I'm trying to book a multi stop ticket for March 2013, up until yesterday I could book the exact itinerary I wanted and play about with the dates, now I'm ready to book for real and I keep getting an error message: Sorry, seat availability has changed. Please restart the booking process using the Search by Schedule option.

Anyone any ideas???

THanks

Jo

I had the same problem with a 4-sector booking which initially showed availability in J, then offered only Y in one of the long sectors when I went back to book it - then opened up in J 2 weeks later. When I went through Customer Services in the UK, they wanted an extra GBP 500 to change that sector to J despite that fact that I went back to the website which gave me a price for J in all sectors that was lower then the original J-Y-J-J reservation. Then they wanted to charge me to cancel the initial ticket when I cancelled it and booked the cheaper option. Needless to say a complaint e-mail followed (still waiting for a response) and they backed down on the cancellation charge but I get the distinct feeling that there are more than a few bugs in the system at the moment...but that said, the EK website is waayyyy easier to use than QR or EY.

It started working yesterday and I managed to get a price but now today it's saying the same thing. I also got:

Man - Sin - J
Sin - BNE - J
BNE - AKL - J
AKL- Man - Y

�3500

BUT:

Man - Sin - J
Sin - BNE - J
BNE - AKL - J
AKL- DXB - Y
DXB - Man - Y

�2990

How does that work?? Spending a night in Dubai with a hotel for �50 saves over �500????

Jo

Perhaps the date change takes you away from a date when there are no cheaper fares available.

Jo, perhaps you could do what I did as I had exactly the same problem. Book the itinerary that the system is offering and keep checking back - when it shows the itinerary you want, call Customer Services and see what they will do for you. If the worst comes to the worst and they want to charge a horrendous change fee, book the second ticket, cancel the first and argue the toss about the cancellation fee. They waived mine so would most probably do the same for you. Let us know how you get on!

And another one, sorry....
... If I book

Man - Sin - J
Sin - BNE - J
BNE - AKL - J
AKL- DXB - Y
DXB - Man - Y

�2990 1 Passengers, Multiple class, Skywards Flex / Saver Combo

Will I then be able to upgrade with ���� the AKL - DXB sector because I want to book now but cannot afford to do the whole thing J at the moment, if I booked J all flights it's �4500 each

Also how many miles would I need for AKL - DXB Y - J as I may have enough by then?

THanks

JO[/I]

No, you can't pay to upgrade only AKL-DXB, there is no fare like that.

For the miles, you can check skywards.com miles calculator - it depends on whether you hold a flex or saver ticket. Should be in the region of 55,000 but I don't remember the exact number.

THanks Ung, it looks like I may have enough miles for that then.

Now EK 432 or EK 345 from DXB to Sin? I've tried to look at the difference between a 777 300 ER and a 777 200 LR and I've just baffled myself.

Comments please.

Many thanks

Jo

The 432 is guaranteed to have new J seats. The 354 if operated by the 77L will have the same seats, though I see that it is supposed to be a 77W some days next month, which could potentially mean older J seats (though these are 77W with Suites, and so I don't think there are any a/c left with Suites and old J)

I've had issues like this before. I called the web team, who can see the details of the booking you were trying to make. I think I gave them my departure airport and approximate time I tried to make the booking, and they had the details within seconds. They then process the payment on the phone.