AI awards drying up?
Dec 20, 2016 | 10:56 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: India
Programs: SkyTeam Elite Plus, Accor Gold
Posts: 953
Or maybe they are snapped up early...their US flights always seem to have a pretty good load factor...BOM-EWR is nearly always full...it seems that they have to block off some seats ex-BOM and they almost always have to offload some cargo from that flight.
Dec 20, 2016 | 9:19 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,820
Prices are higher and award availability lower since they joined Star Alliance. Used to be AI had the lowest prices in J for USA-India; now CX and (sometimes) EY beat their prices regularly. Awards must be booked ~310 days in advance when bookings open.
Dec 21, 2016 | 1:32 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: DL Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, ALL Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 30,706
i remember booking 7 seats in first & business (2 in first & 5 in business) on a single del-jfk flight....now i can't even find 2 seats in either first or business....
Dec 21, 2016 | 2:35 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: DownUnder
Programs: SQ Gold, QR Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 137
I had a similar experience, but was able to pick up few seats from any AI served city (except BOM/DEL) by shelling out additional 5000 miles for the domestic connection.
That said, the direct flights seem to be sold out, but adding a connection works out.
That said, the direct flights seem to be sold out, but adding a connection works out.