Phantom award availability
Nov 11, 2023 | 2:12 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,112
Phantom award availability
Not sure if anyone has noticed a bunch of phantom award availability recently. IB.com shows award space for LAX/ORD/DFW-MAD in all three classes right at the end of the booking window, i.e., late October and early November 2024. However, when you click through to book, you get an error message saying "unable to create PNR," and phone agents can't see the space either. The website has been showing the (seemingly false) space for at least a couple of days now.
Nov 11, 2023 | 8:09 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Madrid
Programs: IB Platino / OWE. Mucci (de Barajas)
Posts: 3,236
Perhaps related? https://www.vadeaviones.com/2023/11/...lo/actualidad/
Nov 11, 2023 | 6:42 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,112
Ah, yeah, could certainly be. I saw a similar post on Aeroroutes a few days ago but didn't connect the dots.
But I can still book certain awards in the winter 2024/2025 season, e.g., JFK-MAD. Or at least I can get all the way to the payment screen without encountering the same "unable to create PNR" error I did when trying to book LAX/ORD/DFW-MAD for similar dates.
Maybe it'll take some time for everything to be cleaned up and properly loaded for booking.
But I can still book certain awards in the winter 2024/2025 season, e.g., JFK-MAD. Or at least I can get all the way to the payment screen without encountering the same "unable to create PNR" error I did when trying to book LAX/ORD/DFW-MAD for similar dates.
Maybe it'll take some time for everything to be cleaned up and properly loaded for booking.
Nov 12, 2023 | 12:45 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: IB+ Gold, TK E+, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTP, IHG Diamond
Posts: 14,200
ORD is a daily flight. I would have thought that would be fine.
DFW and LAX aren't daily flights IIRC. Therefore they would have to wait until confirmation of the winter 2024/2025 schedule.
DFW and LAX aren't daily flights IIRC. Therefore they would have to wait until confirmation of the winter 2024/2025 schedule.
Nov 16, 2023 | 2:16 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2023
Posts: 3
Im finding that for MAD-ORD and a lot of transatlantic routes, the cutoff for booking is 26 Oct 2024, after which the flight numbers switch formats from four to three digits, and the unable to create PNR message is generated prior to payment.
I was able to snag ORD-MAD in business on 24 Oct 2024 just before the change, but now Im stuck in limbo waiting for the return flight to become available. Whats worrying me, though, is that business availability seems to be drying up in early November, even though I, everyone here, and even Iberia agents seem unable to book the route. Is there some way to book these tickets that were missing, perhaps?
I was able to snag ORD-MAD in business on 24 Oct 2024 just before the change, but now Im stuck in limbo waiting for the return flight to become available. Whats worrying me, though, is that business availability seems to be drying up in early November, even though I, everyone here, and even Iberia agents seem unable to book the route. Is there some way to book these tickets that were missing, perhaps?
Nov 16, 2023 | 9:38 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,112
I’m finding that for MAD-ORD and a lot of transatlantic routes, the cutoff for booking is 26 Oct 2024, after which the flight numbers switch formats from four to three digits, and the “unable to create PNR” message is generated prior to payment.
I was able to snag ORD-MAD in business on 24 Oct 2024 just before the change, but now I’m stuck in limbo waiting for the return flight to become available. What’s worrying me, though, is that business availability seems to be drying up in early November, even though I, everyone here, and even Iberia agents seem unable to book the route. Is there some way to book these tickets that we’re missing, perhaps?
I was able to snag ORD-MAD in business on 24 Oct 2024 just before the change, but now I’m stuck in limbo waiting for the return flight to become available. What’s worrying me, though, is that business availability seems to be drying up in early November, even though I, everyone here, and even Iberia agents seem unable to book the route. Is there some way to book these tickets that we’re missing, perhaps?
Nov 17, 2023 | 3:47 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2023
Posts: 3
I have the same exact observations. On the route/flight I'm watching, J availability has gone from 2 seats available to 1 seat available. Maybe a revenue booking (especially a large party) causes award availability to increment down? That said, it seems somewhat unlikely that we'd have such a large and/or early revenue booking, especially during off-peak dates for TATL travel.
Nov 18, 2023 | 10:22 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,112
Same here, my dates went from 1 to 2 seats available. On the other hand, the website has totally crapped out and won't let me search for award availability--it keeps directing me to the login screen even when I'm already logged in. I've tried clearing cookies and all that. At least I can still search on the app.
Nov 20, 2023 | 11:43 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci, BA, AF
Posts: 10,550
First time I hear about flight number going to 3 digits - and indeed seems to be the case across the board from W24, including shorthaul. Interesting... I've always thought that IB was a little odd in its flight numbering system, although it does have a logic to it, but never expected it to change! Anyone know what may have prompted this?
Nov 23, 2023 | 3:42 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,112
I don't think it's related. The affected period with phantom availability is late October 2024, after the IATA winter 2024/2025 season begins on the 26th. Unless others have data points of similar issues prior to that date.
Nov 27, 2023 | 7:10 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1
I've been running into same issue trying to book East Coast to MAD for mid November... How did the conversation with customer service go? I'm debating whether worth calling in or not.
Somewhat strangely I've been able to get certain Y awards after October 26th to get past the "Unable to Create PNR" screen but nothing in J...
Somewhat strangely I've been able to get certain Y awards after October 26th to get past the "Unable to Create PNR" screen but nothing in J...
Dec 13, 2023 | 2:01 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2023
Posts: 3
Iberia is still useless. However, BA has released a ton of award availability.
BA previously werent showing Iberia availability after 26 Oct 2024. Ive been checking them fairly frequently the past month, and this is the first time Ive seen the MAD-USA direct flights populate on BAs site.
A couple of my desired dates were taken already, but there still is a decent pool of availability, so transfer those Avios to BA and get to bookin!
