Award seat availability for flight change
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 10
Award seat availability for flight change
Hello, about 6mos ago I booked a nonstop flight from the US to Frankfurt to Lisbon on May 17th using Aeroplan points. I got a decent deal at 70k points in Business + $100 or so.
I'm hoping to change the second leg of my flight to a late departure to spend the day in Frankfurt. Air Canada says Yes there are 2 flights in the evening on Lufthansa and TAP Portugal, but Aeroplan has no award seat availability on those flights and that ticket alone is approaching $500.
When does this type of availability get opened? Any hope if I wait around it may become available?
I'm hoping to change the second leg of my flight to a late departure to spend the day in Frankfurt. Air Canada says Yes there are 2 flights in the evening on Lufthansa and TAP Portugal, but Aeroplan has no award seat availability on those flights and that ticket alone is approaching $500.
When does this type of availability get opened? Any hope if I wait around it may become available?
#2


Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS, BWI, DCA, IAD
Programs: American, Delta, JetBlue, United
Posts: 2,402
Hello, about 6mos ago I booked a nonstop flight from the US to Frankfurt to Lisbon on May 17th using Aeroplan points. I got a decent deal at 70k points in Business + $100 or so.
I'm hoping to change the second leg of my flight to a late departure to spend the day in Frankfurt. Air Canada says Yes there are 2 flights in the evening on Lufthansa and TAP Portugal, but Aeroplan has no award seat availability on those flights and that ticket alone is approaching $500.
When does this type of availability get opened? Any hope if I wait around it may become available?
I'm hoping to change the second leg of my flight to a late departure to spend the day in Frankfurt. Air Canada says Yes there are 2 flights in the evening on Lufthansa and TAP Portugal, but Aeroplan has no award seat availability on those flights and that ticket alone is approaching $500.
When does this type of availability get opened? Any hope if I wait around it may become available?
Good luck with your travels!
Last edited by JPG3392; Apr 27, 2024 at 8:30 am Reason: Corrected typo.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, AS MVP Gold, MR LTT, HH Dia, IHG Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 37,476
Is it a one-way award? Is AC willing to let you re-book the ticket just to FRA? You will save some taxes with that as well. One-way FRA-LIS in coach on TAP should be cheap - with a planned long layover, just book that separate and slum the 2 hours in coach.
Will LH or TP open up I-class later? Maybe, maybe not. I’d not count on that tbh. If you really want that day in FRA I’d book that now.
Will LH or TP open up I-class later? Maybe, maybe not. I’d not count on that tbh. If you really want that day in FRA I’d book that now.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 10
Thanks guys.
It might be worth contacting Lufthansa directly to see if giving up Business for a Coach seat might be an option.
I already asked about canceling the 2nd leg and they said I'd get $50 back but I'd have to pay $100 to cancel so that makes no sense. I'm better off just not going to the 2nd leg. Problem is that the one-way to Lisbon is over $400.
It might be worth contacting Lufthansa directly to see if giving up Business for a Coach seat might be an option.
I already asked about canceling the 2nd leg and they said I'd get $50 back but I'd have to pay $100 to cancel so that makes no sense. I'm better off just not going to the 2nd leg. Problem is that the one-way to Lisbon is over $400.
#7
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
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#8




Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: SEA
Programs: UA 1P 1MM, Marriott Titanium/LT Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist, IHG Platinum
Posts: 723
My recent Aeroplan award experience is limited to a couple of tickets. In both situations, I needed to change flights and the award inventory opened up 1-2 weeks from to the flight date. Of course, as others have stated, it all depends on supply and demand so YMMV.
Have you looked into purchasing a round trip FRA-LIS to see if you get better pricing?
Or a routing with connection e.g. FRA-MUC-LIS? That’s was our award routing on the last trip..
Have you looked into purchasing a round trip FRA-LIS to see if you get better pricing?
Or a routing with connection e.g. FRA-MUC-LIS? That’s was our award routing on the last trip..
#9
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 13,940
Buying o/w tickets with LH is always prohibitively expensive. Is is never half of the round trip fare.

