Finnair/AY award/redemption booking/ticket thread
Nov 23, 2018, 8:07 pm
#16
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
If AY has such a thing going on too and at this point, it may be worthwhile to try to put in a partner airline FFP number to see what happens.
Nov 23, 2018, 8:10 pm
#17
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Posts: 102,095
I can replicate this on CPH-HEL, so it is not only domestic flights. There is a difference in what flights are available for a Plat and a basic.
However, for those flights that are available to both, the same number of seats (8!) are open to both a basic and a plat. This is me after only one try, but that strike me as odd. It seems they are not controlling number of seats per tier but only a binary choice if a flight is redeemable or not.
However, for those flights that are available to both, the same number of seats (8!) are open to both a basic and a plat. This is me after only one try, but that strike me as odd. It seems they are not controlling number of seats per tier but only a binary choice if a flight is redeemable or not.
Nov 24, 2018, 12:59 am
#18
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,163
I guess there are many ways to do it (still, if they actually are doing it or if it is just anomalies). I thought they would create a special fare bucket and then use the normal tools to assign some availability to it. Instead I found avilability to be binary and that was what I thought to be odd. Releasing 0 or 8+ seats on a flight is a pretty blunt tool.
Anyway, anyone with OW partner elite cards can try out the availability for the screendumps (the sample dates in my and HJP's screenshot are 2019-02-09--2019-02-15)
Anyway, anyone with OW partner elite cards can try out the availability for the screendumps (the sample dates in my and HJP's screenshot are 2019-02-09--2019-02-15)
Nov 24, 2018, 2:23 am
#19
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Finland
Programs: BA gold, OWE
Posts: 373
Nov 24, 2018, 3:31 am
#20
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,163
Meaning this is not preferntial tereatment to elites, this is designed to limit availabilty to AY gold, silver and basic.
Last edited by intuition; Nov 24, 2018 at 6:44 am Reason: didn't read that screenshot right - at all!
Nov 24, 2018, 4:33 am
#21
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
This is what I see when I'm logged into AA (as a Platinum, or OWS, member):
This is what I see when logged in as AY Platinum
Nov 24, 2018, 6:43 am
#22
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,163
(where is the shameful smiley when you need one?!!)
Nov 24, 2018, 10:16 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
It looks like the same phenomenon holds true for business class. For example, if I do a one-way search for HEL-HKG on 31/01/2019:
The same thing on 26/01/2019:
Nov 24, 2018, 11:16 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,732
I have very limited experience but when I wanted to redeem AA miles as AA basic, I found practically no availability HEL-JFK on AY, however as AY Plat, availability was wide open. This was last spring.
Nov 26, 2018, 5:25 am
#25
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Helsinki
Programs: AY+ Plat basic
Posts: 430
How would you guys feel about HEL-AGP (Malaga)-HEL award flights' value in J during the holiday seasons with A330? One could probably not expect the level of service some have received recently in DXB flights but the flight is relatively long and the proper J seat would definitely give some added value for this. In DXB flights they have served the LH wines. Could that be expected for these AGP flights as well?
Nov 26, 2018, 6:43 am
#26
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,732
My guess is that AGP will be normal EU service, just like on A350 to LHR. Y style pillow and blanket, Y headphones, Euro-J meals. Still worth 10k points as it's a long flight.
Jan 6, 2019, 12:35 pm
#27
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Helsinki
Programs: AY Platinum, IHG Gold, Diners
Posts: 1,275
I've started to look for my probably first ever AY redemption. We're planning with the family a holiday to MIA in Dec 2019 (early, returning before christmas but departing around Finnish independence day). How early does AY release award space? And how likely is it that they would release 3-4 business seats on the direct flight to me as Platinum (will be also that in Dec 2019)? I'm considering to use hard cash, maybe ex-ARN, for my own ticket but would like to minimize the cost for family.
Jan 6, 2019, 12:40 pm
#28
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Helsinki
Programs: AY+ Plat basic
Posts: 430
Would it not be better to buy your own good value ARN ticket in J and then get family in Y and ug them with 50k both ways each? The LH taxes for award flights are almost the same as the Y ticket?
Sorry if this is bad logic. I'm very new to this, but facing a similar situation.
Sorry if this is bad logic. I'm very new to this, but facing a similar situation.
Jan 6, 2019, 12:44 pm
#29
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,732
My suggestion would be to call them as early as possible, when the cabin is still empty. It's unlikely they would release 4 seats in U so you'd neet o waitlist anyway.
Might be a bit complicated to combine family's award tickets and your own cash ticket – perhaps easier in this case to just book everyone on awards and make a separate DEL run or whatever if you need the points. Or ask them about the possibility to book J for yourself and Y for family, then use points to upgrade (50k both ways). The cost between Y and X isn't that big (due to YQ), and this way your family will also get some points.
Might be a bit complicated to combine family's award tickets and your own cash ticket – perhaps easier in this case to just book everyone on awards and make a separate DEL run or whatever if you need the points. Or ask them about the possibility to book J for yourself and Y for family, then use points to upgrade (50k both ways). The cost between Y and X isn't that big (due to YQ), and this way your family will also get some points.
Jan 6, 2019, 12:47 pm
#30
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Helsinki
Programs: AY Platinum, IHG Gold, Diners
Posts: 1,275
Would it not be better to buy your own good value ARN ticket in J and then get family in Y and ug them with 50k both ways each? The LH taxes for award flights are almost the same as the Y ticket?
Sorry if this is bad logic. I'm very new to this, but facing a similar situation.
Sorry if this is bad logic. I'm very new to this, but facing a similar situation.
But can I be certain that there will be 3 upgrades available both ways?
I should have mentioned, that I sent a mail to platinum desk to ask whether they think it's likely that the award space will open up and also asking whether they have any recommendations/experiences. Testing a bit what they can be used for... Not holding my breath.
