Using miles to visit SE Asia
Jun 1, 2010 | 7:37 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 22
I always fix my queries to be one-way and only the routes that I know the partner flies. For example, if you choose one-way, JFK - HKG, First, for Oct. 1, for one passenger, click continue through no stopover, click search for partner airlines, and then when nothing is found on Oct 1, click Search up to 7 days later, the website will then return availability on CX 841 on Oct 6. If I'm interested in a routing in F with a stopover in HKG, I piece it together one segment at a time, and then call BA when I've found the dates I'm happy with.....
Thanks for all of your great advice!
Jun 1, 2010 | 8:49 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 22
I always fix my queries to be one-way and only the routes that I know the partner flies. For example, if you choose one-way, JFK - HKG, First, for Oct. 1, for one passenger, click continue through no stopover, click search for partner airlines, and then when nothing is found on Oct 1, click Search up to 7 days later, the website will then return availability on CX 841 on Oct 6. If I'm interested in a routing in F with a stopover in HKG, I piece it together one segment at a time, and then call BA when I've found the dates I'm happy with.....
Jun 1, 2010 | 10:16 am
#18
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AS Platinum, AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,668
Scratch my previous post. I just tried exactly what you mentioned above except for various dates in May 2011. All of them only show availability through BA even after clicking "search partner airlines". Is it too far in advance for partner airlines? Sorry if I'm being a dunce.
The site "tool" that I use is the Book with BA Miles screen that appears on the bottom left of the first ba.com screen that appears immediately after I sign in with my BAEC number and pin (the bottom left of the Welcome to the Executive Club page). I've never successfully used the Reward Flight Search function (as it didn't work the first time I tried it, and the other one always has....).
Jun 1, 2010 | 1:06 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 22
When I query JFK-HKG for May 1, 2011, I see 5 CX J seats available, 2 on CX 841, 2 on CX 889, and 1 on CX 831.
The site "tool" that I use is the Book with BA Miles screen that appears on the bottom left of the first ba.com screen that appears immediately after I sign in with my BAEC number and pin (the bottom left of the Welcome to the Executive Club page). I've never successfully used the Reward Flight Search function (as it didn't work the first time I tried it, and the other one always has....).
The site "tool" that I use is the Book with BA Miles screen that appears on the bottom left of the first ba.com screen that appears immediately after I sign in with my BAEC number and pin (the bottom left of the Welcome to the Executive Club page). I've never successfully used the Reward Flight Search function (as it didn't work the first time I tried it, and the other one always has....).
http://i.imgur.com/vjAyw.png
Am I just being stupid?
Jun 1, 2010 | 3:50 pm
#20
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,459
I had the same experience with the Reward Flight Search tool, so we're using the same tool. But here is what I see for May 1 after selecting No Stopover and Include Partner Airlines.
http://i.imgur.com/vjAyw.png
Am I just being stupid?
http://i.imgur.com/vjAyw.png
Am I just being stupid?
But, our results are for Business.
I do get your results for World Traveller - everything through LHR - checking to May 7th.
I suggest you try Business just to check you get the same results as we do for the 1st...then at least you know you're on the right track.
Last edited by alien; Jun 1, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Jun 1, 2010 | 4:18 pm
#21
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AS Platinum, AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,668
But here is what I see for May 1 after selecting No Stopover and Include Partner Airlines.
http://i.imgur.com/vjAyw.png
Am I just being stupid?
http://i.imgur.com/vjAyw.png
Am I just being stupid?
Jun 1, 2010 | 4:32 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 22
Your screenshot reflects the output of a query where you've chosen Economy class (as opposed to Business/Club or First). Since I would honestly never consider flying a 15+ hour flight in the back of the bus, it never occurred to me that your problem was related to class. Try it again, using Business/Club (50k BA miles) or First (75k BA miles), book it, and then spend the next 11 months looking forward to a great trip!
Jun 1, 2010 | 8:18 pm
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 22
jbalmuth, your advice worked perfectly. I figured out which flights I wanted online, called in to BAEC, and had the agent book them. I even had to correct the agent when she said there weren't any flights available on the day I wanted. 
I now have two one-way JFK-HKG-BKK on CX in J for 100,000 miles with a two-day stopover in HKG so we can explore. That is amazing value. I'll get the return leg as soon as the dates become available.
If you are ever in the Philadelphia area, let me know so I can buy you a drink. Thanks again.
I now have two one-way JFK-HKG-BKK on CX in J for 100,000 miles with a two-day stopover in HKG so we can explore. That is amazing value. I'll get the return leg as soon as the dates become available.
If you are ever in the Philadelphia area, let me know so I can buy you a drink. Thanks again.