seat.They determine this by forecasting and looking at how well the seats sold in past couple of years for the time frame and market being considered. If you have Platinium or Gold elite status they put that under consideration. But that does not always hold weight with the yield dept. Now as stated earlier, I do not work for CO, they may not do this for you but it never hurts to ask. This may take a couple of days to get done. Now keep in mind if your trying to get a award seat during peak travel times such as a Fri, Sun or holiday travel time (because they know they can easily sell the seats)--do not count of getting the seat open for you. Keep checking because many airlines allow people to "hold" their reservation without ticketing for a certain amount of time. I would recommend calling every few days just to check. You will be surprised that seats do actually open as your departure dates become closer. If they do not ticket their "hold" reservations but the expiration date. Then the award seat may go back to their "award" allotment of seats. Also, as stated earlier certain markets are more tough to get. Most airlines will allow you to use miles when their regular award booking class (for 25k on an average domestic flight) is sold, but it cost you double miles (50k) miles.

Thanks, Jeffeywol for the insight.

I think people's biggest beef with CO, though, is the complete randomness at which reward seats are released. If people knew at 330 days before, 180 days, 90 days, or whatever the incremement, they will release seats, people could plan, and CO would significantly improve its reputation in this regard. Right now it's random and sporadic. We have people 330 days out who can't get a flight to LAX, while 2 weeks prior to Thanksgiving, there are standard awards to Paris in BusinessFirst on peak days.

OK, I just posted the last long message. I want to make one more consideration, but it is just as important. Then I will get off my soapbox. I mentioned from previous post about being flexible with dates, departure times, and routings. In addtion to all that, being flexible with your destination cities. I believe the orginal person who started this topic inquired traveling from EWR-LAX. I would advice for anyone who travels on award tickets be fleixble with destination cites. Can a passenger fly to nearby SNA, ONT, BUR instead of LAX. There are many sister cities one should consider if they can't get into their prefably cities. SJC,OAK instead of SFO. LGA, JFK, PHL instead of PHL. IAD, BWI, instead of DCA. MDW or ORD, FLL, MIA, or PBI for south Florida. BOS or PVD. Etc, etc. The buttom line if flexibility in every aspect.

Bet I could find a seat on AA nonstop EWR-LAX no problem.

EDIT: Just went to AA website. aa.com. Plugged in a departure date of 4/3, return 4/9. There is availability in both F and Y on 2 nonstops each day, not to mention the numerous connections.

Why people continue to put up with this nonsense at CO is beyond me.

Good Luck.


[This message has been edited by freeupgrade (edited Dec 09, 2003).]