Schedules
 

Hi FF,
I have a flight on AA. DFW-ANC for next August , however after several searches on the internet , as well as phoning AA, There does not seem to be a direct service next year.

I am aware that DFW-ANC is seasonal , but even so it does seem strange ,that the schedule is not out yet? any help greatfully appreciated
Kind regards ELO

The ANC schedule for the following year is usually loaded around late november.

How on earth did you manage to get an ANC flight for the following year approved? I thought that was just not possible?

Hi Viajero
Thank you for the prompt response to my Question, it makes me breathe with a sigh of relief.
In answer to your question, about approval for the ANC flight next year . I went through BA in CAI, admitted it is not a confirmed flight as yet but open, but still on my schedule as DFW-ANC I hope this helps Kind Regards ELO

That probably explains it. I just wish AA would do the same. :(

I was able to do this for my upcoming (ticketed ^ ) DONE4 as well. This was originally set up in early August by CX in CMB.

It shows in my PNR as:This is based on this year's flights:

AA278 4:46p - 8:34p
AA279 9:50p - 7:05a+1 Daily

Thanks. So, that puts at least CX and BA on the side of reason. I will raise this matter again with AA, but I'm not holding my breath; the last time they said no, and that's that.

Whether it put's BA and CX on the side of reason really depends on whether AA end up operating the flights - if they don't BA/CX will look rather silly.

I'm currently trying to sort out my own DONE4 and would appreciate if anyone could point me to an AA timetable valid for next summer (preferable a PDF one) - and if it's not out yet when is it likely to be published?

I understand why everyone feels BA/CX are on the side of reason. But they are only following the logical rule that flight schedules are available 330 days out. Does this mean that if another airline decided to make schedules available 700 days out that they would be more or less on the side of reason.

My point being, that knowing the rules and the underlying rationale, or at least perceived rationale, is our basis for subjectively determining what is reasonable.

Seasonal schedules come out about 350 days prior to the END of that seasonal schedule. For example I fly to EGE (Vail, Co) every year for skiing and book my ticket as soon as the schedule is made available in order to secure F seats. For next year the last day of scheduled service is April 2, 2006 so schedules were available on April 17, 2005. The previous year schedules were available about a week later.

So using that underlying logic, schedules for next year's DFW-ANC flights should be available for booking around the end of October, 2005 since the last scheduled ANC flight (out of ORD) will probably be around the beginning of October, 2006 if this year's schedule is any indication.

A follow up: I have spoken to AA and they have now agreed to ticket an OWE which includes an ANC flight for sometime next year (open dated of course). The agent told me that the PNR would contain an observation to protect AA in the case the flight does not operate next year, meaning the problem would be all mine, which, IMO, is fair enough.

So, I hereby move AA back to the side of reason, to keep BA and CX good company. :)

Does anyone know if this is the case for other airlines (eg Finnair)? I want to book HEL-RHO for next summer, but would like to confirm that a flight exists before I book it into my ONEx trip. Currently no flights are listed in the database.

My DFW-ANC-DFW flights were booked based on the premise they were there this year and should be there next year.

According to the oneWORLD timetable, Finnair has the following direct flights in September 2005:

AY2705 Sundays, AY2707 Wednesdays & AY2703 Saturdays.

Yes, I know that those flights are scheduled for 2005, but I'm just wondering when I might see confirmation that they will be offered in 2006...

As I posted above in #5 I have two open ANC segments. I am in the same boat as you; however I have this ticketed. I will be on the lookout for these schedules to appear and get actual flights booked at the earliest opportunity.

I do not know AY's procedures. As far as AA's, it is just from my repeated experience that I deduced what seemed obvious to me after a few years of doing this. I assume that is the case with AA, but I have no difinitive doumentation indicating so. AA may well have an acutal physical limitation of releasing a seasonal schedule prior to a year before the end of the seasonal schedule for all I know. It would actaully make sense if that were the case and would explain why early dates of a seasonal schedule were not available at the 320/330 day window.